Saskatoon Light Infantry

Lt-Col. D.E. Walker

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Lieutenant-Colonel Drayton Walker
Saskatoon Light Infantry

We will NOT be neutralized. Nothing the enemy can do will be allowed to stop our fire. We have not the honour, nor do we have the sacrifices of hand-to-hand combat, but we can ensure that we will never be called upon in vain to answer a call for fire. Whatever the entails, whether it be selection of positions, preparation of gun or mortar sites or state of readiness, it will be done.

(Walker, Part 1 Orders, war diary, 16 Jan 1945)

Born on 16 May 1900 in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Drayton Earnest Walker was a Saskatoon teacher and militia officer. Commissioned in the Prince Albert Volunteers since 1922, he volunteered for active service with the Saskatoon Light Infantry at the rank of major in September 1939. He put his teaching skills to use instructing NCOs and new officers on military duties, Newly commissioned Lieutenant H.C. Mitchell wrote of this training under Walker’s guidance: “In three weeks we covered the rudiments of army life as for a machine gunner. I have always regarded that course as being the initial base upon which the record of our battalion was built.”

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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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