Day two of Operation WELLHIT (the capture of Boulogne 17-22 September 1944), 18 September 1944 a.) From the War Diary of the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron: *Note* - the entries in the War Diary for 17 Sep 44, are misdated by one day, or in other words, the events recorded for the 17th, actually happed on the 18th, therefore, although dated 17 Sep 44, the following transcription of the entry for that date, are for events that took place on 18 Sep 44 17 Sep 44 (in reality for 18 Sep 44) Weather - Cloudy with occasional Rain squalls. 0500 (5:00 A.M.) Lt (Lieutenant) St Germain ordered to Liason (Liaison) [1] with CO (Commanding Officer) HLI (Highland Light Infantry of Canada) [2] at once. He was infmd (informed) an effort was being made to bring up Lt (Lieutenant) Blackadar’s Tp (Troop) [3], who would also be used in Phase 3. This entailed a move of approx (approximately) three miles. It was impossible to recce (reconnoitre) the route as the enemy still offered very strong resistance over most of the area. 0930 (9:30 A.M.) Lt (Lieutenant) Blackadar arrived with 12 Kangaroos and we were ordered to await further orders. 1430 (2:30 P.M.) We were instructed it would be impossible to proceed with Phase 3, and were ordered back to our harbor area at La Capelle (La Capelle-lès-Boulogne). Here arrangements were made for Bath [4] and QM (Quartermaster) parades. (details in parentheses above added for clarity and spelling corrections) Notes: [1] - contact [2] - of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade [3] - Lieutenant Blackadar’s Troop of Kangaroos from their harbor area at La Capelle-lès-Boulogne [4] - at No. 7 Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit (Type B), Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps, the mobile laundry and bath unit of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division b.) From the War Diary of the Light Aid Detachment 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers: 18 Sep 44 Weather - clear and cool Capt. (Captain) Duncan contacted Capt. (Captain) Corbeau [1] and found troop carriers were still out and several probably casualties. Capt. (Captain) Duncan and AQMS (Artificer Quartermaster Sergeant) Lowe went to approximate area and found 2 equipments (two Kangaroo carriers) knocked out (unserviceable due to enemy action). First had a direct hit in fighting compartment with H.E. (high explosive) and was a 2nd echelon casualty [2]. The second had hit a mine and blew left track and damaged left front and centre suspension (the explosion broke the left track and damaged the front and centre suspension units on the left side of the Kangaroo). Arrangements were made with RCE’s (Royal Canadian Engineers) to clear the minefield to facilitate recovery. All available fitters sent to rendezvous area to prepare troop carriers for move to Calais as they had returned from action. A third carrier was found in a field about 300 yds (yards) from first two, with a broken drive shaft. (details in parentheses above added for clarity) Notes: [1] - Captain F.S. Corbeau, Officer Commanding 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron [2] - was beyond the repair capability of the Light Aid Detachment, and would have to be recovered to a workshop for repair c.) Background on day two of Operation WELLHIT (the capture of Boulogne), 18 September 1944 i) activities of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade on 18 September 1944 On 18 September, The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, completed its capture of the La Trésorerie area. Le Régiment de la Chauadière, pushed onto the vicinity of Colonne de la Grande Armée [1], where they experienced heavy fighting. The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, advanced through the northern outskirts of Boulogne, and by 8:00 P.M., reported that they had completed their task, and were turning northwards toward Fort de la Crèche. The second day of Operation WELLHIT, 18 September, was one of gruelling fighting, with little progress for the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade. ii) activities of the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade on 18 September 1944 The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, captured the ‘citadel’ in the northern part of Boulogne. The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, coming up from the positions that The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, had held, on the northern slopes of the Mont Lambert feature, between St. Martin-Boulogne and La Cauchèrie, before moving up to the Liane River on the evening of 17 September, crossed the Liane on the evening of 18 September, by way of a half-demolished bridge, in the middle of Boulogne [2]. Following the crossing of this bridge by The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, the 18th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers [3], set to work to improvise repairs to the bridge with timbers, and had it open to ‘light’ vehicles by 4:30 A.M., on the morning of 19 September. The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, had arranged with one of the armoured assault columns [4], comprising one Troop of Flail tanks of the 1st Lothian & Border Horse Yeomanry, two Troops