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Jack Doucette
(Jean-Antoine Doucette)

Pte Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

Jack was baptised as Jean-Antoine, but he preferred to us the name Jack. I was able to get a copy of his military records from the archives. There I learned that he joined the Canadian Army on Dec 1st 1941 in Woodstock; N.B. his regimental number was G19441 his first unit was the Carleton & York Regiment. He had lied about his age, telling them that he was born on April 1st 1922 instead of 1924 which actually made him less than 18 when he signed up. This was not discovered until sometime in Dec 1942 at which time he was already in England. Jack was like many a young men, he got himself into a bit of trouble, got caught for being AWOL a few times, did some detention and confined to barracks as well as having a forfeit in pay. He embarked for overseas on the 1st of June1942 and disembarked on the 11th. Jack took some courses will in England, Im not sure what they were. Jack was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the France-Germany Star, the Defence Medal, War Medal, and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp. I dont know where these medals are now; I wish I could find them.

1939-45 Star

The France German Star

The Defence Metal

The War Medal

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

One month after D Day, Jack embarked for France on the 6th of July 1944 and disembarked on the 8th, at Grayesur-Mer, he belonged to the 2nd Infantry Division, 6th Infantry Brigade, Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. Jack was killed within a few weeks of arriving in France; Im not exactly sure what date he was killed, most likely during OPERATION ATLANTIC. On his military death certificate the date is shown as unknown, but buried on the 28th of July, on the New Brunswick certificate of Registration of Death and his Service and Casualty Form, it states the 21st of July 1944 as time of death. Im a bit confused as to the delay in his burial if he was killed on the 21st and not buried until the 28th, this might mean he died later then the 21st. He was originally buried in a Flurey-sur-Orne (023649), in walled garden next to the caves. Jack was previously buried in 'Mondeville Canadian Temporary Cemetery' and he was reverently re-interred in Canadian War Cemetery Bretteville-sur-Laize Calvados France. Grave Reference: XI. E. 2. on 28th April 1945. (Ref: Commonwealth War Graves Commission) On the evening of 11 July, the unit moved to the vicinity of Rots and then relieved the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada at Carpiquet the next day. The next six days the Battalion spent digging in to avoid enemy shelling and patrolling to root out enemy snipers and remnants. On 19 July, the Battalion left Carpiquet for an assembly area across the Orne River in preparation for the start of Operation Atlantic the next day. On the way to the start line the Battalion suffered casualties from enemy artillery and mortar fire. The Camerons launched their attack from Fleury-sur-Orne, supported by artillery and Typhoon squadrons. "A" Company advanced on the right with "B" Company left, "C" Company in depth and "D" Company in reserve. No tanks accompanied the attacking infantry but a squadron of tanks from The Sherbrooke Fusiliers was allotted to the Camerons for counter-attack. The attack did not start well. The Officer Commanding Headquarters Company, Captain H. Grundy and the Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant J. Maloney were both killed when an enemy 88 mm gun hit the scout car. The Battalion War Diary for June was lost with the vehicle. The loss of this command vehicle would hamper the Battalion's radio communications throughout the battle. "A" Company was held up 500 yd (460 m) from the start line, coming under intense machine gun fire. Suppressing the enemy machine gunners with artillery and medium machine gun fire from The Toronto Scottish Regiment, "A" Company was able to carry on. "B" Company encountered mild resistance and reached its objective advancing through 1

