Researching uncle MARVIN SANDO'S WW 2 service @S. SASK REGIMENT, killed Sept.16/44

Fellow members: My intent is to create a document to honour the life of PRIVATE (NELS) MARVIN SANDO, service # L/155534. He served with the SOUTH SASK. REGIMENT, 6TH BRIGADE, 2DN INFANTRY DIV. He grew up on a farm near Preeceville Sask. --Records indicate he was killed on Sept 16/44 and he is buried in the COXYDE CEMETERY IN BELGIUM ( GRAVE REF. # I.A. 13.
Would truly appreciate any assistance with locating the answer to these questions or suggestions where I can research further: 1. When did he enlist and where was he trained? 2. When did his unit leave for Europe and where did they land? 3. What battles did he participate in where was he killed? 4. Family rumours indicate that he received a medal --how do I locate this info? 5. Where do I locate info regarding his service records, pay book or any personal belongs he had with him. 6. Are there any resources, books that could assist my research? 7. How do I go about posting a picture of my uncle on this site? 8. Would appreciate any suggestions on how to set this information into a worthy document format. --Thank you in advance. Repectfully, Gerald Sando email: gsando9@telus.net

 

4. Family rumours indicate that he received a medal --how do I locate this info?



I had a quick look for the surname in the London Gazette (which records all awards of medals for the Commonwealth - and officer promotions) and I couldn't find any hits that match his other details.

He may have been awarded a soldier's medal or a unit award that wouldn't make it into the gazette.



I suppose you really need his service records - I am sure someone will pop along with details of how to get them provided in Canada......

 

2. When did his unit leave for Europe and where did they land?

3. What battles did he participate in where was he killed?

Bits of info from Wiki for 2ND CANADIAN INFANTRY DIVISION follow:

Throughout September and October 1944, the First Canadian Army moved along the coast of France with the aim of securing the Channel ports. On 1 September, while the 3rd Division made for Boulogne and Calais, the 2nd Division entered Dieppe, encountering virtually no resistance. Five days later they were tasked by Montgomery and Crerar with retaking Dunkirk. Heavy fighting around the outskirts would hold the division for several days but, by 9 September, 5th Brigade had captured the port. The Dunkirk perimeter was handed over to the British on 15 September, and the 2nd Division made for Antwerp.

Although the Belgian White Brigade and elements of the 3rd British Division had entered Antwerp as early as 6 September, taking the city and docks, a strategic oversight meant that the nearby bridges over the Albert Canal were not seized, leaving the Germans in control of the Scheldt estuary. The failure to make an immediate push on the estuary ensured the strategically vital port would remain useless until the Scheldt was cleared. Strong formations of the Fifteenth German Army, which had withdrawn from the Pas de Calais, were able to consolidate their positions on the islands of South Beveland and Walcheren, as well as the Albert Canal directly northwest of Antwerp, and were further reinforced by elements of General Kurt Student's First Parachute Army.

During the initial phases of the battle, the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division sought to force a crossing of the Albert Canal. On 2 October, the entire First Canadian Army - under the temporary command of General Simonds - moved against the German defenses. Two days later, 2nd Division had cleared the canal, and was moving northwest towards South Beveland and Walcheren Island.



Assuming the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade including the South Saskatchewan Regiment were with the Division the whole time, then he might have been injured during the fighting for Dunkirk and died from his wounds later.

Or he might have died from a non-battle injury during the move to Antwerp

 

The 2nd Canadian Division, including the SSR's, relieved the British 53rd (Welsh) Division in Antwerp on 16 Sep 1944; German forces were still in possession of the northern outskirts of the city, and along the line of the Albert Canal.

