Month: October 2023

On The War Memorial Trail… An Island Airman In Stalag Luft III Part 2: Escape From The POW Camp

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

October 30, 2023. In Part 1, Pieter’s research revealed how a small postcard-sized letter, written in September 1942 from POW camp Stalag Luft III, impacted two families from Prince Edward Island. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/10/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-an-island-airman-in-stalag-luft-iii-part-1-2-families-connected-by-1-letter-from-a-pow-camp/)

The letter was found by Don Coutts, nephew of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, who lost his life on October 12, 1941.  It was written by John ‘Hubert’ HALL of Summerside, the pilot aboard Wellington Z1203, which crashed in The Netherlands near Mijdrecht on the night of March 28/29, 1942. 

The camp was near the town of Sagan, Lower Silesia, in what was then Nazi Germany (but now Żagań, Poland), 160 kilometres (100 miles) south-east of Berlin.  The movie ‘The Great Escape’ was based on an incident that happened in this camp in 1944. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_Luft_III)

CIMG6475 Hubert Hall with mustache cropped and sharpened

John ‘Hubert’ Hall. (Photo courtesy of the Hall Family)

After meeting Hubert’s son, Robert ‘Bob’ Hall, and his wife Joanne Sheen, we came away with a wealth of information about Hubert, who sadly died young, at the age of 39.

CIMG6521 Oct 14 2023 Daria with Joanne Sheen & Bob Hall

Left to right: Joanne Sheen, Bob Hall, Daria Valkenburg (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Now, in Part 2, more on Hubert’s story and his long march to freedom after leaving Stalag Luft III…..

Hubert was born January 4, 1915 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, the son of Franklin and Marion (nee Howatt) Hall.  As a child, he and his brother Paddy went with their parents to Western Canada, and he attended school in Camrose, Alberta. Unfortunately, the family’s hope for a better economic future was disrupted by the Depression, and Mrs Hall returned to the Island with her sons.  Then, after WWII began, both sons enlisted in the RCAF.

Hubert enlisted at the RCAF Recruiting Centre in Moncton on June 26, 1940.  He took his initial flight training at No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) RCAF Station Cap de la Madeleine, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.  He received primary pilot training, including solo flying of a basic training aircraft, and graduated on December 9, 1940.

In December 1940, he was sent to No. 2 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) RCAF Station Uplands in Ottawa, Ontario for continued pilot training on an advanced single or multi engine training aircraft.

CIMG6471 Print of Wellington bomber

Print of a Wellington bomber displayed in Bob Hall’s home office.  (Photo credit: D Valkenburg)

After receiving his wings, he left Canada for the United Kingdom and by May 1941 was training on a Wellington bomber at No. 12 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Benson, England.  

On June 19, 1941, Hubert began flying while attached to 142 Squadron of the RAF.  He was second pilot for 10 operations, and then pilot for 7 operations.  Wellington Z1203 turned out to be his 7th and final operation…..

…The air crew aboard the last flight of Wellington Z1203….

  • Pilot – Pilot Officer John ‘Hubert’ HALL, of the RCAF
  • Second Pilot – Flight Sgt Lawrence Hugh HOUGHTON, of the RAF
  • Navigator – Flight Sgt John Edward HARRITT, of the RAF
  • Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – Flight Sgt Arthur Richard TIDDER, of the RAF
  • Front Gunner – Sgt Geoffrey Peter WADSWORTH, of the RAF
  • Rear Gunner – Sgt Ernest Joseph PETTITT, of the RAF

….The last flight of Wellington Z1203….

GrimsbytoLubecktoMidrechtREV

Map shows the plane’s path from England towards Lübeck.  On the return to England, the plane was hit by flak near Kiel and diverted to The Netherlands where it crashed near Mijdrecht.  (Map prepared by Wendy Nattress)

According to the records, Wellington Z1203 departed RAF Grimsby at 21:28 pm on March 28, 1942 on a bombing operation to Lübeck, Germany. During the return to base in the early hours of March 29, the plane was hit by German flak as it crossed the coast near Kiel.  A fuel line was damaged, causing fuel loss. With insufficient fuel to return to England, the pilot – Hubert Hall – diverted the plane, turning inwards towards The Netherlands.

All six crew members were able to bail out and became prisoners of war for the duration of the war. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Mijdrecht, near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

…The long march to freedom….

