As Remembrance Day approaches and I look at my Dad’s War Medals hanging in our Family Room, my thoughts are about the thousands of military men and women who put their lives on the line for the freedoms we enjoy today. This my Dad’s war record as researched by his Grandson, Allan Hewick
SUMMARY OF WAR RECORD
W.R.G. PICKERING
Prepared by Allan Hewick – Edited by Gary Pickering
Apr 2, 1943 Volunteered
Apr.19-Jul.16/43 received Basic Training in Brantford, ON
Jul.17-Aug.13 began further training in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC)
as a combat medic.
Aug.14-Sep 13 RCAMC training continued in Nova Scotia at Base Aldershot
Sep.19-Dec 1/43 Deployed to the UK to assemble with the rest of the Normandy invasion force
and to continue RCAMC training. He was also attached to the 9th Armoured
Regiment to attend to whatever injuries or health issues were sustained by that
unit while they continued their training.
Dec.2/43 Transferred to the 11th Field Dressing Station with which he would remain with for
the bulk of the Normandy campaign. See the link below on Army Medical
Organization. www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-med-org-e.htm
A FDS is a very mobile emergency medical unit (similar to M.A.S.H. on TV but moving much more often) using tents or set up in whatever structure or shelter may have been available, to provide immediate treatment to casualties.They would follow closely behind the combat units at the battle front where amulances would steadily bring casualties to be stabilized, given blood or morphine, wound treatment or emergency surgery before being transferred farther back from the front to a casualty clearing station or hospital for more treatment. They often operated within the range of enemy fire, which explains one of Grandpa’s service medals, the Defence Medal, “subjected to air attack or closely threatened”.
In addition to transporting, receiving and helping to stablize casualties, much of the training Grandpa would have been doing at this point would have been the speedy set up and break down of the equipment and tents of the FDS, which had to keep up to the combat units they were supporting as the front advanced. I’ve read that most of the casualties among the Canadians in Normandy were caused by artillery.
Feb.19/44 there is mention of Grandpa taking a RCAMC hygiene course, as you can
imagine the high rate of infection under such conditions.
Feb.24/44 promoted to Lance Corporal
Jul.27/44 shipped out across the English Channel to the Normandy coast of France as
part of the 2nd wave of the invasion. The first wave (D-day) was Jun.6.
Grandpa’s unit, the 11th FDS was part of the the 1st Canadian Army a huge, multi-disciplinary force rather than a specific smaller combat regiment, so there is less detail about their specific movements. Their objective was to move northeast up the German occupied coast of Normandy and retake the territory. Later, the main objective was to re-take the ports of Antwerp, Belgium so that they could be used by the allies to land supplies and more troups. They continued north to the Netherlands as well.
There are “war diaries” of RCAMC units which make the odd mention of specific units and FDSs such as:
Aug.7-9/44 Grandpa’s unit was supporting the 4th Armoured brigade with an infantry
regmt in a key battle called “the Falaise Pocket” which was a manouver
the surround the Germans as they retreated to the east. There is mention of
his unit having 215 casualties in one day due largely to friendly fire
bombing by US bombers.
Aug.14/44 another friendly fire bombing by British and Canadian bombers.
Aug.24/44 Grandpa’s unit stuck in a bottle neck with several others waiting to cross the
Seine River.
Jan.5/45 promoted to Acting Corporal while in either Belgium or Netherlands.
Apr.6/45 promoted to Corporal while in Netherlands and transferred to work in the
#3 Venereal Disease Treatment Unit.
May 8/45 Germany surrenders so there is a gradual disbanding and merging of the
RCAMC units.
Dec.7/45 transfer to the 12th Light Field Ambulance in support of the 4th Armoured
Division. Probably in Germany by that point.
Jan.15/46 Returned to UK
Life Unfolding 