NOTES

INTRODUCTION: WORSE THAN THE BEACH

1 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 650.

2 Charles Martin, Battle Diary: From D-Day and Normandy to the Zuider Zee (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1994), xii–xiv.

3 Ibid., 14.

4 Ibid., 15.

1: LIKE LIONS

1 Chester Wilmot, The Struggle for Europe (London: Collins, 1952), 292.

2 Gordon A. Harrison, Cross Channel Attack (Washington: Center of Military History, 1951), 304.

3 Max Hastings, Overlord: D-Day and the Battle for Normandy (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984), 87–88.

4 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 650.

5 Hastings, 88.

6 Carlo D’Este, Decision in Normandy: The Unwritten Story of Montgomery and the Allied Campaign (London: Penguin Books, 2001), 114.

7 Wilmot, 292.

8 Stacey, 116.

9 Ibid., 650–52.

10 Wilmot, 293.

11 Ibid.

12 John Man, The D-Day Atlas: The Definitive Account of the Allied Invasion of Normandy (New York: Facts on File, 1994), 64.

13 Reginald Roy, 1944: The Canadians in Normandy (Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1984), 23.

14 Stacey, 650–52.

15 Alex McKee, Caen: Anvil of Victory (London: Souvenir Press, 1964), 70.

16 Bernard Law, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, The Memoirs of Field Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, K.G. (London: Collins, 1958), 254.

17 Ibid.

18 Ibid., 222–23.

19 North Nova Scotia Highlanders War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

20 Will Bird, No Retreating Footsteps: The Story of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders (Hantsport, NS: Lancelot Press, 1983), 68–69.

21 Ibid., 69–70.

22 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 5 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 2448.

23 North Nova Scotia War Diary, n.p.

24 Jacques Castonguay and Armand Ross, Le Régiment de la Chaudière (Lévis, PQ: n.p., 1983), 245–46.

25 Ibid., 245.

26 Bird, 70–71.

27 Sherbrooke Fusiliers War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 4.

28 Ibid., 4.

29 Bird, 71.

30 Bill McAndrew, Donald E. Graves, and Michael Whitby, Normandy 1944: The Canadian Summer (Montreal: éditions Art Global, 1994), 47–48.

2: THROW THEM INTO THE SEA

1 Walter Warlimont, “The Invasion,” in Fighting the Invasion: The German Army at D-Day, David C. Isby, ed. (London: Greenhill Books, 2000), 88.

2 Tony Foster, Meeting of Generals (Agincourt, ON: Methuen, 1986), 306.

3 Chester Wilmot, The Struggle for Europe (London: Collins, 1952), 190.

4 Hans Speidel, “Ideas and Views of Genfldm Rommell, Commander of Army Group B, on Defense and Operations in the West in 1944,” in Fighting the Invasion, David C. Isby, ed., 41–42.

5 Wilmot, 191–92.

6 Ibid., 192.

7 Freiherr Geyr von Schweppenburg, “Preparations by Panzer Gruppe West,” in Fighting the Invasion, David C. Isby, ed., 74–75.

8 Ibid., 75.

9 Wilmot, 193.

10 Hans von Luck, Panzer Grenadier: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck (Westport, CT: Praeger Publications, 1989), 138.

11 B.H. Liddell Hart, History of the Second World War (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1970), 575.

12 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 122.

13 “Campaign in France, 1944: Answers by Gen. Blumentritt to questions submitted by Chester Wilmot,” University of Victoria Special Collections, 3.

14 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 40.

15 Michael Reynolds, Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy (New York: Dell Publishing, 1997), 16–17.

16 Meyer, 40.

17 Kurt Meyer, Grenadier (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz, 1994), 117–20.

18 Reynolds, 79.

19 Hubert Meyer, 41.

20 Arnold Warren, Wait For The Waggon: The Story of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1961), 280.

21 Bill McAndrew, Donald E. Graves, and Michael Whitby, Normandy 1944: The Canadian Summer (Montreal: éditions Art Global, 1994), 46.

22 Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (M.G.) War Diary, June 1944, Appendix 10 (D(2) Coy), RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 1.

23 Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (M.G.) War Diary, June 1944, Appendix 15 Diary of Lt.-Col. P.C. Klaehn, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 1.

24 Dave McIntosh, High Blue Battle: The War Diary of No. 1 (401) Fighter Squadron, RCAF (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1990), 147–48.

25 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 7 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 3284–85.

26 McIntosh, 13.

27 B.B. Schofield, Operation Neptune (London: Ian Allen, 1974), 106–11.

28 Brereton Greenhous, Stephen Harris, et. al., The Crucible of War, 1939–1945: The Official History of The Royal Canadian Air Force, vol. 3 (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1995), 409.

29 Schofield, 106–11.

3: GOING INTO THE ATTACK

1 Ken Moore, interview by author, Esquimalt, BC, 15 May 2004.

2 Christopher Grant, An Illustrated Data Guide to World War II Bombers (St. Catharines, ON: Vanwell Books, 1997), 49–60.

3 Moore interview.

4 Ibid.

5 N.a., Listen to Us: Aircrew Memories (Victoria, BC: The Victoria Publishing Co., 1997), 265–66.

6 Ibid., 266–67.

7 Moore interview.

8 Ibid.

9 N.a., “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 219.

10 C. Anthony Law, White Plumes Astern: The Short, Daring Life of Canada’s MTB Flotilla (Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 1989), 69–74.

11 Ibid., 14–15.

12 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 51.

13 Ibid.

14 Law, 37.

15 Ibid.

16 Ibid., 74–75.

17 Robert Gardiner, ed., Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships: 1922–1944 (London: Conway Maritime Press, 1980), 250–51.

18 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 210.

19 Law, 75–76.

20 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 220.

21 Ibid.

22 Law, 76.

23 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 210.

24 Law, 76.

25 Ibid., 78.

4: A PICNIC

1 Don Mingay, interview by Michael Boire, Collingwood, ON, November 2003.

2 Maj. Michael Boire, “Notes on RMC Graduates,” correspondence with author, October 2004.

3 D.G. Cunningham, “Royal Military College Club of Canada Report,” n.d., copy in possession of author.

4 Boire correspondence.

5 Ibid.

6 Ibid.

7 “Department of National Defence (Army) Public Relations–Promoted Brigadier,” Bulletin, Directorate of History, n.p.