the sniper, mortar and machine gun fire. As "A" Company had ended up somewhat to the right of their objective "C" Company was pushed through to fill the gap between "A" and "B". "C" Company met no resistance until it reached the south end of the village. "D" Company moved up to secure the rear of the Battalion position. The enemy still held part of Hill 112 and continued to subject the Camerons to very heavy fire from west of the Orne. Heavy rain interfered with radio communications that were already affected by the loss of the scout car. With three companies forward, the Camerons held a wide frontage, so the Commanding Officer ordered "C" and "B" Companies to withdraw slightly to draw in the perimeter. "B" Company was shifting their positions when the Germans counterattacked. The company managed to consolidate in their new position, but sustained significant casualties. As a result, the Commanding Officer moved "D" Company up to replace them, and moved "B" back as Battalion reserve. Elements of the I SS Panzer Corps counter-attacked along the entire Battalion front, with especially heavy concentrations of infantry thrown against "A" and "D" Companies. Towards dusk a heavy counter-attack supported by eight Panzerkampfwagen V (Panther) tanks was launched against "D" Company. Three of the Cameron anti-tank guns were knocked out, but the Camerons destroyed two of the panzers with PIATs (Projector Infantry Anti-Tank). "D" Company was overrun and forced to withdraw to link up with the remains of "B" Company. Overnight on 20-21 July "A" and "C" Companies beat back repeated counter-attacks. At times the opposing forces were within shouting distance of each other. In the morning, further counter-attacks by small groups of tanks were fought off on the left flank in "C" Company's area. 10 Platoon of "B" Company was entirely cut off from the rest of the Battalion as the battle raged around the perimeter of the orchard. A company of German infantry that had infiltrated across the river overnight launched a series of small attacks against the Battalion Headquarters, which were beaten off with many prisoners being taken by "A" Company and the Scout Platoon. The Germans continued to counter-attack on 22 July, but their strength was reduced. Attacks by two or three tanks supported by small groups of infantry were beaten off throughout the day. At one point "A" Company was forced to withdraw, but with the assistance of heavy artillery support, counter-attacked and regained their positions. 11 Platoon was sent from "B" Company to reinforce "C" Company in driving off an enemy attack and remained under command of "C" Company, taking up defensive positions on the left flank. In between counter-attacks the Germans subjected the Cameron positions to heavy shelling with artillery, mortars and Nebelwerfers (rockets). By 23 July the counter-attacks had dwindled to minor infiltrations that were easily handled and the Germans resorted to increased shelling. "C" Company was so reduced by this time that the remainder of 10 Platoon was sent from "B Company to reinforce it. The Camerons suffered heavy casualties in the fighting for Saint-Andr-sur-Orne: 52 wounded (including the Commanding Officer and the Officer Commanding "B" Company) and 29 killed. Company Sergeant Major Sutherland and Private G. T. Munroe were each awarded the Military Medal for their actions at Saint-Andr-sur-Orne and the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel N.H. Ross, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his handling of the Battalion throughout the battle.

Formation of the 6th Infantry Brigade

Composition de la 2e Division d'infanterie canadienne

8e rgiment de reconnaissance (14th Canadian Hussars) 4e Brigade d'infanterie o Royal Regiment of Canada o Royal Hamilton Light Infantry o Essex Scottish Regiment 5e Brigade d'infanterie o Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada o Rgiment de Maisonneuve o Calgary Highlanders 2

6e Brigade d'infanterie o Fusiliers Mont-Royal o Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada o South Saskatchewan Regiment Toronto Scottish Regiment (Mitrailleuses) 4e rgiment de campagne 5e rgiment de campagne 6e rgiment de campagne 2e rgiment antichar 3e rgiment de D.C.A. lgre

Extract from Internet site

South of Caen and Fleury-sur-Orne, a promontory, offers a clear view on the plain of Caen and the Orne Valley. This strategic location was the scene of a bloody operation. The different panels present this event and we intend to monitor transactions that allowed the liberation of the south of Caen. During the night of July 18, 1944, as part of Operation Goodwood-Atlantic ", the 5th Brigade 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was ordered to cross the Orne, from Caen, then move south. The Regiment of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada managed to cross the river in the morning followed by Regiment de Maisonneuve, who reached Fleury-sur-Orne. The Calgary Highlanders took the score 67 and stood firm in repelling many attacks of the 1st SS Panzer Division. During the afternoon of July 20, the 6th Brigade renewed its offensive. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada took possession of St. Andre-sur-Orne, but in their attempts to take the top of the ridge, the South Saskatchewan Regiment and the Royal Fusiliers Mont-experienced less success. After the Black Watch had ensured the safety of Ifs and the Maisonneuve Etavaux had captured a second major operation, called "Spring", was unleashed on the night of July 24 to 25. The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry liberated the village Verrires but also the enemy was able to take the set and to initiate attacks against the document 67.

On August 9, during Operation "Totalyze" Ridge Stained villages Rocquancourt, Fontenay-le-Marmion and May-sur-Orne were finally freed by the men of the 2nd Canadian Division. During these engagements, the infantry was valiantly supported by the Second Tactical Air Force, the 2nd Canadian Armored Brigade, as well as units of the divisional artillery, engineering, the anti-tank machine guns, including the Toronto Scottish Regiment, and recognition. Verrires Ridge was the key to the German defense south of Caen. Its capture was vital to the Allied cause.

