Description
Physical description
An upward arc of dark green wool with sqyared ends on which embroidered in red sans-serif capitals QUEEN'S OWN RIFLES.
Label
The dark ('rifle') green of the title's background with the scarlet lettering presumably reflects the nature of the unit as a Rifle Regiment.
Other forms of this wool title exist with rounded ends.
Unit history: Regimental Motto: In pace paratus (In peace prepared).
This militia Regiment was in peacetime assigned to 6 Militia Brigade. The 1st Battalion mobilized on 24 May 1940 and served in Newfoundland from August to November that year. It was then assigned to the newly formed 3rd Infantry Division, initially to 9 Brigade but then to 8 Brigade, where it remained for the duration. The Battalion embarked with the Division for the UK on 19 July 1941.
The Battalion landed in the assault wave on D Day 6 June 1944, Juno Beach, Nan White Sector, landing either side of Bernieres su Mer on the right of the 8 Brigade front. They landed at around 0805, A Company right, B Company left. The specialist Engineer support from 80 Armoured Assault Squadron RE and 1 Troop, B Squadron, 22 Dragoons did not land until at least five minutes after the infantry and the left team touched down too far east. The DD armoured support from B Squadron the Fort Garry Horse was even later as sea conditions prevented their launch and they waded ashore from their LCTs at around 0815. The RM Centaur support tanks were also late.
A Company QORC landed just west of Bernieres and had little trouble getting off the beach but was held up and took casualties from mortars on the railway line before it could get onto its objectives. B Company landed 200 yards further east than intended and fetched up directly opposite the Berniers strongpoint, manned by 5 Company, 736 Grenadier Regiment, 716 Infantry Division. B Company took some 65 casualties in the first few minutes. A gallant action by three men cleared away a troublesome bunker, for which all three were awarded medals. Thereafter the Company made progress, but was reduced to a platoon-sized group.
The follow-up Companies landed at around 0830, both, D Company in particular, taking considerable casualties on the run in and at the waterline. The Battalion took time to regroup but C and D Companies were able in the afternoon to get on to their next objective, Anguernay to the south east. The Battalion consolidated in that area, linking with the North Nova Scotias from 9 Brigade on their right. They formed a firm base against a threat from 21 Pz. Div., which had attacked towards the coast down the Division's left flank late on D Day. The Battalion had the highest casualties of any Canadian unit on D Day.
On 11 June the Battalion, in company with 1 Hussars of 2 Armoured Brigade, were ordered to advance to secure some high ground south of Cheux, using a right flanking movement through Le Mesnil Patry. This was a hasty attack and was a total and costly failure. B Squadron of the Hussars was effectively annihilated and the Battalion's D Company lost 96 casualties in front of Le Mesnil Patry before the survivors returned to their start line.
On 4 July the Battalion took part in Operation Windsor, an attack on Carpiquet village and aerodrome. The village was to be captured in the first phase and the Battalion's role was to move through the village to capture the aerodrome buildings at the east end of the field. The intense resistance by 12 SS Pz. Div. troops resulted in the second phase being abandoned and the Battalion moved forward to help consolidate the village.
The Brigade's next task was the capture of Colombelles steelworks and Vaucelles, on the outskirts of Caen, as part of Operation Atlantic. The attack was to be from north east to south west along the eastern bank of the Orne. On the morning of 18 July the Battalion was tasked to capture the village of Giberville, to the east of Colombelles. Opposition was stubborn and it took them until 21.30 to clear the village, defeat a counter-attack and reach their objective on the railway line south of the village. Once again, their casualties had been the highest within the Division.
The Battalion was committed on 10 August in an attempt to develop the advance made during Operation Totalize, aimed at Falaise. The Battalion attacked Quesnay Wood in the evening but a combination of fanatical resistance from forces far stronger than had been anticipated, plus a failure of artillery support because of poor visibility, led to the Battalion being ordered to withdraw after more heavy casualties.
The Battalion fought in Operation Wellhit, the attack on Boulogne. On 17 September, the Battalion attacked on the left of the Brigade, directed through St. Martin into the northern part of the town and completed their advance over the next couple of days. On 22 September the Battalion advanced against the formidable Fort de la Creche to the north of the town, which surrendered early in the morning.