8 David O’Keefe, “Notes on Kenneth Gault Blackader,” Black Watch Regimental Museum and Archives.

9 Eric Luxton, ed. 1st Battalion, The Regina Rifles Regiment, 1939–1946 (Regina: The Regiment, 1946), 38.

10 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 125.

11 Gordon Brown and Terry Copp, Look to Your Front… Regina Rifles: A Regiment at War, 1944–45 (Waterloo, ON: Laurier Centre Military Strategic Disarmament Studies, 2001), 58.

12 Lt. Col. F.N. Cabeldu, “Battle Narrative of the Normandy Assault and First Counter-Attack,” 145.2C4013(D2), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

13 Maj. D.G. Crofton, “‘C’ Company—Landing on D-Day,” 145.2C4013(D4), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

14 N.a., “Memorandum of Interview with Lt. Col. F.M. Matheson, OC, Regina Rif. by Historical Offr, 24 Jun. 44,” 145.2R11011(4), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

15 Royal Winnipeg Rifles War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 5.

16 Lochie Fulton, interview by Ken MacLeod, Victoria, BC, 9 February 1998.

17 Gordon Maxwell, “Battles,” Perspectives, Alex Kuppers, ed. (Royal Winnipeg Rifles Assoc. British Columbia Branch, 2003), 101.

18 Gordon Maxwell, group interview of Royal Winnipeg Rifle members by Ken MacLeod, Vancouver, BC, September 1997.

19 Royal Winnipeg Rifles War Diary, 5.

20 Fulton interview.

21 Bruce Tascona and Eric Wells, Little Black Devils: A History of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles (Winnipeg: Frye Publishing, 1983), 148.

22 Cabeldu, “Battle Narrative of the Normandy Assault and First CounterAttack,” 3.

23 Sherbrooke Fusiliers War Diary, June 1944, Appendix 27 Canadian Armoured Regt Operation Overlord Account of Action D Day to D+6 Inclusive, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 1.

24 N.a., “Memorandum of Interview with Brig. D.G. Cunningham, Comd 9 CDN INF BDE by Historical Officer, 26 Jun 44,” RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 1.

25 Capt. P.F. Ramsay, “Battle Narrative: ‘B’ Coy, 1 C Scot R,” 145.2C4(D6), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

26 3rd Canadian Infantry Division GSWar Diary, June 1944, Appendix Jacket No. 1 Message Log, RG24, Library and Archives Canada.

27 Ibid.

28 Fulton interview.

29 Tascona and Wells, 149.

30 Stacey, 126.

31 Luxton, 39.

32 1st Hussars War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

33 “Memorandum of Interview with Lt. Col. Matheson,” 3.

34 Brown and Copp, 74.

35 Ibid., 65.

36 Stacey, 126.

37 Cabeldu, “Battle Narrative of the Normandy Assault and First CounterAttack,” 3.

38 Ramsay, “Battle Narrative: ‘B’ Coy, 1 C Scot R,” 3.

39 13th Canadian Field Regiment, RCAWar Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 3.

40 Ibid.

5: PERFORMANCE MOST CREDITABLE

1 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 70.

2 Maj. J.R. Martin, “Report No. 147 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Part One: The Assault and Subsequent Operations of 3 Cdn Inf Div and 2 Cdn Armd Bde, 6–30 June 44—N.W. Europe,” 3 December 1945, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, para. 230.

3 Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) War Diary, June 1944, Appendix 7 ‘B’ Coy ChofO(MG), RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

4 Will R. Bird, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment (Fredericton, NB: Brunswick Press, 1963), 234.

5 N.a., “Memorandum of Interview With Brig K.G. Blackader, Comd 8 CDN INF BDE by Historical Officer, 24 Jun 44,” O18(D13), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 2.

6 North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 2.

7 Bird, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, 234.

8 Ibid.

9 Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) War Diary, Appendix 7, n.p.

10 Joe Ryan, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Cobourg, ON, 6 November 2003.

11 Bird, 235.

12 Charles Richardson, interview by John Gregory Thompson, London, ON, 10 March 2003.

13 Bird, 235.

14 Stacey, 134.

15 Bird, 236.

16 Ibid., 236–37.

17 Ibid., 238.

18 R.M. Hickey, The Scarlet Dawn (Campbelltown, NB: Tribune Publishing Limited, 1949), 204.

19 “Memorandum of Interview with Brig K.G. Blackader,” 2.

20 Stacey, 127–28.

21 Don Learment, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Guelph, ON, 21 November 2003.

22 Ibid.

23 North Nova Scotia Highlanders War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

24 Will Bird, No Retreating Footsteps: The Story of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders (Hantsport, NS: Lancelot Press, 1983), 74.

25 Ibid., 75.

26 Ibid., 74.

27 Ibid.

28 Don Learment, “Soldier, POW, Partisan: My Experiences During the Battle of France, June–September 1944,” Canadian Military History, Spring 2000, 94.

29 Bird, No Retreating Footsteps, 75.

30 Ibid.

31 North Nova Scotia Highlanders War Diary, n.p.

32 Bird, No Retreating Footsteps, 76.

33 Learment, 94.

34 North Nova Scotia Highlanders War Diary, n.p.

35 Ibid.

36 N.a., “Memorandum of Interviews with Capt (A/Maj) A.J. Wilson, Nth NSHighrs, 18 Jun 44 and Capt (A/Maj) E.S. Gray, Nth NSHighrs, 29 Jun 44 by Historical Offr: The Engagement at Buron and Authie, 7 Jun 44,” 145.2n2011(D3), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 2.

37 Will Bird, The Two Jacks: The Amazing Adventures of Major Jack M. Veness and Major Jack L. Fairweather (Toronto: The Ryerson Press, 1954), 10.

38 “Memorandum of Interviews with Wilson and Gray,” 2.

39 Bird, No Retreating Footsteps, 80.

40 “Memorandum of Interviews with Wilson and Gray,” 2.