Bretteville-Sur-Laize Calvados, France This cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) and just north of the village of Cintheaux. Bretteville-sur-Laize is a village and commune in the department of the Calvados, some 16 kilometres south of Caen. The village of Bretteville lays 3 kilometres south-west of the Cemetery. Buried here are 4

those who died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards (led initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions), to close the Falaise Gap, and thus seal off the German divisions fighting desperately to escape being trapped west of the Seine. Almost every unit of Canadian 2nd Corps is represented in the Cemetery. There are about 3,000 allied forces casualties of the Second World War commemorated in this site. Ive tried to put together what was happening in the area around the time when Jack was killed, it seems to be during or immediately after Operation Goodwood. From what Ive read there was some pretty heavy fighting going on in that area during that time frame. I think he was probably killed out right; there is no record his being hospitalised. Following is some excerpts from articles I found on the internet.

July - 8: The one positive effect the bombing of Caen had, was a tremendous boost to the Allied troops. "The
psychological effect on ....my Regiment ....was electrifying - you must remember that we had been stopped for a month in front of Lebisey Wood - we had lost two commanding officers and significant number of casualties from mortaring and shelling - consequently the noise and sight of the bombardment was tremendous morale booster. Officers and soldiers were jumping out of their slot trenches and cheering." Major General Sir Nigel Trapp, letter to the author, Carlo D'Este,
Decision in Normandy, p.316.

The levelling of Caen did not bring any military advantage to the Canadians. The German defence was still intact outside the city, and the Canadian army still had to crack it. -" "Valour and Horror" script In real terms, this meant that Keller's 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, along with elements of the 59th British, had once more to close with the battle hardened 12th SS, albeit now reduced to 'four punch drunk battalions' that held no illusions about the outcome. The Canadians attacked and captured Buron, Gruchy, Authie- Franqueville and the Abbaye Ardenne .

Canadians fighting house to house

They destroyed the company of the 25 Panzer grenadiers Regiment that was defending Gruchy. At the fateful Abbaye Ardenne, the enemy withdrew, and the next day [July 9] the 8th Brigade finally captured Carpiquet airfield. The overall ineffectiveness of the bombing was evident from the savage resistance put up by the Germans. Casualties during the two day battle for Caen were staggering.

In the infantry battalions' losses of 25% were the rule not the exception. "The Normandy slaughterhouse was swallowing up the infantry. The expenditure of flesh and blood in the present battle for Caen was cause for alarm, for Germans as well as British. In this lovely summer weather it was not unusual for and infantryman to wonder at each sunset whether he would ever live to see and another, and at each dawn whether that would be his last." Henry Maule, Caen, London, 1976.

One of the many

What was left of Caen was secured by the evening of July 9, and the Stormont, Glengarry, and Dundas Highlanders had the honour of being the first unit to enter Caen. This honour had cost the Canadians dearly. Operation Charnwood cost them 1194 casualties, 334 of them fatal. The capture of the Northern half of Caen brought no tactical benefit to Montgomery's armies. The Germans still held a line along the Orne River and controlled the suburb of Colombelles from where their forward observers could observe the Allies movements from the local steel works' towers. Caen was useless without control of the heights of Verrires and Bourgubus Ridges. What they had was possession of a ruined city and a public relations victory. Caen after the bombing

July 19-20: "Well may the wheat and sugar beet grow lush and green upon its gentle slope, because in that half
forgotten summer, the best blood of Canada was freely poured upon it." Canadian military historian Charles Stacey. In the shadow of poplar, a small dirt road runs along the top of the ridge, linking places called Tilly La Campagne, Beauvoir, St Martin and St. Andr. Those names send a chill through the veterans who fought the SS on its heights. When Jacques Dextraze arrived here with his infantry and Sydney RadleyWalters with his tanks, they had an anticipation of a great victory. Looking back now, they think they were awfully naive. -("Valour and
Horror" script)

The Queen's Own Highlanders, with the Sherbrooke tank squadron ready for counterattack, advanced through a field of wheat behind an artillery barrage to secure St. Andr-sur-Orne. To their left, Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, with five tanks in support, behind an artillery barrage advanced towards Beauvoir and Troteval farms, on their way to their objective, Verrires Ridge.

Canadian soldiers advance through the wheat field

As dangerous as it was to be in a tank on Verrires Ridge, an infantryman was 10 times more likely to die. Jacques Dextraze was ordered to cross this wheat field with his company of 90 men from the Fusiliers Mont Royal. In the first battle of their lives, the recently arrived Montreal regiment was headed for a position strongly fortified by the Germans, a series of stone buildings across the main road called Beauvoir farm. Now Dextraze can laugh about just how scared he was.