According to Hubert’s Liberated Prisoner of War form, following the crash, he was first taken to Frankfurt, Germany, to Dulag Luft Frankfurt, a POW transit camp, for interrogation.  He was there from April 1, 1942 to May 7, 1942.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulag_Luft)

Hubert then was sent to POW camp Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Lower Silesia (Żagań, Poland).  He was there from May 9, 1942 until January 27, 1945.

As Russian forces advanced to less than 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) of Stalag Luft III, the POWs felt that liberation was only a matter of days away. Their hopes were dashed as on the evening of January 27, 1945, word came that Hitler had ordered the immediate evacuation of the camp. The POWs in all six compounds were instructed to prepare to march that very night. (See https://www.stalagluft3.com/long-march/)

The march began in the early hours of January 28, 1945, with the POWs trudging through heavy snow, cold weather, and even a blizzard.

march_map from Stalag Luft III

The long march from Stalag Luft III to Tarmstedt in the winter of 1945. (Map source: https://www.stalagluft3.com/long-march/)

Stuart Bruce Keith ‘Brack’ BRACKENBURY, an RCAF pilot from Ontario, was Hubert’s roommate in the Stalag, according to an account his daughter Ana Brickley gave to the Hall family. Brack was the pilot aboard the last flight of Hampden P1165, on an operation to Hüls, Germany, which was shot down and crashed at Winterswijk, Gelderland, The Netherlands on December 28, 1941. He was the only survivor of that crash.

Per her father’s recollection, Ana explained that they “…marched west away from the Russians and walked to a glass factory halfway to Hamburg, and stayed there a few months as they were too weak to walk further….”  This may be Marlag und Milag Nord in Tarmstedt, Germany, as Hubert’s Liberated Prisoner of War form stated he was there from February 4, 1945 until April 10, 1945.

marlag_und_milag_nord

Marlag und Milag Nord in Tarmstedt, Germany.  (Photo source: https://www.stalagluft3.com/long-march/)

Ana’s account noted that the men later “...went into boxcars….” by train “…to Hamburg and then walked to the Baltic Sea…”  They were eventually “…liberated in Lübeck...” which is a Baltic port.  Hubert’s Liberated Prisoner of War Form noted that they were liberated on May 2, 1945 in Trenthorst, a small settlement on the estate of German business magnate Philipp F. Reemtsma.

Their ordeal wasn’t quite over as Ana recounted that “…the army was going to drive the liberated men in trucks back to France.  They objected. Winston Churchill heard about it and said ‘they flew in, and they’ll fly out’.  And they did…..”

Hubert received his official discharge on July 27, 1945 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

….Back on Prince Edward Island….

During his time as a POW, Hubert had contracted tuberculosis, and when he returned back to the Island, he “…was in the sanatorium in Charlottetown…” Bob explained. 

Once he left the sanatorium, Hubert worked at Hall Manufacturing, and then became the Sheriff of Prince County on July 15, 1947.  In Canada, a sheriff is a law enforcement officer, but not a police officer, as in the USA.  Sheriffs’ offices in Canada are primarily concerned with court services such as security in and around the courts, post-arrest prisoner transfer, serving legal processes, fine collection.

Bob explained that his father met his mother, Audrey ‘Forrona’ England when he became Sheriff.  “…She worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia in Summerside, and most likely that’s where they met…” 

Bob shared a story about his parents’ first date.  “…My father had a gorgeous black Rover with red leather seats.  On their first date, they went for a drive. When they stopped, my mother opened the door, and a heavy wind gust blew the door off!...”

Unfortunately, Hubert died in December 1954, leaving behind his wife Forrona and their two sons, Robert and Brenton. He’s buried at the People’s Cemetery in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, alongside his wife Forrona, who died in 2009.

Joanne Sheen wrote us, saying “….thank you so much for your visit. The tireless work and passion you both have for your project is amazing….Bob and I were very touched by the conversation….the visit brought Hubert to life.  Sad that it was a life cut short but Hubert was luckier than many in that he did get to return home and for a time, a happy life with his wife Forrona and two little boys….” 

Thank you to Bob Hall and Joanne Sheen for providing information about Hubert Hall. Thank you to Wendy Nattress, who prepared the map showing the flight path for Wellington Z1203, and to Yannic Wethly for sending Hubert’s Liberated Prisoner Of War Form.

Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter Valkenburg at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.  

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so.  Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw. 

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

On The War Memorial Trail… An Island Airman In Stalag Luft III Part 1: 2 Families Connected By 1 Letter From A POW Camp

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

October 23, 2023. If you found a letter, written by someone you didn’t know, about your long-deceased uncle who died during WWII, what would your reaction be?  If you received a message saying that a 1942 letter from your long-deceased father was found, how would you react?   

….2 families…1 letter….

Two families were impacted by one small postcard-sized letter, written in September 1942 from POW camp Stalag Luft III.  The camp was near the town of Sagan, Lower Silesia, in what was then Nazi Germany (but now Żagań, Poland), 160 kilometres (100 miles) south-east of Berlin.  The movie ‘The Great Escape’ was based on an incident that happened in this camp in 1944. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_Luft_III)

The letter was found by Don Coutts, nephew of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, who lost his life on October 12, 1941.  Don found it amongst his mother’s effects after she died a few months ago.  He asked if we could “…play detective in deciphering the handwriting and as well which prisoner of war camp it came from….”  Pieter was up for the challenge.

….The letter came from Stalag Luft III….

CIMG6475 Hubert Hall with mustache cropped and sharpened

John ‘Hubert’ Hall. (Photo courtesy of the Hall Family)

The letter was sent to Mrs.  Frank H. Hall in Summerside, and was written by John ‘Hubert’ HALL, the pilot aboard Wellington Z1203, which crashed in The Netherlands near Mijdrecht on the night of March 28/29,1942. Everyone on board that flight survived and spent the remainder of the war years in POW camps. 

Hubert was in Stalag Luft III, as was Geoffrey Douglas LEYLAND of the Royal Air Force, the Squadron Leader mentioned in the letter.  Pieter’s research found that Leyland had flown three times with Elmer Muttart as second pilot! (https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/52841)  Leyland returned to England after the war and passed away in 1970.

Hubert Hall POW Letter p2

September 6, 1942 letter from Hubert Hall to his mother Marion Hall.

The text of the letter, from Hubert to his mother, reads “…Dear Mother, How are you dear? I’m quite well and managing all right, I hate washing clothes. A few days ago I happened to mention on parade PEI and Squadron Leader overheard me and asked me if I knew Elmer Muttart. At one time Squadron Leader was Elmer’s second pilot and his praise for Elmer’s capabilities as a pilot and the work he did was very high. He says he owes his life to Elmer’s flying one night before Elmer was missing. Mrs. Muttart might like to know of this…Lots of love, Hube…”

One can imagine the relief that Mrs Hall felt in knowing that her son was alive and safe, but what she did next was a testament to her empathy for Annie Bagnall Muttart, whose son Elmer had died a year earlier.  She gave this precious letter to the Muttart family, and it was passed down to her daughter, Helen Coutts. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/01/31/he-died-that-we-might-live-video-is-now-on-youtube/)

Elmer Bagnall Muttart (2)

Elmer Bagnall Muttart (Photo from Canadian Virtual War Memorial at http://www.veterans.gc.ca)

….The letter writer’s son was found….

The letter writer identified, Pieter’s next challenge was finding the family of Hubert and Mrs Frank Hall. The search led him to Robert ‘Bob’ Hall, who soon received a phone message from our intrepid detective! 

Bob was very surprised but called back immediately, confirming that Hubert was his father, and that his grandmother was Marion (nee Howatt) Hall. We met with him and his wife Joanne Sheen to learn more.

CIMG6521 Oct 14 2023 Daria with Joanne Sheen & Bob Hall

Left to right: Joanne Sheen, Bob Hall, Daria Valkenburg (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Born January 4, 1915 in Summerside, Hubert enlisted at the RCAF Recruiting Centre in Moncton on June 26, 1940.  After receiving his wings, he left Canada for the United Kingdom and by May 1941 was sent for training on a Wellington bomber.

During his time as a POW, Hubert contracted tuberculosis, and when he returned back to the Island, he “…was in the sanatorium in Charlottetown…” Bob explained. 

Once he left the sanatorium, he worked at Hall Manufacturing, and then became the Sheriff of Prince County.  “…That’s when he met my mother, Forrona England. She worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia in Summerside, and most likely that’s where they met…” 

Bob noted that “…I was only three years old when my father died…” at age 39.  “…My mother was 29 when he died and she never got over it…”

Joanne Sheen was excited to learn about the letter.  Bob agreed. “…It’s the only letter that we’ve seen from the POW camp…”  Written on very thin and flimsy paper, it’s not surprising that letters from POW camps might not have survived.  That made the 1942 letter a special remembrance.