 

They must have disengaged / been moved prior to the handover of Dunkirk on the 15th to have been in action in Antwerp on the 16th

THE LIBERATION OF BELGIUM

12 September 1944 - Turning attention now to the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade (2nd Canadian Infantry Division), the South Saskatchewan Regiment was still struggling to capture the naval battery at Lombardsijde. On the morning of 12 September the brigade commander visited the battalion and pointed out that the troops should be able to approach much nearer their objectives. A third company, C Company, was brought forward from Nieuwpoort to increase the pressure on the enemy. In the evening another demand for surrender was made, also informing the defenders of Le Havre's surrender that day and the capitulation of the battery at Westende-Plage. The presentation of a pay book belonging to the commander of that battery seems to have been a deciding factor in negotiating the surrender of the fort. The capitulation was completed on the morning of 13 September. On 12 September the naval batteries La Panne and Groenendijk-Plage also fell to the Canadians, more specifically the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada and Les Fuseliers Mont Royal. Initially, the battery at Groenendijk-Plage was attacked without success, but when all communication was lost by the defenders, the battery surrendered. The defenders of the battery La Panne left the battery after a heavy artillery barrage and withdrew into the fortress Dunkirk.


On 16 September the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (2nd Canadian Corps) moved to Antwerp and relieved the 71st Infantry Brigade of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division (12th British Corps) in the lock area of the harbour. The latter division, together with the whole of 12th Corps was tasked to guard the left flank of the British 30th Corps during operation Market Garden. The defence and protection of the all-important locks became of prime significance to the future success of 21st Army Group's operations. The enemy was still holding strong positions in the Antwerp area and the main harbour locks were frequently under enemy shell fire. The brigade now devoted itself to intensive patrol activity with constant alertness to prevent any surprise enemy attack on these vital points.


17 September 1944 - Today, further units of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division (2nd Canadian Corps) arrived in Antwerp to relieve the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division (12th British Corps).

 

East Dunkirk

The Calgaries occupied Loon Plage on 9 September using it as a base for patrols into the perimeter. Here their HQ was visited by members of the French Resistance Force and 2 young French youths who brought in 3 German prisoners.

On the other side of Dunkirk the 6th Brigade with assistance from the Belgium White Brigade was able to operate with detailed plans of the enemies defences including the mined areas of the French Belgium border. But when the brigade advanced it met with strong enemy resistance. Here the South Saskatchewan Regiment was forced to deal with a strong enemy defence area thick with mines and machine gun posts. The regiment was virtually a new one rebuilt after a nightmare battle in the Foret de la Londe. Also they were confronted with the problem of a lack of artillery ammunition.

The initial attack was thwarted by heavy enemy fire. A second attack started well but then faltered. Next the guns of the 3rd LAA Regiment and the 2nd Anti Tank Regiment were brought into the attack plus a Typhoon from the 84th Tactical Air Group. But even then with this extra power the attack was again ineffective.

The Brigade Commander Brigadier J.G.Goudreau went forward to direct the SSR (South Saskatchewan Regiment) in its attack on the objective. Before the attack could go in the German defenders accepted surrender on the night of 12 September. Now the SSR joined their sister Regiments of the brigade at Bray Dunes where the FMR's (Les Fusiliers Mont Royal) and the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders were engaged in a bitter battle with a much more determined enemy. Here the Camerons had attempted to outflank the defences at Bray Dune Plage by traversing the sand dunes along the shoreline with no success. Further attempts on the 13th and 14th of September were equally unsuccessful. Although Typhoon aircraft pounded the enemy positions there was no coordination between the two separate attacks. Eventually the position was captured by a series of attacks on 18 September.

Meanwhile the 4th Brigade had begun clearing the coast south of Ostend but it also had run into difficulties at a strong point at Westende. The Essex Scotish with platoons from the Toronto Scottish was involved in a miniature siege operation against some 4 large enemy naval guns using mortars and 17 pounder anti tank guns.

Further to the south the RHLI (Royal Hamilton Light Infantry) and the Royal Regiment of Canada began an advance on Berguet. By now the steady drain of casualties was slowly affecting the ability of the 9 Infantry Regiments involved from the 2nd Canadian Division. Thus it was beginning to look like a very costly operation and Montgomery decided to move this Canadian Division to the Antwerp area of Belgium.

