Gee to answer part of your initial question ' Did any west novas win the VC "...well NO as there were only three VC's awarded in Italy.. the first to Captain Paul Triguot of the Vandoos of 3rd bde 1st Div. at Cas Berardi near Ortona the second by Major Mahony of the Westminsters of 5th AD at the Melfi River in the Liri Valley and the third to Pte "Smokey " Smith of the Seaforths - 2nd Bde of 1st Cdn Div at the River Savio near Cesena Cheers
Canadian officers were not typically assigned numbers during the war. They went to a number system right near the end or shortly after the war.
Owen, I think there has been an error. The recommendations attached as Bogert and Jones are both copies of the McNeil recommendation attached later down the page. As well, there are a number of other repeats in the attachments. Don't mean to be too critical, but thought you'd like to know. I'm doing a little research on the West Novas and found this goldmine here. Thanks for all the material you have found and posted. It is excellent.
Yup, all the attachments on the forum got messed up back in April when we changed to the new software. Pain in the arse . Sorry to say I can't redo them. Can't get them for free anymore.
Owen, Thanks for the reply. Must say, I'm enjoying your site and finding it quite useful. I'll be back. Regards, Ron
If interested, here's some background on the West Nova Scotia Regiment Insignia: Francis William ‘Skip’ McCarthy was born in 1909 & raised in Liverpool & Bridgewater Nova Scotia. Showing artistic talent as a youth he was able to go to New York to study art. Returning home he became a junior teller at a bank in Bridgewater. To supplement his income he enlisted in the 75th Lunenburg Regiment. In 1936 Skip’s unit was to merge with the 69th Annapolis Regiment to forge what was to become the West Nova Scotia Regiment. Skip was tasked to create its new insignia. The attached article defines Skip’s thought & design process for the project. The difficult economic reality of the 1930’s frustrated many militia members in their failed attempts to join the regular army hoping to snag that steady paycheck. When word reached Skip that men were being recruited in Halifax for the British Army he & two other West Nova ‘originals’ Arnold ‘Slim’ Carver & Gerald Crouse (both from Italy Cross, NS) headed for the city. Successfully passing an interview & physical they were soon on their way to England. They enlisted in the 2nd Manchesters April 4, 1939. When war was declared Skip along with his Regiment left for France September 21, 1939. The 2nd Manchesters was the Divisional Machine Gun Battalion in the British 2nd Division attached to 4th, 5th & 6th Brigades stationed on the Maginot Line near the Belgium border. When the West Nova Scotia Regiment arrived in England December 1939 there were plans for the three to eventually transfer back to their old unit however the German Offensive on May 10, 1940 changed all of that. On May 26, 1940 performing rearguard actions, their position overrun Skip’s platoon (including fellow Nova Scotian Clyde Cruickshanks from Halifax) was forced to surrender. Thus began Skip & Clyde’s horrible five year POW ordeal at Stalag XXA Camp Thorn Podgorz in Poland. In January 1945 the Germans began the infamous six week death march of the already weakened POW’s towards Germany in order to flee the advancing Russians. Their eventual liberation by American forces in April 1945 came too late for Skip – his health had failed. It must be remembered, born in 1909 Skip was a good five to ten years older than many of his counterparts. Repatriated home to Nova Scotia Skip was never able to resume a normal life. He passed away at the Nova Scotia Sanatorium in Kentville NS August 7th, 1947 from TB contracted while a POW. Skip was 38 years old. He is buried at the Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Liverpool NS. One final postscript to Skip’s story: Sadly his 1947 death has allowed Skip to ‘fall through the cracks’ as he is not listed in the Commonwealth War Graves database nor is he remembered in Canada’s Books of Remembrance. We are hoping to soon remedy these oversights. It is a fitting tribute to Skip that his creation & design is still proudly worn by the men & women serving today in the West Nova Scotia Regiment.
There was a question about VCs in the West Novas. Although no West Nova won a VC while a West Nova, one of our COs during WW II was LtCol Milton F Gregg, VC, PC, OC, CBE, MC, ED, CD did win a VC in 1918 when he was a Lieutenant. He rose to the rank of Brigadier, and aftyer the war, he became an MP and a Cabinet Minister several times (Fisheries, Veterans Affairs, and then Labour). The RCR claim him as their own, but we West Novas are equally proud of this great Canadian.
