jack antoine doucette 4

7/30/2019 Jack Antoine Doucette 4

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Jack Doucette(Jean-Antoine Doucette)

Pte

Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

Jack was baptised as Jean-Antoine, but he preferred to us the name Jack. I was able to get a copy of his milit

ecords from the archives. There I learned that he joined the Canadian Army on Dec 1st

1941 in Woodstock; N.B. hi

egimental number was G19441 his first unit was the Carleton & York Regiment. He had lied about his age, telling t

hat he was born on April 1st

1922 instead of 1924 which actually made him less than 18 when he signed up. This wdiscovered until sometime in Dec 1942 at which time he was already in England.

Jack was like many a young men, he got himself into a bit of trouble, got caught for being AWOL a few timedid some detention and confined to barracks as well as having a forfeit in pay. He embarked for overseas on the 1

sto

une1942 and disembarked on the 11th

. Jack took some courses will in England, Im not sure what they were.

Jack was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the France-Germany Star, the Defence Medal, War Medal, and Canadia

VolunteerService Medal & Clasp. I dont know where these medals are now; I wish I could find them.

1939-45 Star The France The Defence The War Canadian VolunteerGerman Star Metal Medal Service Medal

One month after D Day, Jack embarked for France on the 6th

of July 1944 and disembarked on the 8th

, at Gra

ur-Mer, he belonged to the 2nd

Infantry Division, 6th

Infantry Brigade, Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canadack was killed within a few weeks of arriving in France; Im not exactly sure what date he was killed, most likely

during OPERATION ATLANTIC. On his military death certificate the date is shown as unknown, but buried on t

28th of July, on the New Brunswick certificate of Registration of Death and his Service and Casualty Form, it stahe 21

stof July 1944 as time of death. Im a bit confused as to the delay in his burial if he was killed on the 21

stand

buried until the 28th

, this might mean he died later then the 21st.

He was originally buried in a Flurey-sur-Orne

023649), in walled garden next to the caves. Jack was previously buried in 'Mondeville Canadian TemporaryCemetery' and he was reverently re-interred in Canadian War Cemetery Bretteville-sur-Laize Calvados France. Grav

Reference:XI. E. 2. on 28th April 1945. (Ref: Commonwealth War Graves Commission)

On the evening of 11 July, the unit moved to the vicinity ofRotsand then relieved the Queen's Own Rifles o

Canada atCarpiquetthe next day. The next six days the Battalion spent digging in to avoid enemy shelling andpatrolling to root out enemy snipers and remnants. On 19 July, the Battalion left Carpiquet for an assembly area acro

heOrne Riverin preparation for the start ofOperation Atlanticthe next day. On the way to the start line the Battali

uffered casualties from enemy artillery and mortar fire. The Camerons launched their attack fromFleury-sur-Orne,upported by artillery and Typhoonsquadrons. "A" Company advanced on the right with "B" Company left, "C"

Company in depth and "D" Company in reserve. No tanks accompanied the attacking infantry but a squadron of tank

romThe Sherbrooke Fusilierswas allotted to the Camerons for counter-attack. The attack did not start well. The

Officer Commanding Headquarters Company, Captain H. Grundy and the Intelligence Officer,LieutenantJ. Malonwere both killed when an enemy88 mm gunhit thescout car. The Battalion War Diary for June was lost with the

vehicle. The loss of this command vehicle would hamper the Battalion's radio communications throughout the battle

A" Company was held up 500 yd (460 m) from the start line, coming under intensemachine gunfire. Suppressing nemy machine gunners with artillery and medium machine gun fire fromThe Toronto Scottish Regiment, "A"

Company was able to carry on. "B" Company encountered mild resistance and reached its objective advancing throu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpiquethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpiquethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpiquethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orne_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orne_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orne_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Atlantichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Atlantichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Atlantichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleury-sur-Ornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleury-sur-Ornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleury-sur-Ornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squadronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squadronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squadronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbrooke_Hussarshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbrooke_Hussarshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbrooke_Hussarshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/88_mm_gunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/88_mm_gunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/88_mm_gunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_carhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_carhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_carhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_gunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_gunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_gunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Toronto_Scottish_Regiment_(Queen_Elizabeth_The_Queen_Mother%27s_Own)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Toronto_Scottish_Regiment_(Queen_Elizabeth_The_Queen_Mother%27s_Own)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Toronto_Scottish_Regiment_(Queen_Elizabeth_The_Queen_Mother%27s_Own)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Toronto_Scottish_Regiment_(Queen_Elizabeth_The_Queen_Mother%27s_Own)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_gunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_carhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/88_mm_gunhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenanthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherbrooke_Hussarshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squadronhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleury-sur-Ornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Atlantichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orne_Riverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpiquethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rots


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he sniper, mortar and machine gun fire. As "A" Company had ended up somewhat to the right of their objective "C"

Company was pushed through to fill the gap between "A" and "B". "C" Company met no resistance until it reached t

outh end of the village. "D" Company moved up to secure the rear of the Battalion position.

