Fall 2017 Newsletter No. 17
Prairie Motor Brigade
Maintaining Military History
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Contents
Upcoming Events 3 Recent Events
Calgary Militaria Show 4 The Prairie Motor Brigade is the The South Alberta Light Horse 5 Alberta and Saskatchewan affiliate of the MVPA
South Alberta Light Horse, 8
Change of Command - Medicine Hat
A Tale of Two Tanks 10 Notable Regimental Soldier 12
41 Service Battalion, 16
Change of Command - Calgary
Tech Tips 19
Contacts 25
Cover Photo: South Alberta Light Horse, Membership Information 26 Change of Command in Medicine Hat
Photo Credits: Jim Hodgson, Arlon Bauer, Steve Johnson
Members are encouraged to submit pictures and articles for inclusion in upcoming issues of this newsletter. This newsletter is published quarterly, please forward all submissions or inquiries to the editor:
Jim Hodgson [email protected]
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Upcoming Events
World of Wheels
February 2018 BMO Centre, Calgary
Contact: Jim Hodgson [email protected]
Monthly Meeting Usually held on the second Saturday of the month at 9:30 am at Cam Clark Ford in Airdrie. Some members meet at Smitty’s for breakfast at 8:30 am.
Watch your email for updates
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/groups/PMBvintageMV/
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Recent Events
Calgary Militaria Show
By Steve Johnson
On October 07 2017 the Prairie Motor Brigade attended and displayed vehicles at the Calgary Militaria show at the Hillhurst Community center. On display were Wayne Anderson’sxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1953 Canadian Dodge M37 and Steve Johnson’s 1986 Canadian Armstrong
MT500xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx dispatch riders motorcycle. The day started off Chilly and though the sun came out for most of the day there were times when some white flakes fell. The PMB also had an information table set up and manned throughout the day by Stu Geekie, Jim
Mercer, and Wayne Anderson. Shane Mackay also dropped by to help out. The show was quite busy with many interesting items on display and for sale.
Wayne Anderson’s 1953 Canadian
Dodge M37
Steve Johnson’s 1986 Canadian Armstrong MT500
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TSALH
The South Alberta Light Horse By: Wes Krause
The recent South Alberta Light Horse Change of command ceremony held in Medicine Hat followed a long and honorable history that has placed Alberta on the world map. The history of “Alberta’s Regiment” nearly spans the institution of Alberta as a province itself. As one of the oldest and most revered Canadian Army Reserve units, it stands as a testament to Alberta’s character as a true western province. In order to truly do justice to this home-grown Alberta Regiment it would take a Sherman tank full of books and an endless supply of printing press ink and paper. At this point I will mention that there are two incredibly books dedicated to the history of the Regiment, “Century of Service” and “The South Albertas”. Additionally, I will not bore you with all the smallest details of hoof prints and tank tracks but will highlight the some of the key units that the South Alberta Light Horse (SALH) perpetuates. The majority of what follows is available on the SALH website as well as the Canadian Government Website. The South Alberta Light Horse (SALH) can trace its earliest beginnings to the period of the Riel Rebellion of 1885. During this conflict the Rocky Mountain Rangers of Ft. MacLeod, with 150 officers and men, were tasked with the protection of the area ranging from the U.S. Border to High River and from the Rockies to Medicine Hat. The RMR was an irregular Cavalry unit that was in existence for only a short time, yet is the genesis of the SALH. Following these early beginnings, the 15th Light Horse was born in Calgary on July 3, 1905. From this point in time until the mid- 1950s the history of the SALH can be described as a series of complicated amalgamations and re- designations of Alberta militia units of all arms until the Regiment, as it is now, was formed in Calgary in 1954. The unit's active participation in World War 1 came with the involvement of the 12 and 13 Regiments of the Canadian Mounted Rifles Canadian Expedition Force (CEF) which were direct descendants of the 15th Light Horse. Additionally, the 31st (Alberta), 113th (Lethbridge Highlanders), 175th (Medicine Hat) and the 187th (Central Alberta) Overseas Battalions CEF which were created with the advent of the war. Despite its cavalry beginnings, the Regiment fought in the war as infantry and arrived back in Canada at the war’s end with 19 Battle Honors to its credit, including such notable actions as Vimy and Ypres. An interesting note during World One is that the 31st Bn CEF participated in the first tank attack in history at the battle of Coucelette on 15 Sept 1916 while the 19th Dragoons (at that time known as A Sqn, Cdn Light Horse) made one of the last cavalry charges in Canadian history at the battle of Iwuy on 10 October 1918. This means that among the predecessor units of the SALH, one participated in the first military operation involving the tank in September 1916 and another which mounted the last cavalry charge in Canadian history in 1918.
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The Regiment entered World War 2 in 1939 under the 15th Alberta Light Horse and the 31st Alberta Reconnaissance Battalion. Though their names were later changed, it was these two units that served to perpetuate the lineage. The 15th Alberta Light Horse had recruited for the 31st Alberta Reconnaissance Battalion for active duty and was later incorporated into the unit in 1942 and remained in the Calgary area until 1945. The Alberta Regiment which had changed to the South Alberta Regiment recruited an active force of the same name in the Medicine Hat area in 1940. This infantry unit trained in the area until 1942 when it was re-designated a tank unit and renamed the 29th Armoured Regiment. It was moved to England in August of the same year. The end of the war saw the re-emergence of the South Alberta Regiment(infantry) in Medicine Hat and the 15th Light Horse (armoured) in Calgary. The 15th however, was not to keep its name and it was united with the 22 Field Battery RCA, and renamed 68th Light Anti-Aircraft RCA. This is remained until 1954 when it united with the South Alberta Regiment of Medicine Hat and the 41 Anti-Tank Regiment out of Calgary to become the South Alberta Light Horse (29th Armd) out of Calgary. In 1958 the 29th armoured designation was dropped from the name and two years later, in 1960, the Regiment was moved back to its old HQ in Medicine Hat. The Regiment remained a militia armoured unit until 1968 when it lost its tanks and was retasked as an armoured reconnaissance unit. This is a very simplified description of the South Alberta Light Horse. The SALH, an Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment, is part of 3rd Canadian Division's 41 Canadian Brigade Group. Currently, the Regiment is based out of Medicine Hat, home of Headquarters and “A” Squadron with “B” Squadron based out of Edmonton, as well as 3 Troop, A Squadron detached to Lethbridge. The Motto of the South Alberta Light Horse; Semper Alacer (always alert/ready) March "A Southerly Wind and a Cloudy Sky" Mascot(s) Heine the Pony, Captured by the 31st Battalion Battle Honours North West Rebellion North West Canada, 1885 The Great War Ypres, 1915, '17 Gravenstafel St. Julien Festubert, 1915 Mount Sorrel Somme, 1916, '18 Flers–Courcelette Thiepval Ancre Heights Arras, 1917, '18
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Vimy, 1917 Arleux Scarpe, 1917 Hill 70 Passchendaele Amiens Drocourt–Quéant Hindenburg Line Canal du Nord Cambrai, 1918 Pursuit to Mons France and Flanders, 1915–18 Second World War Falaise Falaise Road The Laison St Lambert-sur-Dives Moerbrugge The Scheldt Woensdrecht The Lower Maas Kapelsche Veer The Rhineland The Hochwald Veen Twente Canal Bad Zwischenahn North-West Europe, 1944–1945 War in Afghanistan Afghanistan
The lineage of the South Alberta Light Horse chart can be found here; http://www.salh.net/images/lineage_chart.pdf Illustrating all the units which are perpetuated by the Regiment.
Regimental photos; https://sites.google.com/site/salhregt/PhotoAlbum
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South Alberta Light Horse Change of Command Ceremony
By: Rick DeBruyn
September 9, 2017 a ceremony to install LCol Shawn Thirlwell as the new commanding officer of the South Alberta Light Horse took place in Medicine Hat. Prairie Motor Brigade was honored to be asked by RSM (Chuck) Howie to provide historical military vehicles for the parade procession. Members able to attend were; Donna Geekie with a MB, Stu Geekie with aM38, Wes Krause with a M38, Rick DeBruyn with a ILTIS ambulance and new member and SALH Dave Bergt with his communication ILTIS.
Most of the out-of-towners arrived Friday and congregated at the Patterson Armory. The regiment was very accommodating throughout the weekend, starting when Stu and Donna arrived and were provided a location to setup their camper, and a invitation us to a Friday trooper meal. The SALH time and again treated us like family. Later Friday the Regimental Association had a meet and greet at Falaise Mess in the armory, this was a bit of a reunion for retired and serving soldiers as well as attending friends.
Prairie Motor Brigade member Wes Krause is the regimental museum curator at the Patterson Armory and has done a amazing job portraying the history of the SALH, he had the museum open on the weekend for casual browsing. He also extended a invitation to view his own collection of military collectables, Wes really has an ability to present a story through artifacts.
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We marshaled Saturday at the armory at 10:00 and after some impassioned instruction from the RSM we headed to the parade/ceremony location downtown city hall at 12:00. The soldiers parade, speeches and signatures took about an hour to complete, and after this is when we were involved with vehicle drive past past (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ix_QEfF6c&feature=youtu.be). The drive by went well, short of one amusing moment; Rob McCue was the lead driver in the halftrack being flanked by Jeeps on both sides, on the last turn with the drive up to the dignitaries the corner momentum caused the halftrack door to swing open, Rob later described a momentary panic of how he was going to steer with one foot while somehow reaching out to close the door, Stu saw the issue pulled his jeep in close grabbed the door and swung it closed…embarrassment adverted!
Many attended the Change of Command Ceremonies including Colonel Eppo van Weelderen, who commands the 41 Canadian Brigade Group, Brigadier-General Nic Stanton, Deputy Commander, 3rd Canadian Division, Military officials, the mayor of Medicine Hat, local dignitaries, numerous friends and well-wishers . LCol Thirlwell described some of his thoughts shortly after the ceremony “I’m feeling pretty good, as the outgoing commanding officer said in his speech, it truly is an honor to lead soldiers and to lead from the command position. It’s definitely a pretty big deal for me, so I’m feeling really good.”
After the ceremony the guests were invited into city hall for refreshments and a couple more speeches. In addition to LCol Thirlwell installment the regiment used the day to unveil the newly painted monument Sherman tank that was close by, this was attended by most invited guests coming from as far as Holland. The evening was concluded with an All Ranks Dinner at 17:30. Donna, Stu and I were quite pleased to join the event, the food was great, the new friends we met outstanding, and the big band formal atmosphere was a delight.
It really was a pleasure to support the SALH in this small way, they have a amazing history of sacrifice and commitment that’s more than worthy of our appreciation and respect. You can find some of their amazing history at https://sites.google.com/site/salhregt/PhotoAlbum/historic-vids . You can find aditional event photos here; https://photos.app.goo.gl/W7Nu84WERvqxHBAP2
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A Tale of Two Tanks South Alberta Light Horse - Sherman Tank Monuments
By: Rick DeBruyn
Two “steel soldier monuments” that have been highly regarded for over 50 years, recently had their outsides updated with new coats of paint and regimental markings, and in the case of the “Memorial Park Sherman” a new name and unveiling on September 9, 2017.
At the suggestion of Sheila McLeod, “Duffy” was chosen as the name for the Memorial Park Sherman to commemorate her husband’s friendship with a fallen South Alberta Regiment comrade. Edward “Duffy” Gendron, who died August 10, 1944 during the liberation of Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands. Duffy is buried at Bretteville-sur-laize Canadian War Cemetery, Calvados, France.
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Duffy Gendron and Danny McLeod were best friends growing up at Medicine Hat, Danny was commissioned during the war, having finished top of his class at Sandhurst. During the liberation of Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands Danny commanded the first tank into town, which was the beginnings of a close lifelong friendship with the town. This tank was originally placed at Riverside Park in 1967, dedicated by General F F Worthington along with Lieutenant Colonel Reid Ainscough, commanding officer of the SALH. David Vivian Currie, VC, CD (8 July 1912 – 20 June 1986), In 1939 David Currie joined the militia, and Clanky sits at Patterson Armory and is named eventually the Regular Army. He was after Major David Currie's tank, which saw commissioned as a lieutenant, promoted to captain in 1941 and major in 1944. Currie served service in Europe during the South Alberta with the South Alberta Regiment which rolled into Regiment's advance from Normandy through the South Alberta Light Horse Belgium and the Netherlands into Germany. Major Currie earned the Victoria Cross for his accomplishments during the Battle of Falaise Gap.
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Notable Regimental Soldier
Submitted by: Rick DeBruyn References/Source: UWC
CHARGING ALONE INTO THE CENTRE OF THE ENEMY'S ESCAPE ROUTE, THEY BLOCK ENTIRE ARMORED DIVISIONS FOR THREE DAYS, AND THEIR C.O. WINS THE VC After the U.S. Army punched a hole through the German Atlantic Wall at the west end of the Normandy beaches, American tanks roared south and then turned northeast again. This created a "pocket" which trapped the Germans, leaving them only a narrow escape route. The Canadian Army moved south to close what was to become known as the Falaise Gap. Maj. David Vivian Currie, a 32-year-old former auto mechanic David Vivian Currie, VC, CD (8 July from Sutherland, Saskatchewan, with his nineteen Sherman 1912 – 20 June 1986), In 1939 tanks, four self-propelled guns and fifty infantrymen, led Canada's David Currie joined the militia, thrust to block the German escape. With C Squadron of the South and eventually the Regular Army. Alberta Regiment and foot soldiers from Canada's Argyll and He was commissioned as a Sutherland Highlanders, Currie captured the obscure village of St. lieutenant, promoted to captain Lambert-sur-Dives in one of the bitterest fights of the war. His in 1941 and major in 1944. Currie objective was to block the only road and bridge into the village the served with the South Alberta enemy's last hope of escape. Regiment which rolled into the South Alberta Light Horse In the Battle of St. Lambert-sur-Dives, Maj. Currie showed "courage and complete disregard for personal safety" that "will forever be an inspiration" according to the official citation he received on winning the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth's highest award for valour. Two months after D-Day, the front was unstable as the Germans fought bitterly to retain their grip on Normandy. Newspaper headlines optimistically announced that 25,000 Nazis were trapped at Cherbourg shortly after the June 6 D-Day landings. But the Germans did not stay trapped for long. The stranded German 7th Army moved skillfully east to regroup with their main force. It was then that Currie's armored reconnaissance unit rumbled south to block them on August 18. Stopping at a point above the Dives, Currie noticed long columns of men and machines moving slowly along the valley. Currie's C Squadron had advanced fifteen miles overnight to a hill just north of the town of Trun. "We could see rising clouds of dust, remnants of the German forces in Normandy trying to escape the Falaise pocket," Currie recalled. "The columns consisted of every type of vehicle, gun, tank and horse-drawn equipment. It stretched as far as we could see. It was an awe-inspiring sight." After reporting to headquarters, Currie was ordered to stop the flow. The German columns were strafed by Allied aircraft, who flew more than 2,000 sorties against them that day. The attacks caused huge traffic jams and hundreds of casualties. One German recalled: "The planes shrieked down, firing straight along the road." The South Albertas' commander, Lt.-Col. Gordon Wotherspoon, ordered Currie to take St. Lambert-sur- Dives two miles away. "It was dusk when we went in," Trooper Wayne Spence remembered, "but when all the shooting started, it was just like daylight." Then Currie's group was accidently strafed by two Allied
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Spitfires, which wounded two men, set Currie's Sherman tank ablaze, and sent him plunging for cover into a ditch. Entering the town, the lead tank was knocked out by a hidden 88-mm gun. Unable to outflank it because of the river Dives, Currie withdrew his force 200 yards. After dark, he went into the village alone on foot to see what he was up against, discovering two German tanks, one of them a dreaded Tiger.
