Gents,

I was wodering if any of you know about any books, memoires, etc. written by the top commanders (Division commanders and up) who fought in NW Europe?

I did a quick search but haven't come up with anything.

Also I am interested in any information about the relationship between the Top Canadian Commanders and the Canadian politicians during WW2; I read that Gen. Crerar was directly responisble to the Canadian PM and had to report directly to him, while, for example, Monty was much more "free" in determining his strategy, etc. in relation to Churchill.

Does anyone has any pointers for me about that as well?

TIA,

Stevin

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You mean Norway and the Atlantic? Or the NW of the continent?

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Sorry Kai, I meant North West Europe....The Army Commanders. Besides not having found any books by theze gents (and I have quite a few from AMerican and British commanders), I am doing some preliminary research in the relationship between Canadian commanders and politics during WW2 and their relationships with their British and American (but mostly British) counterparts.

Everybody knows about the strained relationship between the British (read Monty) and the AMericans and I am wondering how the relationship was between the Canuacks and the British. I understand that Monty had big problems with both MacNaughton and Crerar and am hoping to find more about this.

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I don’t have a specific book to recommend Stev, but there may be something of use in the list below?

http://books.stonebooks.com/cgi-bin/...whitaker_denis
http://stonebooks.com/archives/010916.shtml
http://info.wlu.ca/~wwwmsds/booksspecial.htm
http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/C3019.aspx
http://www.rbstudiobooks.com/NHB1.html
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/mili...7031.05-e.html
http://www.valourandhorror.com/P_Reply/Normandy.php
http://www.valourandhorror.com/P_Reply/Sup_nor.php
http://info.wlu.ca/~wwwmsds/bookslcmsds.htm
http://www.questia.com/library/book/...-a-english.jsp
http://www.1jma.dk/articles/1jmaarti...onnormandy.htm
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2...264932-cp.html
http://doi.contentdirections.com/mr/...336/027593019X
http://www.legionmagazine.com/featur...tory/98-09.asp
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/bibli...2-0802037305-0
http://www.pastforward.ca/perspectives/June_042004.htm
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/s...scheldt/battle

And, there was some issue of trouble with Canadian troops in Britain. The link below should throw-up a HTML version of a pdf file dealing with this. In the past, a number of Veterans suggested to me this contributed to why Canadians were chosen for the Dieppe raid?

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache5fD7PCEOawJ:www.forces.gc.ca/dhh/downloads/cmhq/cmhq119.pdf+canadian+troops+england+trouble+alders hot&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=7

No.9

Tug Of War by Whitaker and Whitaker has an appendix written by Guy Simonds. I don't think Simonds wrote a book.

There were 'problems' between the British and Canadian allies. While the British were planning for a thrust into the Rhineland via Arnhem, the Canadian army and the Poles (treated as an odd-job army) had to liberate the channel ports and eliminate the Breskens pocket.

In liberating Dieppe, Crerar ordered a memorial service for those lost in 1942 and gave the men a 2 day Rest & Refit and to dress up for a parade. Monty ordered Crerar to keep moving but Crerar told him to stuff his orders. Crerar answered to Ottawa.

This exchange placed more tension on the communications between the two commanders at exactly the time when Eisenhower was injured in a plane accident, when Eisenhower took command of land forces over from Montgomery and when Antwerp was liberated by XXX Corps. Crerar was hospitalised and Simonds took over command of Canadian Army.

According to Tug of War, Simonds, although much junior to Montgomery or even to most other Corps commanders, had access to ULTRA and saw the need to quickly close the exit from Beveland with a right hook through Holland but his junior status and the confusion at high command prevented him from persuing his plan especially as this conflicted with plans for Market Garden.

While the American and British generals were bickering over who should get the meagre supplies that were being transported from Arromanches to the front by the coloured Express runs, only Simonds (and Admiral Ramsay) saw the need to quickly open Antwerp before the Germans could reorganise and defend the Scheldt.

Thus it was left to the Canadians to take the Scheldt alone and without support that Eisenhower promised and Montgomery was ordered to provide.

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If dogs don't go to heaven, I'd like to go where they go.