41 Sherbrooke Fusiliers War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 5.

42 “Memorandum of Interviews with Wilson and Gray,” 2.

43 Learment, 94–95.

44 “Memorandum of Interviews with Wilson and Gray,” 2.

6: BAPTISM AT AUTHIE

1 Gordon Brown and Terry Copp, Look to Your Front… Regina Rifles: A Regiment at War, 1944–45 (Waterloo, ON: Laurier Centre Military Strategic Disarmament Studies, 2001), 62.

2 Kurt Meyer, Grenadier (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz, 1994), 121.

3 Michael Reynolds, Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy (New York: Dell Publishing, 1997), 22.

4 N.a., “Special Interrogation Report: Brigadeführer Kurt Meyer, Comd 12 SS Pz Div ‘Hitler Jugend’ (6 June 1944–25 Aug 1944),” Reginald Roy Collection, University of Victoria Special Collections, 2.

5 Reynolds, 24.

6 Ibid., 23.

7 Ibid., 21–24.

8 Ibid., 23.

9 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 204.

10 Reynolds, 37–41 and Appendices IV and V.

11 Terry Copp, Fields of Fire: The Canadians in Normandy (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2003), 18–19.

12 George Forty, British Army Handbook: 1939–1945 (Phoenix Mill, England: Sutton Publishing, 1998), 67.

13 Reynolds, 34–41.

14 Hubert Meyer, 40–41.

15 Kurt Meyer, 121.

16 Ibid., 122.

17 Ibid.

18 Ibid.

19 H.M. Jackson, The Sherbrooke Regiment (27th Armoured Regiment) (n.p., 1958), 125.

20 Merritt Hayes Bateman, interview by Tom Torrie, 28 May 1987, University of Victoria Special Collections.

21 George Mahon, “Letter to Lt. Col. Gordon, June 25 1944,” Melville Burgoyne Kennedy Gordon fonds, MG 30–e367, Vol. 1, Personal Correspondence, Library and Archives Canada.

22 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 5 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 2451.

23 George Mahon letter.

24 Bateman interview.

25 Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, Appendix: “B Squadron, 27 CAR (SFR)—Summarized by Lieut. L.N. Davies,” 3.

26 Ibid.

27 Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment War Diary, Appendix: “27 Canadian Armoured Regiment—Diary of Events of ‘D’ Day and D plus 1 by Sgt. T.C. Reid, No. 2 Troop, ‘C’ Sqn,” 2–3.

28 Hubert Meyer, 42.

29 Don Learment, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Guelph, ON, 21 November 2003.

30 N.a., “Descriptive Record,” Melville Burgoyne Kennedy Gordon fonds, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

31 Don Learment, “Soldier, POW, Partisan: My Experiences During the Battle of France, June–September 1944,” Canadian Military History, Spring 2000, 95.

32 Will Bird, The Two Jacks: The Amazing Adventures of Major Jack M. Veness and Major Jack L. Fairweather (Toronto: The Ryerson Press, 1954), 11–12.

33 Ibid., 12.

34 Ibid., 12–13.

35 Ibid., 13.

36 Will Bird, No Retreating Footsteps: The Story of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders (Hantsport, NS: Lancelot Press, 1983), 90.

37 Ibid., 91.

38 Bird, The Two Jacks, 13.

39 Bird, No Retreating Footsteps, 91.

40 Ibid., 93.

41 Kurt Meyer, 122.

7: DON’T DO ANYTHING CRAZY

1 Will Bird, The Two Jacks: The Amazing Adventures of Major Jack M. Veness and Major Jack L. Fairweather (Toronto: The Ryerson Press, 1954), 13.

2 Ibid., 14.

3 N.a., “Combat Lessons—7 CDN INF BDE,” RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 5.

4 Bird, 15–16.

5 Ibid., 16–17.

6 Jack Byrne, interview by John Gregory Thompson, St. Joseph, ON, 10 October 2003.

7 N.a., “Memorandum of Interviews with Capt (A/Maj) A.J. Wilson, Nth NSHighrs, 18 Jun 44 and Capt (A/Maj) E.S. Gray, Nth NSHighrs, 29 Jun 44 by Historical Offr: The Engagement at Buron and Authie, 7 Jun 44,” 145.2n2011(D3), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

8 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 5 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 2469.

9 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 128.

10 Will Bird, No Retreating Footsteps: The Story of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders (Hantsport, NS: Lancelot Press, 1983), 98.

11 Ibid., 100.

12 Don Learment, “Soldier, POW, Partisan: My Experiences During the Battle of France, June–September 1944,” Canadian Military History, Spring 2000, 95.

13 Ibid., 96.

14 Don Learment, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Guelph, ON, 21 November 2003.

15 Learment, “Soldier, POW, Partisan,” 96.

16 Ibid.

17 Learment interview.

18 Howard Margolian, Conduct Unbecoming: The Story of the Murder of Canadian Prisoners of War in Normandy (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998), 60.

19 Ibid., 44–45.

20 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc., 1994), 45.

21 Margolian, 58–60.

22 Richard M. Ross, The History of the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG) (n.p., n.d.), 42.

23 “Memorandum of Interviews with Capt (A/Maj) A.J. Wilson,” 3.

24 William Boss, Up the Glens: Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, 1783–1994 (Cornwall, ON: Old Book Store, 1995), 186–87.

25 Bird, No Retreating Footsteps, 100.

26 North Nova Scotia Highlanders War Diary, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

27 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 5, 2469–70.

28 Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment War Diary, Appendix: “27 Canadian Armoured Regiment (SFR) #4 Troop,” RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 3.

29 North Nova Scotia Highlanders War Diary, n.p.

30 Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

31 Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment War Diary, 3–4.

32 Stacey, 132.

33 Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment War Diary, 5.

34 Stacey, 132.

35 Byrne interview.

36 Boss, 187.

37 Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders War Diary, n.p.

38 3rd Canadian Infantry Division GSWar Diary, June 1944, Appendix Jacket No. 1 Message Log, RG24, Library and Archives Canada.

