Two years ago I did a DNA test after becoming curious about my grandfathers adoption, he was born in December 1944 in Gateshead, England (near Newcastle Upon Tyne). Upon getting the results for the DNA test I discovered that his birth father was RFN Louis Montour who was a member of the Regina Rifles "D" Company. He met a woman (I assume around the Newcastle area) and she fell pregnant, since they were unmarried she was forced to give the baby (my grandfather) up for adoption. I was just curious if there was any information on the Regina Rifles being stationed near Newcastle or if you have any more information/ photographs on Louis Montour since I have very little information. As far as I know, Louis was unaware he had a son in England but of course I will never know for certain. Thank you - Millie
Hi Millie, Some of the Canadian regiment War Diaries have been digitized but unfortunately not for the period Jan-March 1944. April-June is here but it seems inconclusive... in April they seem to have been on the Isle of Wight. The documents are here: Collection search - Regina Rifles I might be able to have a look at books in the reference library here.
Louis Montour L/86545 L Means that he was enlisted in Saskatchewan, Canada He landed on D-Day and was wounded that day Regina Rifles embark June 1944 Regina Rifles Nominal Roll up to the Johns (Regina rifles history) But didnt found anything. But have a look at the book. According the Diary of April (9 Months) they stayed in Hiltingbury (GBR) South of GBR. The Regina Rifle Regiment arrived in 1941 at Hiltingbury Camp - Southampton and stayed there till June 1944. I searched the diaries from December 1944 - March 1945 his name is not mentioned. Short research, But it looks that they met eachother near Southampton.
L86545 Rfn LM Montour didn't come to the Reginas until near the end of Oct 43, so they met prior to that. Other than some time in SW Scotland in summer 43, they were primarily in Sussex or nearby earlier. He has been identified in the D Coy photo on my site, top row first from left. That was taken at Portsmouth very close to the time of his arrival. I believe that is his correct service number, though I have seen L86543 in a couple of places in my notes. I have no information on his time in the Army prior to that, you would need to get his personnel file from the Archives in Ottawa to learn more on his movements. His service number indicates he enlisted with the Prince Albert Volunteers. That unit never went overseas, so at least at one point he had gone into the general reinforcement stream and moved to another unit, I can confirm he was D Coy (would be interested in your original source for this), #16 Platoon. I have a transcription of an affidavit he swore in Dec 45 regarding an action on 7 June 44 between the Reginas and unknown German troops near Rots/la Villeneuve. This was in relation to the trial of Kurt Meyer of the 12th SS who claimed the Canadians had committed a war crime there, thus justifying the later actions of his unit. Montour and others made affidavits showing him as a lying bastard. He was not wounded D-Day, he was evacuated for about 30 days due to Battle Exhaustion on 14 Aug 44. All signs are he was otherwise in a Rifle Platoon from D-Day to the end.
Klambie, Maybe i understand you wrong L86545 Rfn LM Montour didn't come to the Reginas until near the end of Oct 43, so they met prior to that. But her grantfather is born in December 1944 - 9 months of pregnacy is April 1944.
Sworn Statement of L86545 Rfn Montour, LM (hand noted Kurt Meyer/1 and 90) 1. I was a member of No. 3 Section 16 Platoon, 'D' Company Royal Regina Rifles and on D plus 1 our platoon was in position on the north side of the Caen-Bayeux railway with our front to the south. We came into this position about 1200 hours. 2. I was on the West side of the road leading to La Villeneuve along with the others in 3 section. 3. Late in the afternoon we saw two enemy vehicles approaching from the south along the road. There was a motorcycle with sidecar in front followed by a recce car of some kind. 4. We held our fire until our PIAT and the A.Tk gun had fired knocking out the recce car and setting it on fire. The occupants of these vehicles jumped out and tried to run away but were shot down as they ran. 5. Shortly afterwards Rfn Wildey and myself were ordered to go forward on the west side of this sunken road to assist the Pl Sgt Sten who was going forward on the east side of the same road to try and round up those who had escaped and hid in the ditch along the side of the road and who could not be reached by fire from our position. 6. We crawled forward through the grain field and behind some bushes at the top of the bank on our side of the road. We could see Sgt Sten approaching on the opposite side. 7. When we reached the edge of the bank we saw a German soldier lying in the ditch getting ready to fire in Sgt Sten's direction. Rfn Wildey shot him through the head before he could fire. 8. We took his Luger pistol and crawled back to our position on the north side of the track. As we did so we saw the motorcycle and sidecar along the bank of the road. The recce car was burning and we did not see if there was anyone in it. There was at least on other body lying on the road near the burning car. The others had been hit after they reached the fields alongside the road. 9. When we got back to our position there was a lot of mortar and small arms fire from the south as the south side of the railway was in view of the enemy. 10. Shortly afterwards another German vehicle came along and it was knocked out by our PIAT and A.Tk fire and it burned up. The Germans jumped out and ran to the side of the road where we engaged them in a fire fight for some minutes. We had been ordered to stay on our own side of the track so I do not know how many were killed. 11. Our Coy had a lot of casualties during the night from mortar fire and we were pulled out the next morning. 12. During all the time we were there I never saw any Germans captured and those that were killed were killed in the fighting or while trying to get away. Sworn at Aurich, Germany 22 Dec 1945 LAC RG-24 vol 12840 File 392-55 Evidence File
Wow, interesting post you did Kevin, never heard about this story. Need to read more about this. Thanks
On the Isle of Wight from early Jan 44. Remained there through 5 Apr 44, when they moved to Hiltingbury with the exception of 5-11 Mar 44 when they were part of Exercise Prank around Portsmouth/Southampton/Studland Bay.
Meyer claimed to have found bodies there with signs of execution by shots to the head, subsequent crimes by 12 SS were in retaliation. One officer on hand at his trial to refute, along with several other affidavits. Ruled irrelevant by the court, retaliation was not a valid justification.
oh this is absolutely incredible - just to hear from his own perspective an describe everything he saw. sadly louis took his own life in 1992 at the age of 69 due to his ptsd as a result from the war. this statement he wrote he is incredibly special to me and his family in canada because he (like many others) never talked about the horrors he witnessed.
