Author: Matthew K Barrett

Lt-Col. A.W. Embury

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Lieutenant-Colonel Alan W. Embury
Saskatoon Light Infantry

Mr. Embury charged that Socialism was the same whether it was national Socialism of Fascism or Nazism or the Russian Socialism “of our local talent.” The system had never worked in any place where tried and it meant the loss of personal and individual freedom and control and domination by the Socialists …. What sensible differences can there be between a pro-Russian Socialist and a Communist?

(Leader-Post, 1 May 1948, 10)

Born on 5 November 1907 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Alan Williams Embury was a Saskatoon lawyer, RMC graduate and son of First World War brigadier and judge J.F.L. Embury. He served as adjutant with Saskatoon Light Infantry overseas before transferring to the judge advocate general branch. His legal training served him well in many different roles in court martial proceedings as prosecutor, court member and judge advocate.

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Brig. J.A. Calder

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Brigadier J. Allan Calder
Royal Montreal Regiment
Saskatoon Light Infantry
1st Infantry Brigade

If I had known then what I know now, I would have refused the order. Of course, refusing an order is a “no-win” proposition, because it can never be proved what would have happened if the order had been carried out.

(Calder interview, quoted in Dancocks, D-Day Dodgers, 390)

Born in Montreal in 1908, James Allan Calder joined the Canadian Officer Training while a student at McGill University and was commissioned with the Royal Montreal Regiment in 1930. He went overseas as a battalion adjutant in December 1939 and took command in April 1941, succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel G. Victor Whitehead. In January 1943, Calder was promoted to colonel with the Canadian Reinforcement Depot in Italy. He reverted to lieutenant-colonel a year later when finally appointed to a battlefield command.

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Maj. R.C. Irvine

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Major Bobby Irvine
Saskatoon Light Infantry

I consider from the evidence that Major R.C. Irvine died from injuries in circumstances which do not indicate improper conduct as defined by Overseas RO 2022 or negligence on his part. I direct that no disciplinary action be taken.

(Court of Inquiry, 24 Jul 1944)

Born on 12 June 1911 in Sutherland, Saskatchewan, Robert Cyler Irvine was assistant manager with the Eaton department store in Regina. He transferred from the Regina Rifles to go overseas with the Saskatoon Light Infantry in December 1939. He served as platoon leader, adjutant, and quartermaster during training in the United Kingdom. Lieutenant R.C. Mitchell described him as “a glib organization man—the kind of person a farmer suspects of relying on his tongue to carry him rather than actual performance. Actually, later on, Bobbie served on Brigade staff and was considered a valuable man.”

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Lt-Col. E.J. Scott-Dudley

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Lieutenant-Colonel E.J. Scott-Dudley
Saskatoon Light Infantry

I was attached to A Company commanded by Maj. E.J. Scott-Dudley. That was the beginning of a very unhappy association. He knew of how I came to the Battalion and, like everyone else, misunderstood the situation. He was a banker who despised his own farm background. On my part even his hyphenated name was repulsive.

(Maj. H.C. Mitchell, Wartime Exploits, 12)

Born on 3 September 1907 in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Edward John Scott-Dudley was a Saskatoon bank manager, accountant, and member of the Saskatoon Light Infantry since 1932. In the United Kingdom, he served as company commander and then second-in-command of the battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel Charles McKerron, who he replaced at the end of September 1941.

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Lt-Col. C. McKerron

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Lieutenant-Colonel C. McKerron
Saskatoon Light Infantry

From the very beginning, McKerron adhered to a policy that earned him a great deal of resentment. He boasted of the efficiency of the Battalion. To maintain that efficiency he refused to allow any of his officers to be seconded for staff work. He commanded the Battalion for nearly two years. We were almost under peace time conditions throughout that time. That meant the almost complete stagnation of promotion in the Battalion.

(Maj. H.C. Mitchell, Wartime Exploits, 37)

Born on 3 October 1897 in Aberdeen, Scotland, Charles McKerron was a First World War veteran and trained machine gun officer in the prewar Saskatoon Light Infantry. In England, he succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel A.E. Potts on his promotion to brigadier in July 1940. According to the recollections of then Lieutenant H.C. Mitchell, the new CO immediately faced opposition from the battalion company commanders: “McKerron had an inferiority complex to begin with. He had only one recourse. That was the bottle. As time went on it was his only solace. Because of that he was continually getting into further predicaments.”