39 Kurt Meyer, Grenadier (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz, 1994), 122–23.

40 Ibid., 124.

41 Hubert Meyer, 45.

42 Margolian, 62–63.

43 Bird, No Retreating Footsteps, 97.

44 Margolian, 63.

45 Ian J. Campbell, Murder at the Abbaye: The Story of Twenty Canadian Soldiers Murdered in the Abbaye d’Ardenne (Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press, 1996), 77.

46 Margolian, 64.

47 Learment interview.

48 Learment, “Soldier, POW, Partisan,” 96.

49 Margolian, 63.

50 Learment, “Soldier, POW, Partisan, 96.

51 Margolian, 69–70.

52 Hubert Meyer, 48–54.

8: THE DEVIL DANCED

1 Dan Hartigan, A Rising of Courage: Canada’s Paratroops in the Liberation of Normandy (Calgary: Drop Zone Publishers, 2000), 170.

2 Ibid., 153–54.

3 Ibid., 167.

4 Ibid., 156–60.

5 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 139 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquartersr: The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in France (6 June–6 September 1944), 11–12.

6 Ibid., 12.

7 Chester Wilmot, The Struggle for Europe (London: Collins, 1952), 294.

8 John A. Willes, Out of the Clouds: The History of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion (Perry, ON: Port Perry Printing, 1995), 91.

9 Brian Nolan, Airborne: The Heroic Story of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in the Second World War (Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1995), 105.

10 Hartigan, 162.

11 Ibid., 169.

12 Ibid., 169.

13 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 10.

14 Hartigan, 174.

15 Napier Crookenden, Dropzone Normandy: The Story of the American and British Airborne Assault on D-Day 1944 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1976), 31.

16 Hartigan, 173–75.

17 Ibid., 175–76.

18 Ibid., 176.

19 Ibid., 176–77.

20 Ibid., 177–80.

9: GREEN AS GRASS

1 Bernard Law, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, The Memoirs of Field Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, K.G. (London: Collins, 1958), 251.

2 Carlo D’Este, Decision in Normandy: The Unwritten Story of Montgomery and the Allied Campaign (London: Penguin Books, 2001), 163.

3 Montgomery, 252.

4 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 141–42.

5 D’Este, 73.

6 Ibid., 161.

7 Chester Wilmot, The Struggle for Europe (London: Collins, 1952), 297.

8 Stacey, 80.

9 Wilmot, 299.

10 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 49–50.

11 N.p., “Combat Lessons–7 CDN INF BDE,” RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 1.

12 Gordon Brown and Terry Copp, Look to Your Front… Regina Rifles: A Regiment at War, 1944–45 (Waterloo: Laurier Centre Military Strategic Disarmament Studies, 2001), 58.

13 Stewart A.G. Mein, Up the Johns! The Story of the Royal Regina Rifles (North Battleford, SK: Turner-Warwick Publications, 1992), 113.

14 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 6 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 2917–18.

15 Tony Foulds, “In Support of the Canadians: A British Anti-Tank Regiment’s First Five Weeks in Normandy,” Canadian Military History, Spring 1998, vol. 7, 73.

16 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 6, 2917–18.

17 Royal Winnipeg Rifles War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 6.

18 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 6, 3015.

19 N.a., “Memorandum of Interview with Brig H.W. Foster, Comd 7 CDN INF BDE 22 Jun 44: 7 CDN INF BDE in the Assault and the Achievement of its Objective,” 018(D13), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.

20 Brigadier H.W. Foster, “7 CIB—Combat Lessons,” RG24, vol. 10986, Library and Archives Canada, 2.

21 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 6, 3015.

22 Ibid., 2981–82.

23 13th Field Regiment, RCAWar Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 3.

24 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 912.

25 Ibid.

26 Meyer, 50.

27 Regina Rifles War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

28 Reginald Roy, Ready for the Fray: The History of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) 1920 to 1955 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1958), 231–32.

29 13th Field Regiment, RCAWar Diary, 3.

30 1st Hussars Armoured Regiment War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 4.

31 Ibid.

32 A. Brandon Conron, A History of the First Hussars Regiment, 1856–1980 (n.p., 1981), 65–66.

33 Harold Bertrand Gonder, interview by Mark C. Hill, 23 July and 7, 8, 9 August 1985, University of Victoria Special Collections.

34 Ibid.

35 Mein, 113.

36 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 912.

37 Ibid., 833–34.

38 Ibid., 834–35.

39 Ibid., 835.

10: NOW YOU DIE

1 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 50.

2 Bruce Tascona and Eric Wells, Little Black Devils: A History of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles (Winnipeg: Frye Publishing, 1983), 151.

3 Meyer, 50.

4 Ibid.

5 Tony Foulds, “In Support of the Canadians: A British Anti-Tank Regiment’s First Five Weeks in Normandy,” Canadian Military History, Spring 1998, vol. 7, 74.

6 Harold Bertrand Gonder, interview by Mark C. Hill, 23 July and 7, 8, 9 August 1985, University of Victoria Special Collections.

7 Ibid.

8 Richard M. Ross, The History of the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG), (n.p., n.d.), 44.

9 Maj. G.T. MacEwan, “Battle Narrative: D-Day and the Counter-Attack on Putot-en-Bessin,” 145.2C4013(D3), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 5.

10 Foulds, 74.

11 MacEwan, “Battle Narrative,” 5.

12 Lochie Fulton, interview by Ken MacLeod, Victoria, BC, 9 February 1998.

13 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 6 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 2918–19.

14 Royal Winnipeg Rifles War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 7.

15 Ibid.

16 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 135.

17 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 6, 2982.

18 Meyer, 52.

19 Royal Winnipeg Rifles War Diary, 7.

20 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 6, 2985.

21 Ibid., 2983.

22 Ibid.

23 Ibid., 3044.

24 Ibid., 3017.

25 Ibid., 3045.

26 N.a., “Memorandum of Interview with CSM Belton, B Coy, R Wpg Rif, 14 Jun 44,” 145.2R20011(1), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.p.

27 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 6, 3045.

28 Ibid.

29 Ibid., 3015–18.

30 Stacey, 136.

31 Howard Margolian, Conduct Unbecoming: The Story of the Murder of Canadian Prisoners of War in Normandy (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998), 80–81.