Thank you to Don Coutts for sharing the letter from the POW camp, and to Bob Hall and Joanne Sheen for providing information about Hubert Hall. In Part 2: more on Hubert Hall’s story and his long march to freedom that began on January 27, 1945.

Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter Valkenburg at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.  

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so.  Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw. 

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier From Meteghan Killed During The Battle Of Five Woods

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

October 18, 2023.  Last fall we visited the war memorial in Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, as two soldiers that Pieter had researched are listed on this monument.  Coincidentally, both are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  At the time of our visit, we’d told the story of one of the soldiers, but not the other.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/11/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-importance-of-remembrance/)

This second soldier was Joseph ‘Edmond’ ROBICHEAU, from Meteghan, Nova Scotia, who lost his life on April 14, 1945 near Deventer, The Netherlands, while serving with the Royal 22e Regiment. 

Born November 16, 1923 in Meteghan, Edmond was the son of Césaire and Vitaline Robicheau.  When he enlisted at the No. 6 National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) Clearing Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on August 18, 1943, he noted that he had worked as a fisherman for 2 years and had served in the 2nd Battalion West Nova Scotia Infantry (Reserve) since October 1942.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

…A photo of Edmond was found in Saulnierville…

Although Edmond had 3 brothers and 4 sisters, Pieter was not able to find any family members during the photo search.  This unfortunately happens more often than you’d think.  A photo was found through a nearby resident, Ann Louise Doucet, who explained that “…the photo is located at the Clare Veterans Association…” in Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, “… so I would credit them as there is no name on the photo…”

IMG_3047v Joseph Robicheau

Joseph ‘Edmond’ Robicheau. (Photo source: Clare Veterans Association)

… Edmond served in the Coast Battery and home defence…

On September 17, 1943, Edmond was sent to No. 61 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia for training as a gunner.  After completing his basic training, he was attached to A23 Training Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 16, 1943. A23 was a Coast and Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Centre established to train coast and anti-aircraft gunners.

On March 11, 1944, Edmond was transferred to the 16th (C) Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery and sent to Sydney, Nova Scotia. Not long afterwards, on April 26, 1944, he was assigned to the 104th Coast Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery and posted to Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

The 104th Coast Battery was garrisoned at Fort McNutt on McNutt’s Island, as coastal defence to protect the port of Shelburne. The threat of German submarine activity was a concern.  This is why Shelburne had been designated as an alternate port to Halifax Harbour during the war.

On September 7, 1944, Edmond transferred to the Royal Regiment of Canada, and sent for a 4 day tactical training course at the Special Infantry Training Camp in Vernon, British Columbia on September 27, 1944.

On October 1, 1944, Edmond was attached to the 1st Battalion Oxford Rifles, part of the Royal Regiment of Canada, which served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 16th Infantry Brigade, 8th Canadian Division.

… Edmond left Canada for overseas service in January 1945…

On January 2, 1945, Edmond was among the soldiers of the 1st Battalion Oxford Rifles who left Canada for the United Kingdom, arriving on January 8, 1945.  The Battalion was disbanded on January 10, 1945 to provide reinforcements for the First Canadian Army. 

Edmond was assigned to No. 6 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR) upon arrival, for further training, then to No. 4 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR) on February 4, 1945.

Screenshot 2023-10-09 at 11-44-19 Putte · 2580 Belgium

Putte, Belgium is near the Dutch border.  (Map source: Google maps)

On March 9, 1945 he was sent to North West Europe as part of the X-4 reinforcement troops of the 21st Army Group.  Then, on April 2, 1945 he was transferred to the Royal 22e Regiment (also known as the Van Doos), joining them while they were in Putte, Belgium.

In the Regimental history, ‘The Royal 22e Regiment’, author Serge Bernier records that “…on April 4, the regiment made an incursion into the Reichswald, near Clèves, which the Canadians had recently liberated at considerable cost...”  Clèves (Kleve in English) is just over the Dutch border in Germany.