".... I was smoking my pipe, and ah, I pulled a pack of cigarettes out of my pocket and I lit a cigarette. So I'm finally smoking a pipe, having a cigarette, I threw my pack of cigarettes away, which was half full...We were laying down and running, the balance of us, and when I threw myself in the wheat, it just looks to me as if there were wasps in the field, I could hear this bzzz, bzzz, going around. It didn't take long that I realise these weren't wasps, or they were pretty lively wasps. It was the tank that was firing - it was cutting the grain, which was of course.... high by that time." ("Valour and Horror" script) Around Beauvoir and Troteval farms, enemy resistance started to increase. Forward Fusiliers Mont-Royal units were attacked from behind by German infantry coming from farm cellars simultaneously enemy anti-tank guns and Panther tanks joined the action.

German machine gunners wait for their prey

In their first 10 minutes on the battlefield, 6 of 10 men in the Fusiliers Montral were killed or wounded.

A Canadian soldier gets hit by German fire. They had trained for this moment for four years. With its forward artillery observer dead, its forward company cut off and no anti-tank support the battalion, unable to advance or withdraw, the Fusiliers hung on throughout the night. "I thought I was a well-trained man for war when I landed here. Boy I learned about fighting, and learned that I didn't know much. But I learned..." - Major Jacques Dextraze. It was a tough initiation for young Major Jacques Dextraze. In the centre the South Saskatchewan Regiment, with tanks on each flank, attacked through 3 kilometres of ripe grain fields to the crest of Verrires Ridge. The battalion on reaching its objective consolidated on an open slope dominated by a higher point held by the Germans. The Canadians were exposed and under direct observation. Indirect German artillery and mortar fire was slaughtering them. They were then attacked by panzers from their left rear flank. "This is Matthew Halton of the CBC, speaking from France. British and Canadian tank and infantry forces, east of the Orne river, struck southward today in a powerful and determined attack. The day is going very well..." 7

General Guy Simonds: "I saw the attack go in. The first wave of armour came out in the open, and within seconds 20 or 30 British tanks were brewing up. The attack was catastrophic... 877 tanks attacked. 437 were lost. One could not help but be impressed by the camouflage and marksmanship of the German gunners, whether in tanks or manning anti-tank guns."

Map of Operation Goodwood you can see the Front Line on the 21st of July also the direction of the 2nd Canadian Division

The following paragraphs are taken from the personal war diary of Reverend T.R. Davis, M.A., B.D., and D.D and dated 17th July 1944. This is around the time when Jack was killed. He was also in Fleury sur Orne on the 20th he may have been there for Jacks first burial. I had nine voluntary services yesterday and the attendance was almost 100%. Men dont have to be compelled to go to church in the present circumstances. As a matter of fact, I had requests for services which I was unable to fill. Perhaps the most successful service of the day was held in a shell hole. You will think that the congregation must have been very small, but 30 of us sat in this cavity and there was plenty of room. I walked around the rim of the hole and it took me 45 steps to get around. It was about 12 feet deep so that we could stand up and be still concealed. The lads called it their Rosebowl, and had it fixed up for the service before I arrived. The last service of the day was one to be remembered because of the manner in which the lads sang Abide with Me. My message was based on an experience I had on the previous day. I had visited the church in Carpriquet that had been completely wrecked. There was little left except rubble and I tried to imagine what it had been like before the shells landed. Someone had been there ahead of me and had attempted to restore the altar. The base was there with the carved figure of a lamb. Above this there was a cross but the image of Christ had been blown off. The empty cross had been put in place and the shattered figure had been gathered up and placed on the pedestal at the foot of the cross. I knew that someone with a sense of value had visited the place and had performed this act of reverence. I discovered later that it was lads from my own battalion. The theme of my message was that there is some hope for a world when there are people who recognise that some things have to be preserved and are willing to make some effort to save these things from the rubble. It is depressing to see so much destruction and it is very easy to become cynical. The hope of the future is in the people who see that some things do matter and who are willing to put forth a bit of effort to see that they are preserved and furthered. We passed through the rubble of Caen on the 18th of July. I put on my respirator to protect myself from the smell of death and corruption. We moved southward along the bank of the Orne River and prepared for the assault on St. Andre-sur-Orne. In the few days that followed there was rain, mud, and machinations of the enemy that caused the jitters in some and anxiety for all of us. They were sad days because we saw so many of our friends evacuated to hospitals or to that realm that we knew was more peaceful than ours. It was on the evening of July 20th, after a terrible day at the Regimental Aid Post, that I wandered by myself to the village of Fleury-Sur-Orne. I wanted to be alone and I had my opportunity. The village was deserted. I looked at the church building with the walls still standing. I read a few of the inscriptions on the walls. I was reminded of my boyhood days in Quebec and found my ability to read the language very rewarding. The darkness was coming on so I decided to return to my blankets at the roadside. I knew that I would miss the nightly chat with Jim and Howard. Both of them had been killed that day. I didnt need a souvenir to remind me of the day, but I remembered my sermon of Sunday before and picked up a piece of glass from the rubble around the Fleury church. It was a small square piece of orange colour. It took up little space in the pocket of my battle-dress tunic. I returned to the friends that were left. It was a horrible night with flares lighting up the sky and enemy planes flying low and sprinkling the area with machine-gun fire. I tried to find some protection behind some bales of hay, trusting that tracer bullets would not set them aflame. It was a relief when daylight returned. In the early morning, our men began checking over the territory that had been won the previous day. When they were going through the church at Fleury, they found seven German soldiers hiding in the balcony. They had hidden there to let the war pass them by. They were frightened lads. They must have been there when I was prowling about on the previous night. If I had known of their presence there would have been eight frightened men instead of seven. During the remaining days of July 1944, we were held up in the same general area. The enemy was resisting fiercely. Our casualties were heavy and my days were filled with the sad task of burying the dead.

