De Verkenner.
Wie was de eerste Canadees in Ten Boer in april 1945 ? In de nacht van 14 op 15 april kreeg een scout van het Canadese leger de opdracht om in Ten Boer te kijken waar de vijand stellingen hadden opgeworpen.
In het boek van Wiebrand Top “Ket Oet, Ten Boer, 17 april 1945, de bevrijding van een Gronings dorp” staat de naam vermeld van Le Roy le Grand, voluit LeRoy Arthur le Grand.
Uitleg:
Cameron – De Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada is een primair reserve-infanterieregiment van het Canadese leger. Het maakt deel uit van de Canadian Canadian Brigade Group van de 3rd Canadian Division en heeft zijn hoofdkantoor in het Minto Armory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Het is het oudste hooglandregiment in West-Canada.
– scout platoon-verkenner peloton.
– sniper-scherpschutter (kijker op het geweer).
afkortingen: WIA en KIA – wounded in action en killed in action.
St. Andre sur Orne is een gemeente in het Franse departement Calvados in de regio Normandië.
Onderscheiding:
Zijn vrouw Margaret is 2018 overleden.
De bevrijding.
That evening the battalion was ordered to occupy the town of Ten Boer. Through a series of company infiltrations the unit occupied the objective overnight and by 0720 hours of 17 April, all elements were firmly ensconced in the town. The remainder of 17 and 18 April, were spent resting, reorganizing and preparing to resume the advance. On the night of 18 April “C” Company set up outposts at Ten Post and along the road to Stedum. On 19 April the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Kennedy, showing signs of combat fatigueaccumulated from his exemplary service in the Italian Campaign, was relieved of command and granted 48 hours leave of absence. Ultimately he would never return to the Camerons. Major R. H. Lane took over the battalion as temporary commanding officer. That afternoon “A” Company, supported by a section of flamethrowers, was sent to probe enemy positions in the towns of Stedum, Loppersumand Wirten. Encountering the enemy on the outskirts of Loppersum, “A” Company broke contact after a brief engagement returning with the information that between 100 and 200 Germans were holding Loppersum. A planned move the next day was postponed and on 21 April, the unit moved back into Germany to occupy billets in Wilderhausen.[clarification needed]
bron: wikipedia
18 April 1945 Cameron Pipes & Drums playing at Ten Boer, by order of the C.O. Camerons of Canada.
The Pipe Band, under Pipe Major McLeod, put on a fine show for the local inhabitants which was most enthusiastically received. The Pipers had not done much piping lately as they had had their hands full, mainly as stretcher bearers, a homely but often risky business that called for qualities of great coolness and courage
On 18 April a battalion parade was held in Ten Boer with a Brigade inspection and march past. Brigadier Allard addressed the troops and complimented them on their fine work since he had taken over the Brigade.
Prachtig en een mooi geschreven stuk.