Field of Crosses

3 days ago

The Battle of the Rhineland began on February 8th, 1945 after three months of meticulous planning by the Allied forces. This battle was preceded by air and artillery attacks from the Allies in preparation for troop mobilization.

The Battle of the Rhineland was also known as Operation Veritable, and was led by Canadian General Henry Duncan Graham Crerar. The goal of the advance was to drive the enemy back over the Rhine River and into German territory. The First Canadian Army began their advance at the Nijmegen Salient in an attempt to clear the corridor between the Rhine and the Maas Rivers. For the operation to be considered a success, the Canadians needed to clear the Reichswald Forest, clear the defences along the Rhine River, and break the Siegfried Line, which was an elaborate series of bunkers, tank encampments, and trenches along the German border. Through the rain and mud, the Canadian forces advanced beyond the German lines, and by the 21st of February, they had broken through the Siegfried Line.

Once through the Siegfried line, the Canadian First Army was faced with the difficult challenge of defeating the German defences along the Hochwald Forest. The 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Divisions and the 4th Armoured Division assault against these positions began on February 26th. In the beginning, slight gains were made, but the weather made it difficult to progress. On March 4th, 1945, after 6 days of intense fighting, the Canadians cleared the German forces from the forest. The victory at the Battle of the Rhineland was crucial because Canadians had helped to defeat the last major line of German defence.

Throughout the month of fighting the Canadian First Army had 15,634 casualties.

Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance, the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorate the Army and Air Force servicemen who lost their lives during the campaign.

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Field of Crosses

1 week ago

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Guysborough - J52

HMCS Guysborough (J52) was a Bangor Class minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during World War II. She was built at Vancouver, British Columbia for the Royal Navy but transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy for manning. HMCS Guysborough was commissioned on April 22, 1942, and assigned to the Western Local Escort Force.

She had a compliment of 83 crew, a displacement of 672 tons and a length of 54.9m (180 ft). She was armed with a single 12-pound gun, 4 20-mm guns and depth charges. Her top speed was 16 knots.

HMCS Guysborough left for Halifax, Nova Scotia in March 1943. She arrived there on April 30 where she joined Halifax Force. In mid-September 1943, Guysborough underwent 6 weeks’ refit at Baltimore, Maryland. In February 1944 HMCS Guysborough left Halifax was assigned to the 14th Minesweeping Flotilla in England. She was present on D-Day.

In December 1944 she returned to Canada for refit at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. On completion of the refit, she was bound for Plymouth, England, when she was torpedoed and sunk on March 17, 1945, by the submarine U-878 off Ushant Island in the English Channel. Fifty-one of her complement lost their lives, many due to exposure while awaiting rescue over a 19-hour period, while 37 survived and were rescued by HMS Inglis (K 570).

Battle honours earned include Battle of the Atlantic 1943-44 and Normandy 1944. She was also mentioned in dispatches for rescue of a US Navy sub-chaser who suffered a steering gear breakdown in an Atlantic storm in early 1944.

Each November the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorates three Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserv
e (RCNVR) sailors.

Bishop Robert J – 20 – Signalman RCNVR – 18/03/1945

Bodeux Joseph M – 27 – Signalmen RCNVR – 18/03/1945

Mountain William T – 20 - Able Seaman RCNVR – 18/03/1945

All three sailors were lost at sea and are commemorated on the Halifax Memorial in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, Nove Scotia, Canada.

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Field of Crosses

1 month ago

𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐊 𝐃𝐅𝐂
Age: 28 – F/L (N) RCAF
Date of Death: 14/02/1945

John Kingsley Knights was born in Strathmore, Alberta on April 9, 1916. He was the son of John and Bertie Knights of Calgary and brother of Urban, Alice and Verbena. He was the husband to Pansy Alice Knights.

John’s education in Calgary included Glengarry and Sunalta Public Schools and Western Canada Technical School where he studied trades in electricity and motor mechanics. He was active in baseball, skating, shooting and bowling. Following his schooling he worked as a salesman for the West End Nurseries in Calgary. John had previous military training in the militia with the 91 Field Battery ‘Signals’ for three years from 1933 to 1936.

John enlisted on November 6, 1940, with the Royal Canadian Air Force, initially flying with the 408 Squadron. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on May 7, 1943. His citation read; “Since joining this squadron Pilot Officer Knights has taken part in attacks against some of the most heavily defended targets in enemy territory. These operations included sorties to Cologne, Dusseldorf, Lorient, Essen, Breman, Hamburg and Turin, amongst others. Invariably this Officer has shown a fine fighting spirit and courage of the highest order. At all times his efficient navigational skill and judgement have been an inspiration to the other members of his crew.”

Due to his navigation skills, he was taken on strength on February 9, 1945, with the 405 Squadron, a Path Finder Force. Their moto in Latin was ‘Ducimus’, meaning ‘We Lead’.

John completed 35 missions and had just begun his second tour of operations. On the evening of February 13, 1945, he and the crew of their Lancaster, (registration: PB183, main serial number LQ-C), took off from RAF Gransden Lodge Air Force base to take part in Operation Thunderclap with the bombing on Dresden, Germany.

In the stream of bombers heading to the target, still carrying their full bomb loads, two aircraft collided in mid-air creating a large explosion and the loss of both aircraft and crews over Remlingen, Germany. The aircrafts identified were the one John was flying in and another from the 576 Sqdn, Lancaster # PD232.

As a result of the crash, 11 crew members perished and are buried in the Durnbach War Cemetery in Gmund am Tegernsee, Bavaria, Germany, three were never found and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, and one was taken as a prison of war.

John was reported missing and presumed killed in action on February 14, 1945, at the age of 28. Flight Lieutenant Navigator John Kinsley Knights has no know grave and his name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial at Englefield Green, Egham, Surrey, England.

Each year during the Eleven Days of Remembrance the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorates Flight Lieutenant John Kinsley Knights.

FoC/BPeake
2025-02-10

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Field of Crosses

2 months ago

𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐋𝐞𝐨
Age: 26 – Pte RCA
Date of Death: 14/01/1945

Leo Smith was born on September 21, 1916, in the town of Gomel, Russia, the son of Abraham and Rose Smith. He had a brother Allan and sisters Pauline and Mary. The family arrived in Calgary, Alberta in 1924.

Leo spoke several languages: English, Jewish and Russian. Growing up in Calgary he was active in sports; boxing, baseball, rugby, and he played the violin. Leo made a home for himself in Calgary as a dry cleaner and presser. He was the husband to Columba G. Smith and father to Sylvia Susan Smith.

Leo enlisted in Calgary as a Private with the Calgary Highlanders on December 6, 1939, service number M/11468 at the age of 23.

During his service overseas in Italy from June 30, 1943, Leo was Taken On Strength (TOS) with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and later on January 10, 1945 he was TOS with the 5th Medium Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery.

Leo died of his wounds received in action against the enemy in Italy on January 14, 1945. He is buried in the Argenta Gap War Cemetery in Italy.

Each November during the Eleven Days of Remembrance the Field of Crosses in Calgary, Alberta commemorates Private Leo Smith.

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