Remembering Today 8/7/44 Private GORDON LAPIERRE , Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders RCIC

Private GORDON LAPIERRE

C/57514, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, R.C.I.C.
who died
on 08 July 1944

Remembered with honour
BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, REVIERS
CWGC :: Cemetery Details

 

RIP Soldier.

 

The following taken from the Regimental History of the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars ( 7th Recce Regiment, 3rd Canadian Div ):

On 9th July, the attack on Buron, Gruchy and Authie was launched by the 9th Brigade, from Les Buissons and Vieux Cairon. As Rosel and Rots were directly on the right flank of this attack, the 17th Hussars were called up to " shoot the infantry on to their objectives" with the heavy armoured cars. At first light, immediately after the tremendous artillery barrage had lifted, the heavy Humbers were engaging the
enemy with direct fire from their 37 mm and machine guns, while the infantry were sweeping into these " Gates to Caen".One of the jobs allotted the Regiment during this attack was the task of "mopping up" as the Infantry overran enemy positions. For this Lt. Don Ayer was given command of all the carriers from B Squadron's Scout Troops. Unfortunately, the infantry were having a hell of a time. At Buron the Highland Light Infantry had already received 400 casualties, while at Gruchy, the S.D.G. had been stopped by very heavy machine gun fire just outside the town. Lt. Ayer, who, with his 16 carriers, was waiting for the S.D.G.'s to push on, saw this. So, without hesitation, he charged right through them, in real old cavalry style, right into the middle of an enemy Company position. With grenades and Bren guns ( not to mention the 'Ayer pistol') firing at point-blank range, they drove the enemy from his dug-outs, killing dozens, wounding others and capturing 25-30 prisoners. This act of extreme gallantry on the part of all ranks allowed a complete battallion to advance into Gruchy.

Lt. Ayer went on to be awarded the MC in Holland and was eventually KIA during the Battle of the Scheldt.

 

Photo source: J. Stephens

 

From Army.ca:

My name is Gregory Pollard, author of "MISSING" The story of L/Cpl. George G. Pollard, murdered at the hands of German soldiers under the command of Major General Kurt Meyer of the 25th Panzer Grenadier Regiment. My uncle George Pollard was a member of the 1st Battalion Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders. He has been missing since June 17, 1944. Out of the twenty Canadian soldiers murdered at the Abbaye d'Ardenne, George is the only one not found. This weekend, June 6th, is the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings, on the 17th of June. my uncle George will be missing 60 years.

MISSING tells the story of George's life in the military by means of his sixty letters that he sent home to my grandmother and aunt. I used his regimental history along with his personal file from the National Archives to help explain the letters.
The trial of Kurt Meyer, by use of newspaper clippings and actual documents from the Department of National defense are also included. George was mentioned at the trial.

If anyone is interested in this story, or would like to purchase a copy of MISSING, you can contact me through this Forum. The book is selling for $24.00 Canadian, this includes taxes, postage and a protective envelope.

Feel free to ask me any questions about my uncle's story, I will gladly answer them to the best of my knowledge.
Sincerely,
Gregory Pollard

 

deleted

 

A finely detailed narrative of the events of July 8th:

http://www.wlu.ca/lcmsds/cmh/back%20issues/CMH/volume%204/Issue%201/Brown%20-%20The%20Capture%20of%20the%20Abbaye%20D'Ardenne%20by%20the%20Regina%20Rifles,%208%20July%201944.pdf

 

And from the enemy side:

