I know very little about my father's military service. I've written to the archives in Ottawa, then sent them all the documents they requested. They replied very quickly but told me only that I must go to Ottawa and look this info up in person. I am unable to do that at the present time, and until I can I wonder if anyone would know just the whereabouts in Europe of the Royal Highlanders Regiment out of Nova Scotia from 1940 to 1945. I'm not even sure of those dates (although I'm reasonably sure of the 1940) and I would be very grateful for any scrap of information at all. I know it's a long shot with virtually no details.
Wiki has some basic info on the unit - Second World War The regiment mobilized the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, CASF, on 1 September 1939. This unit, which served in Newfoundland from 22 June to 11 August 1940, embarked for Great Britain on 25 August 1940. Three platoons took part on the raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942 (*). On 6 July 1944, the battalion landed in France as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, and it continued to fight in North West Europe until the end of the war. The overseas battalion was disbanded on 30 November 1945. The 1st Battalion suffered more casualties than any other Canadian infantry battalion in Northwest Europe according to figures published in The Long Left Flank by Jeffrey Williams. Disaster seemed to follow the unit; On the voyage to France on the day of the Dieppe Raid, casualties were suffered by the unit during a grenade priming accident onboard their ship, the HMS Duke of Wellington. During the Battle of Verrières Ridge on July 25, 1944, 325 men left the start line and only 15 made it back to friendly lines, the others being killed or wounded by well entrenched Waffen SS soldiers and tanks. On 13 October 1944 - known as Black Friday by the Black Watch - the regiment put in an assault near Hoogerheide during the Battle of the Scheldt in which all four company commanders were killed, and one company of 90 men was reduced to just four survivors. (*) Dieppe - “All men at the beaches at Puys were either killed or taken prisoner, including three platoons of reinforcements from the Royal Highlanders Regiment (better known as the Black Watch)”.
I would suggest that you buy a copy of this book (it looks like a copy on ebay should only cost around $20 delivered): Terry Copp (31 October 2007). The Brigade: The Fifth Canadian Infantry Brigade in World War II. Stackpole Books. pp. 11–. ISBN 9780811734226. The Brigade: The Fifth Canadian Infantry Brigade in World War II - Terry Copp - Google Books
DoreenC I have that book and can send it to you if you PM me with your address - I assume you live in Canada somewhere Cheers
I know very little about my father's military service. I've written to the archives in Ottawa, then sent them all the documents they requested. They replied very quickly but told me only that I must go to Ottawa and look this info up in person. I am unable to do that at the present time, and until I can I wonder if anyone would know just the whereabouts in Europe of the Royal Highlanders Regiment out of Nova Scotia from 1940 to 1945. I'm not even sure of those dates (although I'm reasonably sure of the 1940) and I would be very grateful for any scrap of information at all. I know it's a long shot with virtually no details. Doreen, I am in contact with a researcher in Ottawa. For a small fee, he can obtain the information concerning your father's military records. Please send me a PM for the researchers email address. More info on the Black Watch is available through the website The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. Good luck with your research.
Doreen: You can find the detailed war diaries of the 1st Battalion, Black Watch of Canada located at: Black Watch War Diary Index It covers the units active service in Europe during 1944-45. Here are details of its service while still in Canada 1939-40: 1st Battalion, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, CASF [Mobilised 1 September 1939 – Serial 186] (GO 135/1939)) [Dropped CASF 7 November 1940](GO 42/1941] [Disbanded 30 November 1945] (GO 85/1946) Command HQ Military District No. 4 1/9/39 - 27/12/39 HQ Military District No. 2 27/12/39 - 25/5/40 NDHQ 25/5/40 - 27/5/40 HQ Military District No. 5 27/5/40 - 1/6/40 HQ 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade 1/6/40 - 17/6/40 NDHQ 17/6/40 - 22/6/40 CO Newfoundland Defences 22/6/40 - 1/7/40 HQ Botwood Defences 1/7/40 - 11/8/40 HQ Atlantic Command 11/8/40 - 13/8/40 No. 6 Infantry (Basic) Training Centre 13/8/40 - 25/8/40 - Attached Location Montreal, PQ 1/9/39 - 27/12/39 Toronto, Ontario 27/12/39 - 25/5/40 In transit 25/5/40 - 27/5/40 Camp Valcartier, PQ 27/5/40 - 17/6/40 Quebec, PQ 17/6/40 - 17/6/40 In transit 17/6/40 - 22/6/40 – On SS Antonia to Botwood Gander, Newfoundland 22/6/40 - 11/8/40 – Two companies Botwood In transit 11/8/40 - 13/8/40 – On Duchess of Richmond to Halifax Aldershot, Nova Scotia 13/8/40 - 25/8/40 [Embarked for England from Halifax on 25 August 1940. Sailed on 27 August 1940 on Convoy TC-7]
Wow, thank you all so VERY much for all this helpful information. I'll start going through it all immediately. I spent many frustrating hours online trying to come up with something but didn't seem to be able to. My father died by mishap in 1969 after suffering greatly with PTSD (which I did not know about until long after his death) since his return to civilian life. He never spoke of his war years, other than to relate some amusing incident and as a child and teenager I had no interest in asking. How I wish I had. The idea that I might learn about his experiences and whereabouts during the war excites and touches me deeply. Thank you all again! 17thDYRCH, PM on the way. ETA: Tom Canning, I just looked at the preview of that book and it talks about regiments from Alberta. Would the Nova Scotia men be discussed as well?
