MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > 'B' ECHELON > The Sergeants' Mess

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-08-06, 02:55
wayne c. petrie wayne c. petrie is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St.Catharines,Ont.
Posts: 64
Default FGH: Town of Goes,Netherlands

My DIL,a first generation Canadian Dutch,says that many of her mothers family still lives in the Town of Goes, A town liberated, in part ,by the Fort Garry Horse.
I told her that my father stayed at a doctors house a few nights during the liberation.
She is going to write to them and see if they can add any info.I do not think that there were many doctors in a small town such as Goes in 1944.
This is just another step in the search of my fathers war time experince.Who knows , the doctor may be related to my DIL!?

Wish me luck in my search.


Wayne
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-08-06, 03:30
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)'s Avatar
Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) is offline
former OC MLU, AKA 'Jif' - sadly no longer with us
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,400
Default

Wayne, you might have more luck than it would appear on the surface. Keep us posted!
__________________
SUNRAY SENDS AND ENDS
:remember :support
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-08-06, 07:12
Vets Dottir
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I, certainly, wish you lots of luck, Wayne!!! here's hoping you learn lots.

Karmen
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-08-06, 08:47
Jon Skagfeld's Avatar
Jon Skagfeld Jon Skagfeld is offline
M38A1 CDN3
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Owen Sound ON
Posts: 2,190
Default Re: FGH: Town of Goes,Netherlands

Wayne...a sad note in passing.

The FGH were removed from the Canadian Forces Order of Battle by the Liberal government in order to stand up the 12 RBC FLU. ( 12 Regiment Blinde du Canada, French Language Unit).

This unit is derisively, and scornfully, referred to as the "12 Rubber Boot Company".

For shame, you Liberal Federal assassins!
__________________
PRONTO SENDS
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-08-06, 14:32
rob love rob love is offline
carrier mech
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
Posts: 7,517
Default

The FGH still exists as a reserve unit out of Winnipeg. I joined the unit when I was 16 years old, and completed 3 years of service with it before going regular force.
Not far from the armoury, was a local beer vendor who was in Holland at the time of liberation. He would tell of the FGH using it's trucks to move food around for the civilian population. Best of all, if you went in there wearing your combats and beret, he would never ask you for ID.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-08-06, 14:36
Alex Blair (RIP) Alex Blair (RIP) is offline
"Mr. Manual", sadly no longer with us
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ottawa ,Canada
Posts: 2,916
Default Drinking beer...

Quote:
Originally posted by rob love
The FGH still exists as a reserve unit out of Winnipeg. I joined the unit when I was 16 years old, and completed 3 years of service with it before going regular force.
Not far from the armoury, was a local beer vendor who was in Holland at the time of liberation. He would tell of the FGH using it's trucks to move food around for the civilian population. Best of all, if you went in there wearing your combats and beret, he would never ask you for ID.
Rob
Drinking beer at 16.....
late starter,eh....
I imagine that you made up for it..
__________________
Alex Blair
:remember :support :drunk:
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-08-06, 15:50
Hanno Spoelstra's Avatar
Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
MLU Administrator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 14,400
Default Re: FGH: Town of Goes,Netherlands

Quote:
Originally posted by wayne c. petrie
My DIL,a first generation Canadian Dutch,says that many of her mothers family still lives in the Town of Goes, A town liberated, in part ,by the Fort Garry Horse.
I told her that my father stayed at a doctors house a few nights during the liberation.
She is going to write to them and see if they can add any info.
Wayne, let me know if I can help. I used to live in Kloetinge near Goes during my high school years.
I also helped find Canadian vet Arnold Faragher his wartime billet address in Tilburg (he revisited the family in 2001).

Regards,
Hanno from Holland
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-08-06, 02:44
wayne c. petrie wayne c. petrie is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St.Catharines,Ont.
Posts: 64
Default

Hi all: such great support from all you members. It is heart warming to know that people , you have never met personally ,will cheer you on and offer any support that they can to help you.
If there were more people like you folks,this world would be a lot more better off.
The letters to Goes will take some time as my DIL does not speck Dutch and the fact that her mother has passed away ,but they will get sent.
I will keep you all posted as I recieve the info.
Take care you all and thank you.

Wayne
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-08-06, 23:38
gcrossley's Avatar
gcrossley gcrossley is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Winnipeg MB
Posts: 41
Default

Hi Wayne,

The FGH was in the Goes area for 4 days in Oct/Nov 1944. The pertinent War Diary entries appear below. Note the grid references for the three squadrons on 31 Oct.

