Strathcona Mounted Troop Report - Lord Strathcona's Horse

PERAMBULATIONS OF THE PERIPATETIC PADREThe year 2001 has given me the opportunityof visiting Strathcona’s and their widowsin five different provinces. Starting inlate May, I had a great visit with Lloyd andDella Spilde in Provost, Alberta. Lloydwho is permanently confined to hospitalwas having his best day in two years and wehad fun barking out tank commands. Lloydwho was affectionately known in “B”Squadron as “Jock” was my driver throughpart of Italy and all of Holland. I was hisbow gunner and the crew commander wasnone other than Major “Billie the Kid”Milroy who later rose to be a LieutenantGeneral while I dropped from Lance Corporalto Trooper, but this was only after mytrue ability was discovered! Della who visitsJock faithfully every day prepared us awonderful roast beef dinner and bedded myfriend and I down for the night in theSpilde’s lovely home. The next morning wetook off for Jimmy and MargerySpencer’s home in Mervin, Saskatchewan,about 100 miles north east of Provost.Jimmy was my driver in Italy where on thefirst day in the Gothic Line (August 31,1944) I almost shot off his head. We weregoing down a hill and hit a ditch, whichcaused my foot to bounce on the turretfloor and onto the firing pedal which firedthe 30-mm co-axial mounted just over thedriver’s head. Jimmy thought we had beenhit by an ‘88 and proceeded to goose theSherman. I think he has forgiven me, possiblyremembering that I was the one whohelped him to the Regimental Aid Postafter he was wounded at Torrice Crossroads,earlier in May. In June my wife Marionand I journeyed to Brandon Manitobaspending two nights visiting Rae MacDiarmidin Moose Jaw. Rae is the widow ofIan who was one of “B” Squadron’s reallysuper crew commanders. Later in JuneMarion and I drove to a theological conferencein Langley, B.C. and while their wewere the guests of Jack and Valerie Somersetwho treated us royally. On the wayhome we stopped in to visit ScrammyScramstad my crew commander at TorriceCrossroads who was just about to celebratehis 80th birthday in Penticton. After spendingthe night with Irene Kennedy in Pentictonwe headed north to call on Vic Binniein Vernon. Vic is something else!Despite the fact that he is partially blind, hehas a computer, which creates large fontcharacters that, produces a larger print ofletters he receives. With this machine hehas made hard discs of the 2000 reunion inEdmonton. Vic was most hospitable servingus cold drinks on a hot day.When he is not on his computer hespends his time trying to evade the host ofladies who populate his seniors’ residence.Keep running Vic. He is also in constantcontact with “Fighting” Jock Burton, mycrew commander in England and who latergained fame in Italy by shooting up half theGerman Army on Highway 16 near TorriceCrossroads. In July Marion and I drove eaststopping in Winnipeg to visit with ChumMacey in the Deer Lodge Hospital. Chum isnot in good shape, but when I mentionedthe name “Vic Binnie”, he seemed to perkup. In Winnipeg we phoned RogerPtosnick and Carol Ellerbeck (daughterof Bob) but both were out. After arriving inToronto we called on Frank Clifford, whoin his late 80’s is still doing some part timework in his old law firm where he was a longtime office manager. By the time this hitsprint, Frank will probably have moved toLondon, Ontario where he joins his son.Around the corner from Frank live Len“Alley” Katz and Lee. Len was in “B”Squadron in the winter of 1943-44 in theOrtona - Orsogna Line where he managedto consume most of the contents of a VinoBarn and lived to tell the story. Len drove ahack for many years in Toronto, havingsuch famed customers as Prime MinisterJohn Diefenbaker. On our way to Montrealwe dropped in to see Gordie andGladys MacKay in Perth, Ontario. Gordiethe old trumpeter has a room in his basementall fixed up with Strathcona memorabilia.This was a great treat to see andbrought back many memories as I gazed ata really super collection of old Strath photos.Back at home in Calgary I try to keep intouch with as many WW II Straths and theirwidows as possible. These include DonLake, Alex Ozirny in the Belcher Hospital,and his wife Jean, Billie and MollyMay, Nick Budner’s widow Alice, HerbMcCreary’s widow Millie, FrankThiessen, Marilyn Blanch, and widow ofRon. We “Once a Strathcona, always aStrathcona” and this has proved so true inrecent days. The Regiment invited BillieMay, Bud McLean and myself from Calgaryand Ron ??????? from Edmonton, tothe Moreuil Wood dinner at the Snr NCOsMess in the barracks, we were the only fourWorld War II vets at the dinner. Here in Calgary,the Association (Alberta Branch)most generously presented me with aplaque, making me an Honorary Member oftheir Branch. You could have knocked meover with a Sherman! One last word -Straths I have been trying to dig up are L.J.“Duffy” Dufresne “B” Squadron fromNovember 1943 to November 1945. Livedon the St. Lawrence near Iroquois, Ontario,but when I inquired their last July no traceof him. I am pursuing this one. Well as themomma spider said to the poppa spider - “Igotta fly!”POOSH ON STRATHCONA’S.Father R.S.H. GreeneL/Cpl (Retired)Vancouver Island Report continuedArmoured Division. The book was writtenby Stanley Scislowski who was thePIAT gunner in the Platoon (the PIAT wasa portable anti-tank rocket launcher.) It is,for me, an honest account of the trials, failuresand stunning successes of his platoon.The title he gave his book “Not All of uswere Brave”. But don’t believe it! Part ofthe story is particularly interesting to usbecause Stanley describes the defense ofthe feature Point 204 on the night 1/2 Sep1944. The Perths and “B” Squadron,Strathconas defended this vital feature.The seizing and holding of the feature wasextremely important to 8th Army, becauseit broke open the Gothic Line defensivesystem. The Germans launched a fiercecounter attack, which failed, causing theenemy to withdraw. Stanley describes theaction as it concerned 18th Platoon. “B”Page 10Squadron tanks are not part of hisaccount. Nevertheless “B” Sqn was verymuch there. Major (LGen (retired)) BillMilroy was awarded the DSO. HaroldBoetttcher received the MM for hiscourage and skill with a .50 Browning.The casualties were Maj Milroy, Capt DonMunro, Lts’ McIlwaine, McKay-Keenan,Vic Gar (who died of his wounds), and TprHarold Boettcher. In this same action,mention is made of one man who was soexhausted that he had fallen asleep in hisslit trench and had slept through theartillery fire which our gunners broughtdown on the feature. I remember someoneshowing me the slit trench on the followingnight and telling me that a Perth hadshared the slit trench with some Germansoldiers during the counter-attack. I knowthe book will bring back many memories ofour time in Italy. I think the book could bea useful training tool in the study of leadership.Stan seldom mentions officers. Theman who led the platoon at most times wasthe platoon sergeant. He was the dominantfigure in combat. Ask your library to get itfor you. If you find you like it, tell your familybefore Christmas.In a few weeks we will get the summonsfrom Bill Anderson for the committee toassemble, for the purpose of carefully consideringall the factors bearing on the annualMoreuil Wood Luncheon. We eat ourFish and chips, wash it down with a coupleof beers (at our own expense), then finally,Bill declares the date for this event and wedisperse. It’s a marvelous ritual.Seasons Greetings from the West Coast.Jock BurtonVictoria. BCStrathcona’s Newsletter