The enemy still held part of Hill 112 and continued to subject the Camerons to very heavy fire from west of the OrnHeavy rain interfered with radio communications that were already affected by the loss of the scout car. With three

ompanies forward, the Camerons held a wide frontage, so the Commanding Officer ordered "C" and "B" Companie

o withdraw slightly to draw in the perimeter. "B" Company was shifting their positions when the Germans counter-ttacked. The company managed to consolidate in their new position, but sustained significant casualties. As a resul

he Commanding Officer moved "D" Company up to replace them, and moved "B" back as Battalion reserve. Eleme

of theI SS Panzer Corpscounter-attacked along the entire Battalion front, with especially heavy concentrations ofnfantry thrown against "A" and "D" Companies. Towards dusk a heavy counter-attack supported by eight

Panzerkampfwagen V(Panther) tanks was launched against "D" Company. Three of the Cameron anti-tank guns we

knocked out, but the Camerons destroyed two of the panzers withPIATs(Projector Infantry Anti-Tank). "D" Comp

was overrun and forced to withdraw to link up with the remains of "B" Company. Overnight on 20-21 July "A" and Companies beat back repeated counter-attacks. At times the opposing forces were within shouting distance of each

other.

n the morning, further counter-attacks by small groups of tanks were fought off on the left flank in "C" Company's

rea. 10 Platoon of "B" Company was entirely cut off from the rest of the Battalion as the battle raged around theperimeter of the orchard. A company of German infantry that had infiltrated across the river overnight launched a se

of small attacks against the Battalion Headquarters, which were beaten off with many prisoners being taken by "A"

Company and the Scout Platoon. The Germans continued to counter-attack on 22 July, but their strength was reduceAttacks by two or three tanks supported by small groups of infantry were beaten off throughout the day. At one poin

A" Company was forced to withdraw, but with the assistance of heavy artillery support, counter-attacked and regai

heir positions. 11 Platoon was sent from "B" Company to reinforce "C" Company in driving off an enemy attack anemained under command of "C" Company, taking up defensive positions on the left flank. In between counter-attac

he Germans subjected the Cameron positions to heavy shelling withartillery,mortarsandNebelwerfers(rockets). B

23 July the counter-attacks had dwindled to minor infiltrations that were easily handled and the Germans resorted toncreased shelling. "C" Company was so reduced by this time that the remainder of 10 Platoon was sent from "B

Company to reinforce it.

The Camerons suffered heavy casualties in the fighting forSaint-Andr-sur-Orne: 52 wounded (including the

Commanding Officer and the Officer Commanding "B" Company) and 29 killed.Company Sergeant MajorSutherlnd Private G. T. Munroe were each awarded the Military Medal for their actions at Saint-Andr-sur-Orne and the

Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel N.H. Ross, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his handling

he Battalion throughout the battle.

Formation of the 6th Infantry Brigade

Composition de la 2e Division d'infanterie canadienne

8e rgiment de reconnaissance (14th Canadian Hussars)

4e Brigade d'infanterie

o Royal Regiment of Canada

o Royal Hamilton Light Infantry

o Essex Scottish Regiment

5e Brigade d'infanterieo Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada

o Rgiment de Maisonneuve

o Calgary Highlanders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_SS_Panzer_Corpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_SS_Panzer_Corpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_SS_Panzer_Corpshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_tankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_tankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIAThttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIAThttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIAThttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artilleryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artilleryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artilleryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar_(weapon)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar_(weapon)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar_(weapon)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebelwerferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebelwerferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebelwerferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Andr%C3%A9-sur-Ornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Andr%C3%A9-sur-Ornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Andr%C3%A9-sur-Ornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_Sergeant_Majorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_Sergeant_Majorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_Sergeant_Majorhttp://www.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation.phphttp://www.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation.phphttp://www.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation.phphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_Sergeant_Majorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Andr%C3%A9-sur-Ornehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebelwerferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar_(weapon)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artilleryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIAThttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther_tankhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_SS_Panzer_Corps


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6e Brigade d'infanterie

o Fusiliers Mont-Royal

o Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

o South Saskatchewan Regiment

Toronto Scottish Regiment (Mitrailleuses)

4e rgiment de campagne



2e rgiment antichar

3e rgiment de D.C.A. lgre

Extract from Internet site

South of Caen and Fleury-sur-Orne, a

promontory, offers a clear view on the

plain of Caen and the Orne Valley.This strategic location was the scene

of a bloody operation. The different

panels present this event and weintend to monitor transactions that

allowed the liberation of the south of

Caen.

During the night of July 18, 1944, aspart of Operation Goodwood-Atlantic

", the 5th Brigade2nd Canadian

Infantry Divisionwas ordered to cross

the Orne, from Caen, then movesouth.

The Regiment of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada managed to

cross the river in the morning followed by Regiment de Maisonneuve, whoreached

Fleury-sur-Orne. The Calgary Highlanders took the score 67 and stood firm inrepelling many attacks of the 1st SS Panzer Division.