Wow, Thanks for the links, NO.9!!!! This definately gives me loads of leads to persue and much to read. VERY much appreciated! [img]graemlins/vc.gif[/img]

Also thanks you, MD! I am reading Whitaker's RHINELAND right now, and was glad to read that Monty at least found one Canadian commander he liked; Simonds really made an impression on him in Normandy. Also he was a Corps commander at age 26? (Or was it 36? Also an amazing feat....) It interests me how the British-Canadian relations were and also the fact that Canadian command answered to Ottawa, as you said. That must have set the stage for some confrontations with Monty....I definatley will look into this further.

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Very welcomed Stev.

Re the Scheldt, its main significance lay in its aspect regarding the approach to the port of Antwerp, which was already captured. However, with the southern bank secured it still remained to clear the island of Walcheren which formed the northern shore where the Germans were well entrenched with heavy artillery including Naval guns. At heavy cost the Canadians were unable to make much headway via the islands’ north east link to the mainland, and Walcheren only fell when subjected to a full Combined Operations assault - RAF, RN and amphibious Commando landings at two points with Infantry support at one of these. Following this RN mine sweepers were able to clear the approach to Antwerp and enable the port to finally be brought into Allied service. Great credit also to the Belgian Resistance for their success in thwarting German plans to wreck the port before they left.

No.9

I have Whitaker's Tug Of War, regarding this episode. Also hope to get Moulton's The Battle for Antwerp someday soon. Also recently got Forfar's From Normandy to the Scheldt(?) off Ebay for cheap!! Every Marine I have been corresponding with refers to that book, so I guess it most be a worthwhile buy.

Also found a book that is about the Canadian top commanders, which hopefully will be helpfull with my research in the subject of British-Canadian and Canadian-American sentiments between the top-dogs;

The Generals; The Canadian Army’s Senior Commanders in the Second World War

J. L. Granatstein


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally published in 1993, The Generals has received resounding praise for its relevance, depth, and scholarship. It is a detailed account of Canada’s military at a crucial time in history. This work focuses heavily on the role of personality, on army politics, and on dealings with politicians, to give Canadians an objective look at the remarkable individuals that fought, and won, the second world war.

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I get confused about ’Tug of War’ Stev, as there are lots of books about with that title. Looking things up, I appreciate you’re talking about the Canadian Victory book while I tend to think of the War in Italy book – which I wouldn’t recommend BTW. [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img]

I started reading Forfar’s book last month, but got put off by waffle about how great the Marines are, (though I was reading Neillands for a moment ). However, I will read on in the hopes that he settles down and talks about what he knows, i.e. what he and his unit actually did and leave the reader to position them in the historical mix.

Several books on the Walcheren island objective (Operation Infatuate), plus chapters in a number of Commando books about No.4 and No.10 (IA) Commandos.

Books on Canadian Generals sounds interesting.

No.9

I am reading a book called 'with the Jocks', the narrator is telling about the Canloan officers in the British army, and comparing Canadian units with British. The Canadians had more firepower and more soldiers per battallion than the British. The Canloan officers were usually better trained than the British, but often disliked because of sterness or dicipline. At any rate the Canloan officers performed well and many were decorated.

I wondered if anyone knew of books published that was memoirs or such of a Canloan officer??

__________________
'We march. The enemy is retreating in transport. We follow on foot.' Lt.Neil McCallum 5/7 Gordons 19th November 1942

The only book on CANLOAN that I know of is Nine Days at Arnhem by Robert N. Sigmond. It is about the CANLOAN officers with the 7th (Galloway) Bn, KOSB, 1st Airborne Div. in Canada, UK, Holland and Norway (!) 1944-1945.

Whitaker in Rhineland qoutes one or two CANLOAN officers but their remarks are sparse.

__________________
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Thank you Stevin. Was the book any good?

__________________
'We march. The enemy is retreating in transport. We follow on foot.' Lt.Neil McCallum 5/7 Gordons 19th November 1942

I will let you know...I haven't read it yet. [img]redface.gif[/img] The quality is Superb! Great quality pictures and print. I will go through it next week and let you know, but I am sure Airborne Medic and Martin can give you an honest opinion as well...

