West Nova Scotia Regiment

Discussion in 'Canadian' started by GeeDubayou, Oct 3, 2011.

  1. Lance Waterman

    Lance Waterman PPCLI & WNSR

    It's a pity they didn't get his name right... They say his name was Ronald. His nickname was Ron or Ronnie but his real name was ROLAND Stephen Edward Waterman.
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2017
  2. Lance Waterman

    Lance Waterman PPCLI & WNSR

    How many Second World War veterans are still alive in Canada?
    According to Veterans Affairs Canada, as of early 2014, 88,400 Canadian veteransof WWII were still alive, although most are over the age of 90. The Calgary Sun reported that figure at 91,400 a year earlier, in March 2013. In fact, reports suggest that at least 50 die every day.
     
  3. Lance Waterman

    Lance Waterman PPCLI & WNSR

  4. stonier

    stonier Member

    View attachment 191794
    Lance,
    Here are some recent stats on membership in our Association.
    The list from Wikipedia is of "notable veterans"
     

    Attached Files:

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  5. stonier

    stonier Member

    Here's a list of the WWII Veterans in our Association:
    Arsenault, Edmond Etobicoke, ON WWII
    Campbell, Garfield W. Bridgewater, NS WWII
    Cuvelier, Hugh T. Mahone Bay, NS WWII
    Doucette, Ernest Tusket, NS WWII
    Dukeshire, Victor Burlington, ON WWII
    Eisenhauer, Harry Calgary, AB WWII Former CO
    Fraser, Robert G. Bedford, NS WWII
    Gallant, Fred Summerside, PE WWII
    Keddy, Kenneth M. Kingston, NS WWII FSSF
    Pothier, Emery J. Middleton, NS WWII
    Strickland, Douglas North Sydney, NS WWII
    Sullivan, Hubert Wolfville, NS WWII
     
