The Bren's light machine gun vs. the FLAK: The weapons I used and faced

My troops and I were continuously on the attack, although it is definitely no surprise, as we WERE experienced gunners. Some of us were even master gunners, like me. Soldiers under me were armed with Thompson .45’s before the war, and then we received the handy-dandy Bren light machine guns from the British. In my opinion, the Bren was the most useful weapon us, as it was so fast, at an amazing 500 rounds per minute, while staying accurate. All of my troops were impressed by the design and usefulness. Most of all, it could last for a much longer time before breaking down. We brought down full foot battalions with the Bren’s (with strategy, of course). We also had a frightening firsthand experience of the power of the Germans. Everyone knew that Hitler had broken every single point of the Treaty of Versailles, but we did not expect to see a sea of green uniforms, armed with MP40 submachine guns (“Schmeissers”), and new inventions like the MP44, one of the world’s pioneer assault rifles (and a dangerous one at that, having less recoil, with a speed of 500-600 rounds per minute). The worst, however, was the 88mm FLAK, the anti-tank AND anti-air powerhouse of a weapon. Operated by six men, it may have had a speed of eight rounds per minute, but it could shoot 10 600 metres in front of itself, or up to 14 680 metres high. My team and I watched with our gaping mouths as tanks were quickly blown up, and aircrafts were shot down in no time at all. Had we not found cover, we would have ended up just like the heaps of metal that once used to fight the Germans. Veterans, what kinds of weapons did you use? Do you remember any weapons you faced?

9.9.1939: Canada declares war against Germany

The memories of the 9^th day of September, 1939, stay fresh in my head to this day. It was fairly easy for me to rise through the ranks of the Royal Regiment of Canada. I was promoted to Master Gunner, Third Class, after recently turning 24. A couple of weeks later, CanadaGermany, and I would be thrown into battle as a Second Class Warrant Officer. Interestingly enough, however, my troops and I were not sent overseas until early April, 1940 (due to the phony war, Sitzkrieg). When the time finally came, I marched through the streets with my comrades. My entire family from Ontario came to see me off. My father, a former Troop Sergeant-Major from World War One, happily shook my hand firmly, and said, “If I could survive, so can you. Make me proud.” My mother was smiling, too, but I knew she was holding a fountain of tears back. She waited in anxiety for her husband to come home from the previous war while I was a newborn. Now, I was about to leave to fight, too. I was worried about the well-being of my troops, how long the war would last, and if the Germans would advance far enough to attack Canada. Nevertheless, I saluted my father with a smile, and marched onward. Veterans, what comes to your minds when you think back to September 9, 71 years ago? declared war on Germany?

Life in a Prison Camp

I remember getting captured by Germans sometime during 1942. My plane had slowly crashed into the ground in one of the ambushes, but I had survived the crash. I was captive for a year or two when my allies captured the prison camp. The camp was named Stalag Luft, short for Stammlager Luftwaffe. This camp was specified for airforce prisoners, like me. They also had a prison camp for naval servicemen and they were called Marlags. I hoped my friend Matthew wasn't captured on his Merchant ship. Luckily, he didn't! The conditions here were horrible. When I was captured, I first had to pass through a Dulag or a transit camp. This camp was for interrogation and background details of prisoners. We would then be transported to a war camp using a train. I had no food for several hours on top of the train being hot and stuffy. When I arrived, I stayed at a one-storey wooden barrack with bunk beds and a charcoal burning stove in the middle of the room. We were given 2 meals a day of thin soup, and black stale bread. I had to work long hours for at least once a day for a roll-call. German soldiers were all around us so we had no chance of escape, and it we did, we would get shot on the spot. By the end of the day, I was so weak and tired. Those days in the prison camp were the slowest days of my life. My fellow veterans, have you ever been captured by the Germans? If not, have you had a friend that got captured? Do you know what happened to them?

Remembering the Locals I Met

Throughout the entire war, I have set foot in six different countries (Great Britain, Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany) and fought the Axis in two. Perhaps it is ironic that I spent more time training in England than actually fighting in Italy and Holland. In Italy, I was a tank commander and so had easy contact with many of the locals. I had expected the locals to despise us as invaders, but they were ecstatic to finally have the Canadians liberate them. They were happy to be freed from the tyrannical regime of Mussolini, who had dragged them into another world war and failed to give back to Italy the glory days of the Roman Empire. In the short periods of peace as I toured the small Italian villages, the locals would often come out and cheer us on against the retreating Germans. Once, in the town of Aquino, I was even given a free cup of coffee and flowers by a grateful family. Fellow veterans, coming from different branches of the army, what were your experiences of the locals?

Remembering those Difficult Missions

It is now May and it was at this time, exactly 66 years ago in Italy, that me and my tank crew, along with the rest of the Lord Strathcona's Horse were preparing to cross the Melfa River. Supported by the Royal Westminster Regiment, this daring crossing would exploit a hole in the Hitler Line and a victory would mean striking at Rome itself but boy, was it difficult. I led B Company of the Strathcona's and all throughout the battle, we were being fired at by enemy artillery from nearby Mount Cairo and the narrow roads leading to the Melfa were merely donkey paths through vineyards. To top it off, we would be facing against the battle-hardened 90th Panzergrenadier Division from the North Africa campaign. I saw to it that each tank in my company was outfitted with a pair of Bren guns, a PIAT (Projector Infantry Anti-Tank gun), and with a detailed map of the battle plan. A Company of the Strathcona's and the Royal Westminsters had already established a tiny bridgehead before us, but they were lightly-armed and being driven back by a German armoured counterattack. It was tricky, but by midnight, we managed to bring in our heavily-armed Shermans across to strengthen our lines and break the counter-attack. My tank crew personally took out two German Panzer IVs. The Germans fought back with their mortars and nebelwerfers but our tanks quickly routed them and I was rewarded the Distinguished Service Order. Fellow veterans, what difficult missions have you ever taken part in?

Remembering Conscription

I remember that in 1944, while I was still in Italy, there was a huge uproar back in Canada about conscription. There was a huge shortage of volunteers available for service in Europe after the Normandy and Italian campaigns, especially not enough to replace our casualties here. Many times, I have seen wounded men rushed for medical care, and then back to front line because of manpower shortages. In France, infantry and armour units like were at 50% strength. But back in Canada , an entire division of fresh reserve troops was sitting around. In the end, only 2463 conscripts made it to the front lines. Fellow war veterans, do you think that PM King should have allowed conscription?