1st Canadian Forestry Group, La Roche-en-Ardennes, 1944

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Turns out I was staying in a place this weekend with a Canadian military historical connection.

This is a picture of a framed copy of the letter presented to the owner of Les Merlettes when his hotel was commandeered by the HQ 1st Canadian Forestry Group when looking for a place to stay in La Roche-en-Ardennes, Belgium, October 1944.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

For more information about the CFC, see Bob Brigg's web page at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....chell/cfc.html.
La Roche-en-Ardennes is mentioned here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....ell/cfc22.html
Ardennes are mentioned here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....ell/cfc15.html

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

See WWII CDN Battledress Grouping-Medals, duffle bag, picture, etc. for a BD, two medals in original boxes, Forestry Corps cap badge, paperwork, one picture, WWI ID bracelet, duffle bag and D ring lock from "Risebrow, T.R. Pte L41364". Trooper Risebrow is listed at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb....ell/cfc46.html. The story about his Company, No. 26, ends around 1943 in Scotland, so I don't know if Pte Risebrow served in NW Europe.

H.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

No real information yet on the type of vehicles they used, but some info was found right here on MLU:

Originally Posted by David_Hayward (RIP)

I just found this and thought it might be of interest:

Model EC196T were supplied under Demand S/M 2048
"CODE VOM" for "3 TON CHASSIS & STEEL CLOSED CAB C196T" with 2-SPEED REAR AXLE 7.50 X 20 TYRES 158" w.b.
DELIVERED TO CANADIAN FORESTRY CORPS.

The history of these is interesting. They were ordered initially in late 1940 because the Canadian Forestry Corps required 100 trucks for their work on behalf of, and with, the Forestry Commission Timber Supply Department of the Ministry of Supply. They were to be ordered in Canada and remain the property of the British, i.e. were to British order for the Canadians. This was placed under Contract Demand LV.382 of 1940-41, but this contract was no longer required as the 100 176 inch wheelbase vehicles were allocated to British account under File No. B.S.B. 430, S/M 2048. They appear to have been delivered in spring 1941.

[maple_leaf_eh]

"Drunkenness, poaching, and even murder were not unknown, and there was a huge inter-company brawl in Kincardine O'Neil in 1941."

Again, not vehicle related, but history. The father of a friend of mine was in the Forestry Corps. An officer I think. Ottawa residents might recognize the old Nepean neighbourhood named Henry Farm. That was the family's property once upon a time.

The lumberjacks were a rough lot. Fighting was the main entertainment. Rank and privilege was often determined by sheer brute strength. Whoever won the fight with the Sergeant Major on payday, got to wear the badge until the next payday. How the officers and responsible Senior NCOs ever maintained order is beyond me.

My other story is about the importance of wood and lumber. Illegal logging was a recurring theme in Bosnia after the end of open hostilities with the Dayton Accords in 95, throughout the NATO IFOR and ISAF missions. The Canadian AOR had several lumbermills. I remember looking at one mill and thinking how much material they were losing by cutting nonstandard length logs into random length and width boards. They seemed have the thickness right, even if it looked rather thick. Every single piece would have to be remeasured and cut on the job site, leaving various odd lengths as waste. Standardization would have meant more sales. Jobs could be finished faster and with less slow time. And, the forests could be better managed for the next generation. But I was just an ordinary soldier and no one asked me how to run their country more efficiently.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Terry,

Doesn't suprise me a bit. Lumberjacking is a rough job, it surely does attract a certain type of man.

Interesting read how their trade was in high demand, and they were to carry it out under military command. They were lumberjacks first, soldiers second.

Hanno