Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Bennett
Essex Scottish Regiment

It is with the deepest regret that I find now our paths going in different ways. You on to greater successes than ever. I want to express my great appreciation to you all for your wonderful support, your enthusiasm, your fighting qualities and your good humour. Good luck to you all and give him couple from me as often as you like,

(Bennett farewell, War Diary, Sept 1944)

Born on 7 February 1917 in Fort William, Ontario, Peter Ward Bennett was a University of Toronto graduate, accountant, and junior officer with the 48th Highlanders of Canada. By the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944, he had been promoted to brigade major with the 7th Infantry Brigade. After a commanding officer of the Essex Scottish was relieved of command from nerves in July and his successor was evacuated wounded, the 27-year-old Bennett was assigned to take over the regiment on 8 August 1944. He recalled, “I arrived about dusk and somebody immediately came up to me and asked if I’d seen the new colonel yet. I said ‘That’s me,’ and he looked very surprised.”

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