7th Anti Tank Regiment RCA

Discussion in 'Canadian' started by 7thAntiTankRCA, Nov 4, 2010.

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  1. Kerry Wolstenholme

    Kerry Wolstenholme Junior Member

    Saw you message my father Dennis Wolstenholme in 104 and I have information about their experiences you can contact me at kerlin@rogers.com
     
  2. DarcyT

    DarcyT Junior Member

    My grandfather fought in the 7th AT Reg. RCA 1D, I don't have any sort of information on him though other than he lived, and was overseas from the North African campaigns up until the end of the Holland Liberation. I can always seem to find a list of those who had fallen in the division but where would i start to look into finding any information on him?
    His name was William (Bill) McKendrick if anyone can offer some advice or has some information it would be much appreciated.
    New to the forum. Just began searching for information about my grandfather's and the divisions endeavours.
     
  3. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  4. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Darcy T

    The 1st Canadian Division did not land in North Africa but directly from the Uk
    on to the Landing beaches of Siciiy on 10th July 1943 - then on to Italy on 3rd September 1943 until February 1945 when they went over to Belgium to join 2nd Cdn corps to make up 1st Cdn Army

    The 5th Cdn AD however did touch down in Tunisia for a short spell before landing in Italy around late November 1943 and joined 1st inf Div in December just in time for the last of Ortona
    Cheers
     
  5. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    A small snapshot of one of the operations that 7 AT Regiment, RCA took part in whilst in the Netherlands.

    My Dad's unit (336 Battery of 102 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA) received a visit from the Adjutant of 7 AT, RCA and were placed under command of both 104 & 111 Battery of 7 Anti-Tank Regiment, RCA between 19 April and 3 May 1945 in the Netherlands.

    104 Battery were designated SMITHFORCE and 111 Battery HALLFORCE.

    Their joint purpose was to provide forward artillery support to 116 Royal Marines Brigade and the 2nd Belgian Fusiliers Battalion during an assault on TIEL and OPHEMERT (both bext to the River MAAS).

    OP's were placed on the South Bank of the River MAAS between WAMEL & DREUMEL. On call from the Royal Marines and the Belgian Fusilers, they suppressed enemy mortar, spandau fire, patrols and OP's in both TIEL & OPHEMERT churches. Counter Battery fire was received from the enemy.

    The operation was called to an end on the 4th May, just before the unconditional surrender of all German Forces.

    A photo of St. MAARTENS Kerk in TIEL after it had been targeted.

    upload_2021-4-26_14-44-15.jpeg

    upload_2021-4-26_14-44-43.jpeg

    Restored to it's former glory.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2021
    17thDYRCH likes this.
  6. GrahamHunter

    GrahamHunter Junior Member

    Thank you Willis for the link to L & A of Canada. This will be helpful in finding more info on 7th ATR.
     
  7. DarcyT

    DarcyT Junior Member

     
  8. 7th A/T

    7th A/T Junior Member

    Wow that is pretty good having the war diaries, etc. How did you acquire a copy of them and/or how can I get a copy?

    I am interested in creating a website for the unit so it doesn't disappear from memory. Now it is hard to find anyone knowing about the unit as most of the members have passed on.


    My dad was Gnr. Cecil Cormack from Manitoba in the 7th (may have been int he 15th Bty??), joined in '41, did basic in Shilo and then off to England for subsequent training (about 2 years). He fought in Italy, then Holland and ended up the war in NW Germany.

    He attended the reunion in Shilo in '83 and a couple of others in the 1970's.
     
  9. 7th A/T

    7th A/T Junior Member

    My grandfather fought in the 7th AT Reg. RCA 1D, I don't have any sort of information on him though other than he lived, and was overseas from the North African campaigns up until the end of the Holland Liberation. I can always seem to find a list of those who had fallen in the division but where would i start to look into finding any information on him?
    His name was William (Bill) McKendrick if anyone can offer some advice or has some information it would be much appreciated.
    New to the forum. Just began searching for information about my grandfather's and the divisions endeavours.

