My father, Don (John Donihee) Mateer, RCE

[John McGillivray]

Originally Posted by Mark W. Tonner

On approx 30 Sep 44, the 'Divisional Enginners' (of which 9th Canadian Field Squadron, R.C.E. were a part) of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, were operating in the area about Bergen-Op-Zoom, The Netherlands.

I thought that the 4CAD only reached Bergen-op-Zoom on the 27th of October. At the end of September they should have being in the area south of the Scheldt.

Some additional information

8th to 10th Sept. – Crossing of Ghent Canal at Moerbrugge Belgium by 4th Canadian Armoured Division. Bridge completed over the Ghent Canal by first light on 10 Sept. The bridge site was heavy shelled by the Germans during construction.

13th Sept. – 4CAD attempt to break into the Breskens Pocket across the double canal at Moerkerkke. The Algonquin Regt. was able to cross the canals; however, the 9th Field Sqn. was unable to build a bridge due to heavy resistance by the Germans.

13th Oct. – 8th and 9th Field Sqns build a 120ft bridge across the Leopold Canal at Strooibrug Belgium.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by John McGillivray

I thought that the 4CAD only reached Bergen-op-Zoom on the 27th of October. At the end of September they should have being in the area south of the Scheldt.

Your right John, I got ahead of myself ...

... Lieutenant J.D. Mateer, of the 9th Field Squadron was wounded on on 1st October, when he drove his jeep over one that had been missed near Sas van Gent ... (The Netherlands)

Source: page 336 (third paragraph) - The History of The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, Volume II, 1936-1946; Ottawa, 1966.

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Mark W. Tonner

... Lieutenant J.D. Mateer, of the 9th Field Squadron was wounded on on 1st October, when he drove his jeep over one that had been missed near Sas van Gent ... (The Netherlands)

The full quote from page 336 (third paragraph) - The History of The Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, Volume II, 1936-1946:

"Since the 4th Armoured Division's abortive attempt to cross the parallel Leopold and Derivation Canals at Moerkerke, the 4th Divisional Engineers had cleared up most of the routes south of the Leopold Canal, removing the roadblocks and lifting the mines - or as many as they could find, for Lieutenant J.D. Mateer, of the 9th Field Squadron was wounded on on 1st October, when he drove his jeep over one that had been missed near Sas van Gent."

Cheers

[Helen Henson]

Sas van Gent it is! Later tonight I'll pull up maps and locate those places and canals.

I've been reading your posts with Dad's records in front of me.

I bet Dad joined the 9th Field Squadron right after Ghent; the two dates I have for that transfer to that squadron are Sept 10 and Sept 17th. Your post indicated heavy shelling at Ghent, would he have been part of replacements to bring the squadron back up to strength?

I am sure he was trying to build the bridge at Moerkerkke, that matches with some things he hinted to my brother.

Now may I ask some stupid questions please?

What would the reinforcement battalions have been doing during the summer? I am sure I know what my father would have LIKED to have been doing, but I see no pictures of fine hotels and cheery pubs in Normandy at that time.

And if he landed at Juno as part of the first line of reinforcements, would not those reinforcements have been needed right then? Sappers had some hard times on that beach, didn't they? Wouldn't an extra lieutenant have come in handy for some group that was fighting? Dad was tall, quite athletic, and a VERY good engineer, in my totally biased opinion...

Thank you, both for the good information and (hopefully) for your patience!

Helen

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Helen Henson

Sas van Gent it is! Later tonight I'll pull up maps and locate those places and canals.

I've been reading your posts with Dad's records in front of me.

I bet Dad joined the 9th Field Squadron right after Ghent; the two dates I have for that transfer to that squadron are Sept 10 and Sept 17th. Your post indicated heavy shelling at Ghent, would he have been part of replacements to bring the squadron back up to strength?

I am sure he was trying to build the bridge at Moerkerkke, that matches with some things he hinted to my brother.

Now may I ask some stupid questions please?

What would the reinforcement battalions have been doing during the summer? I am sure I know what my father would have LIKED to have been doing, but I see no pictures of fine hotels and cheery pubs in Normandy at that time.

And if he landed at Juno as part of the first line of reinforcements, would not those reinforcements have been needed right then? Sappers had some hard times on that beach, didn't they? Wouldn't an extra lieutenant have come in handy for some group that was fighting? Dad was tall, quite athletic, and a VERY good engineer, in my totally biased opinion...

Thank you, both for the good information and (hopefully) for your patience!

Helen

Hi Helen;

If it is not to much trouble, could you please quote here (line-per-line) what appears on your father's Record of Service from where it says that he disembarked France on 6 June to SOS from X4 List 10 Bn to the 9th Canadian Field Squadron R.C.E., on 10 September, it may help explain what he did from 6 Jun to 10 Sep 44.

Sas van Gent is located just inside The Netherlands (slightly north-east) of Ghent, Belgium. (see attached map).

Cheers

[Helen Henson]

Of course!

Let me see if I can create and paste a table, if not I'll scan it in. Trying to type in columns is not working well for me!

Back later or in the early morning.

Thank you very much,
Helen

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Helen Henson

Of course!

Let me see if I can create and paste a table, if not I'll scan it in. Trying to type in columns is not working well for me!

Back later or in the early morning.

Thank you very much,
Helen

Hi Helen;

Don't worry about the columns, just type the line from left to right (you can leave out the last two right hand columns that deal with 'Rank' and 'Authority for entry'). Just type what is entered along each line, left to right, on a single line for each entry from the entry dealing with disembarking on 6 Jun. 44 - to the entry dealing with SOS of X4 List 10 Bn to the 9 Cdn Fd Sqn, R.C.E., on 10 Sep. 44.

Cheers

[Helen Henson]

If this is not readable, I'll scan the original. The events are out-of-order in the original document too. The ditto marks in the original refer to France.

Prior entries list LOTS of training in the U.K. Entries following are mostly hospital, but he apparently spent some time at CERU. His feet and legs got messed up with the mine; about a year later in Canada they gave up trying to make his foot work and took it off. He did fine without it!


Date.... From Whom Rec'd.... Unit......... Casualty......... ...Place.... Date....... Form or Auth.....

Blank........Blank.................CERU... .SOS to X4 List RCE .....UK... 13 May44... 113H13May44
7May44... X-4 RCE.............Blank..... TOS from CERU......... .UK....14 May 44... 18 22May44
Blank.......X4-10Bn............. RCE...... SOS to 9CdnFdSqn R.C.E. ..Fd... 10 Sep 44... 59-Sep 44
Sep44... EAR5/244.......... 9FdSqn. TOS from X4 List RCE 10Bn .France.17Sep 44.....42 7Oct44
Blank...... X4 RCE ..............Blank. Embarked UK 2Jun44. Disemb. France 6Jun44 ......32A 14Jul44
(Oc)t44.. .W3011 ..........9Fd Sqn ...SOS to X3 List RCE........ " .....30 Sep44 ...42 7Oct44
(O)ct44 ......X3............... RCE.... ..TOS from CanFdSqn RCE..Fd .....10Oct44 ........63/44


Thank you for helping...

Helen