The allied high command sensibly decided it was not worth the price it would cost to pursue an attack across the flooded landscape so Dunkirk was left contained by a screen of armoured cars from the Checz Brigade for the rest of the war. Montgomery decided to move this Canadian Division to the Antwerp area of Belgium. The whole 2nd division finally arrived in Antwerp on 18 September 1944.

 

Wow, talk about contradictory / confusing - the official history seems to place the unit out of action in the Dunkirk area following completion of their objectives around the 16th of September,

Other reports place the unit in the Antwerp area.

The link at the bottom of this message provides info on an officer who was KIA on the 17th near Dunkirk.


http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/rep-rap/doc/cmhq/cmhq183.pdf

211. S. Sask R., who by the evening of 13 Sep had arrived from the Nieuport area, was ordered to take the high ground and church immediately to the northeast of Bray Dunes. The battalion put in a silent night attack, and by 0500 hours 15 Sep the objective was consolidated. Camerons of C. then took over and entered Bray Dunes, while S. Sask R. pushed on to the coast to clear Bray Dunes Plage, a task they accomplished by 1200 hours.

Ghyvelde, which had survived an attack by Fus M.R. on 13 Sep - when lack of information and insufficient fire support were blamed for the failure - was successfully reduced by the same battalion, which this time had the advantage of 48 hours' reconnaissance as well as carefully planned and adequate artillery support. The French-Canadian battalion suffered only a dozen casualties, but took 119 prisoners. (W.D., H.Q. 6 Cdn Inf Bde, 14, 15 Sep 44)


212. The capture of Ghyvelde, Bray Dunes and Bray Dunes Plage marked the western limit of 6 Cdn Inf Bde's attempt to reach Dunkirk and brought to an end the brigade's operations in that area. On the morning of 15 Sep the Divisional Commander announced that 2 Cdn Inf Div was to relieve 53 (W.) Inf Div in Antwerp. For the next two days units remained fairly inactive in their positions, their patrols reporting that the enemy had strengthened his F.D.Ls. along the entire front. It was evident that he intended to hold a strong perimeter about Dunkirk.

Before the hand-over to the relieving force - 4 Special Service Brigade - on 18Sep, Brigadier Gauvreau conducted a study of the operations in which the battalions had recently been engaged. The lessons brought out may well give an indication of the causes of the brigade's failure to have achieved its objectives as rapidly as had been expected.






Lt. Francis Joseph Bore. Born 15 Feb 1913. KIA 17 Sep 1944 Sanatorium, Bray Dunes Plage, France. South Saskatchewan Regiment

http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/index.php?/topic/963-lt-francis-j-bore-south-saskatchewan-regiment/

(refers to a website dedicated to the SSR with War Diaries & the regimental history book - but I can’t open the link)

 

Gerald,
To obtain the service records please go to the Library and Archives site:
www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/services/index-e.html

Another source of material on the regiment is available through Norm Christie's book site.
Norm Christie's CEF Books

You should be able to order the 'South Sasks '39-45' written by George Buchanan.
ISBN 978-1-896979-35-9

Good luck with your research

 

Hi Gerald & Welcome.

I was with another Forum member when we visited Coxyde Military Cemetery on a frosty winter day a few years ago. For some strange reason, the headstones of the South Saskatchewans caught my eye and I wondered how they died in order to be buried in this particular place. I then took photos of their graves. I never followed this up.

Here is the one I took of your relative N M Sando and a few others of the cemetery where he lays at rest with so many others from that time. I also photographed the headstones of the other 9 who died between the 15th - 17th September 1944 and will place them in the next post.

 

The list of the 10 men who fell. They are in the back row to the left of the cross of sacrifice.

You can click on the numbers to take you to the CWGC website for the full details of each man.