During the afternoon of July 20, the 6th Brigade renewed its offensive. The Queen's

Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada took possession of St. Andre-sur-Orne, but intheir attempts to take the top of the ridge, the South Saskatchewan Regiment and the

Royal Fusiliers Mont-experienced less success. After the Black Watch had ensured the

safety of Ifs and the Maisonneuve Etavaux had captured a second major operation,

called "Spring", was unleashed on the night of July 24 to 25. The Royal HamiltonLight Infantry liberated the village Verrires but also the enemy was able to take the

set and to initiate attacks against the document 67.
http://old.fleurysien.com/popup/2dicanada.htmlhttp://old.fleurysien.com/popup/2dicanada.htmlhttp://old.fleurysien.com/popup/2dicanada.htmlhttp://old.fleurysien.com/popup/2dicanada.htmlhttp://old.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation.phphttp://old.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation.phphttp://old.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation.phphttp://old.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation.phphttp://old.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation.phphttp://old.fleurysien.com/fleury/liberation.phphttp://old.fleurysien.com/popup/2dicanada.htmlhttp://old.fleurysien.com/popup/2dicanada.html


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On August 9, during Operation "Totalyze" Ridge Stained villages Rocquancourt,Fontenay-le-Marmion and May-sur-Orne were finally freed by the men of the 2nd

Canadian Division. During these engagements, the infantry was valiantly supported by

the Second Tactical Air Force, the 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade, as well as units ofthe divisional artillery, engineering, the anti-tank machine guns, including the Toronto

Scottish Regiment, and recognition. Verrires Ridge was the key to the German

defense south of Caen. Its capture was vital to the Allied cause.

Bretteville-Sur-Laize Calvados, France

This cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) and just north of village of Cintheaux. Bretteville-sur-Laize is a village and commune in the department of the Calvados, some 16

kilometres south of Caen. The village of Bretteville lays 3 kilometres south-west of the Cemetery. Buried here a


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those who died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards (

initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions), to close the Falaise Gap, and thus seal off the

German divisions fighting desperately to escape being trapped west of the Seine. Almost every unit of Canadia

2nd Corps is represented in the Cemetery. There are about 3,000 allied forces casualties of the Second World W

commemorated in this site.

Ive tried to put together what was happening in the area around the time when Jack was killed, it seems be during or immediately after Operation Goodwood. From what Ive read there was some pretty heavy fightin

going on in that area during that time frame. I think he was probably killed out right; there is no record his being

hospitalised.

Following is some excerpts from articles I found on the internet.

July - 8: The one positive effect the bombing of Caen had, was a tremendous boost to the Allied troops. "Thepsychological effect on ....my Regiment ....was electrifying - you must remember that we had been stopped for a mon front of Lebisey Wood - we had lost two commanding officers and significant number of casualties from mortarin

nd shelling - consequently the noise and sight of the bombardment was tremendous morale booster. Officers and

oldiers were jumping out of their slot trenches and cheering." Major General Sir Nigel Trapp, letter to the author, Carlo D'EstDecision in Normandy, p.316.

The levelling of Caen did not bring any military

dvantage to the Canadians. The German defence

was still intact outside the city, and the Canadianrmy still had to crack it. -""Valour and Horror" script

n real terms, this meant that Keller's 3rd Canadiannfantry Division, along with elements of the 59th

British, had once more to close with the battle

hardened 12th SS, albeit now reduced to 'four punch

drunk battalions' that held no illusions about theoutcome.

The Canadians attacked and captured Buron, Gruchy,

Authie- Franqueville and the Abbaye Ardenne .Canadians fighting house to house

They destroyed the company of the 25 Panzer grenadiers Regiment that was defending Gruchy. At the fateful Abbay

Ardenne, the enemy withdrew, and the next day [July 9] the 8th Brigade finally captured Carpiquet airfield.

The overall ineffectiveness of the bombing was evident from the savage resistance put up by the Germans. Casualtie

during the two day battle for Caen were staggering.


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One of the many

In the infantry battalions' losses of 25% were the rule not theexception.

"The Normandy slaughterhouse was swallowing up the infantry. T

expenditure of flesh and blood in the present battle for Caen was

cause for alarm, for Germans as well as British. In this lovely summweather it was not unusual for and infantryman to wonder at each

sunset whether he would ever live to see and another, and at each

dawn whether that would be his last." Henry Maule, Caen, London, 1976.

What was left of Caen was secured by the evening of July 9, and the Stormont, Glengarry, and Dundas Highlanders he honour of being the first unit to enter Caen. This honour had cost the Canadians dearly. Operation Charnwood co

hem 1194 casualties, 334 of them fatal.

The capture of the Northern half of Caen brought noactical benefit to Montgomery's armies. The Germans still

held a line along the Orne River and controlled the suburb

of Colombelles from where their forward observers couldobserve the Allies movements from the local steel works'

owers. Caen was useless without control of the heights of

Verrires and Bourgubus Ridges. What they had waspossession of a ruined city and a public relations victory.

