Award MID & French Military Medal Cpl. W.R. Le Bar, Royal Winnipeg Rifles

Discussion in 'Canadian' started by brithm, Oct 4, 2022.

  1. brithm

    brithm Senior Member

    Award Mentioned in Despatches & French Military Medal Cpl. Wesley Roy Le Bar, (H62861), Royal Winnipeg Rifles, (M.I.9/S/P.G. (F) 2423).

    Left: FRANCE, 6th June1944
    Arrival: U.K., 9th September 1944
    Date of Birth: 11th April 1923
    Peacetime Profession: Lumberman
    Private Address: PORT COLDWELL, Ontario, Canada
    Army Service: Since 10th October 1941

    I was captured on 8th June 1944 during a German Panzer and S.S. counter-attack, along with 12 other men of my Company, three miles S.E. of BRETTEVILLE (FRANCE, 1:250,000, Sheet 8, T97) on the CAEN railway. After capture we were searched, and all our personal and military belongings were taken away from us. I had in my possession a German pistol which, however I threw away just before being taken P/W. In my pocket I still had a clip for the pistol. Then it was a German O.R. tried to kill me with his bayonet. However, I dodged and was only wounded in my arm. They searched us then to the village of BRETTEVILLE where we slept overnight in the school yard no food whatsoever.

    On 9th June we were marched approximately 40 kms in the direction of FLERS (T62), where we arrived on 11th June. During those two days we did not receive any food. The German guards were robbing the farmhouse along the road for their own food – ham, eggs and wine – which they ate in front of our eyes. On 12th June we passed on towards RENNES, where we arrived on 14th June. During the whole journey we received only one tin of … soup. We had plenty of water. During that trip we were strafed by 12 American Mustangs, which killed 10/19(?) of us and wounded 37. In our group there must have been about 200 P/W.

    On 14th June we were put into Front Stalag 133, a number which I got from a Red Cross form which we had to fill in. We stayed there until 8th July. During that time I was interrogated twice by a German officer, but after he saw that I was not willing to speak I was left alone.

    On 8th July we were loaded into a train for GERMANY. We went via ANGERS and TOURS. At LA VILLE, a small village just outside TOURS, we were held up for 10 fays because Allied aircraft had destroyed the railway track. On the night of 21st July the train moved and I escaped a few miles outside TOURS at approximately 2300 hrs. With me were two Americans Pte. LEFFRE, of 101 Para Regt and Pte. HUFF, of 508 Para Regt. We had cut our way through the side of the box car. We went N.W. to a small village approximately 16 kms from AMBOISE (Sheet 15, P96). We arrived there at 0600 hrs on 22nd July. Some civilians fed us, gave us clothing and shelter. On the same afternoon we were sent by cat about 80 kms. South to a Maquis camp in the woods near MEZIERES EN BRENNE (Sheet 21, L10). We stayed there until 28th July. In that camp there were about 300 to 350 Maquis. They were well armed, mostly with British and American small arms. On 23rd July we were attacked by approximately 800 Germans who had two tanks. During that battle I fought with them. We had to retire, after inflicting considerable casualties on the Germans and went back about eight kms.

    On 28th July we went to a farm near the village of MESIERES, where an English Special Force Major, who had been parachuted around D-Day and who was in charge of the area, radioed our names back to LONDON. We stayed there about a week, helping the Major in his radio station.

    On 4th August we went North to the village of ST. HIPOLITE (L02), where we encountered a French Foreign Legion Colonel (Georges LACROSSE), who was in charge of a Maquis Company. We fought with him until 7th September, when we contacted the Americans. During the time with the Colonel I was decorated by the French in the battle with the Germans who had occupied ST. HYPOLITE. I received the Medal Militaire.

    On 9th September I was returned to the U.K.

    WO 373/63/172

    WO 208/3323/2423

    WO 373/63/6


    Wesley Roy LeBar (1925-1991) - Find a Grave Memorial
     
    CL1, 17thDYRCH and Chris C like this.
  2. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Wow, what a story! Thanks for sharing :)
     
    brithm likes this.

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