By Captain Jack Golding
"The Pimple," high spot on a ridge commanding full view of Calcar, was being held by infantrymen from the prairies as the retreating Hun lobbed harassing salvos from medium guns around the foremost OP on that sector of the First Canadian Army front facing the Rhine.
Front liners from this famous western unit that struck at Dieppe were eating nonchalantly, keeping a wary ear for "that familiar whistle" and for the crack of a Schmeizer operated by a lone paratrooper well concealed about 600 yards to the right.
"Over there," said the CO from Calgary, pointing to a wooded section a third of a mile distant, "we actually saw about 100 Jerries marching in threes yesterday afternoon. They were in two groups. Imagine! Parade square stuff right under our noses. We gave the tankers a shout and they fixed 'em in short order wi8th gun fire".
The Battalion had advanced two miles, in their push for the vital high ground overlooking Calcar. Zero hour had been shortly after midnight. They moved in formation until first light. Smoke and flaming houses killed vision so badly, the CO was forced to step up the bofors' tracing program. A tremendous arty program preceded the attack but the infantrymen met with much small arms fire, mortars and 88's.
The order to get cracking was given and four were captured without firing a shot.
Capt George Stiles, OC Dog company, Vancouver, and his boys nabbed one gun intact, removed the demolition charge and are now using it against the Krauts nearby. Support company under Capt H. A. Robertson, Vancouver, and his men took three more. They also captured two enemy half-tracks in good condition.
As Stiles and his men swept in on a group of flaming houses the noticed the Jerries took refuge in cellars. "One kid in civvies, about 15 years old, threw a grenade at our gang and wounded four," said Capt Stiles. "This is the first instance we have encountered of a civilian offer resistance. We let him have it." The battalion commander told the same story.
With Capt Stiles were CSM John Dean, Estevan; Lieuts. Bert White, Vancouver; Ed Mullis, Oakville and Kitchener; Jack Cade, Winnipeg; Sgts. Hughes, Winnipeg; Shorty Le Marquand, MM, Gaspe; and John Watters, Stellarton, NS. These men led the crew from dog company that leapt from kangaroos to overrun the Krauts in the most right forward position. T.A Pitts, A/QMS rolled up that evening with a hot meal for the fighting men. Pte Andy Andrews, Cornwall, Ont., drove the grub carrier.
"All that day the Germans evacuated Calcar," said the company commander, "while our arty pounded hell out of them." Patrols tried several times during the first night but they were beaten off. Charlie company under Major Vic Shubert, Vancouver, sports star, beat off two counterattacks.
One heroic incident in the battalion's attack concerns a platoon commander, his batman and a rifleman. Exploiting a position, they were cut off from the main body of their group and took refuge in a slit trench. They were on one side of a draw and when a German platoon attempted to scramble up the far side of the feature, they opened up with Sten guns, killing 30. "A Hun sniper killed the three of them," the commanding officer said, "but we got him finally."
"The attack went off like a Camberley scheme," said the CO as he explained the situation in his cellar headquarter. "Air conditions weren't so good but the artillery and tanks did a marvelous job. So did the bous who brought our men up to the battleground in armoured troop carriers." Lieut. Ed Marriot, Vancouver, was working with the CO during the action. Artymen with the battalion were Major Dill Hunstein, CO's representative, Walkerton, Ont.; Capt Tom Pethybridge, FOO, Calgary; L/Bdr. F.F. Gentry, Calgary and Gnr. F. G. Hoover, Orillia, Ont.
Major George Buchanan, second in command of the battalion, Capt. Stiles, and very few others remain from the group that slashed at Dieppe over two years ago. Capt. Stu Carter, Prince Albert, is officer commanding Able company and Capt. Alec Matheson commands Baker company.
The men were living in shattered houses but eating chicken and fresh pork. In the scarred fields were skeletons of gliders that had apparently overshot their mark in the Arnhem show. Dead Germans lay in the ditches. Things were still to busy to bury them. Men were trying to spot a troublesome sniper several hundred yards distant. Others were investigating the wealth of clothing and food-stuffs in deserted houses.
It was just another day of battle for these men from the west.
Copyright Permission
From: mapleleaf@dnews.ca [mailto:mapleleaf@dnews.ca]
Sent: Thursday, 11 December, 2003 00:02
To: Carter.CS@forces.gc.ca
Subject: Re: Use of Maple Leaf Article
Good day Sir,
No problem - go ahead and use the article. Simply credit the Maple Leaf as the source.
Good luck with the project and send me the website link if you can. Lots of folks are interested in our military history and their may be some interesting stories that come out of your endeavour.
Cheers,
- Guy -
Guy Paquette
DND, ADM(PA), The Maple Leaf, D-News