Caen after the bombing

July 19-20:"Well may the wheat and sugar beet grow lush and green upon its gentle slope, because in that halforgotten summer, the best blood of Canada was freely poured upon it." Canadian military historian Charles Stacey.

n the shadow of poplar, a small

dirt road runs along the top of theidge, linking places called Tilly

La Campagne, Beauvoir, St Martin

nd St. Andr. Those names send a

hill through the veterans whoought the SS on its heights. When

acques Dextraze arrived here with

his infantry and Sydney Radley-Walters with his tanks, they had an

nticipation of a great victory.

Looking back now, they think theywere awfully naive. -("Valour andHorror" script)

The Queen's Own Highlanders, with the Sherbrooke tank squadron ready for counterattack, advanced through a fiel

wheat behind an artillery barrage to secure St. Andr-sur-Orne. To their left, Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, with five tann support, behind an artillery barrage advanced towards Beauvoir and Troteval farms, on their way to their objectiv

Verrires Ridge.


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Canadian soldiers advance through the wheat

field

As dangerous as it was to be in a tank on Verrires Ridge, an

infantryman was 10 times more likely to die. Jacques Dextraz

was ordered to cross this wheat field with his company of 90 from the Fusiliers Mont Royal. In the first battle of their lives

the recently arrived Montreal regiment was headed for a posit

strongly fortified by the Germans, a series of stone buildingsacross the main road called Beauvoir farm. Now Dextraze can

laugh about just how scared he was.

.... I was smoking my pipe, and ah, I pulled a pack of cigarettes out of my pocket and I lit a cigarette. So I'm finally

moking a pipe, having a cigarette, I threw my pack of cigarettes away, which was half full...We were laying down aunning, the balance of us, and when I threw myself in the wheat, it just looks to me as if there were wasps in the fie

could hear this bzzz, bzzz, going around. It didn't take long that I realise these weren't wasps, or they were prettyively wasps. It was the tank that was firing - it was cutting the grain, which was of course.... high by that time." -

"Valour and Horror" script)

Around Beauvoir and Troteval farms, enemy resistance

tarted to increase. Forward Fusiliers Mont-Royal units

were attacked from behind by German infantry comingrom farm cellars simultaneously enemy anti-tank guns

nd Panther tanks joined the action. German machine gunners wait for their prey

In their first 10 minutes on the battlefield, 6

10 men in the Fusiliers Montral were killedwounded.

A Canadian soldier gets hit by German fire.

They had trained for this moment for four years.

With its forward artillery observer dead, its forward company cut off and no anti-tank support the battalion, unable t

dvance or withdraw, the Fusiliers hung on throughout the night.

I thought I was a well-trained man for war when I landed here. Boy I learned about fighting, and learned that I didn

know much. But I learned..." - Major Jacques Dextraze. It was a tough initiation for young Major Jacques Dextraze.

n the centre the South Saskatchewan Regiment, with tanks on each flank, attacked through 3 kilometres of ripe grai

ields to the crest of Verrires Ridge. The battalion on reaching its objective consolidated on an open slope dominate

by a higher point held by the Germans. The Canadians were exposed and under direct observation. Indirect Germanrtillery and mortar fire was slaughtering them. They were then attacked by panzers from their left rear flank.

This is Matthew Halton of the CBC, speaking from France. British and Canadian tank and infantry forces, east of th

Orne river, struck southward today in a powerful and determined attack. The day is going very well..."


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General Guy Simonds: "I saw the attack go in. The first wave of armour came out in the open, and within seconds 2

0 British tanks were brewing up. The attack was catastrophic... 877 tanks attacked. 437 were lost. One could not he

but be impressed by the camouflage and marksmanship of the German gunners, whether in tanks or manning anti-taguns."

Map of Operation Goodwood you can see the Front Line on the 21st

of July also the direction of the 2nd

Canadian

Division


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The following paragraphs are taken from the personal war diary of Reverend T.R. Davis, M.A., B.D., and D.D and

dated 17th July 1944. This is around the time when Jack was killed. He was also in Fleury sur Orne on the 20th

he m

have been there for Jacks first burial.

I had nine voluntary services yesterday and the attendance was almost 100%. Men dont have to be compeo go to church in the present circumstances. As a matter of fact, I had requests for services which I was unable to f

Perhaps the most successful service of the day was held in a shell hole. You will think that the congregation must h

been very small, but 30 of us sat in this cavity and there was plenty of room. I walked around the rim of the hole anook me 45 steps to get around. It was about 12 feet deep so that we could stand up and be still concealed. The lads

alled it their Rosebowl, and had it fixed up for the service before I arrived. The last service of the day was one to

emembered because of the manner in which the lads sang Abide with Me.