If the regiment was out of Nova Scotia it may not be the Royal Highland Regiment (Blach Watch) but rather the North Nova Scotia Highlanders who landed on d-day with 9th Infantry brigade also known as the Highland brigade of the 3rd CID; or, the Cape Breton Highlanders who served in Italy and North West Eurpore with the 5th CAD.
Doreen, Good point by gpo's son. In either case, the researcher will be able to get you the service records. He will need date and place of birth. Service number would help as well. Good luck and keep us posted. Cheers, Randy
All I know is what is on my father's burial certificate from the Field of Honour cemetary here in Quebec, which says "Royal Highlanders Rgt." but I do have his rank and number which I assume is the service number. I'm very grateful for all this information!
On 13 October 1944 - known as Black Friday by the Black Watch - the regiment put in an assault near Hoogerheide during the Battle of the Scheldt in which all four company commanders were killed, and one company of 90 men was reduced to just four survivors. I don't know if I'm still barking up the wrong tree regarding which unit he was a part of, but assuming it was this unit I just stumbled across this image via the Bienvenue au site Web BIBLIOTHÈQUE ET ARCHIVES CANADA | Welcome to the LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA website site and am adding it for interest's sake: Description found in Archives - Search - Library and Archives Canada Pipe Major H. McDonald, Piper D.W. MacDonald and Piper W.J. Hannah at the burial of 55 infantrymen of "A" Company, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, Ossendrecht, Netherlands, 26 October 1944.
I know very little about my father's military service. Doreen - I just had a thought, have you placed your dad's details on this forum? If you can include his full name and date of birth plus his service number into this thread it couldn't hurt. His name might show up on a nominal roll in one of the books on the various Canadian units who deployed overseas in WW2. cheers Dave
I'm so terribly sorry. I had no idea this thread had further replies. I'm waiting for the reseacher to get back to me (prob. sometime in April) but in the meantime I'll post the information mentioned: Thanks, and again I apologize for not checking this thread again.
DoreenC As you are perhaps aware - there were many Highland regiment in the Canadian army of WW2 - BUT - the only Royal Highlanders - were the Black Watch- you may be - as gpo pointed out -looking for the North Nova Scotia Highlanders who were in 3rd Division 9th bde as i can think of at least five other Highland regiments such as Seaforths of 1st Div -Camerons -48th - Highland Light- Calgary Highlanders - I would suspect North Novas though Cheers so it might hinge on his number to be able to find his regiment
As for my saying "out of Nova Scotia", I have no idea if that's where his regiment was from, just that HE was from N.S. I have a photo of him and he wrote on the back and dated it - "McGivney (New Brunswick) 1941" but I can't find much about what I assume was an army camp. The only other thing I have is a very small, deep blue pin that is edged in gold and has "2 DIV" in gold letters. I'm very appreciative for the time you're taking to try and help
DoreenC - we seem to be back to the 2nd Division again- with the pin of 2div - They comprised three Brigades - 4th - 5th & 6th in 4th Bde was the Cameron Highlanders as machine Guns from Ottawa in 5th was the Black Watch from Montreal - and in 6th bde we have the Camerons Infantry from Winnipeg and the Calgary's from Alberta Cheers
Thank you Tom. I'm clueless about things like the difference between Division, Regiment and brigade. All my searching has led to dead ends, but off to try again. Tks!
DoreenC Simplest way to remember about the Army in the field is - An Army has three Corps- each Corps has three Divisions - each Division has three Brigades - each brigade has three Regiments - which MIGHT be Battalions of larger Regiments- each Battalion has FIVE companies...et al until we get down to the lowest platoon which has usually three sections of ten men- and THAT is just the Infantry Cheers
NOT relating to this era - Highlanders from another campaign 14/19 The 113th Battalion Royal Highlanders of Canada (typo should read 13th)
DoreenC ...and the yo-yo moves on as the badge displayed is no where near that of the Black Watch - as displayed by Wills - try googling for the North Shore Highlanders badge Cheers