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Hi First time posting this section -

I have Just read a book from a Lt (Now Col retired) CR MacLellan call "Raise an arm - Follow me" - He was a Platoon Commander serving with 17 Platoon D Company The 2nd Bn Glasgow Highlanders - he was a CANLOAN officer and goes through the events he encountered whilst serving with the Jocks - I keep in contact with him through EMail and his book gives his account of his Platoon in war - he was injured in 1944 and was sent home - now living in Nova Scotia Good book

Raymond Bell

Where can you get a copy of this book?

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Webmaster - Battlefields of WW2- http://www.ww2battlefields.info
D Day Ancestors: The British Army in Normandy - http://www.ddayancestors.com

Hi Sommecourt

First - sorry got the name of the book wrong - it's "Wave an arm - Follow me"

It is now out of print and the copy I have was given to me by Col C Roger MacLellan as I am the membership committee member for The Glasgow Highlanders Association and friends

The association has a space on the Royal Highland Fusilier web Page and Col MacLellan had a few stories published in a magazine and he and the magazine writer gave me permission to put them into our Newsletter - the first of his stories is in our second edition which can be found at

Intro Click Intro

Click on the banner - then on the veterans link - then the Glasgow Highlanders - then newsletters - the second newsletter - there are four stories of his platoon and my intention is to put the others in future editions - with the next one due about mid March/April - but if you wish you could EMail me and I could send you the other three but are obviously just for your use and not for publication as they are copywrite to Don McLean who wrote the articles with Roger.

My Email address is


dinger105@hotmail.com

I am sorry that I can't send the book but I told Col Maclellan that I would keep it for the association use

Raymond Bell

[quote=No.9;176860]I get confused about ’Tug of War’ Stev, as there are lots of books about with that title. Looking things up, I appreciate you’re talking about the Canadian Victory book while I tend to think of the War in Italy book – which I wouldn’t recommend BTW. [img]graemlins/no.gif[/img]

The book is called Tug of War: The Canadian Victory that Opened Antwerp written by Colonel W. Denis Whitaker (ret) and Shelagh Whitaker, published in the U.S. by Beaufort Books copyright 1984. ISBN 0-8253-0257-9 "Denis Whitaker attended the Royal Military College of Canada. He was mobilized as a lieutenant with the Hamilton Light Infantry when war was declared. He distinguished himself in the Dieppe raid for which he was awarded a DSO. A secon DSO was awarded to him for gallanty in the field in the Battle of the Rhineland in February 1945." He went on to serve in the regular forces for awhile. He also wrote a few other books on the Canadian experience that were well researched. In addition t6o Tug of War, I own Rhineland, victory at falaise:the soldier's story. He makes reference to the commanders and the relationships. He interviewed many. In Tug of War he includes his appreciation for having direct access to General Simonds personal records.

Stevin, you might be interested in reading the books of Terry Copp, such as Fields of Fire and Cinderella Army: The Canadians in Northwest Europe 1944-1945.

A new book came out around Christmas 2007, the biography of General Crerar. I have not had the opportunity to read it yet. It is rare that there is an official history of Canadian senior military personnel. Canadian history of WWII is often from the personal memories of the soldiers who fought the battles - not those who directed it.

You may also find of interest http://web.archive.org/web/200609020...hq_e.asp?cat=1 a link to those CMHQ reports written by the official Canadian Army historian during WWII which have been uploaded for viewing. Colonel C.P. Stacy also wrote some history books after the war re the Canadian experience. He, unfortunately, tended to ape the "superior" attitude of some who discounted their own and only revered the British and Americans.

For the relationship at the senior level, you may have to read General Brian Horrocks book Corps Commander or Eisenhower's post-war memoir as they made reference to their relationships with senior Canadian personnel.


Michelle

May I suggest another book that I found great!

The Victory Campaign. The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944-1945. Volume III. Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War.
Author is Stacey C.P.