of Churchill Crocodile flame-throwing tanks of the 141st Regiment (The Buffs), Royal Armoured Corps, and a half Troop of AVREs (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineer) of the 6th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers, and tanks of the 10th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Fort Garry Horse), Canadian Armoured Corps [5], to clean up the remaining German resistance, still holding out on the Mont Lambert feature. At first light, this force, in a two-pronged attack, surged forward, with the left-hand prong clearing the southeast face of the feature, while the right-hand prong of the attack, swept over the summit, and on down into Le Chemin Vert. In each case, tanks of the Fort Garry Horse were in the lead, followed by the specialized armour of the British 79th Armoured Division [6], followed by the infantrymen of The North Nova Scotia Highlanders. By 11:00 A.M., enemy resistance on the Mont Lambert feature, had come to an end. On the afternoon of 18 September, Major-General D.C. Spry [7], ordered The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun) [8], to take and hold the Herquelingue area [9], on the southeastern flank of his divisional front, since it was still in enemy hands, and at that point in time, outflanked the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade’s progress. The Herquelingue area, was to have been taken by The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, but that battalion had been diverted to the task of crossing the Liane River (as mentioned previously). Starting at 6:30 P.M., troops of the Cameron battle group, began their advance toward the Herquelingue area, finally securing their objective by the evening of 19 September. 18 September, was also the last day, on which, the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, was ‘actively’ involved with Operation WELLHIT, with Lieutenant Blackadar’s, and Lieutenant St Germain’s groups having been ordered back to the squadron’s harbor area at La Capelle-lès-Boulogne, shortly after the planned ‘lift’ of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, by Kangaroos, was cancelled at approximately 2:30 P.M. [2], that afternoon. Subsequently, “Boulogne, 1944,” was the second ‘Battle Honour’ [10] awarded to the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, Canadian Armoured Corps. Notes: [1] - a monument to Napoleon’s preparations to invade England in 1803-05 [2] - this movement forward of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, was the reason why Lieutenant St Germain was ordered to contact the Commanding Officer of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada, immediately, on the morning of 18 September, and why Lieutenant Blackadar’s group was ordered to join Lieutenant St Germain’s group, in the area of The Highland Light Infantry of Canada’s positions. As the war diary of the squadron points out, the movement forward of this battalion by Kangaroos, was subsequently cancelled at approximately 2:30 P.M., on the afternoon of 18 September, and both Lieutenant Blackadar’s, and Lieutenant St Germain’s groups, were ordered back to the harbor area at La Capelle-lès-Boulogne. [3] - of the 3rd Divisional Engineers, Royal Canadian Engineers (3rd Canadian Infantry Division) [4] - Column “C” under the command of the Commanding Officer of the 141st Regiment (The Buffs), Royal Armoured Corps [5] - of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade [6] - such as, Flail tanks of the 1st Lothian & Border Horse Yeomanry, for the clearing of safe lanes through minefields, Churchill Crocodile flame-throwing tanks of the 141st Regiment (The Buffs), Royal Armoured Corps, for the suppression and submission of fortified positions, and by AVREs (Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineer) of the 6th Assault Regiment, Royal Engineers [7] - the General-Officer-Commanding (GOC) 3rd Canadian Infantry Division [8] - the 3rd Canadian Infantry Divisional Machine Gun Battalion, on which was formed, on the night of 12/13 September 1944, a mixed battle group, with The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Machine Gun), as the core element, with under command, elements of the 3rd Divisional Artillery - Headquarters, 3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (with the 105th Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery), and Headquarters, 4th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (with one Light Anti-Aircraft Troop), and elements of the 3rd Divisional Engineers - the 3rd Field Park Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, to cover the southeastern flank of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division front [9] - see the map entitled “Map of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division’s Operation WELLHIT 17-22 September 1944,” which was posted 15 September 2014 [10] - simply put a Battle Honour is a commemoration of a battle or campaign associated with a specific regiment of infantry or armour (previously cavalry). The honour takes the form of a battle title, sometimes distinguished further by a date, and granted at the conclusion of hostilities by a special committee (MWT)
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 13:16:00 +0000