H 42084 Smith, Edward, Rifleman

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Karmen;

I've figured out what the 'Greek Battalion' was that Eddie was with from 25 February to 18 March 1943 .... I actually came across this yesterday while researching something else.

There were three 'Greek Battalions', (1st, 2nd and 3rd) which formed the 'Greek Brigade', which was an ad hoc force that was organized by the Canadian Reinforcement Units in the UK to supplement the available troops of 1st Canadian Infantry Division during Exercise 'SPARTAN' (1 to 12 March 1943) in the UK.

During Exercise 'SPARTAN', Headquarters 1st Canadian Infantry Division assumed the operational responsibilities on the coast of Sussex normally carried out by Headquarters 1st Canadian Corps, in an anti-raid role. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division did not take part in SPARTAN due to the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigades undergoing combined operations training in Scotland, but what troops were not away on training (1st Canadian Infantry Brigade), along with the ad hoc 'Greek Brigade', drawn from the Canadian Reinforcement Units, manned the Sussex coastal positions, under command of Headquarters 1st Canadian Infantry Division during the course of Exercise 'SPARTAN'.

This explains the entries on Eddie's Record of Service, which read:

- 24 Feb 1943 - Stricken off Strength of 2nd Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit

- 25 Feb 1943 - Taken on Strength of 2nd Greek Battalion - in UK

- 17 Mar 1943 - Taken on Strength of 2nd Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit - in UK

- 18 Mar 1943 - Stricken off Strength of 2nd Greek Battalion

Cheers