12th SS
Panzer Grenadier Regiment 25

8.7.1944
Kloster Ardenne
o5.45 Uhr Report from III./A.R. 12 :
“Three red and two white flares. The enemy artillery barrage is lifted.”
o6.20 Uhr Report from II./25 :
“Nothing special to report.”
o6.4o Uhr Report from II./25 :
“Artillery fire landing behind our positions. Fighter planes attacking la Folie, enemy firing smoke shells.”
o6.4o Uhr Report from III./25 :
“Enemy breakthrough at 7./25.”
o6.5o Uhr Oberst Höhne, Art.Rgt.155, right flank, requested artillery support.
o6.55 Uhr To our request for a status from II./25, Hstuf. Schrott replied, “Wait.”
o7.13 Uhr Sudden concentration of rocket fire south of Cambes.
o7.17 Uhr Bombs falling on the positions of III./25.
o7.2o Uhr Report from Oberst Höhne:
“Art.Rgt. 155 adjusting artillery fire. The situation on the right flank is not quiet.”
o7.25 Uhr Orders to Werfer and A.R. 12:
“Fire immediate barrage in front of the positions of II./25.”
o7.28 Uhr Report from Hauptmann Steger, III./25:
“Enemy attack on 7th Company repulsed.”
o7.35 Uhr Heavy enemy artillery fire falling on the positions of III./25.
o7.37 Uhr Fighter planes attacking Ardenne Abbey.
o7.38 Uhr Orders of the Division commander: “Special alert on the right flank.”
o7.45 Uhr Enemy attacking II./25 with tanks. II./25 requests artillery fire in front of their positions.
o8.2o Uhr Report to Ia :
“Heavy enemy artillery fire in the sector II./25.”
o8.27 Uhr Radio report from III./25 :
“Breakthrough between the 9th and 10th companies.”
Orders to Artillerie and Werfer :
“Fire a barrage on and north of Buron.”
o8.33 Uhr Heavy enemy artillery fire in the sector of II./25. Tanks attacking 6./25. Situation of I./25 not yet known.
o8.35 Uhr Enemy tanks rolled over the battalion command post III./25.
o8.37 Uhr Report from III./25 :
“Enemy attacked with tanks.”
o8.45 Uhr Enemy tanks broke through the 5th and 7th companies.
o9.o9 Uhr Enemy infantry and tanks broke through at Mâlon. Enemy tanks in front of the command post. No reports from the companies.
o9.25 Uhr Forward observer from the Werfer-Abteilung reports:
“Five heavy enemy tanks have driven into Buron.”
o9.33 Uhr Rockets firing on Buron. Rockets landing between the enemy tanks.
o9.34 Uhr Four enemy tanks moving from Buron to Cambes.
o9.35 Uhr Report from 2nd platoon 13./25 :
“Enemy tanks have rolled over the companies of II./25 and are milling about 200 - 300 meters behind our original front lines. The companies are back in their positions. More enemy tanks are in front of our lines.”
o9.45 Uhr Report from III./25 :
“Enemy tanks broke through the 9th Company and are rolling over the positions right to left, stopping short of the battalion command post. Two anti-tank guns were destroyed.”
o9.45 Uhr Radio signal from II./25 :
“Mâlon is still in our hands.”
o9.48 Uhr Report from III./25 :
“9th Company overrun. Where are our tanks?”
o9.58 Uhr Fighter planes attacking Ardenne Abbey.
o9.59 Uhr Rocket fire on Buron. The salvos landed too wide to the northwest.
The order to fire came from Buron.”
1o.oo Uhr One reserve platoon sent towards the north to the front.
1o.3o Uhr Orders on III./A.R. 12 :
“Fire barrages on Buron.”
Also rocket fire again observed on Buron. Artillery fire on the east end of Gruchy requested by III./25.
Orders from commander, SS-Pz.Rgt. 12 to SS-Ostuf. v.Ribbentrop:
“Clear out the penetration between Gruchy and Buron.”
1o.32 Uhr Report from III./25 :
“Tank support urgently needed, otherwise impossible to hold positions.”
1o.33 Uhr Rockets fired a barrage on Buron.
1o.35 Uhr One enemy tank in flames west of Buron.
1o.5o Uhr Report from II./25 :
“Enemy in St.Contest.”
1o.53 Uhr Heavy enemy artillery fire falling on Ardenne Abbey.
1o.58 Uhr Report from III./25 :
“Our tanks are on the northern edge of Authie.”
11.o1 Uhr Two of our tanks are in the northern edge of Authie. Enemy firing artillery barrages on the east edge of Buron.”
11.o5 Uhr Two enemy tanks destroyed near Buron.
11.1o Uhr Rockets fired a salvo at the depression between Vieux - Cairon.
11.13 Uhr Ardenne Abbey received a direct hit from enemy artillery.
11.15 Uhr Report from forward observer - Werfer :
“One of our tanks and a half-track burning 200 meters before Buron.”
11.25 Uhr Battalion “Olboeter” (III./26) and Company “Ribbentrop” (3./Pz.Rgt.) attacked by 12 fighter planes.
11.28 Uhr Report from III./25 :
“To hold the command post, our tanks must get here in a hurry.”
11.32 Uhr Report from III./25 :
“9th and 10th companies overrun. 10 enemy tanks in the depression in the direction of Buron.”
11.43 Uhr Rocket fire on Buron. The fire landed on target. More fire on Buron.
11.45 Uhr Report to Ia :
“Ammunition for our artillery is urgently needed.”
12.o3 Uhr Enemy artillery fire on the road Caen - Bayeux at Francqueville Hill.
12.o8 Uhr Report from III./A.R. 12 :
“Eight enemy tanks in Epron.”
12.16 Uhr Rocket fire north of St.Contest. Good results. Bursts of flame observed.
12.17 Uhr Report from III./A.R. 12 :
