Carpiquet

[cmperry4]

There was a very nice ceremony on the weekend at Minto Armouries here in Winnipeg, at which the French government presented medals to Canadian vets, mostly Royal Winnipeg Rifles who had fought at Carpiquet and its airport against 12 SS Panzer Hitler Youth, outside Caen in July '44.

Our reporter who covered the event came back with photocopies of the RWR war diaries from July '44 which had been given to him for background. He passed them along to me, knowing that I would be interested - he wasn't, and said he could barely understand them.

I could understand them just fine, and they made for some gripping reading. Names such as Prince (doing some very efficient sniping) and Chadderton appear in the diaries. Many episodes of fierce fighting and bravery in those pages.

Some smart publisher should get a grant or subsidy to reproduce some of the best of Canadian regiments' war diaries, and place them in every school library in the country, Lest We Forget.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by cmperry4
at which the French government presented medals to Canadian vets, mostly Royal Winnipeg Rifles who had fought at Carpiquet and its airport against 12 SS Panzer Hitler Youth, outside Caen in July '44.

Mark;

What were these medals for exactly? The reason I ask, is that my Father was with the Rifles at that time, and was wounded during this battle. This is the first I've heard of these medals. Any idea who decided who received them and who didn't? My Father was with the Rifles right through until the Leopold Canal, until a third wound forced him into another trade. He is still living.

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by cmperry4
Our reporter who covered the event came back with photocopies of the RWR war diaries from July '44 which had been given to him for background. He passed them along to me, knowing that I would be interested - he wasn't, and said he could barely understand them.

I could understand them just fine, and they made for some gripping reading.

Mark;

A map to go along with the diary pages:

[cmperry4]

Here's the Wpg Sun story that gives the background:

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Winnip...pf-703843.html

Here's the RWR website:

http://www.mts.net/~rwpgrif/

Sounds like he would be eligible if he fought at Carpiquet. You could either contact the regiment or perhaps the French Embassy. It notes the ceremony here coincided with the 125th birthday of the regiment, and the medals were presented to veterans who had been unable to be in France for the D-Day commemorations.

Thanks for the map - note the Sun story mentions Justice Monnin who is now an honourable member of RWR - his unit - New Brunswicks - was over on the left, but became a casualty of unification.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Thanks Mark, I'll look into it.

Cheers

[cmperry4]

Good Luck

Originally posted by cmperry4
There was a very nice ceremony on the weekend at Minto Armouries here in Winnipeg, at which the French government presented medals to Canadian vets, mostly Royal Winnipeg Rifles who had fought at Carpiquet and its airport against 12 SS Panzer Hitler Youth, outside Caen in July '44.

Lest We Forget.

Ah I'm sorry I had no idea this was going on. Thanks for posting this Mark. I wish I had been there for the ceremony.

MARK TONNER:

This is specially for your father from me.

Karmen