    You should be able to get a copy of his service record from the Federal Government. I believe personnel files from Archives Canada? They will send you a copy of what they have but you have to fill out a form showing proof of relationship, etc. :rolleyes:
     
  10. 7th A/T

    7th A/T Junior Member

    I have been working with my father for the last two years compiling his experiences during WWII. Lt. J.W.(Bill) Birnie - 7 Cdn A.Tk. , Regt. ,RCA
    7th Anti Tank, 15 Bty, A troop commander. Have all war diaries from 1942 - 1946 for the 7th Atk. Maps (very difficult to get). Have a short history of the 7th.
    After Field training in England, my father joined 7th in Avelino. Hitler and Gustav Lines, Casino breakthrough, up the Liri Valley to Rome. Across Italy to the Gothic line - Rimini airport, crossing of the Moro River and finally to Ravenna.
    1st corps to NW Europe at Nijmegen during winter of 43/44. To Arnhem in spring of 44. then to the Ardene Breakout.
    Have a DVD of the Italian campagn with footage of the Liri Valley (Cassino) battles.
    Currently retrieving Canadian Press Service - The Maple Leaf - tabloid ran during WWII.
    Desperately looking for the location of an area in Italy (heavy action by the 7th) that was referred to as "The Brick Yard".
    Love to contact anyone with info about the 7th!!!!!!!!!

    Wow that is pretty good having the war diaries, etc. How did you acquire a copy of them and/or how can I get a copy?

    I am interested in creating a website for the unit so it doesn't disappear from memory. Now it is hard to find anyone knowing about the unit as most of the members have passed on.


    My dad was Gnr. Cecil Cormack from Manitoba in the 7th (may have been int he 15th Bty??), joined in '41, did basic in Shilo and then off to England for subsequent training (about 2 years). He fought in Italy, then Holland and ended up the war in NW Germany.

    He attended the reunion in Shilo in '83 and a couple of others in the 1970's.
     
  11. Michael Reintjes

    Michael Reintjes Junior Member

  12. gpo son

    gpo son Senior Member

    All
    I'm pretty sure that the 7AT battalion RCA were 1st Canadian Corp troops and did not leave England until October 1943 as part of operation Timberwolfe. At this time the 1st Canadian Corp took over from the British 30th Corp allowing its return to England and prepare for that June 6th thingy.
    This being the case they would have debarked in Sicily and then moved on to Italy in a static role on the Adriatic side around mid Febuary 1944, when the 1st Can Corp was activated. They would have moved west as part of the deception plan to the Capua area on the banks of the Volturno River, around in the end of the 1st week of May 1944. As 1st corp troops they would have supported both the 1st CID and the 5th CAD. This also would explain why the battle dress 'above' doesn't not have a simple red patch rectangle of the 1st Div on it.

    Tom am I right about this?

    Matt
     
  13. Michael Reintjes

    Michael Reintjes Junior Member

  14. Michael Reintjes

    Michael Reintjes Junior Member

    You are correct...the insignia of the battedress is that of 1st Corps RCA.
     
  15. gpo son

    gpo son Senior Member

    should have known that but I have never spent much time on battledress except the 5 Canadian divisions being 1st red, 2nd blue, 3rd gray, 4th green, and 5th maroon.
    But that is definatily the 1st Corp patch.
    My dad wore the Maroon of the 5th Armoured Div
    Matt
     
  16. Saguanay

    Saguanay Junior Member

    My Mom's uncle.

    Gunner MacFarlane, James Baxter. They called him Doc at home. Rests in Italy at the Gradara War Cemetery.
     
  17. gpo son

    gpo son Senior Member

  18. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

  19. Saguanay

    Saguanay Junior Member

    When I was growing up, they always said he was killed in Europe. I don't think they knew where he was or what happened just that he was KIA.
     
  20. rdtibbi

    rdtibbi Junior Member

    My Dad G4344 Earl Tibbits fought with the 7th Anti Tank Regiment landed in Italy in 43 then onto France, Belgium and Germany. In Jan 45 in Italy he was awarded the Oak Cluster "Mentioned in Dispatches". We lost Dad in 1996 and I've been trying to find an information regarding it as Dad never talked about it.
     

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