It's a tough read, but it covers EVERYTHING about the 1st Canadian Army in NWE

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Facta non verba. "Deeds, not words"

Just got interested on the Canloan:

CANLOAN Army Officers Association

CANLOAN Casualties:

Killed in Action or died of wounds 128 (20%)
Wounded 310 (50%)
Prisoners of war 27 (5% )
Total Casualties 465 (75%)

CANLOAN Decorations

41 Military Crosses (1 with bar) 1 Silver Star (US) 1 Distinguished Service Cross 4 Croix de Guerre (French) 1 M.B.E. 1 Order of Bronze Lion (Dutch)

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Thanks for the information, Kai. Canloan officers are also mentioned in George Blackburn's trilogy - but since his is about the 4th Field Regiments artillery the Canloan references are brief.

In a book called Rare Courage: Veterans of the Second World War Remember by Rod Mickleburgh and Rudyard Griffiths, there is a section with the story of Rex Fedick who volunteered for the CANLOAN schem. I'll type up a bit of it on Word first and then add in an edit. (I always get timed out if I type too long in a reply!)

Rex Fendick – CANLOAN Officer remembers:

“While we were in Prince George, word came from Ottawa about the CANLOAN scheme. They were calling for volunteers to go into the British Army. Six of us from the Fusiliers volunteered. I was fed up being in Canada. I’d joined up to go overseas and fight in the war, and it didn’t look like it was going to happen. And I was with a zombie unit that wasn’t going anywhere. I jumped at the chance. We sailed in May 1944 and first went to a Scottish division. But we were all trained machine gunners and felt we were being wasted. It was obvious D-Day was very close because they were waterproofing their vehicles. We asked if we could be sent to machine-gun units, so they sent us all to a reinforcement holding unit. We went to Normandy on D-plus-nine. There was still some sporadic fire coming in on the beach, but nothing so you’d notice. We landed at one of the docks that ran out maybe three hundred yards from shore. It was just a single strand of floating steel pontoons. We stepped off the ramp of our landing craft onto the steel pontoons, got our boots wet, and walked ashore.

We were only half a mile inland and at night it was sheer murder. The anti-aircraft fire was going up so thick pilots could have walked on it. All the ships and the ack-ack on shore were firing. And it was coming back down, of course. We had no shovels. No way to dig in. We just lay there under a tree and the stuff would be slashing down, chopping branches off the tree. I still have my old sleeping bag with a hole in it where one piece went through. One morning, Mac McConaghy, who was my chum from the Fusiliers, came over and said, “They’re looking for two officers for the Middlesex Regiment. Shall we go?” I said, “Why not?” We reported to the CO and rode motorbikes up to a place called Cam’s Wood, which had been counter-attacked heavily a half-hour before we got there. There had been merciless shelling and mortaring. They were still gathering up casualties and burying them. That was my baptism of fire. My machine-gun platoon was in action that night.

We were part of Operation Goodwood in Normandy. That was the biggest chance we had to fire directly on the enemy. We went up on the ridge, flanking the flat plain where the tanks went south, past the city of Caen. Our troops were at the edge of a wood that surrounded a wheat field. At the other end of the field, four hundred yards away, was a French chateau. The Germans were just swarming around that chateau. We started firing at it as soon as we got there. There was also a barn in the wheat field about three hundred yards away that I knew would be occupied. So I put all the guns on the barn. Shot the devil out of it. I told the fellows to hit the eave line and the floor line where they would be. Immediately a dozen Germans came racing out of the barn. I was looking at the troops through my binoculars when I saw a German officer standing with his binoculars looking at me! I let my binoculars drop and about fifty yards away a big German helmet popped up. I immediately put a couple of guns right on the wheat. We chewed that up pretty thoroughly. He either go his head down and crawled away, or he was hit. We were mortared steadily the whole night. We didn’t get hit, but in the morning we buried three hundred men up there. That was heavy.

After the city of Caen was captured, the whole division was moved to the extreme right of the British Second Army. The first place we went into was called Monty’s Hangar. It was a very deep, broad valley. We were on one side and Jerry was on the other side. They had mined that whole slope. A divisional attack was successful, and I led the company up to consolidate. I took the lead vehicle. We crossed a little scissors bridge, a couple of fields, and then up a lane p