After a few days, the Regiment made its way back into The Netherlands. “…On the 10th the Royal 22e left the sector, passing through Clèves and Emmerich, before moving into eastern Holland, and stopping near Zutphen.  On the 13th it crossed the Yssel to take up a position in a bridgehead that the 3rd Brigade would use as a base to attack the town of Appeldoorn....”  Yssel refers to the IJssel River in The Netherlands.

… Edmond lost his life during the Battle of the Five Woods…

Screenshot Deventer Google Maps

The locations in The Netherlands where the Royal 22e Regiment for April 1945, where Robicheau was initially buried and where he is permanently buried. (Map source: Google maps)

The next day, April 14, 1945, the Regiment received a change in plans.  “… The WNSR and the CYR were the first to leave, closely followed by the Royal 22e, but at 7:30 am the regiment received orders to capture a well-defended wooded area....”  WNSR refers to West Nova Scotia Regiment.  CYR refers to Carleton & York Regiment.

This was the Battle of the Five Woods.  “…Assisted by tanks, the companies performed mopping-up operations in the sector for 24 hours.  The assignment proved costly: 11 men were reported killed, 19 wounded and two missing…” Among those who lost their lives that day was Edmond Robicheau.

…Edmond is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

He was initially buried in a temporary cemetery near Deventer, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands in 1946.

Grave of Joseph Robicheau from CVWM

Grave of Joseph ‘Edmond’ Robicheau.  (Photo source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Thank you to Ann Louise Doucet for sending a photo of Joseph Robicheau.  Thank you also to David (dryan67) from the WW2Talk Forum for sharing information from the Royal 22e Regimental history. If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.  

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so.  Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw. 

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From Burk’s Falls Killed During The Liberation Of Deventer

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

October 7, 2023. A few months ago, Edwin van der Wolf, one of the research volunteers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, asked for help in finding a photo of “…Sgt Clive Gerow, who unfortunately fell on April 10, 1945 near Deventer….”

We’d been to Deventer and the surrounding area with Edwin, so we were familiar with the area where Clive Gerow lost his life.  Naturally, Pieter agreed to help with the photo search request.

CIMG9315 Sep 25 2017 Pieter & Edwin walking on road in Deventer

Pieter and Edwin van der Wolf (right) walked along the route near Schalkhaar that Canadian troops took before  they liberated Deventer in April 1945.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

… The search for a photo of Clive was successful…

Edwin provided some basic information.  Clive Elbert Steele GEROW was “…born on January 29, 1915 in Burk’s Falls, Ontario to John Gerow (who died in 1943) and Minnie Gerow, nee Magar. His mother died in 1920 when Clive was 5 years old. His sister was Thelma Beatrice Gerow (died 1941) and from his father’s second marriage he later had two half-sisters: Hope Francis and Laura May Gerow….”

In a sheer stroke of good fortune, a few days after Edwin’s initial request, Pieter found a photo on www.ancestry.ca, posted by Brynne Campbell.  He contacted Brynne and explained about the photo search request, and provided a link to our On The War Memorial Trail Research blog.   Brynne explained that “…Clive would have been my great-uncle…” Her grandmother, Hope Francis, is Clive’s half-sister.

Screenshot 2023-03-25 at 09-55-15 Family Portrait Gerow - Copy

Family portrait, circa 1928.  Standing, left to right: John Gerow, unknown, Clive Gerow, Elizabeth May Travis.  Front, left to right: Thelma Gerow, Mrs Douglas, Charlotte E. Travis, Laura May Gerow, Edith Gerow. (Photo courtesy of the Gerow Family)

Edwin noted that “…Clive left school at the age of 17, having completed 11 years of education. After school he worked on his parents’ farm for 5 years and the last two and a half years, before enlisting in the army, as a mechanic at the Beaver House Lake Gold Mine…” near the Ontario town of Kirkland Lake, 285.41 km (177.35 miles) from his hometown.

Screenshot 2023-08-27 at 16-56-21 distance between burks falls ontario and kirkland lake ontario - Google Search

Map shows location of Burk’s Falls and Kirkland Lake.  (Source: Google maps)

… Clive enlisted in 1939…

Clive enlisted with the Three Rivers Tank Regiment on November 2, 1939 in Trois-Rivières, Quebec.   He would remain with this Regiment for much of his military service, with the Regiment undergoing several name changes.  It was known as the 12th Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment) as of March 1, 1941. On May 15, 1942 it was designated the 12th Canadian Army Tank Regiment.  On August 26, 1943, it became the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment.

photo of Clive Gerow

Clive Elbert Steele Gerow. (Photo courtesy of the Gerow Family)

In ‘War Chronicles 1939-1945 Three Rivers Regiment (Tank)’, author Charles Prieur noted that basic training began in Trois-Rivières before moving to Montreal, Quebec to “…Westmount’s M.A.A. (Montreal Athletic Association) Grounds on Montreal Island…” on March 26, 1940. 