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  6. stonier

    stonier Member

    Lance,
    I want you to know that we care, and we're keeping track.
    WNSR deaths in the last five years:
    2012
    Wilbert M Hiltz
    -- WWII veteran – Died Jan 2012
    Charles Robert O’Neill -- WWII veteran – Died Jan 2012
    Truman Gabriel Croft -- Died Jan 2012
    Corporal Frank McLaughlin -- WWII veteran – died Jan 2012
    Jack Clement Holley -- Died Mar 2012
    Ronald H Feindel -- WWII veteran – -- Died Mar 2012
    Captain Frank Allen Harvie -- Died Mar 2012
    Sergeant George Bryce Lincoln -- WWII veteran – Died Apr 2012
    Clarence R Dorey -- WWII veteran – Died May 2012
    Honorary Colonel the Honourable JJ Kinley, ONS, CD -- WWII veteran, NS LtGov 1994-2000, HCol 2002-05 – Died May 2012
    Chief Warrant Officer FJ "Dick" Moore, CD –RSM 1976-80 – Died May 2012
    Robert L Turple -- WWII veteran – Died May 2012
    Clifford A Boyles -- WWII veteran – Died Jun 2012
    Corporal Roswell Percy Crowell -- WWII veteran – Died Jul 2012
    James Clarence Arthur -- Died Jul 2012
    Harold Frederick Wolfe -- WWII veteran – Died Jul 2012
    Thomas W Laughlin -- WWII veteran – Died Sep 2012
    Garfield H Minnick -- WWII veteran – Died Oct 2012
    Delmer F Muise -- WWII veteran – Died Oct 2012
    Ernest Selig -- WWII veteran – Died Oct 2012
    Staff Sergeant Gerald L Crouse -- WWII veteran – Died Nov 2012
    Sergeant Gordon E Holden -- WWII veteran – Died Nov 2012
    Randall M Myrick -- WWII veteran – Died Nov 2012
    Lieutenant Edward MS Fisher -- WWII veteran – Died Dec 2012
    Frank Herbert Phillips -- WWII veteran – Died Dec 2012
    2013
    Collie Basker
    -- WWII veteran – Died Jan 2013
    Eric Veinot -- Died Jan 2013
    Andrew Nelson Eisner – Died Mar 2013
    Charles D “Dick” Vidito -- Died Mar 2013
    Cecil J Heisler -- WWII veteran – Died Feb 2013
    Ronald MacDonald -- WWII veteran – Died Feb 2013
    Charles A Crosby -- WWII veteran –Died Mar 2013
    Noel Ritson Durling -- WWII veteran – Died Mar 2013
    Corporal Maurice Percy Grant -- WWII veteran – Died Mar 2013
    William Edmund Dexter -- WWII veteran – Died Apr 2013
    Sergeant Arthur Joseph Doucette -- WWII veteran – Died Apr 2013
    W Earl MacLeod -- WWII veteran – Died Apr 2013
    Archie D MacEachern -- WWII veteran – Died May 2013
    Major Conrad “Connie” MacNeil – WWII veteran – RQ - Died May 2013
    Ronald Nauss - WWII veteran – Died May 2013
    Corporal Thomas W Cleveland -- WWII veteran – Died Jun 2013
    A Harold Ernst -- WWII veteran – Died Jun 2013
    Ronald E Mailman -- Died Oct 2013
    Struan George Wadden -- WWII veteran – Died Oct 2013 – age 101
    Major RG Bill Thexton, CD -- WWII veteran – Died Nov 2013
    Morton Patrick “Dunkirk” Beazley -- WWII veteran – Died Nov 2013
    Chief Warrant Officer George Doucette -- WWII and Korean War veteran – Died Dec 2013
    Bruce Oxner -- WWII veteran – Died Dec 2013
    Major James R Wilcox -- WWII veteran – Died Dec 2013
    2014
    Maurice L Lightfoot
    -- WWII veteran – Died Feb 2014
    Sergeant W Barry J Pitcairn, CD -- RSS – Died Feb 2014
    John R Barlow -- Korean War veteran – Died Mar 2014
    Robert R Bailey -- Died May 2014
    Warrant Officer Ernie L McMurrer, MMM, CD -- RQMS – Died May 2014
    Lieutenant Colonel Daniel R Bobbitt CD -- Afghanistan veteran, WNSR Officer 1988-90, and CO 2 RCHA – Died May 2014
    Master Warrant Officer Murray C Myles, CD -- RSS Chief Clerk – Died May 2014
    Pearlie E Whynott -- WWII veteran – Died May 2014
    Thomas J Keefe -- WWII veteran – Died Jul 2014
    Captain Dianne Thompson-Sheppard, QC -- Died Jul 2014
    Robert F Bond -- WWII veteran – Died Aug 2014
    Frederick M Todd -- Died Aug 2014
    Alexander Malcolm Stevens -- WWII veteran – Died Sep 2014
    Lieutenant Colonel Daniel L Harlow, CD -- CO 1962-65 and Korean War veteran – Died Oct 2014
    Sergeant Malcolm L Dodge -- Died Nov 2014
    Frank Bernard Sanford -- WWII veteran – Died Nov 2014
    2015
    Donald Kitchener Sisk
    -- WWII veteran – Died Jan 2015
    Warrant Officer 1st Class / CWO Joseph H Tidd, CD -- RSM 1965-72 – Died Jan 2015
    Warrant Officer Stan Whynott, CD -- RSS – Died Jan 2015
    Murray Huntley -- WWII veteran - Died Feb 2015
    Garnet Raymond Burns -- WWII veteran – Died Mar 2015
    Frank Hartlen -- WWII veteran WNSR and 1st SSF – Died Mar 2015
    Robert R Sears -- WWII veteran – Died Apr 2015
    Robert H Huntley -- WWII veteran – Died May 2015
    Major EL “Tony” Larkin, CD – Korean War veteran – Died Jun 2015
    Sergeant Albert Arthur Smith -- WWII veteran - Died Jun 2015
    Sergeant Kenneth Keith Wilson, CD-- Died Jun 2015
    Lloyd Naugler -- WWII veteran – Died Jul 2015
    Duncan Malcolm Ferguson -- WWII veteran – Died Aug 2015
    Stewart N MacMillan -- WWII veteran - Died Aug 2015
    Marshall M. Fleet – WWII veteran – Died Sep 2015
    Sergeant John A Rafuse -- WWII veteran – Died Nov 2015
    Lieutenant Connie (Smith) Durcsak, CD – Died Nov 2015
    George Mosher -- WWII veteran – Died Dec 2015
    Carl Floyd Williams -- WWII veteran – Died Dec 2015
    2016
    Major Fred J MacEachern, CD
    -- President WNSRRA 2006-07 and WWII veteran – Died Jan 2016
    Edison Raymond Corkum – WWII veteran – Died Feb 2016
    Russell Wayne McIsaac – Died Feb 2016
    Joseph Ernest Fougere -- WWII veteran - Died Apr 2016
    Franklin Albert Hawkins -- WWII veteran - Died Apr 2016
    Lieutenant Colonel John C Himmelman, CD -- CO 1990-94 – Died Apr 2016
    Glenn A Joudrey – WWII veteran – Died May 2016
    Alcide Jean-Baptiste d’Eon -- WWII veteran – Died Jun 2016
    Captain HA David Morrison, CD -- RCACC 2444 – Died Jun 2016
    MCpl Harold McBurney, CD -- Died Jun 2016
    Osborne Allen Brewster -- WWII veteran - Died Jul 2016
    Russell Clinton Langille – WWII veteran – Died Oct 2016
    William Clyde Rooney – WWII veteran – Died Oct 2016
    Major Peter Howard Taylor – Korean War veteran – Died Oct 2016
    Everett Hartley Connell – WWII veteran – Died Nov 2016
     
