STEWART, WILLMOT HARVEY Rank: Private Service No: F/31594 Date of Death: 26/05/1944 Age: 23 Regiment/Service: Cape Breton Highlanders, R.C.I.C Grave Reference V. D. 14. Cemetery CASSINO WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of D. Stephen and Lucya Stewart, of O'Leary, Prince Edward Island, Canada. CWGC - Cemetery Details
Clive - Pte Stewart might have been one of the first casualties of his battalion from the 11CIB of 5th CAD when on that date they were between the River Melfi and Ceprano after Major Mahony of the Westminsters won his V.C. for his defence of the Melfi bridgehead Cheers
First CBH war casualty was in Jan ’44 and it was a piper – same as in WW1. Page 138 “THE BREED OF MANLY MEN”, Alex Morrison, Ted Slaney “The first casualties occurred on 15 Jan (1944) at about 1100 hours when the observation post occupied by Lance-Corporal G.H. MacDonald and Private J.A.MacKinnon came under mortar fire. Private Steve Humeniuk watched from his slit trench as the Germans ranged-in on the observation post, one round landing in back then another in front and finally the third very close to the two soldiers. Humeniuk and Private F. Thomas immediately went out and dragged the wounded Private MacKinnon back to A Company headquarters. Lance-Corporal MacDonald from New Waterford, a member of the Intelligence Section and a piper, had been killed. He was the first CBH battle casualty of the Second World War. . . . . He died within minutes of being hit but not until he made an effort to pass information on the position of the enemy. He is buried in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery near Ortona.” . . . “Private MacKinnon was badly wounded and had one foot amputated” Page 144 “THE BREED OF MANLY MEN”, Alex Morrison, Ted Slaney “At 1345 hours, D Company under Major WW Ogilvie began its advance down one of the gullies behind an artillery supporting barrage. The smoke that had been promised to screen the attack was ineffective for two reasons ; the unit that had originally been scheduled to fire the shells had also been tasked to help the Perths in its first attack and could not make the switch to the CBH; second, the new unit providing the smoke was firing mortars, which had a larger danger area and which required the troops to stay father away from where the shells would be falling.” “Any time pinned down soldiers moved, they were immediately fired upon. Major Ogilvie was wounded at approximately 1700 hours. CMS O’Grady of North Sydney managed to extricate himself from a stream in which he had been oinned down and took over command of the company. Later, Lieutenant DU Smith took over and tried to make some progress but was stopped by machine-gun fire. A single shell killed Corporal AJ Smith, and Privates BH Hedd and RA Chaisson.” “Throughout the battle, the Stretcher Bearers (SBs) had been in the valley helping to treat and evacuate the wounded. Lieutenant PJ Stevens organized additional SB parties composed of Battalion HQ, Support Company and Signals personnel. There was plenty of work for everyone –all conducted under intensive enemy fire.” Page 146 8 “THE BREED OF MANLY MEN”, Alex Morrison, Ted Slaney CBH casualties were exceptionally heavy. The War Diary reports the total as 51, but some who had been wounded were not evacuated: they recovered right away. The generally accepted total is 13 soldiers killed.” (16 Jan ’44)
Page 183 “THE BREED OF MANLY MEN”, Alex Morrison, Ted Slaney (24 May ’44 - Melfa) “ Although the 11 CIB report mentions only light shell fire, A Company suffered one fatal casualty and one soldier wounded due to shelling encountered after debussing. As the level of the headquarters making the report increases, the generality of the words becomes more pronounced. Thus, “light shell fire” to 11 CIB was, in fact, deadly to the CBH.” WD Cape Breton Highlanders, 11 CIB May 1944 – May 22/44 “The shells caused 6 casualties – 3 killed, 3 wounded.” May 23/44 2 killed , 4 wounded, 1 evacuated with shell shock May 24 /44 1 killed, 1 wounded (A COY) May 25/44 (approx 1630 hr) “During the advance, Major MacLaughlin OC B COY was wounded in the chest and leg by shrapnel. In spite of this , he continued to lead his company to the objective and only then did he return to RAP for treatment.” (approx 1745) “Captain Archibald OC A COY was killed just as he led his men on the objective.” Lieutenant MacLeod wounded, leg, Lieutenant Stockhouse wounded , arm May 26/44 (approx 0700 hr) Sgt MacCormick killed, several wounded (after 1900 hr) 2 killed, including Lieutenant LA Smith IO , several wounded
BrownN I can appreciate your defence of the 11CIB and the 5CAD - but really - 23KIA in FIVE months is hardly a wipeout as this does not amount to a whole platoon - other units had been losing whole companies at Cassino - check the KIA's in 1st CAD in the Liri Valley - The NIH - supporting 2nd CIB- had 70 casualties on the first DAY into the Valley with 30 dead - 51st RTR also lost 70 casualties - with about the same ratio of 30 KIA's. Friend of mine - 2nd Lt. joined his battalion at Cassino straight from the Uk - first day he was a full LT.- second - Captain - third day - Major- seventh day they were pulled out of the line and he and the Lt.Colonel plus 9 OR's went back to the Uk with the regimental Colours - that was all that was left of a whole battalion of approx. 700 men...! Sort of puts your 23 CBH into some perspective Cheers
Hello again . . . I was not insinuating that the CBH lost more men than any other regiment or unit. I was merely noting that their FIRST casualties occurred before May '44.
I believe BrownN post relates to the Remembering Today 26/5/44 W.H.Stewart F/31594 Cape Breton Highlanders, R.C.I.C and the Cape Breton Highlanders. Thank you regards Clive
Clive/Brown N - My first posting on this thread(#2) relates to the fact that Stewart MIGHT have been the first casualty -BrownN points out that he was NOT one of the first but rather that he - seemingly - was one of the first 23 KIA's of that battalion and it would appear that she is quite correct - according to the passages from the book she quoted and obviously was written about their first foray into action after Ortona... Cheers