My message was based on an experience I had on the previous day. I had visited the church in Carpriquet thhad been completely wrecked. There was little left except rubble and I tried to imagine what it had been like before

hells landed. Someone had been there ahead of me and had attempted to restore the altar. The base was there with

arved figure of a lamb. Above this there was a cross but the image of Christ had been blown off. The empty cross

had been put in place and the shattered figure had been gathered up and placed on the pedestal at the foot of the crosknew that someone with a sense of value had visited the place and had performed this act of reverence. I discovered

ater that it was lads from my own battalion. The theme of my message was that there is some hope for a world whe

here are people who recognise that some things have to be preserved and are willing to make some effort to save thhings from the rubble. It is depressing to see so much destruction and it is very easy to become cynical. The hope

he future is in the people who see that some things do matter and who are willing to put forth a bit of effort to see th

hey are preserved and furthered.

We passed through the rubble of Caen on the 18th of July. I put on my respirator to protect myself from themell of death and corruption. We moved southward along the bank of the Orne River and prepared for the assault

St. Andre-sur-Orne. In the few days that followed there was rain, mud, and machinations of the enemy that caused

itters in some and anxiety for all of us. They were sad days because we saw so many of our friends evacuated tohospitals or to that realm that we knew was more peaceful than ours.

Itwas on the evening of July 20th, after a terrible day at the Regimental Aid Post, that I wandered bymyself to the village of Fleury-Sur-Orne. I wanted to be alone and I had my opportunity. The village was deserte

looked at the church building with the walls still standing. I read a few of the inscriptions on the walls. I waseminded of my boyhood days in Quebec and found my ability to read the language very rewarding. The darkness w

oming on so I decided to return to my blankets at the roadside. I knew that I would miss the nightly chat with Jim

Howard. Both of them had been killed that day. I didnt need a souvenir to remind me of the day, but I rememberemy sermon of Sunday before and picked up a piece of glass from the rubble around the Fleury church. It was a sma

quare piece of orange colour. It took up little space in the pocket of my battle-dress tunic. I returned to the friends

hat were left. It was a horrible night with flares lighting up the sky and enemy planes flying low and sprinkling therea with machine-gun fire. I tried to find some protection behind some bales of hay, trusting that tracer bullets wou

not set them aflame. It was a relief when daylight returned. In the early morning, our men began checking over the

erritory that had been won the previous day. When they were going through the church at Fleury, they found seven

German soldiers hiding in the balcony. They had hidden there to let the war pass them by. They were frightened la

They must have been there when I was prowling about on the previous night. If I had known of their presence therewould have been eight frightened men instead of seven. During the remaining days of July 1944, we were held up in

he same general area. The enemy was resisting fiercely. Our casualties were heavy and my days were filled with tad task of burying the dead.


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Private W.T. Booth (D-83056)

Notes further to a few of the entries in the Black Watch war diary. They are based on the personal experiences of thewriter, then a private in the Intelligence Section of Battalion Headquarters, First Battalion, Black Watch.

July, 1944

Entries July 11-17 marked "Frankeville" (misspelling of Francqueville)

Francqueville is a village just west of the road leading south from Villons-les Buissons through Biron, Authie,

Francqueville to Carpiquet airfield - the axis of advance by infantry of the Canadian third division on the first few da

fter the landing on the beaches. Fighting was again heavy in this area on the 8th of July in the operation which saw all of Caen. To the east of this road and set some distance back from it is the Abbey of Ardenne, the fields adjoining

urrounded by hedgerows, being the concentration area for the Black Watch from July 11 to 17 preparatory to its fir

ction against the enemy on July 18.

The Abbey gave us our first sight and lasting impression of the aftermath of battle. The Canadians who had been

xecuted there by the 12th SS Hitler Youth Division (the rank and file were not told about this at the time) had of

ourse been taken away and buried, but the German dead inside the walls in an apple orchard and inside the buildinghad not been. The stench of decomposition hung heavy over their bodies, bloated in the hot July sun. I remember tw

men who told us they were from the British Seventh Armored Division (the "Desert Rats" of the 8th Army in North

Africa) preparing a meal for themselves in that scene. One end of the Abbey was just a gaping hole in which a Sherm

ank had blown up. Something charred beyond recognition lay on the ground beside it. Major Motzfeldt said it was aheep but we suspected otherwise.

Entries July 18-25, Caen, Vaucelles, Ifs, Hill 67, May-sur-Orne:

The Black Watch saw its first action on July 18 when it crossed the Orne canal separating Caen from the western

uburb (Vaucelles) at this point. This was part of the Canadian role in Operation "Goodwood," Montgomerysobjective being to break out of the Orne bridgehead and capture the high ground south of Caen known as the

Bourgebus-Verrieres ridge. "Goodwood" effectively ended July 21.

When the Essex Scottish were thrown back from Hill 67 by a counter-attack on July 21, the Black Watch was ordere

o retake the hill and hold it. Besides the creeping barrage mentioned in the War Diary, the rifle company that I waswith had the support of a Sherman tank firing its six-pounder anti-tank gun. It turned aside as we approached the cre

Three of us from the I-Section of BHQ had gone forward to dig an observation post on the reverse slope. The attack

was successfully carried out though we were under mortar and sniper fire during its course. Because I walked alongs

he Sherman I wouldnt hear the incoming fire. I saw some of its effects, of course, such as the death of a man I knewnamed Hudson who was thrown into the air by a mortar bomb. Yet the entire attack, which didnt last long, had an a

of unreality, as though it were a movie I was watching. When we had taken the Hill this feeling vanished in the shoc

of seeing Canadian dead, the Essex Scottish, lying on the ground. Seeing Hudson fall did not have the effect on me oeeing the sleeve patch of the Second Division on the uniforms of those killed.