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Maj-Gen. A.E. Potts

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Major-General A.E. Potts
Saskatoon Light Infantry
2nd Infantry Brigade
6th Canadian Division

I have often wondered: I commanded a division, I know training-wise, discipline-wise, I did a good job. I have no inhibitions about that. How I would have done if I had commanded a division in battle, I have no idea …

(Potts, interview, 15 Oct 1971)

Born on 24 October 1890 in Blyth, Northumberland, England, Arthur Edward Potts was a First World War veteran, University of Saskatchewan diary professor, and head of the university’s officer training corps. Educated at the University of Edinburgh with a Master’s degree from Cornell, he worked as an instructor at Ames College in Iowa prior to enlisting with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In June 1915, he joined with the 2nd Universities Company and reinforced the PPCLI as a private in France.

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Maj. R.M. Horsey

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Major Rowland Horsey
Carleton and York Regiment
Horsey

Major Horsey during this period constantly exposed himself to this fire, moving continuously from position to position, advising, encouraging and cheering on the defence. His coolness and cheerfulness sustained and inspired all ranks in the face of the most determined onslaughts.

(D.S.O. citation, 17 Apr 1945)

Born on 12 March 1913 in Victoria, British Columbia, Rowland McDonald Horsey enlisted with the Canadian Scottish Regiment in September 1939 and went overseas as a lieutenant two years later. Promoted to captain he was attached to the Carleton and York Regiment as a reinforcement officer at Ortona. He rose to major and company commander at the Hitler Line by May 1944.

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Lt-Col. J.P. Ensor

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Lieutenant-Colonel Jack Ensor
Carleton and York Regiment
Ensor

 Officers and NCO’s were prime targets and didn’t last long. Jerry snipers watched for them. Even our colonel, Jack Ensor had no rank insignia. They also hid their binoculars and pistols inside their tunics.

We called everyone by their first name. When we wanted our colonel, we hollered Jack, his name was Jack Ensor. A lot of boys from St. Stephen knew him anyway from back home.

(Quoted in Robert Hawkins, We Will Remember Them, 63)

Born in Charlotte, New Brunswick on 5 February 1919, John Parks Ensor worked for Ganong chocolate company and as a teenager joined the Carleton and York Regiment under the command of Hardy Ganong. He earned a commission overseas and within a four years became one of the youngest lieutenant-colonels in the field and one of the very few battalion commanders to have risen from the ranks.

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Lt-Col. E.D. Danby

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Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Danby
Carleton and York Regiment

Throughout the entire operation although stalked by snipers and under continuous mortar fire Major (A/Lieutenant Colonel) Danby led his unit with the utmost gallantry and dash. His personal example steadied and encouraged his men and contributed greatly to the success of their attack.

(D.S.O. citation, 16 Nov 1944)

Born in Vancouver on 20 December 1915, Ernest Deighton “Dick” Danby was a young lieutenant with the Seaforth Highlanders when he was selected to be aide-de-camp by General R.G. Pearkes of the 1st Canadian Division in 1940. He attended the War Staff College at Camberley, England and served as a general staff officer with the division during the Sicily campaign. In August 1943, when Lieutenant-Colonel J.E.C. Pangman took charge of the Carleton and York Regiment, Danby became the new second-in-command.

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Lt-Col. F.L. Nicholls

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Lieutenant-Colonel Fred Nicholls
Royal Regiment of Canada
Carleton and York Regiment

Lt Col Nicholls is a figure of mystery. No record of what unit he came from could be found, he effectively commanded the CYR for only three months, was then away sick for a period … He is described by survivors as a nice fellow, but beyond that no one interviewed could recall anything about him.

(Tooley, Invicta dissertation, 324)

Born on 8 June 1906 in Whitstable, England, Frederick Leslie Nicholls was a Bell Telephone Company engineer and member of the Royal Regiment of Canada since 1926. He had received a commission in 1931. He was stationed with the regiment in Iceland, attended the War Staff College at Camberley, and became the regiment’s second-in-command after the Dieppe Raid. He then served as brigade major of the 6th Infantry Brigade from November 1942 until his appointment to command the Royal Regiment on 22 January 1943, succeeding Lieutenant-Colonel A.H. Fraser.

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