RUDY PARENTEAU

My father, with his best friend, Barney, signed up with the British Columbia Dragoons (BCDs) in 1939 at Vernon BC at the age of 19. The regiment was originally a horse regiment, but in 1940 they began training for the war as an armoured force. However, they had no armoured vehicles so they used rented cars and trucks and used sawhorses as motorcycles. I remember my Dad telling me that they didn’t even have weapons – they ran around with wooden mock rifles! Most of the fall was spent getting the soldiers fit and in November of 1940, they began real training on motorcycles on Vancouver Island.  Thus, the training began for 5^th Canadian Motorcycle Regiment (BCD).   

Just as they were getting comfortable with motorcycles, the unit was converted to a tank regiment with the new name of the 9^th Canadian Armoured Regiment (BCD). With this new designation, they would fight the rest of the war as part of the 5^th Canadian Armoured Division (aka the “Mighty Maroon Machine”).

In May 1941, they left for Camp Borden where they would receive their first armoured training. Again, there was a lack of equipment. They only had the use of a few American-made WW1 French tanks which frequently broke down. So, a lot of training took part on RYPA (Roll, Yaw, Pitch Alternative Apparatus) which was meant to resemble operation of a tank turret and gun. The other part of their training was learning to repair the tanks!

After six months at Camp Borden, they sailed to Liverpool, England in November 1941. Again, there were no tanks so their training consisted of route marches, firing guns, grenade tossing, etc. Finally, in the spring of 1942 tanks arrived, most of which were Canadian-built Ram l and Ram ll machines.

While in England, they joined with the Lord Strathcona Horse, 8^th Princess Louise (New Brunswick) Hussars and the Governor General Horse Guards to become the 5^th Canadian Armoured Division (5^th CAD). In November 1943, the Division was dispatched to the Italian Campaign. Because of transport issues, some men went directly to Naples and others, like my father, went to North Africa where they spent time in a camp near Algiers. On the 19^th of December, they were sent to Naples as part of the 5^th Armoured Brigade, 5^th Canadian Armoured Division. Here they were re-equipped with battle worn and damaged tanks of the 8^th Army. A bit of a downturn from the well-maintained vehicles they had left in England! They were eventually stationed in the town of Matera, near Naples, where they were equipped with newer vehicles.

In May 1944, they began their first battle with the 5^th CDN and 1^st Canadian Corp which was tasked with clearing a path to Rome through the Liri Valley. They saw action in several battles – Melfa Crossing, Lamone Crossing, Pozzo Alto Ridge, Naviglio Canal, etc. The Allies were finally through the Gustav Line. From there, they moved north to the final German line of defense – the Gothic Line, also known as the Green Line.

The Line was heavily wired, mined and studded with concrete placements and gun turrets. On the 25^th and 26^th of August 1944, the Perth Regiment, supported by the BCDs captured Point 204 of the Line which the BCDs held until replacement arrived.

By August 30^th, the Canadian and British Corps reached the main defensive positions along the line. On August 31^st, the BCDs were in a fierce battle around Coriano Ridge where they lost 32 of 50 tanks and 50 officers and men over a 12-hour period of heavy shelling and mortaring. My father talked about incredible noise of the guns and mortars that just didn’t stop. The sound never left him.

From here they continued northward through Rimina and Ravenna into the flat, wet country of northern Italy and ended their fighting near the Bay of Commachio

The 1^st Canadian Corps was ordered to start withdrawing as they were needed to support troops in North West Europe. The regiment moved back across Italy to the western coast with the Corps with the intent of meeting up with the 1^st Canadian Army fighting under the command of Field Marshall Montgomery. On February 25, 1945 they sailed to Marseille as part of “Operation Goldflake”. From Marseille, they boarded trains to Roulers in Belgium where they were equipped for the final push against the Germans. They were part of the armoured force that went from Arnhem to ljesselmeer cutting the German forces in two. The Dragoons found themselves fighting old men and boys and battle-hardened veterans of the German Army. After this battle, they were immediately dispatched to the eastern Netherlands to help clear the Delfzijl pocket. This battle saw them liberate the towns of Appingdam and Marsum. Capturing the the strategic city of Delfizjii gave the Allies control of the northern coast of Holland. This was the last battle of the war for the BCDs.

VE-Day, May 5, 1945 found them billeted in Groningen, Netherlands amid wild celebrations for the Liberation of the Netherlands. From there, they spent seven months in Veendam, Netherlands where they were tasked with guarding and moving German prisoners of war. By July, they had turned over all their tanks and in December of 1945 my father left the Netherlands for England and then home to Canada.

After 5 ½ years of service to Canada, he was one of the lucky ones to return home – now 25 years old. His friend, Barney, returned, as well, even though he had been in three tanks that were destroyed. They remained bonded for life after what they had been through.

Like many veterans, my father spoke very little about the war. He did say, though, that he liked the wine in Italy!

Of the 97,757 Canadians who served in Italy, nearly 5,500 were killed, almost 20,000 wounded and another 10,000 taken prisoner. They fought alongside Allies from 11 countries, as well as the Italian Resistance.

submitted by Garry Parenteau