001 BLAIR MEA K/67475 - 15/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 8.
002 BLIXRUD AL L/153538 - 17/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 14.
003 BODDY RJ B/138060 - 15/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 16.
004 CAMPBELL DJM L/12169 - 17/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 10.
005 CHAMBERLAIN T K/54631 - 16/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 12.
006 ELLIOTT GV - - 15/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 7.
007 FORGET JNB D/135139 - 16/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 15.
008 LAPEYRE G H/200117 - 16/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 11.
009 MILLER HE L/155504 - 15/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 9.
010 SANDO NM L/155534 - 16/09/1944 SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN REGIMENT, R.C.I.C.
I. A. 13.

 

No wonder you took so long-You told me you was only doing the Artillery chaps

Welcome to the forum Gerald.

 

Ramacal

Well done

 

Welcome Gerald.

If interested, here are the South Sask war diaries held at the British National Archives:

*** ARCRE WAR DIARY SEARCH RESULTS ***

WO 179/147, South Saskatchewan Regt. (1940 June - Dec.)
WO 179/394, South Saskatchewan Regt. (1941 Jan.- Dec.)
WO 179/1244, South Saskatoon Regt. (1942 Jan.- Dec.)
WO 179/2007, South Saskatoon Regt. (1943 Jan.- Dec.)
WO 179/2968, South Saskatohewan Regt. (1944 Jan.-Dec.)
WO 179/4562, The South Saskatchewan Regt. (1945 Jan.- Oct.)

(Downloaded from ARCRE War Diary Search Engine: Arcre - War Diary Search Engine - 2012-01-14 23:04 GMT)

All the best,

Lee

 

First off, thanks to Ramacal for the images of the cemetery & graves, it really rounds out the information.

Secondly (and following on from another discussion thread on the matter), I received a PM from Gerald thanking me for my efforts which I greatly appreciated.

*********************************************************

On the matter of casualties from that period (15-17Sep44), there is another batch of burials in other nearby cemeteries. Using Geoff's (wonderful) search engine, we know that the SSR suffered 6 KIA on the 15th, 7 on the 16th, 4 on the 17th and 1 on the 18th

From what I can work out (from various confusing & contradictory sites) the SSR were still in the Dunkirk area, and even though they had completed their objectives they must have been employed in aggressive patrolling of the German perimeter remaining around Dunkirk. (Dunkirk was bypassed at this time and was surrounded by various "British" units until pretty much the end of the war in Europe).

Other elements of their parent Brigade & Division were either already in the Antwerp area by the 17th or were enroute.

The link to another forum I provided yesterday discussing the death of Lt Bore on the 17th includes some facts that may be pertinent to the death of all of the SSR men around that time.

Research on Lt Bore’s death reveal that he became a casualty in the vicinity of:

Vancauwenberghe

7. Maritime Hospital, Zuydcoote
Where the wounded were cared for

Built in 1910, the Hôpital Maritime was a sanatorium where the sick could come to convalesce and enjoy the benefits of sea air. It was a large building with more than 1,400 beds built in red brick with many outbuildings. When the British established the Dunkirk Perimeter (1940), the hospital was immediately commandeered by the Royal Army Medical Corps for the treatment of the wounded.

By 4 June, far more than 1,400 men were being sheltered here, along with them many RAMC personnel who hadn’t been wounded but who had volunteered to stay behind.

The German army used the building for the same purpose during the siege of 1944/45 and, by the close of the war, it was in ruins.

Today only the central section of the hospital is original, but many of its extensive outbuildings and walls still show signs of battle damage. Nowadays it is still in use as a sanatorium and as such is not open to the public. However, there is public access to the front of the building from the beach at Zuydcoote.

