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PUBLICATION : Edmonton Journal
DATE : 2004.08.24
EDITION : Final
SECTION: CityPlus PAGE: B3 BYLINE: Jim Farrell SOURCE: The Edmonton Journal
DATELINE: EDMONTON
HEADLINE: Veterans from South Alberta Regiment to unveil restored half-track at reunion

EDMONTON - Veterans and relatives of veterans who fought during the Second World War with a now-disbanded Edmonton regiment will gather in two weeks to celebrate the regiment's history and unveil a prized artifact that carried its commander across Europe.

The American-manufactured half-track vehicle, wheeled in front and tracked in the rear, was the personal vehicle of Lt.-Col. "Swatty" Wotherspoon. For several years, the vehicle has undergone restoration at the Jefferson Armouries at 11630 109th Street.

It will get its first public showing 10 a.m. on Sept. 11 at the armoury. "Our regiment was formed in June 1940 at the Prince of Wales armoury and went from an active force to reserve status at the end of the war," retired Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Quarton, president of the South Alberta Regiment Veterans' Association, said Monday.

MERGED WITH OTHER REGIMENTS

In 1954 the regiment was merged with two other reserve regiments to form the , located in Edmonton and in Medicine Hat. The SAR was originally an infantry regiment, and within a year of formation its 950 soldiers were in England.

In January 1942, when it acquired tanks and became an armoured regiment, it was downsized to approximately 800 men. While fighting in France the regiment operated 60 tanks and an even larger number of supply vehicles, said Quarton, who finished the war as quartermaster sergeant major.

Due to turnovers and casualties, by war's end a total of 2,300 men had served with the South Alberta Regiment. Forty to 50 veterans and more than 100 relatives of veterans have registered for the association's Sept. 11 commemorative dinner.

jfarrell@thejournal.canwest.com