85 Bridge Company, RCASC, september 1944

Hi all,

I was wondering if anybody could help me find the war diaries of the 85 Bridging Company, RCASC for september 44, prior to move to Bourg Leopold.

They were working on a Bailey bridge over the Albert Canal near Geel, private Henri Giroux died during this.
Casualty Details | CWGC

I hope to find some mentioning in WD or appendixes, but I can't find them. Even BAC/LAC mailed me they don't have them....

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi,
The National Archives, Kew, have a copy.

Reference is WO 179/3299, 85 Bridging Coy., 1944 Jan.- Dec.

This may not have the appendixes in it. I have noticed that a some of the Canadian WD at Kew only have the diary pages.

Regards

Danny

 

Hi

In the regimental history book of the 85 can bridge coy there are some words about Henri Giroux.Do you want a copy ?

Leloup

 

Wow! I would love to have a copy of that!

Thank you!

 

Still have a question about the 85 Bridge Company, RCASC.

I was wondering if there is anything in the unit history from their stay at Lummen, a little to the south of the Gheel bridge head and if you can find info on their officer, Hariss Arbrikke (?) who was from Montréal according to locals.

It would have been from Christmas to the end of February. M troop for sure was in the area then.

I enclose a picture.



Thank you!
Niko.

 

Hi. I am also working on a project about the RCASC's 85th Can. bridges Coy. Lot of my work is about Lt.Colonel Alexandre Gagnon. He was a Major at this time of the war and if i am not wrong, he was in command for this company. I have his personnal diary, a lot of photos and letters from him and his family. What information do you have about the Company for now ? Thank you and have a nice day

 

Hi,
I'm afraid I didn't make any progress on the subject.

 

Good morning, Niko. I have just this morning stumbled across this website and noticed your inquiry above. I believe you are referring to Harris Arbique (my father), who commanded the 85th Bridge Company for a time in 1944. My father was indeed born in Montreal, but lived the rest of his life here in Ottawa until his death in 2000. Why are you asking?

 

If you prefer, you may reply to me directly off this site at mark@arbiqueahde.com.

 

Sorry, to clarify, I said my dad commanded the Company - meant to say a platoon of the Company, pretty sure he never commanded the Company.

 

Hi Mark,

I askes for a local historian from Lummen, but after 2 years, I forgot the details why. I'll contact him.

Greetings,
Niko

 

Thanks for getting back, Niko. I was shocked to stumble across my dad's name (just found the site by accident looking for something else on the RCASC) so I'm kind of curious.

Mark

 

Lynn,

Welcome aboard. 9600HP has not logged in since 29/9/2024 and Leloup was here in July 2024. He only posted once in 2021.

I will alert both of them using the Private Message (PM) option, you get access to create a PM after x5 posts, but you can receive and reply to a PM.

 

I have been searching for information about my father, Corporal Frank Nelson, (#1 section F platoon 85th Bridge Cop) who was injured sometime after his service in Nijmegan and Arnham. We believe it was in December 1944 that he had an accident with his motorcycle. He suffered severe injuries and the Corporal that was with him was killed. I would be very interested to find out where and when this happened and also the name of the other man. I appreciate any information you may have about him or ideas where I may find more info.

 

Lynn,

Using the CWGC database found one possible for you in December 1944, he was a Corporal:

1) https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2080631/edgar-earl-bathurst/ On 22/10/1944 (manual entry amendment) and a member of 85 Bridging! family from Montreal. Originally buried in Luxembourg and concentrated to the Netherlands.

I expect the answer will be in their Service Records, which might show ho he died. Others here will know how to apply for a Canadian Army record. Perhaps the unit's War Diary might help?

Sometimes local newspapers report deaths, so might be worth identification of their home town paper.

An online search with: "85 Bridge Company" + "RCASC" site:ww2talk.com found only one other thread which has some help and the last post author could give more. See: Info 85 bridge coy There is almost nothing available online.

Some context for the unit, see Post 13: 15 Coy RCASC - MLU FORUM

Finally, there is a Facebook group where the unit appears, but I cannot open it fully. See: Canadian Military Photos Lost and Found - Research Group | Researching my father's time during World Ward II and during the occupation | Facebook

 

THANK YOU - Thank you for all this information. The two possible name above were both buried in Italy so maybe not the one I'm looking for. I will keep digging and try to get the Army record and the War Diary.

 

Lynn,

Sorry, silly me I searched for Italy, not Holland, Standby and I will edit that post - now one possible, though died in October 1944..

 

Hi, just got the message on this post. I presume you have the same regimental history that I have. Don't recall any reference to such an accident but I'll check the F Platoon chapter at home tonight and respond.

Mark

 

Lynn,

Bathurst seems to be your man. His personnel file includes documentation from the Court of Inquiry and it mentions K45508 Cpl Nelson, EG (can you make that fit with the name Frank?) as seriously injured and evacuated to the UK. I see Nelson, FG in a couple of other places in the file, so possibly a typo/admin foulup. Nelson is indicated as dying of his injuries, I assume this must have been incorrect. Location was Caulille (Kaulille) Belgium.

Bathurst's personnel file is available here with a free Ancestry signup:
https://www.ancestry.ca/search/coll...a63982626&_phsrc=TZV12&_phstart=successSource