 

http://www.nasenoviny.com/DunkirkEN1944_45.html


During 15th and 16th September, elements of the (2nd Canadian) division took Bray Dunes, Ghyvelde and entered Bergues. Mardick was taken the following day, Furnes, Nieuport and La Panne were also occupied by the 6th Infantry Brigade

On 15th September 1944, the 4th, 5th and 6th Infantry Brigades of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division were ordered to be relieved. On 18th September, this was accomplished and the Canadians moved on to advance towards Antwerp, while the containment of the port was assigned to the 4th South Saskatchewan Brigade (** see below).

This unit was, in turn, relieved within nine days by the 154th (Highland) Infantry Brigade of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, coming under direct command of First Canadian Army.


*********************************************************

(**) 4 Special Service Brigade
2 Cdn Inf Div had an appointment to keep beyond Antwerp, so that it was necessary to relieve the 5 and 6 Cdn Inf Bdes. 4 S.S. Bde started relieving the Canadians early on 18 Sep, enabling 5 Cdn Inf Bde to start for Antwerp at 0600 hours. By 2100 hours 6 Cdn Inf Bde had also been relieved. The four commandos of 4 S.S. Bde were not to remain for long in the role of besiegers. As long as they did, they carried out intense patrols against the enemy perimeter, and made his life miserable with mortars, and P.I.A.Ts. fired as mortars, but the Special Service troopers were needed elsewhere for a task which better suited their peculiar abilities - the assault on the island of Walcheren, at the mouth of the Scheldt. On 23 Sep, Brigadier Leicester, commanding 4 S.S. Bde, was "briefed" by General Simonds for this task. He was told that his brigade would be relieved on 26 Sep by 154 Bde of 51 (H.) Inf Div, in order to give them time to practise for the landing. By midnight, 26/27 Sep, the relief was well under way.

 

http://www.mjtimes.sk.ca/Living/World/2007-11-10/article-16041/B.C.-man-looks-for-information-about-Second-World-War-commander/1


Maj. Charles Goodman (Retired) - when he turned 18, he was shipped overseas to Belgium after training to be a signaler (radio operator).

His job was to stand by the commander, N.R. Sharpe(*), and handle the radio for outgoing or incoming messages.

One day in Bray-Dunes Plage, the order changed a bit. "I wasn't feeling well, so I was lagging behind," explained Goodman.

It was then that Sharpe stepped on an S-mine (Schrapnellmine) or a jumping mine. This mine was developed by Germany. When they are stepped on, they jump into the air and explode, sending shrapnel flying. “He was killed instantly," said Goodman.

Three men died from that mine.

"We had a heck of a time getting the Germans out of there," said Goodman.

(*) Captain Norman Raymond SHARPE, South Saskatchewan Regiment, R.C.I.C. - KIA 15Sep

 

Quite a few pics of the hospital in the thread below including a 'Then and Now'

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ww2-battlefields-today/16839-walking-footsteps-british-expeditionary-force-2008-2009-a.html

 

If someone could work out what happened to the website that apparently contained the unit's war diaries and their regimental history book then we might know for sure where and how Private Sando died......

*******************************************

Lt. Francis Joseph Bore. Born 15 Feb 1913. KIA 17 Sep 1944 Sanatorium, Bray Dunes Plage, France. South Saskatchewan Regiment

Lt Francis J Bore South Saskatchewan Regiment - Wild Bill Guarnere.Community

(refers to a website dedicated to the SSR with War Diaries & the regimental history book - but I can’t open the link)

 

If someone could work out what happened to the website that apparently contained the unit's war diaries and their regimental history book then we might know for sure where and how Private Sando died......

*******************************************

Lt. Francis Joseph Bore. Born 15 Feb 1913. KIA 17 Sep 1944 Sanatorium, Bray Dunes Plage, France. South Saskatchewan Regiment

Lt Francis J Bore South Saskatchewan Regiment - Wild Bill Guarnere.Community

(refers to a website dedicated to the SSR with War Diaries & the regimental history book - but I can’t open the link)

See post 62 in the link above for the best account. The links posted in the thread appear to have gone.