Box 024, folder 38: Joseph E. H. Leblanc

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Rallied To Call

When the First World War broke out in August 1914 the unit offered its services for the defence of the Empire either at home or aborad. A detachment proceeded to Valcartier a few days later and became part of the 12th Battalion. Several of the 73rd (Northumberland) Regiment also volunteered with a unit recruited for the 2nd Division for overseas service.

The unit, as such, did not participate in the war of 1914-1918 but many of its personnel, both officers and men, saw service overseas with other units - the 26th, 55th, 64th, 145th, and the 165th Battalions.

When the Canadian Militia was organized in 1920 the battalion's official name was changed to its present designation because another regiment bore the name of Northumberland Regiment. The allocation of the companies were then made. Battalion Headquarters and "A" Company, Chatham; "B" Company, Newcastle; "C" Company, Campbellton; "D" Company, Bathurst.

Lean Years

For two decades following the First World War, when public sentiment was not in favor of continuing an armed force, the North Shore (N.B.) Regiment suffered lean years with the other Canadian Army Units. But the Battalion kept alive through the determination of its officers and men, carrying on its training and summer camps, even when sections were represented by only two men.

It was not until June 1, 1940, that the unit was revived. LtColonel J.A. Leger, of Newcastle, was then delegated to form the 1st North Shore (N.B.) Regiment for active service. Within 17 days he had recruited the unit to full strenght plus 100 men. Battalion Headquarters was changed to Newcastle.

Before a month had passed the Regiment had started training at Island Park, Woodstock. Soon it was moved to Sussex where it became one of the battalions forming the 8th Brigade of the Third Division.

Sailed Overseas

On July 18, 1941, at 6 o'clock in the morning, The North Shore (N.B.) Regiment entrained for Halifax N.S. The transport alloted to the unit was the 25,000 tons H.M.S. Duchess of York, and the sailing in the convoy with her were the Empress of Canada, Strathmore, Strathnaval and Orion. The battle of the Atlantic was at one of its critical stages at that time. U-boats infested the seas and many ships had been sent to the bottom.

Five days out from the port of embarkation the troops aboard the ships were alerted due to the presence of a submarine in the vicinity. Depth charges were dropped and the convoy changed its course. Nothing more happened but the records of the incident bear the remark: "The men of the North Shore Regiment behaved calmly throughout the encounter."

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Stationed At Aldershot

Following the arrival of the troops at Liverpool the New Brunswick unit was stationed at Aldershot. From that time until D-Day the unit underwent extensive and intensive training while acting as one of the units charged with the defence of Britain. Here, again, a complimentary note is found in the official records: "Throughout the training and carrying out of invasion schemes a very small number of replacements were required for the North Shore (N.B.) Regiment. The hardness and stigma of the unit's personnel proved equal to the severest tasks."

And so, the North Shore (N.B.) Regiment was chosen to be one of the first wave assault units on D-Day.

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Appendix "B" for Cornelius Ryan Your name J.E.H. LEBLANC Major [insert] See p.3 - first wave [end insert]

EXTRACT OF NOTES TAKEN FROM NORTH SHORE (NB) REGT WAR DIARIES PREPARED BY CAPT BERNARD J. McELWAINE PIONEER PLATOON COMMANDER ST JOHN NB and LONDON, ENG.

[underline] PRELUDE TO ASSAULT [end underline]

During the first few months of 1944, more large-scale amphibious exercises were held. Among these were Exercise, "PIRATE"; Exercise, "FABIUS III"; Exercise, "VIDI"; Exercise, "GOLDBRAID". During this period also a competition was held to determine the best Rifle Company in the 3rd Canadian Division. It involved a series of tests, including cross-country marches, cliff-scaling, mine-gaping, house-clearing and firing. Able company swept through the Battalion, and Brigade elimination contest and finally emerged with the Divisional Championship. At the time Able Company was commanded by Major J.A. MacNaughton with Captain Leon Belliveau as Second-in-Command. The platoon Commanders were Lieutenant F.F. Moar, Lieutenant Cyril Mersereau and Lieutenant M.M. Keith.

At the end of February Field Marshall Montgomery, (Then a General) inspected the Regiment. Following the inspection he addressed the troops - calling on them to give their best in the coming struggle.

In the spring the Regiment moved again, this time to Emsworth. Later another move was made to Chilworth - which was to be the last camp occupied by the Battalion before Invasion. While at Chilworth the Regiment was again inspected by a "Distinguished Visitor" this time it was His Majesty King George VI, who came to see the Battalion on the 25th April. Shortly after this, on the 13th of May, the Battalion was Inspected by the Supreme Allied Commander, General Eisenhower. At the conclusion of his inspection he ordered the troops to break ranks and gather around his Jeep. He then spoke on the task that lay ahead. It was inspiration to hear this distinguished Officer and when the troops marched off the field each man felt that not many days remained until the great test would come.

