Vlaardingen Parade

That's right Rob. But they might only have been in Schiedam for the parade as the book doesn't mention big numbers of Canadians coming to the town on 8th May. Only a sole motorcyclist.

Although some of these regiments (Royal 22e, 48 Highlanders) seem to have been in more than one town, Vlaardingen is the only city in the Rotterdam area (north of the river) of which I have found an indication of Artillery troops.

 

The Royal 22E and 48 Highlanders were 1st Canadian Division and their Artillery Units were 1st (RCHA), 2nd and 3rd Field Regts, 1st A/Tank and 2nd LAA Regt. I'll put them on my list of War Diaries to look at for you Pieter.

PS, I've just seen your Post 30 with these details.

 

That would be great Rob, thanks a lot in advance! I was about to refer to my overview in Post 30, but I have just seen your edit of last night. ;-)

 

This is another photo of an allied solder in Vlaardingen. The captain mentioned is was the first allied soldier. I am afraid there is not much to identify on this photo, but perhaps I am mistaken.

 

Could anybody help me finding out the first names of some of the other officers of 422 Search Light Battery? Rob has posted a document dated 21 July 1945 which mentions the initials, surname and age of the officers. I am in particular looking for the first names of the following men:

G.F. MacGregor - aged 36
D. Sutherland - aged 29
H. Moores - aged 32
I.M. Moir - aged 30
J.T.H Foottit - aged 30
R.J. Fife - aged 35
R.L. Black - aged 35
H. Drummond - aged 32
W.D.C. Applebey - aged 26

 

Hi Pieter,

George Frederick MacGREGOR, Service No: 207210, MID, LG 4/4/1946
Ian Menzies MOIR, S/N: 222584
R.J. FIFE, Service No 67668, no christian names found.
Robert Lockie BLACK, Service No: 143668 Awarded the MBE, LG 20/9/1945
Wilfred Dudley Crawford APPLEBEY, Service No: 259352
Herbert MOORES, Service No: 162925
Donald SUTHERLAND, Service No: 229905

The two I can't find, it might be easier if I pull that war diary again on my next Kew visit and look at the service numbers on that page I found.

Rob

 

From Ancestry - Joseph T H Foottit - born 1915


Drummond seems to be the outstanding one

TD

 

Thanks a lot Rob and Richard! Very helpful, something to work with!

 

Would the 'Recommendation for Award' contain any more personal details apart from name, rank, service number and regiment?

 

No Pieter.

 

To add another chapter to this thread. Today I received an email from an eye-witness. He wrote that there have been Canadian troops in Vlaardingen in early May. They would have stayed in a camp on the edge of Vlaardingen for about a week. During one of his visits he received a shoulder title from a Canadian soldier. The title is unknown to me, so I started a new thread, hoping somebody can identify it.

 

This is the thread about the shoulder title: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/56694-identifying-canadian-shoulder-title/#entry660082

It seems the title was worn by Canadian troops in general, so it won't be able to identify a possible unit. However, the eye-witness recalled that the unit might have been an anti-aircraft unit, as he remembers they brought posters and guides how to identify enemy aircraft,

The photos I posted in posts 24 & 27 were taken in the same period. These men wore artillery capbadges.

 

I found descendants of the Candian soldier who I mentioned in post #51. He and his unit stayed in a camp on the outskirts of Vlaardingen for about a week. He was a Lance Bombardier who served with the Royal Canadian Artillery. Unfortunately, his family doesn't know which exact unit he served in. Is there a way to find out which unit he served in when I only have got his rank and name?

 

Hi Pieter,

Can the Canadian's family apply for the service record? I believe that they don't have to pay for them, as we in the UK do.

 

You could look on the Canada at War site forum and ask there. They are pretty good about finding units for soldiers.
Canada at War Forums - Powered by vBulletin

 

Hello ! Yes we can, it’s free but the delays are very long. I will have to wait a minimum of 18th months before I get my dad’s record. Gerard Dagenais D-157816 , he was with the Royal 22e regiment in Italy from november ‘44 to march ‘45 , then France, Belgium, Germany, Holland . I am new at trying to find his military history. Your forum is very helpful.