A Coy 1st Bn Can Fusiliers WW2

plinker 777

plinker 777

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Hi Guys; I have an in-law who's father was infantry in the above company. She is trying to find out where her father was located during is time in the war and her mother suffers from alzheimer's and is of little assistance. I have searched the web and cannot find a Regiment with the designation of "Fusilier" that was attached to an "A" Company of the 1st Battalion. She believes that her father (who was wounded, shot in the abdomen) served somewhere in France. But I find the 1st battalion in Italy.
Can any knowledgeable gunnutters assist in pointing me in the correct direction? The man in question lived in Toronto Ont. at the time...Royal Canadian Regiment, 1st battalion (Petawawa)?

Plinker 777
 
The Canadian Fusiliers were a militia regiment in the City of London, if I understand you correctly he would have belonged to A Company, 1st Battalion, Canadian Fusiliers. I dont have my books on me so I cant give you the complete history but they didnt serve overseas as a formed unit. I believe they raised an active battalion for home defense service on the West Coast with the 6th Division that may have landed on Kiska. I think, though I'm not sure, that they raised a battalion for overseas service and that it was one of the ones broken up for reinforcements in late 1944. If so that would account for his being in Italy and France, he likely would have joined a unit in the 1st Infantry or 5th Armoured Divisions. Possibly 1st Batallion of the RCR.
 
The Canadian Fusiliers didn't serve in Europe during WW2. This unit was assigned for home defence during WW2 and was mostly manned with conscripts. It did participate in the joint Canadian-US Kiska Invasion Force (Aleutian Islands) in 1943. The Japanese had evacuated Kiska just prior to the invasion so there was no combat involved, although there were a number of casualties resulting from accidental`blue on blue` incidents between Canadian and US troops.

Quite a few conscript troops later volunteered for active service during WW2 and were subsequently posted to various infantry units serving in Italy or NW Europe. A number of conscripts were also posted to units in Europe when the flow of volunteer replacements dried up in the later part of the war. It is most likely that this man was wounded in Europe while serving with a different unit. It would be useful to locate additional documentation such as his regimental number or discharge certificate to assist with your search.
 
Aleutian Islands? This remind me of something...

I bought a LB No 4 Mk 1 from a guy in Edmonton and I remember he said that the rifle came from a fellow who said it was his oncle service rifle when he was stationned in Aleutian Islands... Maybe a connection with your history? who knows...
 
PatLaf said:
Aleutian Islands? This remind me of something...

I bought a LB No 4 Mk 1 from a guy in Edmonton and I remember he said that the rifle came from a fellow who said it was his oncle service rifle when he was stationned in Aleutian Islands... Maybe a connection with your history? who knows...
Click to expand...


That is incorrect my grandfather was in the Aleutians and they were issued American weapons: Thompson, M1 carbines, M1, bar. Have many pics if them on the islands with these weapons. They were trained with lee enfield a and Ross rifles though. My Grandfather serve with the first special forces Canadian/American.
 
Your friend can contact the archives in Ottawa and request a copy of her father's military record. We have our father's record which we obtained that way. If she has his name, service number, as well as his regiment, they will get her a copy of his record. It costs a few bucks but it's well worth it to have the family military history. Lots of luck.
 
plinker 777 said:
Thanks guys. Was it common for conscripts from Toronto to have to attend roll call for a Regiment in London?
Click to expand...

You'd have to survey the service records of all the conscripts from Toronto to determine what was common, but it is safe to assume that once conscripted they were assigned to suit the needs of the service at that time and that could overide any ties of geography.
 
I have now found that he was definitely wounded in 1944 and in France {news paper clipping from the time}. There is still confusion as to whether it was "blue on blue" {friendly fire} or what. In this news clipping, the names of wounded, killed, missing, ect. are in their respective "Regiments"...The man in question was from Toronto and in the clipping he is grouped in the "Central Ontario Regiment", here's the thing, the other wounded guys listed in this same "Regiment" are from all over southern Ontario!! Guys from Niagara, (Links and Winks right?) guys from Hamilton (48th Highland LI?), London, Toronto, Oshawa, the Guys are grouped into 1 Regiment (that I've never heard of) and the wounded from this "Regiment" are from all over God's creation...what gives?
 
At the military museum website, you can access records for anyone who was killed in world war II.
Some of them have been digitized, so you can see a typical set of documents retained by the military.

Its a very humbling experience to look at the documentation for a deceased veteran. It will include the telegrams sent to family informing them of a soldier being wounded, missing in action or killed in action.
Some contain personal letters, that were deemed important to keep on file, as well as notes from commanders and doctors.

A random example would be this one:

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/...rval=20&&PHPSESSID=oo4t0vtd115jeirif80r7q4vv2

Just click on the link for the digitized file.

Kirk
 
Kirk; I can't find on the site or the pdf that you have graciously led me to where one would apply for replacement medals. Has anyone done this before? Any help would be very much appreciated.
I have compiled the necessary paper work otherwise required.
Plinker777
 
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