Second World War

Lt-Col. E.M. Smith

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Lieutenant-Colonel E.M. Smith
21st Armoured Regiment (The Governor General’s Foot Guards)

His unique personality and quick understanding of the problems of those under his command made him an outstanding figure in the life of the Regiment from the very beginning … the Governor General’s Foot Guards would enter the battles ahead with a commanding officer of great tactical ability and one who would always look after “his boys” and ensure that the Regiment would continue to add laurels to its already famous name.

(The Guard’s Star, 22 Sep 1945, 2)

Born in Ontario in 1904, Edward Marshall Smith served as a captain in the Regiment de Hull but transferred to the Governor General’s Foot Guards following mobilization in 1940. The regiment converted to armour in 1942 and he preceded the re-designated 21st Armoured Regiment to England for special training. When the Foot Guards deployed to France in July 1944, Smith commanded a tank squadron.

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Maj. H.F. Baker

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Major Harold F. Baker
21st Armoured Regiment (The Governor General’s Foot Guards)

The real sad thing was that I lost all my good friends back there and after working with them for nearly five years, it was tough.

(Baker to father, letter 1944)

Born on 10 November 1904 in Casselman, Ontario, Harold Foster Baker was a graduate of Queen’s University and car dealer. A prewar officer in the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment, he transferred to the Governor General’s Foot Guards with a promotion to major following unit mobilization in 1940. Overseas, he became second-in-command of the re-designated 21st Armoured Regiment, which had embarked for the United Kingdom in September 1942.

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Lt-Col. M.J. Scott

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Lieutenant-Colonel M.J. Scott
21st Armoured Regiment (The Governor General’s Foot Guards)

I do want to say that my days with the Regiment were very happy and I am very grateful for the co-operation, the loyalty and the deep sense of duty shown at all times by all ranks. It is my desire to render any service at any time, within my power, to the Regiment and to those who have served with it.

 (Scott letter, war diary, 12 Oct 1944)

Born on 20 Nov 1902 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Murray Joseph Scott began his militia service with the Saint John Fusiliers and then joined the Canadian Grenadier Guards on moving to Montreal in 1933. He mobilized with that battalion as a major and company commander but in 1942 transferred to the Governor General’s Foot Guards as second-in-command under fellow Grenadier Lieutenant-Colonel H.W. Rick.

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Lt-Col. H.W. Rick

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Lieutenant-Colonel H.W. Rick
21st Armoured Regiment (The Governor General’s Foot Guards)

I know I have a tough job ahead of me, but if I receive the same measure of co-operation and loyal support in my new task as I have received here I shall be happy. History is now in the making. I shall do my best to contribute to it.

(Montreal Star, 2 Jan 1942, 2)

Born on 25 February 1897 in Montreal, Howard Wilfred Rick attended McGill University, where he joined the Canadian Officer Training Corps. He enlisted with the 148th Battalion in January 1916 and granted a commission the next year when he was seconded the Royal Flying Corps. After the First World War, he joined the Canadian Grenadier Guards and became second-in-command following mobilization in 1940. A broken back from a training accident forced him to relinquish this post but after a long recovery returned to duty as staff officer with Military District No. 4.

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Lt-Col. W.G. Wurtele

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Lieutenant-Colonel W.G. Wurtele
21st Armoured Regiment (The Governor General’s Foot Guards)

First of all he must make himself a psychologist with one end in view—The mutual trust and reliance between himself and his men, that he is worse than useless unless he develops. You need have no fear about your men, they will do their part if you do yours. You have the real job and you need have no illusions that you can fool your men.

 (Wurtele address, war diary, 6 Feb 1940)

Born on 27 October 1895 in Kingston, Ontario, William Godfrey Wurtele was a decorated First World War veteran and commanding officer of the Governor General’s Foot Guards since 1938. As a student at RMC, where his father was a professor, he enlisted in the 59th Battalion in February 1916. He served as a lieutenant with the Royal Canadian Regiment in France, where he was three-times wounded and twice gassed. By the end of the war, he had earned the Military Cross for “dashing leadership” in capturing an enemy battery.

