4th Canadian Armoured Division - Battle of the Scheldt

A couple of years ago I had the honor to listen to two veterans of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, who had seen combat during the battle of the Scheldt. The story of the opening of the Scheldt is long and unpleasant. It begins in mid-September when the task was allotted to General Crerar. It ends, so far as First Canadian Army was concerned, only on 8 November when organized resistance ceased on Walcheren Island. There was much difficult, nasty and costly fighting in the interim.

Both veterans served with the 4th Canadian Armourd Division. The first with the Canadian Grenadier Guards (22nd Armoured Regiment), the second with the Lake Superior Regiment. Both units were part of the 4th Armoured Brigade.

For me, it was only the second time I had the honor to listen to the story of a veteran. It made a huge impression on me, hearing the LSR veteran say: "We lost many good men during the battle of the Scheldt".

 

Lake Superior Regiment Battle of the Scheldt casualties



001
BELAIR
E
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
002
BELL
TB
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
003
BELL
FAJ
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
004
BINCH
ER
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
005
BRANCH
FC
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
006
BROWN
JK
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
007
BROWNLEE
J
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
008
FISHER
FL
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
009
GALLANT
HJ
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
010
GRAHAM
JE
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
011
GREENE
DL
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
012
HIEBERT
DH
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
013
JEFFREY
FC
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
014
KLYNE
JO
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
015
NEUFELD
J
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
016
ROBINS
AH
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
017
ROMANIUK
LL
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
018
RYAN
A
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
019
SKINNER
WT
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
020
SMITH
FJ
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
021
STARK
DD
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
022
SWEENEY
AWP
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
023
THOMAS
MB
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
024
VERMEERSCH
RJA
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
025
VOST
JH
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
026
WHALEN
HI
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.
027
WOODBECK
CI
-
LAKE SUPERIOR REGIMENT (MOTOR), R.C.I.C.

 

Name: BELAIR, ERNEST
Initials: E
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 13/10/1944
Service No: H/45926
Additional information: Son of Cleophas and Anna Belair, of Kenora, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. A. 10.
Cemetery: ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY


Picture made by Marg Liessens

 

Name: BELL, THOMAS BOWDEN
Initials: T B
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 25/10/1944
Service No: A/118123
Additional information: Son of Joseph Milburn Bell and Sarah Jane Bell, of Sandwich West, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. C. 8.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: BELL, FREDERICK ARTHUR JOHN
Initials: F A J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Date of Death: 25/10/1944
Service No: B/127693
Additional information: Son of John J. and Ethel M. Bell, of Toronto, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. C. 6.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: BINCH, EDSON R.
Initials: E R
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 30/10/1944
Service No: B/116811
Additional information: Son of Walter Cyril and Julia Binch, of Thornloe, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. F. 3.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: BRANCH, FRANCIS CLYDE
Initials: F C
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 26/10/1944
Service No: K/45383
Additional information: Son of Karl H. and Anastasia Branch, of Cranbrook, British Columbia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. E. 10.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: BROWN, JAMES KALLETHE
Initials: J K
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 25/10/1944
Additional information: Son of Edward G. and Margarete Kallethe Brown, of Vancouver, British Columbia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. C. 9.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: BROWNLEE, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 08/11/1944
Service No: H/46558
Additional information: Son of James and Nellie Brownlee, of Dinorwic, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 1. A. 4.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: FISHER, FREDERICK
Initials: F L
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Date of Death: 26/10/1944
Service No: H/45676
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. E. 12.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: GALLANT, HARRY JAMES
Initials: H J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Date of Death: 23/10/1944
Service No: H/9787
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. C. 1.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: GRAHAM, JACK EDGAR
Initials: J E
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 31/10/1944
Service No: H/46086
Additional information: Son of Charles and Mattie A. Graham, of Toronto, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. A. 4.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: GREENE, DONALD LAWRENCE
Initials: D L
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 30
Date of Death: 28/10/1944
Service No: H/16145
Additional information: Son of Lawrence A. and Katherine Greene, of Port Arthur, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 12. H. 8.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY


Source: Veterans Affairs Canada

 

Name: HIEBERT, DAVE H.
Initials: D H
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 03/11/1944
Service No: B/138956
Additional information: Son of Jacob J. and Susanna Hiebert, of Kleefeld, Manitoba.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. A. 8.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: JEFFREY, FLOYD CHARLES
Initials: F C
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 27/10/1944
Service No: H/45912
Additional information: Son of Charles A. and Annie Jeffrey; husband of Mary C. Jeffrey, of Port Arthur, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 3. E. 11.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: NEUFELD, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 01/10/1944
Service No: H/17816
Additional information: Son of Heinrich Martin Neufeld and of Katharina Neufeld (nee Schellenberg), of Herbert, Saskatchewan.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. A. 6.
Cemetery: ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY


Picture from Marg Liessens

 

Name: ROBINS, ALBERT H.
Initials: A H
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 08/10/1944
Service No: B/149839
Additional information: Son of Albert H. and Margaret Gillespie Robins, of Toronto, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. A. 8.
Cemetery: ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY


Picture from Marg Liessens

 

Name: RYAN, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 26/10/1944
Service No: H/45582
Additional information: Son of Alexander Ryan, and of Mary Ryan, of Pembroke, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 9. C. 2.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY


Source: Veterans Affairs Canada

 

Name: SKINNER, WALTER THOMAS
Initials: W T
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Date of Death: 21/10/1944
Service No: H/42316
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 12. G. 12.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

 

Name: SMITH, FRANCIS J.
Initials: F J
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), R.C.I.C.
Date of Death: 23/10/1944
Service No: H/45888
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 11. H. 1.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY