Canadian Military History

Volume 21 Issue 1 Article 8

2015

The Militia Gunners

J.L. Granatstein

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J.L. Granatstein

y general repute, two of the best in 1926 in Edmonton as a boy soldier, Bsenior officers in the Abstract: Two of the best senior got his commission in 193[2], and in in the Second World artillery officers in the Canadian the summer of 1938 was attached Army in the Second World War were War were William Ziegler (1911-1999) products of the militia: William to the Permanent Force [PF] as an and Stanley Todd (1898-1996), both Ziegler (1911-1999) and Stanley instructor and captain. There he products of the militia. Ziegler had Todd (1898-1996). Ziegler served mastered technical gunnery and a dozen years of militia experience as the senior artillery commander in became an expert, well-positioned before the war, was a captain, and was 1st Canadian in to rise when the war started. He from February 1944 until the end of in his third year studying engineering the war. Todd was the senior gunner went overseas in early 1940 with at the University of Alberta when in 3rd Canadian Infantry Division the 8th Field Regiment and was sent his battery was mobilized in the and the architect of the Canadian back to Canada to be brigade first days of the war. Todd had artillery fireplan on D-Day. He went on (Artillery) with the 3rd Canadian attended the Royal Military College to serve as the senior gunner in 2nd Division. He attended Camberley under Lieutenant- in a war-shortened course, leaving General . Both men College where he was told he in 1916 for service with the Royal talked with J.L. Granatstein in 1991 should try to stand first of the ten Artillery. He served in Britain and and the transcript of those interviews Canadians there and not to worry the Middle East and was invalided offer their sometimes brutally frank about the 190 others. He placed out of the service after contracting appraisals of personalities and second, Dan Spry [later a division attitudes in the Second World War diphtheria. In business in , he Canadian Army. commander] beating him out. He joined the NPAM artillery and was then became GSO1 Artillery at First a lieutenant-colonel in 1939. Todd Canadian Army, commanding became Commander, Royal Artillery and then wrote up a memoranda of 13th Field Regiment, a colonel at [CRA] in and of each conversation, both of which Canadian Military Headquarters, Commander, Corps Royal Artillery – with minor editing and some and in February 1944 a and [CCRA] in 2nd Canadian Corps. deletions – follow. Copies of these Commander, Royal Artillery [CRA] Ziegler was CRA in 1st Canadian and all the interview memoranda of in Italy in Division. Both saw much action that I prepared are in my papers at which post he stayed to the end of the and had high – and deserved – the York University Archives while war. In 1946 he went to work for the reputations. another set is held by the Directorate Allied Control Commission and was I interviewed Todd at his home of History and Heritage at National governor of a province in northern in Ancaster, Ontario in May 1991; Defence Headquarters, Ottawa. for five years. Ziegler in Edmonton in October of I asked about his impressions of the same year. The conversations the PF. He was not overly impressed covered personalities and attitudes Brigadier William S. Ziegler, by PF quality. There were princes and were sometimes brutally frank, interviewed at Edmonton, (Major-General H.O.N. Brownfield), which pleased me and suited my 23 October 1991 terrific soldiers (Major-General Chris purposes as I did the research for The Vokes), and others who had to be Generals: The Canadian Army’s Senior orn in 1911, Ziegler had wanted sacked. Still, when he was president Commanders in the Second World War Bto attend RMC but couldn’t get of a corporation he had to sack people (Toronto, 1993). As was my usual in. He joined the 61st Field Battery too. The army was a cross-section. practice, I made notes as we talked of the Non-Permanent Active Militia Bert Hoffmeister would have been

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Brigadier W.S. Ziegler, the acting commander of 1st Canadian Infantry Division, follows behind General during an inspection. The officers on the left are Majors P. Potvin and Y. Dubé of the Royal 22e Régiment, Utrecht, , 10 July 1945.

a leader even if there had not been hammered together, their training like all the Canadians. And, yes, a war. Guy Simonds was a man of was comparable. He added that his he was, while good technically, such quality as to be unusual in any regiment had no guns initially (this weaker in higher command skills. army – even when he first met him was before Dunkirk) so he devised He wasn’t a presence and saw troops at a Royal School in 1931-2 you knew mock-ups out of timber and they infrequently. he wasn’t to be trifled with. So was practised on those. Basil Price who commanded 3rd , though he was He had high regard for General Division was a grand old fellow, a little SOB. The PF’s problem was McNaughton and told a story of lovable, a person you’d like as a slow promotion: at the end of the training at Larkhill where they grandfather. It was hard for him to war he was offered a regular army were using a new artillery board for bawl out anyone. These were not commission as a brigadier but he plotting. He was leaning over a board compliments, said Ziegler. Price refused because he thought he could when he heard a voice from behind: was one of the “old dugouts” and it look forward to one promotion only, “What’s the trouble?” “I don’t know, wasn’t until the fighting began that so he got out…. but if I ever get hold of the SOB that they disappeared. Still, there was no When he went overseas, his designed this board….” It was, of option until 1942 or so, and the blame regiment was billeted with the 11th course, McNaughton, and it was his is not the “dugouts” but Canada’s from Toronto (with Bruce Matthews board. McNaughton just laughed. for stripping its military after 1919. [later a division commander]). There Still, Andy’s problem was that he He said the result would have been was initially no mixing between the couldn’t deal with the Brits. He was chaos if McNaughton, Price, and [2nd officers, and the westerners thought OK as a trainer, though perhaps he Division GOC Major-General Victor] the Toronto officers were snobs. had been weak in preparing senior Odlum had had to lead the army into But after a large party where all got officers. After all, he was green action, though the sprinkling of good https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol21/iss1/880 2 : The Militia Gunners

staff officers under them might have He thought it was natural for have he would have left with Vokes. helped. If they’d been smart, they Vokes to favour the PF. But even so, Ziegler had known Foulkes since would have left the fighting to their under his veneer he was not a tough 1941 when, as a lieutenant-colonel GSO1s. They did their best but they guy. He was a real human being. he had been on ship with Ziegler. were no good. He wasn’t gunshy and he always Even then he was unapproachable. When he arrived at 1st Cdn Div went forward, taking Ziegler along Was he able? A corps commander as CRA, he thought the artillery was in his jeep. Often they had to hide in in Italy had to leave most things to stuck in the mud – literally. He knew ditches together under fire. He was division commanders, and at his first Bruce Matthews, his predecessor, a good planner, left Ziegler alone to major fight on the Lamone River the was a Simonds and Vokes favourite, do his work and his Commander, Corps had a setback. Foulkes was but it was inevitable that artillery Royal Engineers too (which, as Vokes angry and sacked Brigadier [J.A.] was suffering through a hard post- was RCE must have been hard). He Calder [commanding 1st Brigade in Ortona winter dug into gun pits and could decentralize command. While 1st Cdn Div], making him, Ziegler a bit slack on shaving, etc. He hauled he was no brilliant tactician, he was said, the scapegoat. That cemented COs over the coals, ordered the guns certainly adequate. Moreover, the feeling against Foulkes in the Corps cleaned and, he says, restored morale. troops worshipped him. He recalled and Ziegler never heard a good word Vokes initially was pretty one morning coming across some about him from anyone. He also unhappy with him, thinking that Hasty Pees [Hastings and Prince drank too much, once turning up Ziegler’s new broom was a criticism Edward Regiment] looking at dead drunk to open a recreation club. He of Matthews. He had only met Vokes comrades. Vokes stopped the jeep. thought [General Harry] Crerar had briefly before, and Vokes hadn’t “Don’t bloody look at them. Get out a lot to do with Foulkes’ rise. wanted Matthews to leave. If he had your spades and bury the stiffs.” to go, Vokes had wanted Jack Ross, They did. The soldiers had been a PF CO in 1st Cdn Div, to get the ready to vomit, but Vokes got job. Instead, as Brownfield, Brigadier them moving and raised their Royal Artillery of First Cdn Army, morale. He could also crack jokes made the appointment (and Ziegler with troops, unlike Simonds. But clearly was a Brownfield favourite), in the [1st Cdn Div] “A” Mess, it he got the nod – and worse, came was always “Sir” and “Ziegler” from the UK. Moreover, Ziegler wore or once in a while “Bill.” glasses so, to Vokes, he couldn’t be He recalled that when a soldier. He was in the doghouse Vokes left as commander of the for a miserable period of weeks that Occupation Force in Germany, lasted until the attacks in he told Ziegler, staying with

May 1944. Ziegler had had a month the Allied Control Commission 192738 Canada PA Library and Archives to train his regiments and he drove in Lower Saxony that he could them hard. His artillery fire plan was have his alcohol. Ziegler expected massive, double the El Alamein scale, a case or two; instead a 3-ton and he’d worked it out over a 72-hour truckload arrived…. straight stretch. Then Vokes wanted He had little regard for it changed in mid-battle and gruffly Foulkes and no respect for him. said he supposed it couldn’t be done. Ziegler’s heart bled for Vokes But with only a 3-hour pause Ziegler when he didn’t get the 1 Cdn switched direction. Vokes then called Corps, and Vokes was livid. There Ziegler into his dugout and insisted was no way he could serve under he have a full tumbler of whiskey. Foulkes so he and [4th Cdn Armd “Goddammit, Ziegler, don’t you Div’s Major-General Harry] understand English, a real drink.” Foster switched. If Ziegler could Ziegler passed out and later realized that Vokes knew he was out on his feet with fatigue. From that moment, Brigadier Ziegler takes a salute he worshipped Vokes and became to during a parade in Dordrecht, Netherlands, 7 June 1945. Vokes “the best goddam CRA in the Canadian Army.”

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Brigadier P.A.S. Todd, Major-General Chris Vokes (left), the commander of 1st Canadian Infantry interviewed at Ancaster, ON, Division, was not happy when Ziegler was 8 May 1991 appointed as his artillery commander. Ziegler had three strikes against him: he prewar Militia, Todd said, was Vokes had wanted a different PF man very tiny. His artillery regiment for the job, he was militia, and he was T being posted from . They were in Ottawa had just enough for four able to work out their differences to the gun crews, but there was a lot of point where Ziegler worshipped Vokes education going on in the training and Vokes considered Ziegler “the best of officers and NCOs. He spoke goddam CRA in the Canadian Army.” about the Militia Staff Course which was an 8 month commitment of evenings and a month off work in the summer for full time. He spoke and he handled his battles well. But too of meeting many of those who it wasn’t the same. Hoffmeister he became the wartime senior officers thought the most brilliant division at Petawawa…. commander to emerge from the We then talked about Harry NPAM. As good as any PFer, a Crerar who Todd knew in Ottawa and natural leader, a helluva soldier, with whom he was then on first name skillful, bold and well thought of basis. He found him a well-trained, by his CRAs. Why? He knew the slow, serious man who, he doubts, capacity of the infantry and knew ever laughed. He did a military how they could operate with the appreciation on everything he had We then talked about Foster and other arms. He thought circumstance to think about, took his time and Hoffmeister. 1st Cdn Div suffered had put him in position to show his came up with the right answers….He under Foster. Not that he was evil: ability. If the Seaforths had not been was an excellent officer, 100 percent he just wasn’t Vokes. Nothing he in 1st Cdn Div, if 1st Div hadn’t gone sound and very real, but one problem did stuck in Ziegler’s memory. They to Sicily, etc., etc., Hoffmeister might was that it took too long for people to got on well, there were no problems, have remained untried…. get to know him.

Brigadier P.A.S. Todd (second from left), CCRA 2nd Canadian Corps, inspects captured German artillery at Meppen, Germany, 31 May 1945. Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds, the commander of 2nd Canadian Corps sits in the passenger seat of the jeep. Library and Archives Canada PA 159551 Canada PA Library and Archives

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Certainly Crerar fought with him intensely – snooty, snobbish, questioned this and ordered a Victor Bernard Montgomery who greatly etc. And this continued with the target – every gun in the Corps, favoured Guy Simonds….He got war….He felt strongly enough despite Todd’s protests. After a day, Montgomery’s back up, like General about this that when he and Bruce Todd’s system went back on. The McNaughton, by trying to get into Matthews were made on attack went in without opposition, Sicily which was Monty’s show. the same day he took 3rd Div CRA the Germans putting up white flags. When Crerar finally got into action, and Matthews 1st Div just so Todd Why? The continuous shelling had Simonds was already there and wouldn’t have to work with him. stopped food, sleep, etc. Simonds favoured. What this meant, he said, But he couldn’t avoid him in late then apologized to Todd and after was that Monty bypassed First 1944 when Simonds summoned him that never altered his plans…. Canadian Army to give orders to Corps HQ and announced that We talked about D-Day. Todd directly to Simonds’ 2nd Canadian Matthews was promoted to major- had been preparing for this for 17 Corps in Northwest . He general and Todd was the new months as CRA 3rd Cdn Div. He had recalled phone calls for Simonds that CCRA….He grew to admire him to retrain his gunners on armoured were “yes sir, right away,” followed enormously as a commander. He 105s (scrapped after the invasion by stalling and obfuscation when and were the best. He when the Canadians went back to Crerar tried to find out what was up. could be ruthless in getting where he 25-pounders; Simonds then used The root of the Crerar-Simonds wanted to go; if something held him the “Priests” as armoured personnel problem was that they were both up he’d sack people until someone carriers), had to design the run in to artillery. Simonds from his 6’ 2” was there to do what he wanted. shore, and had to learn to fire from looked down on Crerar as a stuffy The tactical ideas he produced were the sea, difficult because guns need old man, while Crerar saw him as an almost certainly his own, the product aiming sticks, survey, etc. But he had upstart to be put in his place. Crerar’s of long nights thinking in his caravan. time…. stability led him to take a dim view He went to sleep about 0100 and Then we got into of Simonds…. was up at about 0600 to go off in his [GOC 3rd Cdn Div]. He was a bluff, He knew McNaughton socially in armoured car. Simonds also was at hearty man, a bully, someone who Ottawa and had his sons in his Militia the start line for big attacks to make unit. He also served on his staff as sure things went well, and he was BRA [Brigadier, Royal Artillery] not beyond pushing and pulling briefly. He was a good man in the the infantry to make sure they got wrong place. For a start, training moving. But Todd said this caused under him was elementary…. him problems, for Simonds wanted McNaughton had been a good officer his CCRA with him rather than at in but he doubted he’d HQ where all his communications ever spent much time on tactics…. were…. There was no question of his brains Simonds almost never questioned or dedication, but he would do things Todd’s artillery plans. He’d derive himself rather than sending his staff. his appreciation and make his plan His weaknesses weren’t seen then, and then ask Todd to tell him how 176878 Canada PA Library and Archives however, and he was considered a the artillery could help achieve it. great man from whom great things He recalled an attack on Emmerich were expected. Todd was BRA where the River Rhine makes a sharp when Andy was sacked in 1943. He turn west. Simonds had to attack remembered that the six brigadiers on a Friday and Todd had to soften [of HQ] sat in up the hill that was the heart of the “A Mess” while Colonel Ralston [the enemy position. He worked out a Minister of National Defence] was system of dividing the hill into 100- doing the deed upstairs in a bedroom. yd squares and then put one gun on He had no doubt that Crerar made each square to fire four shells per a better Army commander than hour at irregular intervals. Simonds McNaughton. Simonds, of course, would have been better yet. He knew him before Brigadier P.A.S. Todd the war from Petawawa and disliked

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would always say he didn’t care what X or Y thought. He had a difficult marriage, and he had a girlfriend in London, married to a Royal Marines officer. On occasion Todd had to ensure that the officer, apparently attached to the Canadians, was assigned to weekend duty so Keller had a free hand. He was also yellow, [“Keller was yeller”]. Foolish too. During Library and Archives Canada PA 197184 Canada PA Library and Archives the D-Day planning, the planners were housed in row houses near Victoria Station [in London], under tight security. Keller managed to get out of the buildings, where all were supposed to stay 24 hours, and to a hotel…Within moments of reaching the hotel, Keller was out in civvies. Then on the Isle of Wight, Keller and Todd lived with the Royal Navy admiral who was to carry them in. After a short period, the Admiral’s #2 came to see Todd privately to say they were disturbed by his general; Todd said he could say nothing without being disloyal and if the RN was unhappy it should go through channels. Then the three brigadiers in the division – Cunningham, Blackader, and Foster – came to see him with their complaints, mainly that Keller was never around and that his GSO1, J.D. Mingay, was running things. Again Keller gave then the Todd had strong opinions about his commanders. He respected Crerar and Simonds, loyalty argument and, to me, used the thought McNaughton was a good man in the wrong place and considered Rod Keller, commander of 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, yellow, foolish and a bully. He believed that word mutiny. In fact, the complaints Dan Spry, Keller’s replacement, was a good commander, but young and inexperienced. were true. Mingay was a brilliant staff officer who did run things; when he had a problem, he and Todd (“Uncle about this with Simonds before his 3rd Div put in a brigade attack, Stanley” – he was in his 40s and older death who said that when Brig. Simonds was at the start line and than almost everyone else) worked Cunningham was sacked, he had Spry wasn’t. The attack was a mess, them out. In effect, Mingay and wanted to overturn it first because he and Simonds went back to Spry’s Todd ran the division, Keller signing was an RMC classmate and second HQ where he and his CRA were everything put in front of him. because he had no confidence in asleep, after an all-night poker game. Once ashore in France, the yellow Keller’s judgment. Then why did he Simonds sacked him on the spot and showed. His caravan was dug in not move against Keller? Again no the CRA too….He attributed Spry’s and he stayed in it. When he was answer. problem to inexperience. He was just wounded in the USAAF bombing, he Spry succeeded Keller. He was a kid….. whimpered and moaned from his two very young indeed but he was an small wounds. There was apparently excellent GOC. Todd couldn’t judge J.L. Granatstein is the author of the second great relief for all when he was taken his tactical skills but he was a great edition of Canada’s Army: Waging War and Keeping the Peace (University of Toronto away….Why did no one twig to this change from Keller and wasn’t Press, 2011). earlier? He had a long conversation frightened….The next spring when https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol21/iss1/884 6