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  7. stonier

    stonier Member

    upload_2017-2-19_22-38-36.png
    Colonel Waterman and his officers at Ortona
    Front row, l to r, Majors Art Russell and John Cameron, the
    CO, Major Don Archibald, Captain Hugh Burns. Second row,
    Captains Vic Inman (Paymaster), Scotty Allan, Al MacMillan,
    Bob Campbell (I.O.), Art Dyer (Adjutant), Bill Thexton, Cecil
    Whynacht (Quartermaster), Laurie Cameron (Dentist), and Padre
    Brundage. Third row, Lieuts Reid, Kirk, Moore, Holloway, Hebb,
    Ingraham, MacLeod, Campbell, and MacNeil -January 1944.
     
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  8. stonier

    stonier Member

    upload_2017-2-19_22-40-40.png
    Lt.-Col RSE Waterman DSO commanded the West Novas for
    about 10 months during the Italian Campaign. He led the Regiment
    through some of its toughest battles in Italy.
     
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  9. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Stonier.

    If you would'nt mind posting those parts of Maj Bill Thexton's "Times to Remember: Recollections of four and a half years with the West Nova Scotia Regiment during 1940-1944" that deal with 23 May 44 and the 3 Inf Bde attack on the Hitler Line that would be fantastic. I have researched the attack at length so any extra info would be useful.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  10. stonier

    stonier Member

    Frank,
    Below is the section from Bill's book in which you expessed an interest. I've copied it here for you.
    The book is 212 pages with about 60 photos; it tells of Bill's experiences with those he met during the war. We, the Regimental Association, found his recollections valuable and asked the family for permission to publish. We just printed 300 copies and would like to sell them at WNSR RA Item | The West Nova Scotia Regiment
    Regards,
    Ron

    This is taken from pp. 133-136
    Breaking the Gustav and Hitler Lines
    The main task of breaking through the enemy positions,
    which were in great strength on the floor of the valley, was given
    to 13th British Corps on the right and 1st Canadian Corps in
    the centre and left. This was the first time in this war that a
    Canadian Corps was engaged in an offensive operation. On our
    right the Polish Corps had been given the task of taking Monte
    Cassino. On our left General Join’s French Expeditionary
    Corps was to advance across the western mountains, led by
    its fierce Moroccan colonial troops, the Goums, and surprise
    the enemy on their right flank. As stated before, US 5th Army
    would advance up the west coastal plain, and eventually join
    up with their forces at Anzio.
    The task of breaking the Gustav Line fell mainly on the
    13th British Corps, through which 1st Canadian Division
    passed as they fought their way up the valley. After much hard
    fighting, 1st Canadian Division broke through the Hitler Line
    on May 25, led by the West Nova Scotia Regiment. It was
    probably their finest hour.
    Once the Hitler Line was breached, 5th Canadian
    Armoured Division moved through 1st Canadian Division in
    pursuit of the enemy.