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Lt-Col. R.M. Ross

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Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Ross
Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa

The Camerons were the best damned machine-gun battalion that ever worked on any front. The men were wonderful all the way through. Ottawa can be proud of every one of them.

(Quoted in Ottawa Journal, 12 Dec 1945, 2)

Born on 28 May 1909 in Montreal, Richard Montgomery Ross was a prewar member of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa. He rejoined the battalion with the outbreak of the Second World War and rose to major and served as “D” Company commander when the machine gun and mortar unit deployed on D-Day. “There was a tremendous amount of smoke, and everything in view seemed to be afire,” Ross recalled. “Shells were bursting around, but so terrific was our air support that there was very little ‘aimed’ fire.”

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Lt-Col. P.C. Klaehn

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Lieutenant-Colonel P.C. Klaehn
Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa

He brought to his task of Commanding Officer all devotion to duty and considerable knowledge as a Machine Gunner, which has resulted in the Unit under his command attaining a very high standard of training … This officer, over and above his normal military duties, has contributed all his spare time to the organization and development of sports within my division.

(O.B.E. citation, 2 Sep 1943)

Born in Valleyfield, Quebec on 10 September 1895 and raised in Saskatchewan, Percy Carl Klaehn was a sportsman, teacher, and First World War veteran. He had enlisted in the 6th Universities Company out of North Battleford in June 1916 and joined the PPCLI on a reinforcement draft by the end of the year. He earned a commission in 1918 and rejoined the PPCLI during the final phase of the war. With the outbreak of the next war in 1939, Klaehn joined the Saskatoon Light Infantry as a captain.

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Lt-Col. G.F. Clingan

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Lieutenant-Colonel G.F. Clingan
Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa

Under very heavy shell fire, this Officer reconnoitered the ground for advantageous positions, and showed great skill and judgement in his selection, as all positions later proved tactically sound. During the operations, when his crews were suffering from very heavy shell fire, he went from gun to gun, helping with the wounded, and greatly encouraged the men by his fine example. Although wounded, he refused to leave his command and continued to carry on until relieved, a period of several hours.

(M.C. citation, 1 Jan 1918)

Born in Virden, Manitoba on 1 July 1894, George Francis Clingan was a decorated veteran of the First World War and the Siberia Expeditionary Force. His uncle, Liberal MLA and doctor Lieutenant Colonel George Clingan, raised the 79th Battalion, which the twenty-year old Clingan joined in October 1915. He was commissioned the next year in England and went to France as a reinforcement officer for the 4th Brigade, Canadian Machine Gun Company.

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Lt-Col. G.H. Rogers

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Lieutenant-Colonel G.H. Rogers
Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa

We have had a couple of visits from Fritz planes and some of our boys got into action against him on one visit as he came down very low. They claim to have got the rear gunner as they put it out of action but we have no confirmation. It certainly broke the monotony for them and they are anxiously awaiting for a return visit.

(Ottawa Citizen, 8 Apr 1941, 19)

Born in Ottawa on 28 July 1895, George Harold Rogers was a funeral director, First World War veteran, and commanding officer the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa since 1936. He had enlisted in the 38th Battalion as a private in May 1915, served garrison duty in Bermuda and arrived in England with the unit in June 1916. Promoted to regimental company sergeant-major, he deployed to France two months later. A year later he was recommended for a commission and by 1918 was seconded to the Royal Air Force.

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Lt-Col. W.C. Bowen

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Lieutenant-Colonel Bill Bowen
7th Reconnaissance Regiment (17th Hussars)

A man of considerable charm, Colonel Bowen spoke in the distinct accent of the English Montreal elite. It is an accent that is disappearing with his generation. Colonel was still a handsome man in his eighties. He was a mixture of the conventional and the eccentric. In the last decade of his life, he still wore jackets and a cravat at home, but also sported a small earring in his left ear lobe.

(National Post, 5 Apr 1999, 20)

Born on 12 August 1913 in Winnipeg, William Charles Bowen was a McGill University graduate had been commissioned in the 17th Duke of York’s Royal Canadian Hussars in 1935. With the redesignated 7th Reconnaissance Regiment, he was promoted to captain in October 1941 then made major a year later. He landed on with the invasion force on D-Day and then commanded “A” Squadron during the Battle of the Scheldt.

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