I am looking for any information on Lance Sergeant Hector Colin McDonald of The West Nova Scotia Regiment, Heckie is my uncle, he was KIA Dec 13, 1944. Uncle Heckie's Service Number is F78629.He rests in Ravenna War Cemetary, Italy. I have been looking for some time now with little luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for the obvious work accomplished in this forum, it is very informative, Wayne Chant
Wayne, I looked on the Canadian Virtual Memorial site today and found this newspaper clipping which you may already have. I couldn't attach the image, but I left the web address below which will get you to the page. Interesting, your uncle came from 5th St., New Aberdeen; my grandfather lived on 6th until his death in 1948, and my father and our family lived there from the 60's until the 90's. I'll ask at the next WNSR Valley Memory Club meeting at Aldershot if anyone remembers Heckie. Very few veterans left to ask. http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2223096?Hector%20McDonald
Here is the entry from the West Nova Scotia Regiment war diary for the action on December 13th, 1944:
A link to a post in the First Allied Units in Delft, Holland thread. The West Novia Scotias were at Den Hoorn on the western outskirts on 8 May 1945. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/55376-first-allied-troops-in-delft/page-2#entry652215
Stonier, thank you so much for the information. The original obituary brought a tear to my eyes. My mother was very close to Heckie and spoke kindly and often of him. I actually know of a jackie stonier, she was always considered a relative, cousin I beleive, I believe she live in the states, its been several years since I seen her or heard from her. She was very nice Dryan67, thank you for your information, it provided me with a memory of the weather of the day and the terrible battle they had in their selfless commitment to keep people free, people and generations of people he didn't know. If I may, the soldiers of war must have an enormous faith in a higher power
Wayne, Next Memory Club Meeting in Aldershot is at the Borden Hall Mess at 1945 hrs on Wed, 13 May. It's regularly scheduled on the second Wed of the month except Jul, Aug, and Sep. Thinking about going?
Wayne, sorry, I forgot to ask, but there were no WWII vets at that meeting. My apologies for not following through. Ron
Hi Ron Thats ok, you have been very helpful and I appreciate the help very much I believe Heckie was killed in the battle of Lamone.... doing some research on that now. My cousin has planned a trip to Ravenna next year to visit Heckies grave. As an fyi there are plans for a rejuvenation for the Number 2 area.... lets see if it actually happens, it would be nice to see Thanks Wayne
Hello everybody! I'm very new to the forums (first post). And kinda new to the whole WW2 saga. I am doing a documentary on the WNSR and their involvement in WW2. I have a list of particular individuals that I am hoping you guys might be able to help me out with. First, I do have one particular question: Does anybody know when, or where, Pat Bogert replaced Lt. Col. Gerald Bullock? Ok.. here are the individuals I am particularly interested in and kinda a bit of what i know. I will not flood you with information. Victor Dukeshire Lt. Col Pat Bogert - took over for Lt. Col. Gerald Weatherall Bullock when he was deemed too old. He had a son who was fatally wounded, Reg. Lt. Col. Gerald Weatherall Bullock Major R.S.E Waterman - Replaced Bogert after he took a bullet in the leg. Relieved of command after the Foglia battle Oren Foster - before the war actually started he saved fellow troops from drowning with the help of a dingy, even though he couldn't swim. He also preferred to capture the enemy instead of killing them. Harry Eisenhower - Henry Harvey Jones - Found weakness in enemies defence at The Gully. Earned military cross for his efforts. Was wounded in the arm. Died in battle in Foglia by Schu-mines. Don Rice - assembled a team of snipers Harry Balsor - died in battle on Dec 15 - 1944.. does anyone know where? Reg Bullock - Tried to reconnect communication lines so information could be passed along.. wounded during this. His father Lt. Col. Gerald Bullock was called to see him and Reg gave him a wink and a message before he passed (on Jan. 3/44) Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated as I'm am sure that some, if not all of you, know way more than I do on this topic. Pics/Vids/Documentation all highly welcomed. As are websites. Thank you all in advance.
I started my own thread then realized there was this one already going so I'm just copying and pasting my thread here: Hello everybody! I'm very new to the forums (first post). And kinda new to the whole WW2 saga. I am doing a documentary on the WNSR and their involvement in WW2. I have a list of particular individuals that I am hoping you guys might be able to help me out with. First, I do have one particular question: Does anybody know when, or where, Pat Bogert replaced Lt. Col. Gerald Bullock? Ok.. here are the individuals I am particularly interested in and kinda a bit of what i know. I will not flood you with information. Victor Dukeshire Lt. Col Pat Bogert - took over for Lt. Col. Gerald Weatherall Bullock when he was deemed too old. He had a son who was fatally wounded, Reg. Lt. Col. Gerald Weatherall Bullock Major R.S.E Waterman - Replaced Bogert after he took a bullet in the leg. Relieved of command after the Foglia battle Oren Foster - before the war actually started he saved fellow troops from drowning with the help of a dingy, even though he couldn't swim. He also preferred to capture the enemy instead of killing them. Harry Eisenhower - Henry Harvey Jones - Found weakness in enemies defence at The Gully. Earned military cross for his efforts. Was wounded in the arm. Died in battle in Foglia by Schu-mines. Don Rice - assembled a team of snipers Harry Balsor - died in battle on Dec 15 - 1944.. does anyone know where? Reg Bullock - Tried to reconnect communication lines so information could be passed along.. wounded during this. His father Lt. Col. Gerald Bullock was called to see him and Reg gave him a wink and a message before he passed (on Jan. 3/44) Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated as I'm am sure that some, if not all of you, know way more than I do on this topic. Pics/Vids/Documentation all highly welcomed. As are websites. Thank you all in advance.
Hi there, I am researching wwii, specifically the WNSR and there involvement. I am a native of Halifax and was just wondering if there was anybody from the WNSR who might want to share a story or two? Also, interested in the London Blitz. I won't try and fool anybody.... i'm not very knowledgeable in wwii, but that's why I am here. Right?
