Lieutenant-Colonel Johnny Andrews
14th (Calgary) Tank Regiment

There is just one chance in a thousand that he is alive, but that is the way he would have liked to go if he had to go … I can well imagine John leaving his tank and leading a charge on the enemy pillboxes on foot. He was just that type.

(Andrews’ father to Toronto Star, 22 Aug 1942)

Born on 18 February 1909 in Elgin, Ontario, John Gilby Andrews had joined the Permanent Force in 1930, attended RMC, and was former instructor at the Armoured Fighting Vehicles School. On the formation of 1st Army Tank Brigade in March 1941, he was appointed brigade major and by December had succeeded Lieutenant-Colonel G.R. Bradbrooke in command of the Calgary Tank Regiment overseas.

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