32 Ibid., 82–87.

33 Ibid., 90–93.

34 Ibid., 96–99.

11: ONE HELL OF A GOOD SCRAP

1 Jim Parks, interview by Ken MacLeod, Vancouver, BC, November 1997.

2 Ibid.

3 Lt. Col. F.N. Cabeldu, “Battle Narrative of the Normandy Assault and First Counterattack,” 145.2C4013(D2), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

4 Tony Foulds, “In Support of the Canadians: A British Anti-Tank Regiment’s first five weeks in Normandy,” Canadian Military History, Spring 1998, vol. 7, 74.

5 Lt. Col. C.M. Wightman, “Battle Narrative: Putot en Bessin Counter Attack–June 8th, 1944 and the move to Rots,” 145.2C(D4), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 2.

6 Reginald Roy, Ready for the Fray: The History of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s), 1920 to 1955 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1958), 233.

7 Major C.M. Wightman, “Personal Diary,” Reginald Roy Collection, University of Victoria Special Collections, 3.

8 Roy, 234.

9 W. Berry, “Personal Accounts of Counter Attack on Putot,” Appendix to Canadian Scottish Regiment War Diary, June 1944, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

10 Geoffrey D. Corry, interview by Tom Torrie, 12 August 1987, University of Victoria Special Collections.

11 Thomas William Lowell Butters, interview by Tom Torrie, 19 August 1987, University of Victoria Special Collections.

12 Cabeldu, 4.

13 Maj. G.T. MacEwan, “Battle Narrative: D Day and the Counter-Attack on Putot-en-Bessin,” 145.2C4013(D3), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 6.

14 Ibid.

15 Cabeldu, 4.

16 MacEwan, 6.

17 Pte. R.H. Tutte, “The Advance, Occupation and Holding of the Bridge at Putot-en-Bessen As I Saw It,” Appendix to Canadian Scottish War Diary, June 1944, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

18 Pte. W.A.P. Campbell, “Personal Narrative in Personal Notes of Assault by c Scot R Personnel,” 145.2C4013(D1), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.

19 MacEwan, 6.

20 Roy, 236.

21 Lt. Thos. W.H. Butters, “Counter Attack on Putot-en-Besson on 9th [sic] June 44 and the Subsequent 24 hrs at the bridge: Collective Report by 17 Pl. ‘D’ Coy. 1 C.Scot.R,” Appendix to Canadian Scottish Regiment War Diary, June 1944, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

22 Butters interview.

23 Tutte, n.p.

24 Ibid.

25 Campbell, 1.

26 N.a., “War Diary ‘A’ Coy. I C. Scot R.,” Appendix to Canadian Scottish Regiment War Diary, June 1944, Library and Archives Canada, 2.

27 Ibid.

28 Jack Daubs, interview by John Gregory Thompson, London, ON, 9 October 2003.

29 Roy, 237–38.

30 “War Diary ‘A’ Coy. I C. Scot R.,” 2.

31 Roy, 238.

32 “War Diary ‘A’ Coy. I C. Scot R.,” 2.

33 Roy, 238.

34 Campbell, 1.

35 “War Diary ‘A’ Coy. I C. Scot R.,” 2.

36 Corry interview.

37 Wightman, “Battle Narrative,” 3.

12: FIGHT TO THE DEATH

1 Michael Reynolds, Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy (New York: Dell Publishing, 1997), 95.

2 Howard Margolian, Conduct Unbecoming: The Story of the Murder of Canadian Prisoners of War in Normandy (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998), 71–73.

3 Terry Copp, Fields of Fire: The Canadians in Normandy (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2003), 72.

4 Kurt Meyer, Grenadier (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz, 1994), 125.

5 Ibid., 126.

6 Ibid.

7 Ibid.

8 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 2 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 912.

9 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 55.

10 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Gunners of Canada, vol. 2 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1972), 282.

11 Hubert Meyer, 55.

12 Ibid., 55.

13 Ibid.

14 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 836–839.

15 Richard M. Ross, The History of the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (MG), (n.p., n.d.), 45.

16 N.a., “Memorandum of Interview with Lt. Col. F.M. Matheson, OC, Regina Rif. by Historical Offr, 24 Jun. 44,” 145.2R11011(4), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

17 Ibid.

18 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 881.

19 “Memorandum of Interview with Lt. Col. Matheson,” 3.

20 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 839–43.

21 Kurt Meyer, 126–27.

22 Portugal, 843–55.

23 Hubert Meyer, 57.

24 “Memorandum of Interview with Lt. Col. Matheson,” 4.

25 Stewart A.G. Mein, Up the Johns! The Story of the Royal Regina Rifles (North Battleford, SK: Turner-Warwick Publications, 1992), 115.

26 Ross, 45.

27 3rd Canadian Anti-Tank Regiment War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 3.

13: POTENTIAL MENACE REMOVED

1 N.a., “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 220.

2 C. Anthony Law, White Plumes Astern: The Short, Daring Life of Canada’s MTB Flotilla (Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 1989), 80–81.

3 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 221.

4 Law, 85.

5 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 221.

6 Ibid., 157.

7 Joseph Schull, Far Distant Ships: An Official Account of Canadian Naval Operations in World War II (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1991), 296.

8 Ibid.

9 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 196–97.

10 Ibid., 198.

11 Michael Whitby, “Masters of the Channel Night: The 10th Destroyer Flotilla’s Victory Off Ile De Batz, 9 June 1944,” Canadian Military History, vol. 2, no. 1, 1993, 7–8.

12 Ibid., 9.

13 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 162.

14 Ibid., 163.

15 Whitby, 5.

16 Schull, 287–88.

17 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 164.

18 Whitby, 8.

19 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 164–66.

20 Ibid., 169.

21 Whitby, 13.

22 “The Royal Canadian Navy’s Part in the Invasion,” 172.

23 Whitby, 13.

24 Don Cheney, interview by Glen Cook, 16 November 2000, Ottawa, Canadian War Museum Oral History Project Collection.

14: WITH RAGE AND SORROW

1 Carlo D’Este, Decision in Normandy: The Unwritten Story of Montgomery and the Allied Campaign (London: Penguin Books, 2001), 164.