Private W.T. Booth (D-83056)

Notes further to a few of the entries in the Black Watch war diary. They are based on the personal experiences of the writer, then a private in the Intelligence Section of Battalion Headquarters, First Battalion, Black Watch.

July, 1944 Entries July 11-17 marked "Frankeville" (misspelling of Francqueville) Francqueville is a village just west of the road leading south from Villons-les Buissons through Biron, Authie, Francqueville to Carpiquet airfield - the axis of advance by infantry of the Canadian third division on the first few days after the landing on the beaches. Fighting was again heavy in this area on the 8th of July in the operation which saw the fall of Caen. To the east of this road and set some distance back from it is the Abbey of Ardenne, the fields adjoining it, surrounded by hedgerows, being the concentration area for the Black Watch from July 11 to 17 preparatory to its first action against the enemy on July 18. The Abbey gave us our first sight and lasting impression of the aftermath of battle. The Canadians who had been executed there by the 12th SS Hitler Youth Division (the rank and file were not told about this at the time) had of course been taken away and buried, but the German dead inside the walls in an apple orchard and inside the building had not been. The stench of decomposition hung heavy over their bodies, bloated in the hot July sun. I remember two men who told us they were from the British Seventh Armored Division (the "Desert Rats" of the 8th Army in North Africa) preparing a meal for themselves in that scene. One end of the Abbey was just a gaping hole in which a Sherman tank had blown up. Something charred beyond recognition lay on the ground beside it. Major Motzfeldt said it was a sheep but we suspected otherwise. Entries July 18-25, Caen, Vaucelles, Ifs, Hill 67, May-sur-Orne: The Black Watch saw its first action on July 18 when it crossed the Orne canal separating Caen from the western suburb (Vaucelles) at this point. This was part of the Canadian role in Operation "Goodwood," Montgomerys objective being to break out of the Orne bridgehead and capture the high ground south of Caen known as the Bourgebus-Verrieres ridge. "Goodwood" effectively ended July 21. When the Essex Scottish were thrown back from Hill 67 by a counter-attack on July 21, the Black Watch was ordered to retake the hill and hold it. Besides the creeping barrage mentioned in the War Diary, the rifle company that I was with had the support of a Sherman tank firing its six-pounder anti-tank gun. It turned aside as we approached the crest. Three of us from the I-Section of BHQ had gone forward to dig an observation post on the reverse slope. The attack was successfully carried out though we were under mortar and sniper fire during its course. Because I walked alongside the Sherman I wouldnt hear the incoming fire. I saw some of its effects, of course, such as the death of a man I knew named Hudson who was thrown into the air by a mortar bomb. Yet the entire attack, which didnt last long, had an air of unreality, as though it were a movie I was watching. When we had taken the Hill this feeling vanished in the shock of seeing Canadian dead, the Essex Scottish, lying on the ground. Seeing Hudson fall did not have the effect on me of seeing the sleeve patch of the Second Division on the uniforms of those killed. 10