On March 28, 1940, “…Tank training begins without tanks. Drill features troops of men marching to semaphore signals. A Rypa simulator, with an electric motor, is also used to simulate a tank in motion. Courses multiply as able instructors are found with expertise in Vickers machine guns, radio transmission, electricity, mechanics, and Morse code…”

On June 23, 1940, the Regiment moved to Mount Bruno (23 km (14 mi) east of downtown Montreal) but quickly moved again, this time to Coteau Barracks in Trois-Rivières. 

However, instead of the expected tank training, the Regiment was ordered “…to guard the 400 odd prisoners of war….”  Troops also dealt with “…some 700 internees, in large part … refugees. Our Nazi prisoners consist almost exclusively of captured members of the Luftwaffe, merchant navy, submarine corps, and paratroop units…”  Guard duty lasted until July 28, 1940, when “…No. 4 Company of the Veterans Home Guard… arrived to take over….”

On August 3, 1940, the Regiment was ordered to “…move to Camp Borden for actual tank training…” Clive was among those who were transferred to Borden, Ontario.

… Clive married shortly before going overseas…

On April 28, 1941, Clive married Elsie Mae Dickinson, who lived in Trois-Rivières.  The couple were not together long as Clive and his Regiment were about to leave Canada for the United Kingdom.

Edith and Elsie Gerow

Elsie Gerow (right) with Clive’s stepmother Edith Gerow (left).  (Photo courtesy of the Gerow Family)

… Clive left Canada for service overseas…

Prieur noted that the Regiment left Camp Borden on June 17, 1941, expecting to “…detrain in Quebec City tomorrow –for a march through the outskirts of Limoilou, and arrive in Halifax on June 18…” 

On June 19, 1941, the Regiment boarded the S.S. Windsor Castle.  At midnight on June 21, 1941, the ship left Halifax for “…the United Kingdom, escorted by the battleship ‘Ramillies’, the battle cruiser ‘Repulse’ and six British destroyers….”

On June 30, 1941, “…at 0800 hrs, both the ‘Britannic’ and the ‘Windsor Castle’ drop anchor in the Clyde River near Gourock, Scotland…”

The next day, the Regiment left “… Gourock Station at 2000 hrs and travels through the night southwards to Lavington Down….” in Wiltshire, England.  Preliminary training took up the next few months.

On October 7, 1941, Clive and his Regiment left for “…the Tank Firing Range at Linney Head, Wales…” for “…practice at the firing range…” 

In January 1942 the Regiment moved to their winter quarters in Worthing, West Sussex, England. “…Except for ‘C’ Squadron in the Abbey, our billets here are clean modern cottages, with all conveniences — by far the best so far….”  The Abbey was in nearby Sompting Abbott.

Clive was busy with training, receiving his Driver Operator Class ‘C’ qualification on March 1, 1942.  From June 16 to July 2, 1942 Clive was attached to the Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Recovery Training Centre.  Exercises and ongoing training with the Regiment continued.

On November 27, 1942 the Regiment moved to Brighton, England.  Training began with Infantry Regiments, in preparation for battle.

Then from February 3, to March 31, 1943, he was sent for a Gunnery Instructor’s Course.  Meanwhile the Regiment moved from Brighton back to Worthing.

On April 30, 1943, the Regiment moved “…to Hoddom Castle, in Annan, Scotland…” and issued Sherman tanks.  “…These 30-tonners can reach a speed of 30 m.p.h, and are equipped with a confidence-building 75mm cannon and two Browning machine guns….”