The Battalion was committed to the Rhineland battle during Operation Blockbuster, the extension of Operation Veritable. Early on 26 February 1945 the Battalion crossed its start line on the Goch –Calcar road and advanced south east towards their objectives around the small villages of Wemmershof and Steeg. The first objective was Mooshof, where three farm buildings had been turned into fortresses that held up D Company and all but destroyed its lead platoon. Sergeant Aubrey Cosens took charge and personally directed the fire of a supporting tank, then attacked the buildings single handed to clear the area. He was killed on his way back to report success. He was posthumously awarded the VC. The final objectives were secured by 1700.
In the closing stages of the Rhineland battle it took the Battalion, fighting alongside the North Shores, all of 3 and 4 March to fight through the Balberger Wald in support of the Hochwald Gap operations.
In the exploitation following the Rhine Crossing the Battalion participated in 8 Brigade's attack on the Hoch Elten feature, advancing initially on the night of 30 –31 March and securing the wooded area the following night.
The Queen's Own Rifles last action of the war was at 12:00 hrs on May 4 when C Company attacked a cross roads just east of Ostersander, Germany. It was taken by 15:00, at the cost of two fatalities. At 15.30 the order came through not to fire on the enemy unless fired upon. The official Cease Fire came at 08:00 hrs on May 5, 1945. The battalion paraded to a church at Mitte Grossefehn and Major H.E. Dalton, the acting Commanding Officer, addressed the Regiment.
The Battalion went to Amersfoort in Holland on 15 May, where they stayed until leaving for the UK on 6 November. The Battalion officially ceased to exist on 30 November and arrived back in Toronto on 17 December.
Queen's Own casualties totalled 393 killed in action and a further 873 wounded, many two or three times.
During Second World War the Regiment was awarded 1 x VC, 7 x DSO, 6 x MC, 2 x DCM, 14 x MM, 1 x GM, 2 x OBE, 2 x MBE, plus numerous foreign decorations.
A 2nd Battalion served in the Reserve Army in Canada.
A 3rd. Battalion was on the Active list between 21 May 1942 and 15 August 1943 but remained in Canada and served in effect as a training unit.
A 4th Battalion was formed on 1 June 1945 to serve in the 3rd Canadian Division, Canadian Occupation Force, and was disbanded 14 May 1946.
History note
Associated person: John Tiffin Murray Stewart b. 1917, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. d. 6 August 1964, 47 yrs., heart attack. Service record: Gunner M 4044 RCA. 1942: Reg. H2, HQ RCA, 1st Administration Corps. RCA CASF (Canadian Active Service Force) 1st Division. 1943: Reg. H3, 3rd Field Regt. RCA CASF 1st Division. 1944: 1st A Wing. No. 1 CARU (Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit).
Family history: 11 December 1942, married Elfreda Joan, nee Knight, at Congregational Church West Wickham, Kent. 15 June 1945, returned Canada. 27 June 1946, joined by family (on board 'Letitia'). August 1948, all family return to UK ('Queen Mary'). Moved to family home, Cavendish Way, West Wickham, Kent. Subsequently bought house, Oak Avenue, Shirley, Croydon.
History note
Bibliographic sources: CANADA'S ARMY IN WORLD WAR II: Badges and Histories of the Corps and Regiments.F. R. Tripp. Unitrade Press, Toronto, 1983. FORMATION AND UNIT SIGNS OF THE BRITISH REGULAR ARMY AND TERRITORIAL ARMY. Major John Waring. Identification Pamphlet No. 1. Privately published, no date (c. 1950s) Key to Shapes of Shoulder Titles. THE CANADIAN SOLDIER In North West Europe 1944 –1945. Jean Bouchery. Histoire & Collections, Paris, 2003. Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War. Volume III: THE VICTORY CAMPAIGN, Operations in North West Europe 1944 –1945. Col. C. P. Stacey. Ottawa, 1960. THE QUEEN'S OWN RIFLES OF CANADA 1860 –1960. One Hundred Years of Canada. Lt. Col. W.T. Barenard E.D., C.D. Ontario Publishing Company Ltd., 1960.
Inscription
QUEEN'S OWN RIFLES