2 Michael Reynolds, Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy (New York: Dell Publishing, 1997), 104.

3 D’Este, 166.

4 Ibid.

5 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 58.

6 Reynolds, 103.

7 Ibid.

8 Meyer, 58.

9 A. Brandon Conron, A History of the First Hussars Regiment, 1856–1980 (n.p., 1981), 66.

10 Meyer, 58–59.

11 Reynolds, 102.

12 Meyer, 59.

13 Alex McKee, Caen: Anvil of Victory (London: Souvenir Press, 1964), 84–85.

14 Lt. Col. F.N. Cabeldu, “Battle Narrative of the Normandy Assault and First Counter-Attack,” 145.2C4013(D2), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 4.

15 Reginald Roy, Ready for the Fray: The History of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) 1920 to 1955 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1958), 239.

16 Pte. R.H. Tutte, “The Advance, Occupation and Holding of the Bridge at Putot-en-Bessen As I Saw It,” Appendix to Canadian Scottish War Diary, June 1944, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

17 Ibid.

18 N.a., “War Diary ‘A’ Coy. I C. Scot R.,” Appendix to Canadian Scottish Regiment War Diary, June 1944, Library and Archives Canada, 2.

19 Tutte, n.p.

20 “War Diary ‘A’ Coy. I C. Scot R.,” 3.

21 Tutte, n.p.

22 “War Diary ‘A’ Coy. I C. Scot R.,” 3.

23 Ibid.

24 Roy, 239–40.

25 Tutte, n.p.

26 Ibid.

27 Capt. P.F. Ramsay, “Battle Narrative: ‘B’ Coy, 1 C Scot R,” 145.2C4(D6), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 5.

28 Maj. L.J. Henderson, “‘D’ Coy Activities at Putot-en-Besson Bridge, 9 June 44,” 1 C.Scot.R, Appendix to Canadian Scottish Regiment War Diary, June 1944, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

29 Roy, 239–40.

30 “War Diary ‘A’ Coy. I C. Scot R.,” 3.

31 Cabeldu, 4.

32 Robert Lowder Seaborn, interview by Cameron Falconer, 23 February 1983, University of Victoria Special Collections.

33 “Letter written by Fred to Cousin Arne in Canada,” Robert Lowder Seaborn and Family Papers, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

34 Seaborn interview.

35 Ibid.

15: TOO GREAT A RISK

1 W.R. Freasby, ed., Official History of the Canadian Medical Services, 1939–1945, Vol. 1: Organization and Campaigns (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 221–23.

2 Bill McAndrew and Terry Copp, Battle Exhaustion: Soldiers and Psychiatrists in the Canadian Army, 1939–1945 (Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University, 1990), 111.

3 Ibid., 112.

4 Ibid., 113.

5 Freasby, 223–24.

6 Bill McAndrew, Donald E. Graves, and Michael Whitby, Normandy 1944: The Canadian Summer (Montreal: éditions Art Global, 1994), 58.

7 Joseph Greenblatt Correspondence, June 10, 1944, Archival Collection CN: 19990209–002, DOCS MANU 58A 1 155.3–6, Canadian War Museum.

8 Freasby, 225–26.

9 Kurt Meyer, Grenadier (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz, 1994), 128.

10 Roger Chevalier, interview by author, Courseulles-sur-Mer, 23 May 2003.

11 Le Régiment de la Chaudière War Diary, June 1944 (trans. Tony Poulin from RG24, Library and Archives Canada), in possession of the author, n.p.

12 3rd Canadian Infantry Division GSWar Diary, June 1944, Appendix Jacket No. 1 Message Log, RG24, Library and Archives Canada.

13 Le Régiment de la Chaudière War Diary.

14 George V. Eckenfelder, interview by Tom Torrie, 7 August 1987, University of Victoria Special Collections.

15 Ibid.

16 Alex McKee, Caen: Anvil of Victory (London: Souvenir Press, 1964), 85.

17 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, message log.

18 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

19 Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 8.

20 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 2 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 913.

21 13th Field Regiment War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 4.

22 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 138.

23 3rd Canadian Infantry Division War Diary, message logs.

24 Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

25 Highland Light Infantry War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

26 Ibid.

27 Ibid.

28 Ibid.

16: FIX BAYONETS

1 Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

2 William Boss, Up the Glens: Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, 1783–1994 (Cornwall, ON: Old Book Store, 1995), 187.

3 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 3 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 1460.

4 Boss, 188.

5 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1312.

6 Ibid., 1311.

7 Boss, 188.

8 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1383.

9 Alex McKee, Caen: Anvil of Victory (London: Souvenir Press, 1964), 85.

10 Walter Warlimont, Inside Hitler’s Headquarters, 1939–45 (New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1964), 427–29.

11 Michael Reynolds, Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy (New York: Dell Publishing, 1997), 103.

12 Hans von Luck, Panzer Grenadier: The Memoirs of Colonel Hans von Luck (Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1989), 145.

13 Ibid., 145–46.

14 John A. Willes, Out of the Clouds: The History of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion (Perry, ON: Port Perry Printing, 1995), 85.

15 Maj. John P. Hanson, “Canadian Para Bn Corres re Ops 1st Cdn Para Bn from various officers,” 145.4013(D5), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

16 Willes, 86.

17 Brian Nolan, Airborne: The Heroic Story of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in the Second World War (Toronto: Lester Publishing, 1995), 106.

18 Ibid., 106–107.

19 John R. Madden, recorded recollections, 1987, University of Victoria Special Collections.

20 Ibid.

21 Willes, 86–87.

22 Dan Hartigan, A Rising of Courage: Canada’s Paratroops in the Liberation of Normandy (Calgary: Drop Zone Publishers, 2000), 220.

17: GETTING NOWHERE

1 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 138.