On that day (July 21) operation Goodwood effectively ended without succeeding in securing the BourgebusVerrieres Ridge. During the three days we were on Hill 67 (the rifle companies below the crest, in the area of Beauvoir farm; the command post of BHQ in a large dugout on the crest with a few of us from the I Section and others in a supporting role in slit trenches near it) we seemed to be under ceaseless fire with "moaning minnies" constituting a good part of it. Such fire begins to wear down the nerves rather quickly. Major Motzfeldt did much to boost the morale of those around the command post by strolling among the slit trenches with his balmoral and its red hackle on his head. On the 23rd of July, a German fighting patrol "infiltrated through the forward companies and attacked the Command Post," as the Diary reports. It was 4 oclock in the morning. There was suddenly a burst of shouting in German, and in English to the rest of us to stay in our slit trenches, and from behind us there immediately came the roar of machine gun fire. The War Diary doesnt mention it, but the machine gun fire came from a unit of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa, a medium machine gun battalion defending the Command Post. The man in our regiment which the Diary reported killed was an anti-tank gunner named Bulow whose six-pounder gun was positioned about a hundred yards ahead of the Command Post. When dawn broke in a heavy mist, the Germans who had survived walked toward us, hands on their heads and calling out "Kamerad." They all wore field caps, not steel helmets. One of the men I was guarding seemed to be in his late forties. He was calm and asked me if we were "Amerikanisch." One of the pockets of his tunic bulged with his shaving gear. Perhaps the patrol was for him a way of resigning from the war. Around 3:30 in the morning of July 25 the rifle companies began to make their way from the area of Beauvoir Farm to the town of St Andre-sur-Orne, a part of which the Queens Own Camerons of Canada had been clinging to the past few days. A report had come from them that the town was clear, and the Black Watch moved forward to their forming up point in preparation for its role in the second phase of the operation named "Spring." The fighting transport (F Echelon) of the regiment remained in the town of Ifs along with the men in Battalion HQ who had not been on Hill 67. Three of us from the I Section (Sgt. Fred Janes, "Dolly" Lessard, and I) were to precede the rifle companies to St. Andre and then, according to our orders, into St. Martin-de-Fontenay to lay white tape marking the forward edge of the forming-up point. The tape was wound on a signals reel. St. Martin is sister to St. Andre, alongside an apple orchard which was soon laced with tracer fire from a machine gun. St. Martin had not been cleared. There was nothing to do but take cover where we were. I found a German slit trench in the orchard and at first light, as the vehicles of F Echelon began pulling into a large field behind us, moved across the road to a ditch with a hedge running alongside it. Looking over the hedge, one could see the wreckage of a bomber knocked down during operation Goodwood and beyond it the gentle rise of the grain fields to the crest of the Verrieres Ridge. The grain was about waist high at that time. Soon the vehicles in the vehicle park and those dug in around them and in the ditch running along the road would come under observed fire from the ridge and, though I think most of us didnt know it at the time, from high ground west of the Orne. The entry in the Diary: "May - sur - Orne. 25th Fri." reflects some of the confusion and problems in communication on that day. The Black Watch was never in May - sur - Orne except for a patrol or two sent in by Major Phillip Griffin then acting C.O. since Lt. Col. Cantlie had been killed while on reconnaissance in the early hours of the morning and the senior company commander, Major Motzfeldt who was with him wounded. In the first phase of the attack the Queens Own Camerons who were to secure the towns of St. Andre and St. Martin-de-Fontenay were unable to do so because the enemy continued to infiltrate the area. The Calgary Highlanders who were to go through the Camerons and take the May-sur-Orne, about a kilometer south, got to the town but were unable to hold their position there. We assumed that the rifle companies began their advance about mid-morning, though we had no communication with them. They had been strung out along the walls and hedgerows on the eastern side of St. Martin and were to advance to their start line, a road running out of May and up to the crest of the ridge, where they were to follow a creeping barrage onto their objective, Fontenay-le-Marmion. By the time they reached the start line their casualties were heavy. They had come under fire from the ridge and from May-sur-Orne on the right flank. Only some 60 men reached the crest of the ridge; some 15 were able to make their way back down. Griffins body was found among those who reached the crest.