Using the converter at this site:
http://www.echodelta.net/mbs/eng-translator.php
You can enter the period grid references and find the present location. This should help in your search

30/10/44
Orders came today to cross the Canal and move to Sqn area West of GOES. A Squadron moved into a Dutch farm yard and took over the buildings for billets. A large farm and plenty of hay made things reasonably comfortable for us. Wet weather caused some discomfort but a liberal issue of Rum helped things considerably. The boil situation appears to be getting worse, several of the boys suffering from them lately.


31/10/44
A Sqn 374299
B Sqn 282347
C Sqn 327304
The leave boys came back this morning thoroughly rested (?) after an enjoyable 48 hrs leave. Nothing interesting to note. Weather still bad.


GOES D3429 1/11/44
A day when the weather, like a sense of smell, was a “most mixed blessing”. This was to be the quietest month the Garries had had since D-Day. But on November the First, 1944, the grim thunder of Allied and enemy guns echoed over that thin neck of land connecting SOUTH BEVELAND with WALCHEREN, Germany’s last bastien in the SCHELDT Estuary. Most of our regiment were peacefully encamped at GOES. But at 0830 hrs., Major JOYCE contacted 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and shortly afterward called 1st Troop, and then the whole of “B” Squadron, forward to the dyke form 219284 to 219288. From this position the Squadron carried out an indirect shoot against enemy troops on WALCHEREN and supported the CALGARY HIGHLANDERS moving out from the end of the Causeway. By noon the Squadron was low on ammunition. They were pulled out for replenishment (including lunch) along the road at 233291, and later on were posted, except for the 17 pounders, below the dyke at 223298. From an OP at 225306 fire was directed onto targetrs along the opposing dyke and in the general area 1931, with apparent good effect. By last light, the tanks were low on ammo again. They withdrew to the same harbour as on the previous night, at 216293.

GOES 2/11/44
A clear day. At 0900 hrs, “B” Sqn was ordered back to GOES. Its task with 2 Div completed, the regiment reverted to under comd of 2 CAB. SOUTH BEVELAND had been captured, and the WALCHEREN ISLAND operation commenced. Having come through a longer period of continuous operational duty than any other Canadian armoured unit, the Garries, to have a week of rest and refitting, were ordered to prepare for a move to BREDA. The Adjutant issued an SOS-vintage Movement Table, and the evening was characterized by the usual pre-trip conferences. Our headquarters arrangement had been an ideal one: all the command vehicles were under the one commodious roof: warmth and efficiency combined.


Hope it helps,

Gord Crossley
The Fort Garry Horse Museum and Archives
http://www.fortgarryhorse.ca
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 13-08-06, 23:14
wayne c. petrie wayne c. petrie is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St.Catharines,Ont.
Posts: 64
Default

Thanks Gord for the info.It will come in handy.I can use all the info I can get.
BTW , what does TDR stand for?

Wayne
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 13-08-06, 23:43
gcrossley's Avatar
gcrossley gcrossley is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Winnipeg MB
Posts: 41
Default

Hi Wayne,

I'm not sure on that one. What context is TDR used in?

Gord Crossley
The Fort Garry Horse Museum and Archives
http://www.fortgarryhorse.ca
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 14-08-06, 23:31
wayne c. petrie wayne c. petrie is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St.Catharines,Ont.
Posts: 64
Default

Hi Gord,
In my fathers diary,on Feb.16/45 my father was sent to TDR to pick up new 17 pounders.

Wayne
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 15-08-06, 00:32
Bill Miller's Avatar
Bill Miller Bill Miller is offline
Son of Kangaroo Trooper
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Calgary, AB Canada
Posts: 162
Default TDR??

I'd say it probably stands for "Tank Delivery Regt."

(25CADR, the Elgin Regt.)

Bill.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 15-08-06, 04:57
gcrossley's Avatar
gcrossley gcrossley is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Winnipeg MB
Posts: 41
Default

Bill,

I would agree. The War diaries for 16 Feb 45 show the unit was engaged in maintenance, painting tactical signs and adding exteded end connectors to the tanks in the area around Cleve.

The Tank Delivery Regiment provided vehicles with or without crews as required by the front-line units.

Gord Crossley
The Fort Garry Horse Museum and Archives
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 15-08-06, 23:01
wayne c. petrie wayne c. petrie is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: St.Catharines,Ont.
Posts: 64
Default

Thanks guys.

Wayne
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 13:07.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016