Currie was ordered to attack at daybreak. He now had twelve of his original nineteen tanks. The Argylls started clearing the buildings of the village. Lt. Gil Amiour climbed on top of the Tiger tank to throw a grenade inside the open turret, but a German popped out with a pistol. The Canadian rushed him and pushed the German off the tank and they were sent rolling on the ground. As the German scrambled to his feet, Pte. J. La Forrest shot him. Argylls leapt on the Tiger and dropped a grenade into the turret, killing the rest of the crew and knocking out the tank. The enemy counterattacked, but Currie's defenses were so skillfully organized that the Germans were repulsed with heavy casualties. They came on repeatedly for the next 36 hours with increasing force, but every attack was driven back. Finally shells began bursting over the German positions, answering Currie's call for artillery support. This turned the tide. Germans were now crossing the Dives bridge to surrender. Their numbers were overwhelming. Currie's tiny force — perhaps 100 at best — must now cope with 800 prisoners, an impossibility. All were sent trudging back down the road to Trun without an escort. Three of Currie's officers were wounded when one group pretended to surrender and then shot at them.
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A dreadful night followed. In the early hours of August 20, the Germans crept through the darkness, crawling up on Currie's tanks. In the black of night the battle began again, the South Alberta tanks firing machine guns at one another to prevent the Germans from climbing aboard to stuff grenades into the hatches. With the dawn the German infantry came on again, forcing Currie's men to the north end of the village.
There they left them, for now Currie could no longer obstruct the town's main road, central avenue of the German withdrawal. Currie's men fired down the length of the streets. They became clogged with burning vehicles and the bodies of men and horses. As he climbed into a tank, he saw two of his officers killed by a shell. During breaks in the fighting, Currie went from post to post, encouraging the men. "He would come over, very calm, and say hello and ask how it was going," remembered Trooper Ed Davies. Sgt. John Guinderson recalls: "I still don't know how Maj. Currie did it, but without his example I do not believe we could have held out. Just to talk to him was enough to give us confidence." Currie was exhausted. He had had only an hour's sleep in three days. He and his men were relieved by the 3rd Canadian Division on August 21. The village was littered with nine burned-out tanks, destroyed armored vehicles, and trucks. In the ravine beside the river bridge lay hundreds of men and horses, some still alive. A soldier asked Currie if he could put the horses out of their pain. Currie agreed though "it was a job that used up hundreds of cartridges," he said later.
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When it was over, Sgt. Guinderson noticed that Currie had lapsed into unconsciousness on his feet, "but one of the boys caught him before he hit the ground." During three days at St. Lambert, they had destroyed seven enemy tanks, twelve 88- mm guns, and forty vehicles, killed 300 Germans, wounded 500, and taken 2,100 prisoners. What had once been a quiet French village, he recalled later, had become a "hell hole." Many of Currie's prisoners were wounded, and he sent them to the first-aid post, where medical officer Major Wilf Boothroyd and Arnold Silcox, the padre, assisted by both Canadian and German medics, treated Allied and enemy wounded. "Doc" Boothroyd noticed a German major, a doctor, immaculately dressed, leaning against a post "What the hell are you doing?" he asked. "Can't you help?" The German replied he only took orders from senior officers. Boothroyd went to see Wotherspoon, who told him to use his pistol to make the doctor work, or "tell him you'll shoot him." The reluctant doctor turned out to be a very skilful surgeon. On learning of her husband's Victoria Cross, his wife reflected: "So many soldiers do great and brave things without having their deeds recognized. But right now, just to see David walk in that door, to hear his voice and his laugh, would mean more to me than anything else in the world."