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Later that morning, the Germans turned their attention to the vehicle park and to the men dug in at the side of the road. I remember that the first mortar rounds - three of them - were dropped on the airplane wreckage in the field to the east of the road. We guessed that they were either ranging shots or were intended to kill or drive out snipers who might have been concealed there. This was followed by a methodic "walking" of mortar bombs up and down the ditch and hedgerow. This fire continued at intervals. At the same time fire was brought down on the men and vehicles on the other side of the road. Particularly terrifying were the shells from the 88mm gun with its high muzzle velocity and the flat trajectory of its shells which came in on us with a shriek and near simultaneous explosion. Mortar bombs by contrast gave some advance notice of their approach. By this time (early afternoon perhaps) a number of the vehicles were on fire. Later the field was covered, it seemed, with burning vehicles including an armored one with slits for windows, but not a recce car as I remember, which gave off roiling black smoke. In digging my slit trench I had struck a thick root which I wouldnt cut with my shovel. I moved back up the ditch about seven or eight feet and began digging there. Above me at about the same distance two of our signalers had dug quite a deep trench for themselves. I had dug a shallow trench when the Sergeant of the I section, Fred Janes, came across the road and began digging the trench which I had abandoned. Before that he had dug in along side the I section vehicle. He had not been long digging when we heard a mortar bomb coming in. In a matter of seconds we knew it was coming in on us when the feathery sound a mortar bomb has as it descends changed to a roar. I pressed down as flat as I could but the trench was too shallow to allow me to get below the surface. When the bomb exploded it felt as if a giant foot had stepped on my back and driven the air out of my lungs. Barely moving, I tried to "feel" if Id been hit. I sat up and looked to where Janes had been digging; only a blackened depression remained. The recognizable half of Janes lay on the road. Above the two signallers sat motionless in their trench. They were both dead but not a mark could be seen on their bodies. Whether it was another bomb on that particular stroll up the ditch I didnt know. If so, then I had been bracketed and left without a scratch. Though I didnt think these thoughts then, later I wondered if on the next round a slight adjustment of the sights on the mortar wouldnt have made it a clean sweep. I think it was about mid-afternoon at that point. It seemed that most of the vehicles in the field had been hit. A pall of smoke and dust hung over the park. There had been no word of rifle companies, no one there in that scene to organize and direct those who were still alive. For those of us in the I section - "Dolly" Lessard, Ray Dubuc, who had come down in the trucks later in the morning, myself and the driver - there was nothing to do but get out. Lessard, who was a little ways down the ditch toward St. Andre, shouted to me and we both ran across the road to the truck. The driver and Ray Dubuc ran over from their trenches. The steel frame that supported the canvas canopy had been cut in two on one side by shrapnel. Jerry tins of gas had been spilled but had not caught fire. The tires on one side I remember had been blown and there was a large hole in the engine hood but no critical part had been damaged. We jumped in, the driver floored the accelerator, and we raced up the hill to Fleury-sur-Orne. Major Mitchell became C.O. and the Battalion went into reserve until its rifle companies could be brought up to strength.

C.D.I.R.U.-Canadian Division Infantry Reinforcement Unit

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Figure 1 Enrolment Attestation

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Figure 2 Record of service

14

Figure 3 Record of Service

15

Figure 4 Statement of Service

16

Figure 5 Statement of Service

17

Figure 6 Statement of Service

18

Figure 7 Service and Casualty Form

19

Jack Doucet Record of Service

Date From Who Received 5202 Record of Prmotions,Transfers, Casualties TOS 7A District Depot SOS on Transfer to No. 7 Dist Depot T.O.S. att. For all purposes from #7 D.D. A.W.L. From 06:30 hrs to 16:40 hrs 1 days pay & 3days CB for A.W.L.10 Hrs 15 min. S.O.S on transfer to A-14 A.T.C.Aldershot Was on 24-4-42 awarded 168 hrs detention and placed under stoppage of pay to the amount of $5.20 for deficiencies in kit and equiptment. For A.W.L. from 19:30 hrs to 10:30 hrs 23-4-42 Forfeit 5 days P.&.A. Total forfeiture 13 days P.&.A.9Art.149(1)(a),(b),(c)(ii)and 158 (2)FR&I) Granted special leave, 15-5-42 to 20-5-42 S.O.S. on proceeding to Carlton & York Regt. O.S. S.O.S., C.A. 1-6-42 T.O.S., C.A. 2-6-42 Disembarked 11-6-42 T.O.S T.O.S. No 1CDIRU From Cdn. Army Canada Priv. Leave to 8 July 42 S.O.S. to 2/DIRU pending trans to C of C T.O.S. from 1CDIRU S.O.S. to C of C T.O.S. from 2DIRU P. Leave S.O.S. to 2/DIRU pending trans to C of C Awd. 10 days C.B. offence AA Sec. 19 (Drunkness 1st offence) " " 01/05/1942 02/06/1942 " " " " #119 #133 18/05/1942 02/06/1942 Rank Pte " " " " Effective date 01/12/1941 05/01/1942 09/01/1942 16/02/1942 16/02/1942 06/04/1942 Unit 7ADD " #71 B.T.C. " " #14 ITC Place Woodstock " Edmundston, N.B. " " Aldershot,N.S. Pt.11 Part II D.O. Dated No. Cas. List #275 07/12/1941 #4 05/01/1942 6 33 & 34 34 #85 10/01/1942 16/02/1942 17/02/1942 09/04/1942