“Enemy in battalion strength with tank support 1 kilometer south of Epron on the march in the direction of Caen.”
12.2o Uhr Enemy artillery fire east of Cussy and north of Bilot. Infantry attack alarm southwest of the road Caen - Bayeux.
12.25 Uhr Report from II./25 :
“Please hurry with relief. Mâlon is still in our hands. Enemy has broke through our positions. Unable to hold off attack. Evacuation of the wounded no longer possible.”
12.3o Uhr Enemy has broken through the 6th Company. Company has relocated. Hstuf. Tiray and Ustuf. Willing dead. Enemy tanks pushed through the 5th and 6th companies and are rolling over the positions from left to right. Two tanks destroyed in close combat. From the 7th Company no further report. Enemy tanks already in St.Contest.
12.35 Uhr Four enemy tanks moving south out of Buron.
12.4o Uhr Enemy trucks and cars already in Galmanche.
12.41 Uhr Report from III./25 :
“Enemy tanks in front of battalion command post.”
12.5o Uhr Between 09.00 - 10.00 hours enemy tanks attacked 16./25.
SS-Untersturmführer Werner killed.
12.53 Uhr Four tanks on the road Buron - Authie, southern entrance to Buron.
12.58 Uhr Strong attack alarm at III./25.
12.59 Uhr Artillery fire from southwest edge of Buron.
13.1o Uhr Report from III./25 :
“Help!”
13.12 Uhr Smokescreen east of Buron.
13.14 Uhr Radio signal from III./25 :
“When is help coming?”
13.15 Uhr Enemy tanks rolling past Buron direction 9th Company positions.
The 16./25 withdraws.
13.17 Uhr Six enemy tanks in front of command post III./25.
13.2o Uhr Four of our tanks moving in the direction from Buron to Cussy.
13.26 Uhr Radio signal from III./25 :
“When is help coming?”
Heavy enemy artillery fire on Cussy.
Enemy infantry in the garden in front of command post III./25.
Radio signal from II./25 :
“Where is the relief?”
13.27 Uhr Radio signal from II./25 :
“Where is the relief and tanks?? Enemy infantry 200 meters in front of command post. Curtain-fire urgently needed.”
13.28 Uhr Heavy enemy artillery fire east of Cussy. Enemy tanks have laid down smoke from east to west in front of Cussy.
13.35 Uhr II./25 reports :
“Between Battalion and Abteilung “Prinz” (II./Pz.Rgt.) no more contact.”
13.43 Uhr Division commander at regimental command post for briefing.
13.5o Uhr Rocket fire on Buron. Tanks pulling back into the woods east of Buron. Our artillery firing on Buron.
14.12 Uhr Question from III./25 :
“When is help coming?”
14.13 Uhr Radio message from SS-Standartenführer Meyer to III./25 :
“We are doing all we can!! Meyer.”
Order of the division commander to Corps Artillerie :
“Fire on Buron.”
14.2o Uhr Report from I./25 :
SS-Ostuf. Schümann killed.”
14.28 Uhr Friendly and enemy machine gun fire heard coming from Buron.
14.32 Uhr Heavy enemy artillery fire landing on Ardenne Abbey and Cussy.
14.52 Uhr Our rockets firing on Buron.
15.2o Uhr Report from III./25 : “We have been overrun by enemy infantry.”
15.21 Uhr Report from 13./25 :
“Enemy tanks moving from Authie in the direction Ardenne Abbey.”
15.3o Uhr Enemy artillery harassing fire between St.Germain - Ardenne Abbey.
15.38 Uhr Enemy tank burning west of Francqueville.
15.45 Uhr Our rockets and artillery firing on Buron.
15.5o Uhr III./25 does not answer anymore.
15.55 Uhr Enemy artillery firing air bursts on the road Francqueville - Caen.
16.o5 Uhr Heavy enemy artillery fire on Cambes.
16.1o Uhr Very heavy enemy artillery fire heard coming from the direction of Buron and Authie.
16.35 Uhr Report from neighbor unit to the right :
“Epron taken by the enemy.”
16.4o Uhr Rocket fire on Authie. One English tank burning.
16.5o Uhr Orders to III./A.R. 12 :
“Supporting fire on Authie.”
16.52 Uhr Enemy artillery fire on Francqueville, rounds landed too short.
17.07 Uhr Rocket fire on Authie.
17.12 Uhr Enemy firing smoke between Cussy and St.Contest, also Franqueville.
17.17 Uhr Enemy artillery barrages on la Folie. Artillery fire on Ardenne Abbey and the area between the Abbey and St.Germain.
17.22 Uhr Orders to Werfer-Abt. :
“Fire on Authie and the hill to the northwest.”
18.25 Uhr Report from II./25 :
“Enemy attacking the left flank. Can no longer hold Mâlon.”
18.32 Uhr Orders to II./25 :
“Positions must be held until nightfall, then withdraw to regiment CP.”
18.45 Uhr Radio report to Ia :
“26 enemy tanks in front of I./25 have broken through in Cussy.”
18.48 Uhr Radio report to Ia :
“Enemy artillery barrages since 18.00 hours landing on Ardenne Abbey and Cussy.”
Radio report to division commander and commander, SS-Pz.Rgt.12 :
“Enemy attacking road fork St.Germain. All available tanks to there.”
19.38 Uhr Orders to III./A.R. 12 :
“Fire to the last round.”
19.4o Uhr To Ia :
“Machine gun ammunition, close combat material and tank munitions urgently needed. Wünsche.”
2o.55 Uhr Regiment staff established new command post on the north edge of Caen.
21.25 Uhr Question to Ia :
“Is contact between our tanks and the I.25 and II./25 confirmed?”
22.5o Uhr No more sounds of battle can be heard in the Regiment's sector.