12/28

On that day (July 21) operation Goodwood effectively ended without succeeding in securing the Bourgebus-

Verrieres Ridge. During the three days we were on Hill 67 (the rifle companies below the crest, in the area of Beauv

arm; the command post of BHQ in a large dugout on the crest with a few of us from the I Section and others in aupporting role in slit trenches near it) we seemed to be under ceaseless fire with "moaning minnies" constituting a

good part of it. Such fire begins to wear down the nerves rather quickly. Major Motzfeldt did much to boost the mor

of those around the command post by strolling among the slit trenches with his balmoral and its red hackle on his he

On the 23rd of July, a German fighting patrol "infiltrated through the forward companies and attacked the CommandPost," as the Diary reports. It was 4 oclock in the morning. There was suddenly a burst of shouting in German, and

English to the rest of us to stay in our slit trenches, and from behind us there immediately came the roar of machine

ire. The War Diary doesnt mention it, but the machine gun fire came from a unit of the Cameron Highlanders of

Ottawa, a medium machine gun battalion defending the Command Post. The man in our regiment which the Diaryeported killed was an anti-tank gunner named Bulow whose six-pounder gun was positioned about a hundred yards

head of the Command Post. When dawn broke in a heavy mist, the Germans who had survived walked toward us,

hands on their heads and calling out "Kamerad." They all wore field caps, not steel helmets. One of the men I wasguarding seemed to be in his late forties. He was calm and asked me if we were "Amerikanisch." One of the pockets

his tunic bulged with his shaving gear. Perhaps the patrol was for him a way of resigning from the war.

Around 3:30 in the morning of July 25 the rifle companies began to make their way from the area of Beauvoir Farm

he town of St Andre-sur-Orne, a part of which the Queens Own Camerons of Canada had been clinging to the pew days. A report had come from them that the town was clear, and the Black Watch moved forward to their formin

up point in preparation for its role in the second phase of the operation named "Spring." The fighting transport (F

Echelon) of the regiment remained in the town of Ifs along with the men in Battalion HQ who had not been on Hill Three of us from the I Section (Sgt. Fred Janes, "Dolly" Lessard, and I) were to precede the rifle companies to St.

Andre and then, according to our orders, into St. Martin-de-Fontenay to lay white tape marking the forward edge of

orming-up point. The tape was wound on a signals reel. St. Martin is sister to St. Andre, alongside an apple orchardwhich was soon laced with tracer fire from a machine gun. St. Martin had not been cleared. There was nothing to do

but take cover where we were. I found a German slit trench in the orchard and at first light, as the vehicles of F Eche

began pulling into a large field behind us, moved across the road to a ditch with a hedge running alongside it. Lookinover the hedge, one could see the wreckage of a bomber knocked down during operation Goodwood and beyond it t

gentle rise of the grain fields to the crest of the Verrieres Ridge. The grain was about waist high at that time. Soon th

vehicles in the vehicle park and those dug in around them and in the ditch running along the road would come under

observed fire from the ridge and, though I think most of us didnt know it at the time, from high ground west of theOrne.

The entry in the Diary: "May - sur - Orne. 25th Fri."reflects some of the confusion and problems in communication

hat day. The Black Watch was never in May - sur - Orne except for a patrol or two sent in by Major Phillip Griffin

hen acting C.O. since Lt. Col. Cantlie had been killed while on reconnaissance in the early hours of the morning andhe senior company commander, Major Motzfeldt who was with him wounded. In the first phase of the attack the

Queens Own Camerons who were to secure the towns of St. Andre and St. Martin-de-Fontenay were unable to do

because the enemy continued to infiltrate the area. The Calgary Highlanders who were to go through the Cameronsnd take the May-sur-Orne, about a kilometer south, got to the town but were unable to hold their position there.

We assumed that the rifle companies began their advance about mid-morning, though we had no communication withem. They had been strung out along the walls and hedgerows on the eastern side of St. Martin and were to advance

heir start line, a road running out of May and up to the crest of the ridge, where they were to follow a creeping barraonto their objective, Fontenay-le-Marmion. By the time they reached the start line their casualties were heavy. They

had come under fire from the ridge and from May-sur-Orne on the right flank. Only some 60 men reached the crest

he ridge; some 15 were able to make their way back down. Griffins body was found among those who reached therest.


