Canadian First Hussars WWII war diaries?

Discussion in 'Canadian' started by grandsonenfield, Aug 14, 2012.

  1. Anyone seen war diaries of the Canadian First hussars in WWII?

    My Grandfather was D+3. TOS all of July with 1st Hussars, then July with 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery regiment up to operation totalize then with 1st Hussars Aug1, 1944 until wounded Aug 10th, 1944.

    I'd like to get 1st hand accounts of the movements of the regiment. I don't know what 'Sqd' he was with.

    He enlisted with The Three Rivers Regiment (12thCTR) went home from April '43 to April 44 to teach at Camp Borden Ontario and came back missing T.R.R. going to Italy and was posted to 1st Hussars.

    he was in C Sqd of T.R.R. is it possible he was moved into C sqd of 1st hussars?

    I'm looking for photos of 1st hussars in July-August 1944 if any around.
    First time I've posted, hopefully it's not too hard on the eyes.
    Thanks
    grandsonenfield
     
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  2. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    grandsonenfield

    Your Grandfather missed a lot of fun with the Three Rivers as the landed in Sicily with the 1st Div and the landings at Italy - then after Ortona went on to assist some British
    Infantry units who held them in very high regard until they went off to Belgium in Feb '45

    Not likely that he would go into C sqdn - he would go where he was needed

    Cheers
     
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  3. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Grandsonenfield,
    You can send a PM to our good friend Dryan67. He usually is a great source for WD.
    Welcome to the forum and good luck with your research.
     
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  4. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Sorry, I do not have the 1st Hussars WD at this point, but I do have the regimental history published in 1980-81.
     
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  5. I know it's pretty interesting how he got moved around alot. What was more interesting was he initially enlisted with the Hastings and Prince Edward regiment, transferred to T.R.R. Hasty P's were in Italy as well.
    Thanks dryan67,
    I am trying to find the records in the 21st Army group or the canadian Armoured corps to find out what sqd he was in for all of July and Part of August.
    I still have some microfilm coming from Archives Canada and hope to shed some light on that. Thanks again everyone,
    Also I have about 40 photos of the Three Rivers reg, 1 panoramic of the entire group in 1941 before they went to england and a bunch of others, would it be ok if I posted them?
    Jeff
     
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  6. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Postings of pictures are always welcome.
     
  7. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is the period from the 1st Hussars Regimental History, all of July and August up to the 10th. It provides some good details on squadron moves and actions. Once you discover the squadron, it should help clear up your grandfather's moves.
     

    Attached Files:

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  8. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    I do have the war diary for the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment 1939-45. What was your grandfather's name (serial no) and for what period did he serve with the regiment?
     
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  9. Albert Joseph Darrington C6109
    Enlisted - June 4th, 1940 in Picton
    Transferred to Three Rivers regiment march 18, 1941 while in Camp Borden
    Awesome!!
     
  10. Thank you sooooo much!
     
  11. I have all the daily order numbers for his movements between 1st hussars and 25 Canadian Armoured Delivery Reg't.
    Would the daily orders when marked "TOS"taken on strength list the actual Sqd is was put in?
     
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  12. Roddy1011

    Roddy1011 Senior Member

    Hi there -

    Very interested to see your Grandfather was with TRR/1H/25CADR...do you have any paperwork or diaries etc?

    Am interested in 1H as they were twinned with my own Regt, the Royal Hussars. Like many I have seen the war diaries as I was able to obtain copies on microfilm through the International Lending system - well worth a go through your own library. Somewhere I also have one or two accounts of the Normandy fighting so will look them out for you over the w/e - if I can find them...

    Roddy
     
  13. Thank you Roddy1011!!
    I actually have an appointment with my Library, I have the reels on loan coming. I'm very excited. I'm a little upset our microfiche reader is old school with a printer, I was hoping it had a print to file option or image option. Oh well..
    My Grandfather was in Normandy DD+3, and was not in action until the 1st of July as per his records being brought up into 1st Hussars. I did get my grandfathers War records from Archives and find them quite interesting.
    There are portions which I know I would love to see the daily orders as these have more detail as to where exactly he was placed.
    He was in camp Borden from 1943 to 1944 as a Trainer,Gunner,Maint. and Driver and went back to England March 44.
     
  14. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    The service number (C6109) was definitely for the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. Although he enlisted in June 1940, the regiment was already in England at this point, which is why he was probably transferred to the Three River Regiment on March 18th, 1941. The war diaries for the H&PE Regiment reflect the time spent in England and would not mention your grandfather.

    There is a history of the Three Rivers Regiment located here:

    http://www.12rbc.ca/PDF/Anglais.pdf



    Albert Joseph Darrington C6109
    Enlisted - June 4th, 1940 in Picton
    Transferred to Three Rivers regiment march 18, 1941 while in Camp Borden
     
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  15. Thanks dryan67. I downloaded this awesome diary about two years ago. I was able to pull daily accounts as my Grandather was in C sqd up to April of 1943.
    I've talked to the TRR museum and I seriously need to book a hotel for a few nights and drive to the museum and get more info.
    When I didn't know anything about my Grandfather in the war, I read "Duffy's Regiment" not sure if you know the book. But it is an excellent book on the Hasty P's.
    Thanks again!!
     
  16. Oh one more thing, another reason why he was probably put in armoured was because he was 5,7 and only about 135 pounds. He ended up being a tank driver. Pretty suiting isn't it.. ha ha.
     
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  17. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is the section from the regimental history covering 9-30 June 1944.

    David
     

    Attached Files:

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  18. Pak75

    Pak75 Member

    HI All

    As per a previous post i have a duplicate copy First Hussars June July and Aug 1944 war diary for free if you would like to contact me. Only problem is i live in Sydney...

    Thanks Dryan 67 for copy regimental history. Any chance of pages from 6 June and rest of Aug?
    I also have copy of HQ 25 Armed delivery regiment for same period, sans appendices so not much detail i'm afraid.

    Cheers
     
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  19. I missed this post I've been away, I would so love to see the 25thCADR and the War Diary is it emailable? PM me and I'd send you my mailing address if you could burn a cd or something!! This would be amazing!
    Grandsonenfield
     
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  20. Pak75

    Pak75 Member

    Further to my PM i looked through more records and found attached from War diary of C Sqdn 25 CADR (Elgin). It is possible that your grandfather was 'unhorsed' in Opn Goodwood 18th July or subsequent few days action on Bourguebus Ridge and was sent back to C sqdn 25 CADR to form part of reinforcements there awaiting tanks and crew before being allocated back to First Hussars in early Aug. This would explain the SOS and TOS records.
    First Hussars (B sqdn) had 8 tanks damaged on mines during Goodwood clearing south Caen in support 3rd canadian Inf division whilst A sqdn had 4 tanks ko'd fighting around Beauvour Farm on 20th July.

    Cheers
     

    Attached Files:

    • c15.pdf
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    • c19.pdf
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