… Clive left the United Kingdom for Sicily…

On June 15, 1943, the Regiment moved “…to the Port of Embarkation at Gourock on the Clyde in Scotland…” The following day the Regiment set sail for Sicily, Italy,  “…crammed into 6 LSTs of the U.S. Navy. Its effective strength at this time is 37 officers and 550 non-commissioned officers and men, including 36 American and 18 British citizens….”  An LST is a tank landing ship.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Ship,_Tank)

During the month long journey from Scotland to Sicily, the convoy stopped at Gibraltar on June 30, 1943. “…At 1100 hrs, the cat is finally let out of the bag: the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade are to join up with the Allied Forces. Indeed, we become an integral part of the famous Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery…”

From Gibraltar the convoy sailed along the north coast of Africa.  On July 5, 1943, the convoy came under fire.  “…At 1645 hrs, a huge explosion galvanizes the escorting destroyers into action. A Liberty ship has been torpedoed, catches fire, settles by the stern and sinks out of sight at 1700 hrs….”

… Clive participated in Operation Husky…

On July 10, 1943, they reached Pachino Bay in Sicily and ‘Operation Husky’ – the invasion of Sicily – began. “…The first Shermans of the Three Rivers Regiment rolled off  L.S.T.s on the left flank of the 1st (Infantry) Brigade’s beach about 0900 hrs, and at 1015 hrs the unit reported one squadron ready for action…” (See https://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1939-45/1939-45-10-operation-husky.html)

Over the next weeks, whatever brigade of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division was engaged, it was always with the support of the tanks of the Three Rivers Regiment. 

On August 17, 1943 Prieur recorded that “… Sicily is finally cleared of the enemy…”  Between September 12 and 24, 1943, “…the Three Rivers Regiment, now finally in reserve after its grueling solo support of the First Canadian Infantry Division and the 231st (Malta) Brigade throughout the Sicilian invasion, moves from Sicily and concentrates at Taranto, Italy….”

On October 5, 1943, “…the Three Rivers Regiment, which had moved overland from Foggia, arrived on the scene in time to bring its squadrons into action in support of the infantry brigades….” for the Battle of Termoli. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/italiancampaign/termoli.htm)

On October 21, 1943, Clive was sent to No. 7 Casualty Clearing Centre and spent the next months in several hospitals and convalescent centres, and sent back to the United Kingdom.  We could not find a record of why he was hospitalized for so long, but hospital records in Sicily indicate that there was a severe malaria epidemic.

Clive returned back to active duty on May 9, 1944, when he was transferred to No. 2 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit (CACRU), and sent for more training.

On September 3, 1944 Clive was transferred to No. 3 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit (CACRU).  On September 8, 1944 Clive left the United Kingdom for northwest Europe. On October 8, 1944 he was transferred to the 27th Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment), joining them near Maerle, Belgium.

Over the next months, Clive took part in the further advance through Belgium and The Netherlands, with the Regiment.

… Clive lost his life during the liberation of Deventer…

CIMG9313 Sep 25 2017 Pieter and Edwin in Deventer looking at map of attack

Edwin van der Wolf (left) and Pieter in Deventer, looking at a map of the attack that led to its liberation.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On April 10, 1945, the Regiment was involved in the liberation of Deventer, a town lying on the right bank of the IJssel River.  With the approaches protected by a maze of waterways, it was necessary to attack from the east.  

The village of Schalkhaar was liberated without much difficulty, but three German tanks appeared on the morning of April 10 as the liberation of Deventer began. One tank was destroyed by ‘B’ Squadron of the 27th Armoured Regiment, while the other escaped. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/deventer.htm)

The war diary for April 10, 1945 provided a narrative of what happened.  “…On our left flank ‘B’ Squadron west and enemy SPs were reported on our left flank.  The ground was very open so a mad dash was made to the wood and protective positions were taken up to support SD&Gs who had ‘A’ Company across the canal at that point….”  SP refers to self-propelled artillery.  SD&G refers to the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Regiment.

“….The SD&Gs worked straight north along the canal supported by 3 and 4 Tps while the NNSH went northwest supported by 1 and 2 Tps, finally reaching position, where they were stopped by a report of an SP…Sgt Gerow was killed by mortar fire and Lt Fraser took over No 2 Tp….”  Tps refers to troops.  NNSH refers to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment.

… Clive is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

Edwin explained that Clive “…was temporarily buried at the Roman Catholic Church in Schalkhaar before being reburied on April 9, 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….”

Grave of Clive Gerow from CVWM

Grave of Clive Elbert Steele Gerow at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. (Photo source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Thank you to Brynne Campbell for sharing photos of Clive Gerow.  If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.  

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so.  Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw. 

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.