Elgin Regiment C Squadron_Normandy to Netherlands
Boys in "C" Squadron Hit
the Dirt Fast When Bombing
Started on Normandy Beach
Manufacture of Synthetic Jeep by Enterprising
Mechanics
in Squadron Causes Some Embarrassment to Officers:
Grouches Turn to Wise-Cracks
By Major F.O. Lewis, M.B.E.,
Commanding "C" Squadron, Elgin Regiment
Just prior to the invasion, "C" Squadron of the Elgins was
stationed at Gosport on the southern coast of
England. The men had been warned of air raids and told to dig slit
trenches, as learned in previous training. But they had not done
so. The second night the squadron was there, the German Air Force
carried out a heavy raid on Portsmouth and
Gosport and several bombs were dropped nearby.
Don McLachlin, Charlie Raven and
I went to get into our slit trench but found it was already
occupied. The next morning there was dirt flying in all directions
as the men dug deep into old Mother Earth.
When we landed in Normandy it was funny to see
big fellows like Bill Taylor, Squadron
Quartermaster George Martyn, Machinist-Sergeant
Jim Chapman; the Corporal cook, Bill
Couse; the Squadron Cerk, Corporal George
Gilbert; the Glaab brothers, tank
electricians; Jim Wilson, a mechanic, and Corporal
Norm Darnforth hit the ground running with a
shovel, even before the trucks stopped when we pulled into our camp
area. Bill Taylor said he never would pay 50 cents
to see fireworks again.
While still in Normandy, the squadron held a
weapon inspection and a few rifles and Sten guns were found in bad
condition. The owners were up for squadron office and punishment
was handed out. The next morning a sign in front of the postal tent
bearing instructions in mailing was signed: "Ex-Lance
Corporal Rodgers, postal orderly."
_______
In Normandy, the demand for vehicles, especially jeeps, was
greater than the available supply. The mechanical staff of "C"
Squadron, consisting of George Martyn,
Sergeant McLean, Corporal Charlie
Carrico, Lance-Corporal George
Johnson, and Troopers Sid Smith,
Lawrence Hurd and Rose decided to
do something about it.
There were many wrecked German and Canadian
vehicles in the ditches. Some German vehicles soon
appeared in the squadron area but arm orders made it taboo to drive
them because so many break-downs held up traffic. Then jeep parts
arrived after every trip made by any of the above-mentioned
mechanics. First, a chassis, then a wheel, then another wheel next
a windshield, a radiator, a top, etc.- all scrounged from
knocked-out vehicles along the roads.
This pile of junk had to be toted along from place to place when
we moved, hidden in the trucks. When the wheels were on it was
towed. Finally the jeep was completely assembled and given a coat
of paint, including the squadron signs.
The officers were watching the progress of the work with
interest. This changed to consternation as later it was learned
that the new jeep bore the same number as one of the squadron jeeps
and indents for parts had been made out and signed by an
officer.
_______
The Regimental Headquarters had moved to
Antwerp and here enjoyed a bit of luxury as we had
taken over some furnished houses used by the German Gestapo and
collaborators. This was fine until a German rocket bomb landed 75
yards away from the officers; quarters and blew out nearly all of
the windows, knocked down the plaster and tore the tiles off the
roof. A group of men, including Bob
Thomas, Sergeant Fred Jones,
Lance-Corporal Potticary, Jack
Ferguson, Roy Burford, Lloyd
Elliot and Bob Douglas, under
Sergeant-Major Bill Stollery, was rounded up to
nail roofing over the windows. Some officers, taking a look at the
repair work under progress, overheard one of the boys say: "Why
can't the officers fix their own d___ windows? We have our own to
do.
_______
About two o'clock in the morning on a very dark, rainy night,
the squadron pulled into a new area. All the trucks got stuck in
the mud, one behind the other. The boys climbed out and looked the
situation over. The ground was wet and water lay everywhere. There
was considerable grousing among the boys with Ted
Baldwin of Woodstock, Charlie Hall,
Murray McNea, Benny Benoit,
Harold Spruce and Jack Manarey
doing quite a lot of it when someone wise-cracked: What do you
think the poor people are doing?'