13/28

Later that morning, the Germans turned their attention to the vehicle park and to the men dug in at the side of the roa

remember that the first mortar rounds - three of them - were dropped on the airplane wreckage in the field to the ea

of the road. We guessed that they were either ranging shots or were intended to kill or drive out snipers who might hbeen concealed there. This was followed by a methodic "walking" of mortar bombs up and down the ditch and

hedgerow. This fire continued at intervals. At the same time fire was brought down on the men and vehicles on the

other side of the road. Particularly terrifying were the shells from the 88mm gun with its high muzzle velocity and th

lat trajectory of its shells which came in on us with a shriek and near simultaneous explosion. Mortar bombs byontrast gave some advance notice of their approach. By this time (early afternoon perhaps) a number of the vehicle

were on fire. Later the field was covered, it seemed, with burning vehicles including an armored one with slits for

windows, but not a recce car as I remember, which gave off roiling black smoke.

n digging my slit trench I had struck a thick root which I wouldnt cut with my shovel. I moved back up the ditchbout seven or eight feet and began digging there. Above me at about the same distance two of our signalers had dug

quite a deep trench for themselves. I had dug a shallow trench when the Sergeant of the I section, Fred Janes, came

cross the road and began digging the trench which I had abandoned. Before that he had dug in along side the I sectivehicle. He had not been long digging when we heard a mortar bomb coming in. In a matter of seconds we knew it w

oming in on us when the feathery sound a mortar bomb has as it descends changed to a roar. I pressed down as flat

ould but the trench was too shallow to allow me to get below the surface. When the bomb exploded it felt as if a gioot had stepped on my back and driven the air out of my lungs. Barely moving, I tried to "feel" if Id been hit. I sat

nd looked to where Janes had been digging; only a blackened depression remained. The recognizable half of Janes

on the road.

Above the two signallers sat motionless in their trench. They were both dead but not a mark could be seen on theirbodies. Whether it was another bomb on that particular stroll up the ditch I didnt know. If so, then I had been

bracketed and left without a scratch. Though I didnt think these thoughts then, later I wondered if on the next round

light adjustment of the sights on the mortar wouldnt have made it a clean sweep.

think it was about mid-afternoon at that point. It seemed that most of the vehicles in the field had been hit. A pall omoke and dust hung over the park. There had been no word of rifle companies, no one there in that scene to organiz

nd direct those who were still alive. For those of us in the I section - "Dolly" Lessard, Ray Dubuc, who had come

down in the trucks later in the morning, myself and the driver - there was nothing to do but get out. Lessard, who waittle ways down the ditch toward St. Andre, shouted to me and we both ran across the road to the truck. The driver a

Ray Dubuc ran over from their trenches. The steel frame that supported the canvas canopy had been cut in two on on

ide by shrapnel. Jerry tins of gas had been spilled but had not caught fire. The tires on one side I remember had beeblown and there was a large hole in the engine hood but no critical part had been damaged. We jumped in, the driver

loored the accelerator, and we raced up the hill to Fleury-sur-Orne. Major Mitchell became C.O. and the Battalion

went into reserve until its rifle companies could be brought up to strength.

C.D.I.R.U.-Canadian Division Infantry Reinforcement Unit


14/28

Figure 1 Enrolment Attestation


15/28

Figure 2 Record of service


16/28

Figure 3 Record of Service


17/28

Figure 4 Statement of Service


18/28



19/28



20/28

Figure 7 Service and Casualty Form


21/28

DateFrom Who

ReceivedRecord of Prmotions,Transfers, Casualties Rank

Effective

dateUnit Place

Part II D.O.

No. Cas. ListDated

5202 TOS 7A District Depot Pte 01/12/1941 7ADD Woodstock #275 07/12/1941

SOS on Transfer to No. 7 Dist Depot " 05/01/1942 " " #4 05/01/1942

T.O.S. att. For all purposes from #7 D.D. " 09/01/1942 #71 B.T.C.Edmundston,

N.B.6 10/01/1942

A.W.L. From 06:30 hrs to 16:40 hrs 16/02/1942 " " 33 & 34 16/02/1942

1 days pay & 3days CB for A.W.L.10 Hrs 15 min. " 16/02/1942 " " 34 17/02/1942

S.O.S on transfer to A-14 A.T.C.Aldershot " 06/04/1942 #14 ITCAldershot,N.S.

Pt.11#85 09/04/1942

Was on 24-4-42 awarded 168 hrs detention and placed under stoppage of payto the amount of $5.20 for deficiencies in kit and equiptment. For A.W.L. from

19:30 hrs to 10:30 hrs 23-4-42 Forfeit 5 days P.&.A. Total forfeiture 13 days

P.&.A.9Art.149(1)(a),(b),(c)(ii)and 158 (2)FR&I)

Granted special leave, 15-5-42 to 20-5-42 " 01/05/1942 " " #119 18/05/1942

S.O.S. on proceeding to Carlton & York Regt. O.S. " 02/06/1942 " " #133 02/06/1942