14/06/1942

OC

" Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte

12/06/1942 1-Jul-42 17-Sep-42 18-Sep-42 24-Sep-42 25-Sep-42 19/26-Oct-42 6-Nov-42 16-Nov-42

#1CDIRU 1DIRU 1/DIRU 2DIRU 2DIRU C of C C of C C of C 2/Diru

UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK

139 160 225 222 227 77 88 89 276

14/06/1942 1-Jul-42 18-Sep-42 18-Sep-42 24-Sep-42 25-Sep-42 4-Nov-42 9-Nov-42 19-Nov-42

Date

From Who Received

Record of Prmotions,Transfers, Casualties True date of birth now declared to be 1 apr. 1924 True name now declared to be Jean Antione Doucet P. Leave to 24 Jan 43 (9Days) S.O.S. to 2CIRU T.O.S. From 2/CDIRU Posted to P.E. as Orderly Pte. To hold app. On Holding Wing H.Q. (orderly) Increase daily rate pay $1.50 7 days & 48 hrs leave money all. Charge AA Sec 11, 4 days C.B. 1 days pay To be A/l.cpl with pay whilst on crse Proceeding on CAAHQ Crse #725 Ser 57 Ret from crse 725 (PT) Reverted to rank of Pte (Pte crse) rtu Proceed on CAAHQ crse #725(B) Sec 58 To be A/L/Cpl Whilst on P.T. Crse AWL Sec 15 AA (11) Reverts to Pte Forf 1days pay Returned from C.M.H.Q. course 725 ser 58 P.T. Refresher course Reverts to permanent grade of Pte on complition of crse Att'd CMHQ Crse 725(B) SEC 58 & Passed "C" Declares name to be Jean Antoine Doucet, wishes to remain know as Jack Doucet 9 days P. Leave ( Money Allow)

Rank Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte A/L/Cpl A/L/Cpl Pte Pte Pte A/L/Cpl Pte A/L/Cpl Pte A/L/Cpl but Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte Pte

Effective date

Unit Field Field 2/Diru 2/Diru 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU 2CIRU

Place UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK UK Field Field

Part II D.O. No. Cas. List

Dated 4-Dec-42 4-Dec-42 18-Jan-43 31-Jan-43 2-Feb-43 2-Feb-43 2-Apr-43 27-Apr-43 7-Jun-43 21-Jun-43 22-Jun-43 12-Jul-43 13-Jul-43 13-Jul-43 13-Jul-43 16-Jul-43 30-Jul-43 30-Jul-43 18-Aug-43 2-Oct-43 19-Nov-43 18-Jan-44 13-Mar-44 17-Mar-44 12-Mar-44 12-Mar-44

4-Dec-42 4-Dec-42 15-Jan-43 31-Jan-43 1-Feb-43 1-Feb-43 1-Jan-43 27-Apr-43 2-Jun-43 22-Jun-43 21-Jun-43 9-Jul-43 9-Jul-43 12-Jul-43 12-Jul-43 5-Jul-43 27-Jul-43 24-Jul-43

289 289 15 27 1 1 50 72 109 119 120 137 138 138 138 141 153 153 169 27 Supp 8 249 14 61 10 12 12

16/07/1943

Arm DO-141

Change of Name

C98 CQ5

SOS TOS

AWARDED THE CANADIAN VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL AND CLASP SOS to C of C for Spl Inc Dem R1-7 Tos R. I. from 2CIRU S.O.S. To Fd unit Posting Order No 000503 19 Mar 44 T.O.S from R.I. Emb U.K. 6 Jul 44 Disemb France 8 Jul 44 S.O.S Killed in action

16/24-Mar43 15-Jan-44 13-Mar-44 14-Mar-44 19-Mar-44 20-Mar-44

C of C 2CIRU 2CIRU C of C C of C C of C

Pte

21-Jul-44

C of C

Field

32

26-Jul-44

Figure 8 Awards

20

Figure 9 Field Service Report of Death

21

Figure 10 Province of New Brunswick Certificate of Death

22

Figure 11 Certificate of Birth and Baptism

23

24

Figure 12 Letter to Lillian His Sister March 1943

25