Hello everyone,
Not sure if anyone will find this interesting, but I sure did. My great grandfather on my father's side (Grandma's father) was the only one in my direct family to fight in either WW I or WW II. My Grandpa on my Mother's side was training to be a pilot, but never made it to Europe before the war ended. All my other Grandfather's or Great Grandfather's were either to young or too old for either war.
When visiting Nova Scotia I had seen a couple pictures of him, but he passed away before I was born and no one knew too much of his wartime service as he was very quiet about it. My Grandfather said he would only ever tell funny stories about his buddies during the war. The one "battle" story he told was that once a German sharpshooter was giving them troubles and my Great Grandfather snuck up the flank to get a shot, the only thing exposed on the sharpshooter was his foot, my Great Grandfather made the shot and the sharpshooter was taken prisoner quickly thereafter. This story was also only told humorously, and even then my Grandfather only heard the story once.
He was 25 years old when he enlisted in September 1939. He was married and had a 4 year old daughter (My Grandma).
Wanting to learn more I filled out the forms and waited 6 months and the Library and Archives of Canada delivered over 30 pages of information. Also, I bought the regimental history of the West Nova's, and as luck would have it, it is the best unit history book I have ever read. The writer (T.H. Raddall) did an absolutely superb job, so I was able to read along in excellent detail about the battles the man fought in. The Regiment's war diary is also available in PDF format on the internet.
This photo was labeled Oct. 1939
His Attestation Paper:
His record of Service:
This sheet gives a bit more info about him being listed sick in Dec 1943:
So he enlisted in Sept. 1939, left for England with the WNSR in Dec. 1939. Came back to NB for most of 1942 to train recruits in small arms. Rejoined the WNSR in time for the Invasion of Sicily, ended up being promoted to CSM. On December 10 1943 he is listed as sick "S-4 Shell Fire Effects" and leaves Italy. Spends the rest of the war training in the UK eventually ending up as RSM of a training Regiment, coming home in September 1945. Other than 8 months in 1942 he spent 6 years away from his young family, a feat I couldn't imagine even without combat.
After the war he went on to join the Coast Guard as a light house keeper, including St. Paul's Island. My Grandma always told me tales of living as the daughter of a lighthouse keeper.
This picture is from 1966:
I have a few questions. Is there anyway I can find out what company he was in during the Italian Campaign? On his attestation paper is says A coy, but there is no other mention in any other document. I assume that it could have easily changed between Sept 39 and the Summer of 1943.
Also, I assume S-4 shell fire effects is a PTSD or "shell shock" sickness, is this correct?
Not sure if anyone will find this interesting, but I sure did. My great grandfather on my father's side (Grandma's father) was the only one in my direct family to fight in either WW I or WW II. My Grandpa on my Mother's side was training to be a pilot, but never made it to Europe before the war ended. All my other Grandfather's or Great Grandfather's were either to young or too old for either war.
When visiting Nova Scotia I had seen a couple pictures of him, but he passed away before I was born and no one knew too much of his wartime service as he was very quiet about it. My Grandfather said he would only ever tell funny stories about his buddies during the war. The one "battle" story he told was that once a German sharpshooter was giving them troubles and my Great Grandfather snuck up the flank to get a shot, the only thing exposed on the sharpshooter was his foot, my Great Grandfather made the shot and the sharpshooter was taken prisoner quickly thereafter. This story was also only told humorously, and even then my Grandfather only heard the story once.
He was 25 years old when he enlisted in September 1939. He was married and had a 4 year old daughter (My Grandma).
Wanting to learn more I filled out the forms and waited 6 months and the Library and Archives of Canada delivered over 30 pages of information. Also, I bought the regimental history of the West Nova's, and as luck would have it, it is the best unit history book I have ever read. The writer (T.H. Raddall) did an absolutely superb job, so I was able to read along in excellent detail about the battles the man fought in. The Regiment's war diary is also available in PDF format on the internet.
This photo was labeled Oct. 1939
His Attestation Paper:
His record of Service:
This sheet gives a bit more info about him being listed sick in Dec 1943:
So he enlisted in Sept. 1939, left for England with the WNSR in Dec. 1939. Came back to NB for most of 1942 to train recruits in small arms. Rejoined the WNSR in time for the Invasion of Sicily, ended up being promoted to CSM. On December 10 1943 he is listed as sick "S-4 Shell Fire Effects" and leaves Italy. Spends the rest of the war training in the UK eventually ending up as RSM of a training Regiment, coming home in September 1945. Other than 8 months in 1942 he spent 6 years away from his young family, a feat I couldn't imagine even without combat.
After the war he went on to join the Coast Guard as a light house keeper, including St. Paul's Island. My Grandma always told me tales of living as the daughter of a lighthouse keeper.
This picture is from 1966:
I have a few questions. Is there anyway I can find out what company he was in during the Italian Campaign? On his attestation paper is says A coy, but there is no other mention in any other document. I assume that it could have easily changed between Sept 39 and the Summer of 1943.
Also, I assume S-4 shell fire effects is a PTSD or "shell shock" sickness, is this correct?