2 Chris Vokes, Vokes: My Story (Ottawa: Gallery, 1985), 147.

3 Ernest Côté, interview by Michael Boire, Ottawa, 14 November 2003.

4 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

5 Ibid., n.p.

6 Ibid.

7 Ibid.

8 Ibid.

9 Ibid.

10 Dan Hartigan, A Rising of Courage: Canada’s Paratroops in the Liberation of Normandy (Calgary: Drop Zone Publishers, 2000), 219–22.

11 Napier Crookenden, Dropzone Normandy: The Story of the American and British Airborne Assaults on D-Day, 1944 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1976), 263.

12 North Nova Scotia Highlanders War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

13 Ibid.

14 Harold Bertrand Gonder, interview by Mark C. Hill, 23 July and 7, 8, 9 August 1985, University of Victoria Special Collections.

15 Reginald Roy, Ready for the Fray: The History of the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) 1920 to 1955 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1958), 241–42.

16 Ibid.

17 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 61.

18 Michael Reynolds, Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy (New York: Dell Publishing, 1997), 106.

19 Regina Rifles War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

20 Dave McIntosh, High Blue Battle: The War Diary of No. 1 (401) Fighter Squadron, RCAF (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1990), 148.

21 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 7 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 3277–78.

22 Ralph Bennett, Ultra in the West: The Normandy Campaign, 1944–45 (London: Hutchinson & Co., 1979), 74.

23 Clarence R. Dunlap, interview by Chris Bell, 1, 10, 17 March and 21 April 1983, University of Victoria Special Collections.

24 Max Hastings, Overlord: D-Day and the Battle For Normandy (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984), 174.

25 Bennett, 75.

26 Reynolds, 106–108.

18: ATTACK AT ONCE

1 Michael Reynolds, Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy (New York: Dell Publishing, 1997), 108.

2 Ibid.

3 Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

4 3rd Canadian Infantry Division GSWar Diary, June 1944, Appendix Jacket No. 1 Message Log, RG24, Library and Archives Canada.

5 Ibid.

6 J. Allan Snowie, Bloody Buron: The Battles of Buron Normandy—08 July 1944 (Erin, ON: The Boston Mills Press, 1984), 38.

7 Ibid.

8 Ibid., 39.

9 3rd Canadian Infantry Division GSWar Diary, Message Log.

10 Snowie, 39.

11 Highland Light Infantry War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 15.

12 Michael R. McNorgan, “Black Sabbath for the First Hussars: Action at Le Mesnil Patry, 11 June 1944,” Fighting for Canada: Seven Battles, 1758–1945, ed. Donald E. Graves (Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2000), 282.

13 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

14 3rd Canadian Infantry Division GSWar Diary, Message Log.

15 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, n.p.

16 1st Hussars War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 6.

17 A. Brandon Conron, A History of the First Hussars Regiment, 1856–1980 (n.p., 1981), 67.

18 Michael R. McNorgan, “Black Sabbath for the First Hussars: Action at Le Mesnil Patry, 11 June 1944,” Fighting for Canada: Seven Battles, 1758–1945, ed. Donald E. Graves (Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2000), 281–282.

19 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 3 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 1447.

20 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, n.p.

21 1st Hussars War Diary, 6.

22 Queen’s Own Rifles War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

23 W.T. Barnard, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, 1860–1960: One Hundred Years of Canada (Don Mills, ON: The Ontario Publishing Company Limited, 1960), 201.

24 N.a., “Interview with Major J.H. Gordon, Queen’s Own Rifles,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 2.

25 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1473.

26 N.a., Vanguard: The Fort Garry Horse in the Second World War (Doetincham, Holland: Uitgevers-Maatschappij, D. Misset, NV, n.d), 138.

27 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 69.

28 Ibid.

29 N.a., “46th Royal Marine Commandos, 6–12 June 1944,” PRO DEFE2/977 Public Records Office, London, n.p.

30 Vanguard, 139.

31 Fort Garry Horse War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Appendix No. 1, Library and Archives Canada, 6.

32 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1474.

33 Vanguard, 139.

34 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1747.

35 Vanguard, 139.

36 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1474–75.

37 Vanguard, 139–40.

38 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1475–76.

39 Vanguard, 140.

40 Meyer, 70.

41 Vanguard, 140.

42 Vanguard, 24.

43 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1476.

44 Vanguard, 24.

45 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1475.

46 Vanguard, 158.

47 “46th Royal Marine Commandos,” n.p.

48 Meyer, 71.

19: WE’VE BEEN SUCKED IN

1 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

2 Michael R. McNorgan, “Black Sabbath for the First Hussars: Action at Le Mesnil Patry, 11 June 1944,” Fighting for Canada: Seven Battles, 1758–1945, ed. Donald E. Graves (Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2000), 288.

3 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, n.p.

4 Ibid.

5 McNorgan, 288–89.

6 North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Appendix 6, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

7 12th Field Regiment, RCAWar Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

8 1st Hussars War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Appendix 10: “Account of Personal Experiences in Action on Sun Jun 11–44 by Trooper I.O. Dodds,” Library and Archives Canada, 1.

9 McNorgan, 294.

10 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 67.

11 Bill McAndrew, Donald E. Graves, and Michael Whitby, Normandy 1944: The Canadian Summer (Montreal: éditions Art Global, 1994), 62.

12 1st Hussars War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 6.

13 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 2 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 655–58.

14 N.a., “Interview with Major J.H. Gordon, Queen’s Own Rifles,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 2.

15 Roy Whitsed, Canadians: A Battalion at War (Mississauga, ON: Burlington Books, 1996), 202.

16 Ibid.

17 McNorgan, 295.

18 1st Hussars War Diary, “Account of Personal Experiences in Action on Sun Jun 11–44 by Trooper I.O. Dodds,” 1.

19 Alex McKee, Caen: Anvil of Victory (London: Souvenir Press, 1964), 89.

20 Jim Simpson, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Windsor, ON, 13 September 2003.

21 Bill McCormick, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Galt, ON, 3 October 2003.

22 1st Hussars War Diary, “Account of Personal Experiences in Action on Sun Jun 11–44 by Trooper I.O. Dodds,” 1.

23 McKee, 90.

24 McNorgan, 293.

25 A. Brandon Conron, A History of the First Hussars Regiment, 1856–1980 (n.p., 1981), 68.

26 “Interview with Major J.H. Gordon,” 2.