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Change of Command
At the Military Museums in Calgary
41 st Service Battalion
By Arlon Bauer PMD# 5 MVPA# 33317
Col. Roy Boehli asked me on behalf of The Old Guard if Prairie Motor Brigade could supply some vehicles for the change of command parade on September 30th, 2017 at the Military Museums. Jim Hodgson and I managed to get 5 vehicles there with the help of Gunnar and Drake Poulsen. We didn’t mean to bring the beer and hotdog day weather with us but the passing of the sword and Cadet and Regimental inspections of the Troops and Cadets remained dry. The speeches where speeded up with a little drizzle Lieutenant-Colonel Sweeny passed the regimental Calvary sword on to Lieutenant-Colonel Boyle who now becomes Commanding Officer of 41 Service Battalion. It was a great day and honour to be invited to take part. After the ceremony drinks and lunch where served at the Military Museums.
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Submitted by Steve Johnson Pictures courtesy of David Macdonald. His father was a REME in WW2 and passed along these pictures.
(location unknown)
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Tech Tips
Army Motors Vol.2 No. 9 December 1940
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Preventative Maintenance Monthly 1961 Issue 100
Source: Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries
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Recomme nded Services
The following businesses were recommended by PMB members.
Kal Tire #105 7307 40St SE Calgary Alberta T2C 2K4 Phone 587-296-8170
These folks do industrial tires and can handle our military ones no problem.
John and Mary Worthing
Excellent place to get hard to find canvas sewn up. In the UK but reasonable prices and reasonable, fast shipping.
www.canvasco.com/
HermaTech 4523 – 6A Street N.E. Calgary, Alberta T2E 4B2 Phone 403-230-0888
Recommended for machine shop services
www.herma-tech.com
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Kontacts_PMB
President: Rick D eBruyn 403-443-2213
Secretary: Arlon Bauer 403-932-3940
Events Coordinator: Donna Geekie 403-946-5286
Treasurer: Steve Johnson 403-282-7977
contacts Newsletter: Jim Hodgson 403-818-3193
Safety & Convoy: Stu Geekie 403 - 946 -5286
Steve Johnson 403-282-7977
For further
information regarding the
Prairie Motor MVPA Headquarters Brigade or the PO Box 520378 MVPA contact Independence, Missouri 64052 any of the USA following: Phone: (816) 833-6872 Fax: (816) 833-5115
www.mvpa.org
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Membership in the Prairie Motor Brigade is as follows:
Regular: 25.00 Family: 30.00 Corporate: 100.00
Please send payment to:
Donna Geekie R. R. #2, Crossfield, AB T0M 0S0
Payments to be made payable to: Prairie Motor Brigade
membership
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We encourage all members to also join the MVPA and receive the Army Motors and Supply Line publications and all the benefits of membership
in this international organization.
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Send application with payment to: R. R. #2, Crossfield, AB T0M 0S0 Make cheque payable to: Prairie Motor Brigade Direct your inquiries to: Donna Geekie at 403-946-5286 or ‘[email protected]’
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Safety Form
PRAIRIE MOTOR BRIGADE MILITARY VEHICLE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION Owner ______Date ______Address ______Town/City ______Province ______Make ______Model ______Year ______Body Style ______VIN ______License Number______
GENERAL CONDITION STATUS Body, sheet metal Codes Wheels Safe V Tires - RF Unsafe X Tires - LF Not originally equipped NA Tires - RR MECHANICAL SAFE UNSAFE GENERAL Tires - LR CONDITION SAFE UNSAFE Exhaust system MECHANICAL Status LIQUID LEAKS Brake flex hoses & lines Fuel system Mechanical brake linkage Fan Belt Pedal reserve Headlights - low Emergency brake Headlights - high Steering Tail Lights King pins/ball joints Stop Lights Steering linkage Parking Lights Alignment (visual) Signal Lights Springs & Shackles Marker Lights Shock absorbers Cooling System W/S wipers Fuel System – leaks, filler Glass cap Rearview mirrors Wheel Chocks Horn Fire extinguishers (ABC) Plates Heater & defrosters Registration Electrical wiring Insurance
NOTE: The signature(s) below certify that I/we have completed the Safety Check on the listed vehicle and the information contained herein is complete and accurate to the best of my/our knowledge.
______Print Name Print Name
Signature Signature
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