    Life at “A “ Echelon

    Very little information on the course of the battle reached
    us at “A” Echelon. Harry MacLean, with his macabre sense
    of humour, kept us in suspense with dire news of disasters at
    the front. As it happened, he was one of the first to be called
    forward when Art Russell was hit on May 19th. Meanwhile
    Major Al Rogers, who returned to duty about this time, had
    taken over “B” Company when Scotty Allen was wounded on
    May 17th.
    On May 23rd Harry MacLean was himself wounded, and
    Harry Eisenhauer was called forward to replace him.
    On May 25th I was called up to take over from John
    Millard, and went forward just as 5th Armoured Division
    began pouring through our positions. After checking in at Bn
    HQ, I proceeded forward to where the rifle companies were
    dug in on their final objectives.

    Back with “A” Company
    John was sitting on the ground wearing battle order and
    steel helmet, with his map case between his feet. He looked up
    when he saw me and said, “Oh Bill, thank God you’re here!”
    He then showed me the company positions on the map, and
    left without further ado. I did not see him again until 1949
    when he and his wife attended our wedding. He was a good
    officer, and I have often wondered how he got along in his staff
    appointment in 5 Canadian Division. He might have made a
    good commanding officer for the West Novas later in the war.
    That evening a message was received from Bn HQ to say
    that the CO was on his way up to have a drink with my officers
    and senior NCOs. We rather wondered what he was up to,
    but gathered together in a small building which was being
    used as Company HQ. When Ronnie arrived, he beckoned
    me outside and, to my astonishment, fastened a pair of crowns
    on my shoulder straps. He then led me into the building and
    announced rather dramatically, “Gentlemen, meet Major
    Thexton!” It was my proudest hour in the war. I was to remain
    in command of the company for the next seven months,
    considerably luckier than most of my fellow “C” rifle company
    commanders.
    We remained just north of the Hitler Line positions until
    the end of May when the division withdrew to the Volturno
    Valley to regroup and absorb reinforcements. The division
    needed a pause, having been in action almost continuously
    since the previous July. We spent two months getting reenergized
    for whatever lay ahead.
    General Alexander’s plan was unfortunately not followed in
    its entirety by General Mark Clark. Instead of advancing into
    the Alban hills and cutting off the German 7th Army retreating
    to the north, 5th US Army headed for Rome. The papers a
    few days later were headlined “the American Army captures
    Rome!” Most of the retreating Germans got away.
    West Nova causalities in the Liri Valley battles were heavy,
    and included 51 killed, 170 wounded, and 20 missing.
     
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  11. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Thank you for posting. The human touch is brilliantly ant.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  12. Jaap Vermeer

    Jaap Vermeer Active Member

    Looking for more information and photos of Cpl.Frederick '' Freddie '' Hutchison Behie of Sheet Harbor Nova Scotia.
    Freddie was KIA, May 2nd 1945 in my village NYKERK,Holland. He was buried by Captain Chaplain Laurence Frank Wilmot.
    Freddie was an Despatch Driver of the WNSR. First buried in NYKERK,final reinterment Canadian War Cemetery Groesbeek,Holland. On May 2nd 2018 his nephew and his wife will visit NYKERK and they are our guests till May 5th, Dutch Liberation Day.On May 4th we bring honor to Freddie at Groesbeek Cemetery ( Dutch Memorial Day )
    I allready having his photo and War Diary,but maybe there will be a photo as an Despatch Driver.
    May 2nd 2018 our newspaper honors Freddie with a full page.

    Maple Leaf UP,

    Jaap Vermeer ( Member of the Dutch Empire )
     
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  13. stonier

    stonier Member

    This is the Tac Sign design used by WWII veterans of the WNSR to direct traffic to their annual reunions. We still use them today.
     

    Attached Files:

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