27 Conron, 69.

28 1st Hussars War Diary, “Account of Personal Experiences in Action on Sun Jun 11–44 by Trooper I.O. Dodds,” 1.

29 McNorgan, 276.

30 Ibid.

31 Conron, 69.

32 Jack Martin, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Scarborough, ON, 1 October 2003.

33 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 641–42.

34 McKee, 90.

35 Simpson interview.

36 Ibid.

37 Lieutenant R. Rae, “Special Report: Action at le Mesnil-Patry–11 June 44, Mortar Officer’s Story,” 145.2q2011(4), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.p.

38 Martin interview.

39 Whitsed, 203.

40 Rae, “Special Report, Action at le Mesnil-Patry–11 June 44, Results,” n.p.

41 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 658–59.

42 1st Hussars War Diary, “Account of Personal Experiences in Action on Sun Jun 11–44 by Trooper I.O. Dodds,” 1–2.

20: GUESS WE GO

1 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 67–68.

2 Ibid.

3 Michael R. McNorgan, “Black Sabbath for the First Hussars: Action at Le Mesnil Patry, 11 June 1944,” Fighting for Canada: Seven Battles, 1758–1945, ed. Donald E. Graves (Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2000), 301.

4 Meyer, 68.

5 Art Boyle, interview by John Gregory Thompson, London, ON, 30 September 2003.

6 Lieutenant R. Rae, “Special Report: Action at le Mesnil-Patry–11 June 44, Results,” 145.2q2011(4), Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.p.

7 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 2 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 678.

8 Ibid., 679.

9 Ibid.

10 McNorgan, 304.

11 Ibid., 305.

12 Bill McCormick, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Galt, ON, 3 October 2003.

13 Ibid.

14 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

15 1st Hussars War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 7.

16 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, n.p.

17 1st Hussars War Diary, 7.

18 “1st Hussars Drive Into Ambush, Save Caen Hinge, in Saga of Sacrifice at Caen,” London Evening Free Press, 9 September 1944, p. 1.

19 McNorgan, 305–306.

20 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 641–42.

21 1st Hussars War Diary, 7.

22 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 3, 1448.

23 Jim Simpson, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Windsor, ON, 13 September 2003.

24 Alex McKee, Caen: Anvil of Victory (London: Souvenir Press, 1964), 92.

25 A. Brandon Conron, A History of the First Hussars Regiment, 1856–1980 (n.p., 1981), 73.

26 Larry Allen, “WWII Diary of L. Allen—The Story of a D-Day Soldier,” 1st Hussars Regimental Museum.

27 McCormick interview.

28 Jack Martin, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Scarborough, ON, 1 October 2003.

29 McNorgan, 307–308.

30 Ibid., 308.

31 Jack Martin interview.

32 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 683.

33 John Marteinson and Michael R. McNorgan, The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps: An Illustrated History (Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2000), 247.

34 Simpson interview.

21: VIVE LE CANADA!

1 1st Hussars War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Appendix 10: “Account of Personal Experiences in Action on Sun Jun 11–44 by Trooper I.O. Dodds,” Library and Archives Canada, 2–3.

2 Larry Allen, “WWII Diary of L. Allen—The Story of a D-Day Soldier,” 1st Hussars Regimental Museum.

3 Roy Whitsed, Canadians: A Battalion at War (Mississauga, ON: Burlington Books, 1996), 203–205.

4 Howard Margolian, Conduct Unbecoming: The Story of the Murder of Canadian Prisoners of War in Normandy (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1998), 112–16.

5 Jean E. Portugal, We Were There: The Navy, the Army and the RCAF—A Record for Canada, vol. 2 (Shelburne, ON: The Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1998), 1024–25.

6 Col. C.P. Stacey, The Victory Campaign: The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944–1945, vol. 3 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1960), 140.

7 W.T. Barnard, The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, 1860–1960: One Hundred Years of Canada (Don Mills, ON: The Ontario Publishing Co., 1960), 202–203.

8 Hubert Meyer, The History of the 12. SS-Panzerdivision “Hitlerjugend” (Winnipeg: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing, 1994), 69.

9 1st Hussars War Diary, n.p.

10 Meyer, 69.

11 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 2, 683.

12 A. Brandon Conron, A History of the First Hussars Regiment, 1856–1980 (n.p., 1981), 74.

13 Barnard, 203.

14 Michael Reynolds, Steel Inferno: I SS Panzer Corps in Normandy (New York: Dell Publishing, 1997), 106.

15 Dave Kingston, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Mississauga, ON, 10 September 2003.

16 Charles Martin, Battle Diary: From D-Day and Normandy to the Zuider Zee (Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1994), 22–23.

17 Jim McCullough, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Loretto, ON, 9 September 2003.

18 Jim Simpson, interview by John Gregory Thompson, Windsor, ON, 13 September 2003.

19 Martin, 23.

20 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 5, 2318–19.

21 Ibid., 2318.

22 Jacques Henry, La Normandie en flammes: journal de guerre du capitaine Gérard Leroux, officier d’intelligence au Régiment de la Chaudière, trans. Alex McQuarrie (Conde-sur-Noireau: C. Corlet, 1984), 397–98.

23 Le Régiment de la Chaudière War Diary, June 1944, RG24, Library and Archives Canada, 378.

24 Max Hastings, Overlord: D-Day and the Battle For Normandy (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1984), 130.

25 Napier Crookenden, Dropzone Normandy: The Story of the American and British Airborne Assault on D-Day 1944 (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1976), 267.

26 John R. Madden, recorded recollections, 1987, University of Victoria Special Collections.

27 Dan Hartigan, A Rising of Courage: Canada’s Paratroops in the Liberation of Normandy (Calgary: Drop Zone Publishers, 2000), 232.

28 Madden recorded recollections.

29 Ibid.

30 Hartigan, 234.

31 Ibid., 234–35.

32 Ibid., 235–37.

33 Ibid., 239.

34 Madden recorded recollections.

35 Portugal, We Were There, vol. 5, 857–59.

36 Ibid.

37 Stacey, 140.

38 Ibid.