description
Physical description
An upward arc of printed black "waterproof" cotton with a matching extension centrally below, all with squared ends, on which printed in yellow /gold sans-serif letters, SOUTH ALBERTA REGT. above and CANADA below.
Label
This particular title dates to after November 1942, which is when the printed cotton material was introduced. Versions of this title exist in embroidered form.
Unit history: Regimental motto: Semper alacer. Always swift. (This is the motto of the successor Regiment, South Alberta Light Horse. Not clear whether this was the motto of the SAR in Second World War.)
The 1st Battalion mobilized at Edmonton on 24 May 1940 as an infantry battalion made up from volunteers from Alberta militia units. HQ Company came from the Calgary Regiment, B Company from the 19th Alberta Dragoons, C Company from the Edmonton Fusiliers and D Company from the 15th Alberta Light Horse. The Regiment itself found the personnel for A Company. In September 1940 it was assigned to 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Infantry Division.
In January 1942 the Division was converted to an armoured formation, the Regiment becoming the 29th Armoured Regiment (South Alberta Regiment) in 3rd Canadian Armoured Brigade. Armoured units in the Canadian Army in Second World War had two titles, an 'official' numeric title (eg: 6th Armoured Regiment) and a secondary or 'affiliated' name, which properly following the numeric title in brackets (eg: 6th Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars)). In this guise the Regiment embarked for UK on 22 August 1942. In January 1943 armoured divisions changed from two armoured brigades to one armoured and one infantry brigade. As a result, the Regiment again converted, becoming 29th Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (South Alberta Regiment), a non-brigaded Divisional troops unit. In this guise its official establishment was a mixture of tanks and carriers, later tanks and light tanks, in each squadron, supposedly to enable easier dismounted action appropriate for a reconnaissance unit. At this time the Division adopted a unique organization, which involved the Regiment being brigaded with 10 Infantry Brigade, its three squadrons training almost exclusively with the same infantry battalions. This arrangement remained when Regimental organization changed again during early 1944. Montgomery had chosen to dispense with armoured Recce. units in 21 Army Group in favour of an additional armoured unit. This was partially achieved by the Regiment, although there were insufficient 17 pdr. Fireflies available and, like their British counterparts, they went to Normandy armed only with 75mm Shermans.
The Regiment arrived in Normandy on 24 July 1944. The Division was allocated a role in the second phase of Operation Totalize, the thrust to Falaise. This began on 8th August and the Regiment worked with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada to capture the village of Cintheux in the early evening. On the night of 9 –10 August the Argylls captured the important Point 195 feature and the Regiment moved forward with the Algonquins to provide depth to the position thus taken.
During Operation Tractable, the renewed thrust on Falaise launched on 14 August, the Regiment played no great part but advanced with the 10 Brigade to positions south of Olendon. On the night of 16/17 August the Regiment supported the Argylls in the capture of the high ground north of Damblainville on the River Ante.
On 19 August, as part of the final attempt to close the 'Falaise Gap', the Regiment advanced from Trun towards Chambois. Major David V. Currie of the South Albertas had under command C Squadron and B Company the Argylls when they attacked St. Lambert sur Dives on the morning of 19 August. Opposition prevented the force from getting beyond the village. Currie was reinforced by the Argyll's C Company that night but the following day his command was forced back to the northern part of the village. Here they were joined by C Company the Lincs. & Welland with a platoon of their D Company. This group held out against desperate and endless attacks from elements of 9SS and 2 Pz. Divs. trying to force their way out of the pocket. Opposition ceased only with the final closure of the gap on 21st. Major Currie subsequently received the VC for this action.
Meanwhile, B Squadron was in position to the east but, largely unsupported by infantry, was almost wiped out in a night attack. RHQ was on point 117, north of St. Lambert, and was almost overwhelmed by waves of advancing Germans before ordering A Squadron forward, at which point the German effort crumbled. In the afternoon of 21 August, patrols from the Regiment fought through from St. Lambert to Chambois and established contact with the Poles. Chambois was finally captured that day by elements of the Polish Armoured Division and the American 90th Division, thus finally closing the gap.
During the winter of 1944 –45, 4 Canadian Armoured Division defended the Maas River line. This included in late January an expensive attack on a tiny German bridgehead at Kapelsche Veer, which the Regiment supported.
4 Division had taken no part in the first attempt to clear the Rhineland area, Operation Veritable, launched on 8 February 1945. When it became necessary to renew this offensive, Operation Blockbuster, the Division was tasked to exploit the gains made by the attacking infantry divisions. The Division decided to form five battle groups (Tiger Groups) based on the armoured brigade and another group, Lion, based on the infantry brigade, which was in reserve to exploit success. The Regiment was assigned to this latter group, along with the Algonquin Regiment and the New Brunswick Rangers (the divisional machine gun company), plus various supports. Blockbuster was launched on 26 February. Just before dawn on 27th, the Regiment's B Squadron advanced in support of the Algonquin infantry in an attack aimed at securing the entrance to the 'Hochwald Gap'. Initial success bogged down in the German defences and successive attacks by elements of the Lion Group did not greatly aid the immediate situation. Meanwhile, the Regiment's A Squadron had accompanied the Algonquin's carrier platoon on a right hook movement, also aimed at the Hochwald Gap entrance. This force was ambushed, resulting in the near total loss of both A Squadron and the Algonquin carriers.
The Regiment's last effort in the Rhineland battle was against the small town of Veen. One Squadron supported the Argylls in an abortive attack on 6 March and on the following day the Regiment supported the Algonquins in a similar but more heavily supported venture, again meeting failure and incurring losses.
The Regiment was with the Division in its drive north into Germany but was involved in no more major operations. At the ceasefire the Regiment was in the Oldenberg area.
On return to Canada the Regiment was reconstituted in the Militia in 1946 as infantry.
In Second World War the Regiment received the following awards:
1 x VC, 3 x DSOs, 4 x MC, 2 x DCM, 7 x MM, plus numerous foreign awards.
A 2nd Battalion served in the Reserve Army.
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.
Inscription
SOUTH ALBERTA REGT. / CANADA
