Research Project: George Robert “Bob” Armstrong – Calgary Tanks, Dieppe, POW & Colditz

Hello everyone,

I’m starting a year-long research project focused on George Robert “Bob” Armstrong, a Canadian WWII veteran from Bentley, Alberta, and I wanted to introduce the project here as I work through some remaining gaps — particularly his time as a POW.

Bob served with the 14th Canadian Army Tank Regiment (Calgary Tanks) and landed at Dieppe on 19 August 1942. He was a crewman in a Churchill Mk III, was captured during the raid, and spent the remainder of the war as a prisoner of war. Post-war newspaper articles and family history indicate that he was held in Stalag VII-B and later at Colditz Castle, though I am still trying to accurately reconstruct the timeline of his captivity and movements between camps.

Over the next year, I’m working toward a Remembrance Day 2026 museum exhibit at my local museum, which will include:

• A biographical display on Bob Armstrong
  
  
• Original newspaper coverage and oral history material
  
  
• A 3D-printed diorama of the Dieppe landing, specifically depicting the Churchill Mk III Cougar and the beach conditions faced by Calgary Tanks
  

The diorama is well underway in the planning stage, but the area where I’m still very much in research mode is Bob’s POW experience:

• Confirmation of camps and dates
  
  
• Transport routes after Dieppe
  
  
• Any documentation tying Calgary Tanks POWs to Colditz
  
  
• Escape attempts or resistance activity (newspaper articles suggest this, but I want to verify it properly)
  

I have requested Bob’s full service file through Library and Archives Canada, but as many of you know, that process takes time. In the meantime, I’m hoping members here might be able to point me toward:

• Relevant war diaries or POW nominal rolls
  
  
• Calgary Tanks POW research already done
  
  
• Colditz/Stalag VII-B transfer records

• Or simply advice on how best to plot a POW’s movement when records are fragmented
  

I’ll be sharing progress updates as the project develops, and I’m very happy to credit any assistance in the final exhibit. This is both a research project and a labour of remembrance, and I want to do Bob’s story justice.

Thanks very much for reading — and for any guidance you’re able to offer.

Kristen
Canada

 

One of the really awesome things I was able to find was actual photos of Bobs tank, he was the driver/mechanic of the Churchill mk iii Cougar


68173 (Cougar), a Churchill Mk III, carried in Tank Landing Craft 2 (No. 127), No.13 Troop, “C” Squadron was the Troop Leader’s tank, commanded by Lieutenant T.R. Cornett. Cougar successfully crossed the beach having laid its chespaling and crossed the seawall onto the promenade, having only jettisoned part of its beach track laying device. After turning to the west, it was immediately hit by a 75mm round, jamming its turret. After this, it was only able to engage the tobacco factory with its main armament. Eventually, having broken one track and losing the other to enemy fire, it was destroyed by its crew prior to their retiring to the beach.

 

Was going to suggest International Committee of the Red Cross at this link:
Requests for information about people held during Spanish Civil War or Second World War: Quarterly limit reached
for a listing of all camps but see they have changed from accepting requests quarterly to only once per year. You have unfortunately missed the 2026 deadline by days.