Code Word CANLOAN - Canadians who served with RWF Battalions in 1944

[dfuller52]

In his book Code Word CANLOAN (Dundurn Press, 1992), authour Wilfred Smith describes the arrangement whereby some 673 Canadian officers found their way into regiments of the British Army.

Here is a list of the 19 men who joined the RWF in time for the Normandy invasion and later actions. Their regimental numbers were created just for service in the BA and prefixed with "CDN". Canadian officers did not use regimental numbers:

Canloan Officers who served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers

Black, Maj. William H. CDN/111 - 7 RWF
Cowan, Lt. Duncan R.H. CDN/615 - 7 RWF (KIA 16-9-44)
Crighton, Lt. Arthur D. CDN/141 - 6 RWF (KIA 10-7-1944)
Fisher, Maj. Charles L. CDN/55 - 4 RWF
Gagnon, Capt. Joseph G. CDN/340 - 6 RWF
Hurley, Lt. Richard F. CDN/215 - 4 RWF
Joynt, Lt. Maurice C. CDN/428 - 7 RWF
Kuhl, Lt. Allen W. CDN/205 - 4 RWF (KIA 17-7-44)
Lauziere, Capt. Joseph A. CDN/85 - 6 RWF
Main, Capt. Harold W. CDN/174 - 6 RWF (KIA 19-8-44)
McAuley, Lt. Lionel H. CDN/92 - 6 RWF & 5 E. Yorks
Marsh, Capt. Robert G. CDN/485 - 6 RWF (KIA 24-10-44) MiD (2) (and was recommended for a VC by his CO)
Pearcy, Capt. William CDN/488 - 6 RWF
Purdey, Capt. Richard CDN/278 - 4 RWF
Sabourin, Lt. Wilfrid M. CDN/100 - 7 RWF
Suttie, Capt. James M. CDN/283 - 4 RWF (A/Capt. KIA 22-10-44) MC
Urquhart, Capt. Donald J. CDN/531 - 7 RWF, HQ 2 Army
West, Lt. Philip G. CDN/512 - 6 RWF (DoW 24-9-44)
Whittington, Lt. Cyril D. - 10 HLI, 6 RWF (ED - Efficiency Decoration)

[Thom15]

I intend to check out this book. Many thanks.

[dfuller52]

I have updated this to reflect that I missed one of the most important CANLOAN members of the RWF, Capt. R.G. Marsh, who was recommended for a VC by his CO but was later mentioned in dispatches.

I will post the citation later.

[ap1]

A warm welcome to you.

Capt Marsh is listed as Lieut with A Company when they first landed at Normandy in late June 44. During the action at the village of Hintham near Den Bosch. The history of the 6th Bn confirms:

"A Company's magnificent fight at Hintham added a new and well earned battle honour to the records of the regiment. Unfortunately, a heavy price had to be paid for our success. Capt Marsh dying of his wounds, shortly after his company was relieved.. In his death the Battalion lost an officer of outstanding gallantry and merit, whose cool bravery in action was the inspiration of his men."

The CSM; Evans received the Military Cross for leading the company in latter stages of the battle, after all of his officers became casualties.

As you rightly point out Capt Marsh was recommended for a VC, only to receive an MID. Its seems very unfair, a similar incident happened with LT Graves(Son of Robert Graves) of the 1st Bn during the Battle of Donbaik in Burma. He was killed, recommended for a VC only to receive an MID. The level of the award doesn't really tell the whole story.

Interestingly no mention of the Canadian aspect. These guys were clearly Royal Welchmen first, as far as the regiment was concerned.

[ap1]

After a bit of further reading, there is mention of " Lieut A D Crichton, one of four Canadians attached to the battalion, who was missing from a raid and later found to have been killed".

This was at the defensive position at Rauray and prior to the 13th July 1944.

The book shows two spellings for his name Crichton/Crighton. He landed with D Company at Normandy.

[jungle1810]

Hello Al,
I reckon Warrant Officer Evans you mention who was awarded the M.C. was my R.S.M. in Brecon in 1950. His nick name was "Tiny Evans" he was well over 6 foot tall.May be some one on the forum can either confirm or let me know if I am wrong
Regards RBS akajungle.

[dfuller52]

The correct spelling is Crighton, but the other spelling is quite common and I can understand why it would appear this way in British records. D Company were part of a reinforcement unit that landed on June 23.

There is a touching story in Smith's book about a letter Crighton's father-in-law wrote to the Canadian HQ about him after his daughter suddenly thought something had happened to him. In it he wrote that, since the three-month loan period was up and he was a father of two young children, he hoped his son-in-law would be returned to his Canadian unit (where, presumably, he thought he would be safer). Sadly, it was written on the very day he was killed.

The line on the action where he was lost reads:

"On 10 July Lieut. Arthur Crighton was killed in a D Company raid when a house occupied by the enemy was attacked." (p89-90)

The author makes the point that most of the men did indeed come to feel they were regular members of the regiment and the feeling was mutual with most of the Canloan officers earning respect and admiration from their units.

[dfuller52]

In scanning the list of RWF men from Canada, I missed a few. I have updated the list, which now numbers 19 men, including one MC winner.

Regarding Marsh, the book mentions him a few times:
Capt. R.G. Marsh of the 6th RWF, who had been so prominent in leading fighting patrols in Normandy, continued his exploits in Belgium and Holland. The regimental history notes that in a night patrol across the canal the company sergeant-major accompanying him was shot in the stomach during an ambush by the Germans. "Capt. R.G. Marsh, tossing a grenade among the enemy managed to bring him pick him up and brought him back to the boat and to safety." The account continues, "This was one of the many brave acts performed by Capt. Marsh a Canadian officer who was later killed in Holland commanding A Company.

There is also an account cited directly from the regimental history about the action at s'Hertogenbusch Road which earned him the VC recommendation that became a posthumous MiD. (p180)

[ap1]

In The Vault, the War Diary for the 7th Bn notes the following:

"18th July – During the night, Battalion area was bombed and mortared, estimated casualties for yesterday’s battle: 98 Ors missing, 100 Ors wounded or killed. Major Menzies (CO B Company), Lieutenant Machiny? (B Coy) and Lieutenant Jorpout (D Company) are reported missing. Lieutenant Cowan (A Company) Killed. The last two named officers were Canadian Officers loaned to the Regiment . The Battalion took over from the Gordon’s area of Cavalary Hill approximately 942623 during the afternoon."