S.O.S., C.A. 1-6-42

T.O.S., C.A. 2-6-42

Disembarked 11-6-42

T.O.S " 12/06/1942 #1CDIRU UK 139 14/06/1942

14/06/1942 OC T.O.S. No 1CDIRU From Cdn. Army Canada Pte

Priv. Leave to 8 July 42 Pte 1-Jul-42 1DIRU UK 160 1-Jul-42

S.O.S. to 2/DIRU pending trans to C of C Pte 17-Sep-42 1/DIRU UK 225 18-Sep-42

T.O.S. from 1CDIRU Pte 18-Sep-42 2DIRU UK 222 18-Sep-42

S.O.S. to C of C Pte 24-Sep-42 2DIRU UK 227 24-Sep-42

T.O.S. from 2DIRU Pte 25-Sep-42 C of C UK 77 25-Sep-42

P. Leave Pte 19/26-Oct-42 C of C UK 88 4-Nov-42

S.O.S. to 2/DIRU pending trans to C of C Pte 6-Nov-42 C of C UK 89 9-Nov-42

Awd. 10 days C.B. offence AA Sec. 19 (Drunkness 1st offence) Pte 16-Nov-42 2/Diru UK 276 19-Nov-42

Jack Doucet Record of Service


22/28

Date From Who Received Record of Prmotions,Transfers, Casualties Rank Effective date Unit PlacePart II D.O. No.

Cas. ListDated

True date of birth now declared to be 1 apr. 1924 Pte 4-Dec-42 Field UK 289 4-Dec-42

True name now declared to be Jean Antione Doucet Pte 4-Dec-42 Field UK 289 4-Dec-42

P. Leave to 24 Jan 43 (9Days) Pte 15-Jan-43 2/Diru UK 15 18-Jan-43

S.O.S. to 2CIRU Pte 31-Jan-43 2/Diru UK 27 31-Jan-43

T.O.S. From 2/CDIRU Pte 1-Feb-43 2CIRU UK 1 2-Feb-43

Posted to P.E. as Orderly Pte. To hold app. On Holding Wing H.Q. (orderly) Pte 1-Feb-43 2CIRU UK 1 2-Feb-43

Increase daily rate pay $1.50 Pte 1-Jan-43 2CIRU UK 50 2-Apr-43

7 days & 48 hrs leave money all. Pte 27-Apr-43 2CIRU UK 72 27-Apr-43

Charge AA Sec 11, 4 days C.B. 1 days pay Pte 2-Jun-43 2CIRU UK 109 7-Jun-43

To be A/l.cpl with pay whilst on crse A/L/Cpl 22-Jun-43 2CIRU UK 119 21-Jun-43

Proceeding on CAAHQ Crse #725 Ser 57 A/L/Cpl 21-Jun-43 2CIRU UK 120 22-Jun-43

16/07/1943 Arm DO-141 Ret from crse 725 (PT) Pte 9-Jul-43 2CIRU UK 137 12-Jul-43

Reverted to rank of Pte (Pte crse) rtu Pte 9-Jul-43 2CIRU UK 138 13-Jul-43

Proceed on CAAHQ crse #725(B) Sec 58 Pte 12-Jul-43 2CIRU UK 138 13-Jul-43

To be A/L/Cpl Whilst on P.T. Crse A/L/Cpl 12-Jul-43 2CIRU UK 138 13-Jul-43

AWL Sec 15 AA (11) Reverts to Pte Forf 1days pay Pte 5-Jul-43 2CIRU UK 141 16-Jul-43

Returned from C.M.H.Q. course 725 ser 58 P.T. Refresher course A/L/Cpl 27-Jul-43 2CIRU UK 153 30-Jul-43

Reverts to permanent grade of Pte on complition of crse Pte 24-Jul-43 2CIRU UK 153 30-Jul-43

Att'd CMHQ Crse 725(B) SEC 58 & Passed "C" A/L/Cpl 2CIRU UK 169 18-Aug-43

Change of NameDeclares name to be Jean Antoine Doucet, but

wishes to remain know as Jack DoucetPte 2CIRU UK 27 Supp 8 2-Oct-43

9 days P. Leave ( Money Allow) Pte16/24-Mar-

43C of C UK 249 19-Nov-43

AWARDED THE CANADIAN VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL AND CLASP Pte 15-Jan-44 2CIRU UK 14 18-Jan-44

C98 SOS SOS to C of C for Spl Inc Dem R1-7 Pte 13-Mar-44 2CIRU UK 61 13-Mar-44

CQ5 TOS Tos R. I. from 2CIRU Pte 14-Mar-44 C of C UK 10 17-Mar-44

S.O.S. To Fd unit Posting Order No 000503 19 Mar 44 Pte 19-Mar-44 C of C Field 12 12-Mar-44

T.O.S from R.I. Pte 20-Mar-44 C of C Field 12 12-Mar-44

Emb U.K. 6 Jul 44Disemb France 8 Jul 44

S.O.S Killed in action Pte 21-Jul-44 C of C Field 32 26-Jul-44


23/28

Figure 8 Awards


24/28

Figure 9 Field Service Report of Death


25/28

Figure 10 Province of New Brunswick Certificate of Death


26/28

Figure 11 Certificate of Birth and Baptism


27/28


28/28

Figure 12 Letter to Lillian His Sister March 1943

jack antoine doucette 4

Documents