Casualties of SS-Panzergrenadier Regiment 25 on July 8, 1944 -

Killed: 5 officers, 19 NCOs, 86 enlisted.
Wounded: 1 officer, 20 NCOs, 116 enlisted.
Missing: 8 officers, 43 NCOs, 410 enlisted.”

Total casualties - 708

Seems that it wasn't all one sided!

 

From an article in the Polar Bears New published on February 8th 1946. (This was an article about the exploits of 62 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery) (Sent to me by Rogcal).

245 Battery - Attack on Buron.

By July 8th, the battery had moved over to the 3 Canadian Infantry Division sector and moved into position to support 9 Canadian Brigade in its attack on Buron, which was one of the initial phases of the attack on Caen.

The attack on Buron was successful and A & B Troops moved up to provide the anti-tank defence. Almost at once a heavy counter-attack started which included some 20-30 enemy tanks. Two guns of B Troop were able to engage and between them knock out 13 enemy tanks. By 19-00hrs, the battery had lost 5 guns.

At the same time, C Troop had knocked out several enemy tanks and guns, a little to the left at Cussy. This tremendous afternoon’s work won an MC for Major F Bullivant the Battery Commander and an MM for Sergeant Bowden whose gun claimed 10 tanks, and front page news for the battery in one of the London dailies under the heading of “The Brixton Tank Busters”.

The casualties were 2 Troop Commanders killed, 6 others killed and several others wounded.

 

The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders were ordered to seize the village of Gruchy and the buildings around the Château de St. Louet. Lieutenant-Colonel G.H Christiansen decided to take Gruchy with just two companies, keeping two in reserve for the second objective. Gruchy was on the outer edge of the defended area and the Glens had direct assistance from the Vickers medium machine-guns of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and the armoured cars of 7 Recce Regiment (17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars).
This additional support proved especially valuable in the second phase when the mobility and firepower of the armoured cars provided close support. Lt.-Col. T.C Lewis reported “the best shooting of the whole operation occurred when the cars swept in to cut off the enemy’s retreat.” For the Glens, Charnwood involved very “severe and close fighting” with significant casualties.