[underlined] THE NORTH SHORE'S STORY [end underlined]

This account of the North Shore's battle history is but an outline - or background picture - against which each battle and campaign should be viewed. The reconstruction of these battles - in retrospect - does not really do justice to the spirit, the bravery, and the great sacrifices made by all ranks of the Battalion. Many, who fell in the heat of battle, have only a white cross to show for their contribution to the North Shore's reputation in action. Others, who did fine and splendid things under fire, have no chronicler to tell their story now. Those with them then have also given all.

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The regiment which arrived in England of July, 1941, when the tide of Allied Fortune was at a very low ebb, brought with them a fighting spirit, good heart, and a sense of high responsibility. For nearly three years this force concentrated its resources into the welding of a highly-trained fighting team. There was much to lear[inserted] n [end inserted]New tactics, new weapons to master, new machines - with their maintenance and handling - and finally developing into perfection the most difficult battle technique of all - the assault landing against Hitler's Atlantic Wall.

In May and April of this eventful year the Regiment took part in Exercise after Exercise. Time and again the men dashed from assault boats up the beaches of Studland Bay, Bournemouth, practicing the grim role they were later to play. The experience gained from Combined Operation rehearsals at Inverary, Scotland, was reviewed, rehearsed, for when the chips went down this amphibious force must succeed in its part of the invasion.

[underlined] THIS IS IT [end underlined]

Finally all was ready. The regiment went into a concentration area near Southampton. There behind a well-guarded barbed wire enclosure the Briefing began. Company after Company, platoon and section, filed-in their turn to the Briefing Room. There, from a huge model, from maps and aerial photographs, the men studied their tasks. Then all was ready. Armed and equipped with the best that the total resources of the Democracies could provide the men began the journey to the boats: Science, Training, every sort of supporting weapon, tremendous air power, mastery of the Channel waters, -- all these were on the side of the North Shore men. Now it was up to them. Because of the fate of this tremendous enterprise lay in the hands of small sub-units, sections, even single individuals, the sum total of their efforts would add up to disaster --- or the foundation of victory.

[underlined] ALLIED LINE UP [end underlined]

Excercise, "OVERLORD", as this immense enterprise was called, envisaged a landing on a Corps Front, i.e., the part of the operation for which the British were responsible. Accordingly, First Corps was to assault with the 3rd Canadian Division on the Right, and the 3rd British Division on the Left, the 51st Highland Division being the follow-up Division. In the First Corps also were the famous 6th Airborne Division and 1 special Service Brigade.

St-Aubin-Sur-Mer was the area of the French Coast given to the Battalion -- the section of the beach to be assaulted being referred to by the code name of "NAN RED" beach. The assault was to be made in two waves with two companies in each. Accordingly Able Company was allotted the right sector, Baker the left, following closely behind them Charlie Company and Dog Company pass through and exploit inland.

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In the early hours of the morning of 6th June the men of Able and Baker Companies filed silently into the assault craft which swung from the davits of the ships. Standing by, off shore, under the thunderous bombardment going on, [underlined] were the H.M.S. St. Helier, Brigadier and the S.S. Clan Lamount [end underlined] . All these carried small assault crafts. Finally the tiny boats were loaded and lowered into the sea. Then began the most critical phase of the operation. Running the gauntlet to the beaches these small craft came under fire but so well had the heavy supporting weapons done their work that the craft were able to beach - at the exact time and place - five minutes after eight on Nan Red beach. As the men felt the jar as the craft touched down, the ramp was released. The dash up the bullet-swept beach began. Through the explosing mortar bombs - under the hail of 88 MM air burst Able and Baker reached the sea wall and fanned out through the breach to their tasks.

Able Company's task was to reduce a series of enemy positions in the houses along the coast. A few casualties were sustained getting across the beach itself. Later, when the house to house fighting began, Lieutenant Keith and several of his platoon were seriously wounded. By a quarter to ten A Coy had secured its section of the beach-head. But only after great difficulty. The enemy held houses were protected by "S" mines, wire, with defences so sited that each house could supports its neighbor. In addition the buildings in the tow gave snipers excellent vantage points from which to pick of the invaders. Nine men including two platoon Sergeants, Sergeant Ned Rigley and Sgt Hugh McCormack, were killed. Twenty others - including CSM Hugh Poley were wounded.

To Baker Company fell the task of reducing a strong point which dominated the beach. It had been hoped that the heavy preliminary air and naval bombardment would silence this small fortress. But it had somehow escaped destruction - must be taken out the hard way. Long and bitter it was, but, finally, with the help of AVRES - armoured vehicles Royal Engineers, mounting a special Petard - the garrison fell. One Officer, Lieutenant G. Moran was seriously wounded, with three men of his platoon the other two platoons losing eight men wounded. While baker company were thus engaged all during the day until five o'clock in the evening, the second wave troops had passed successfully through them. From this trouble some blockhouse 48 prisoners were taken. A search revealed that approximately the same number of enemy had been killed.

[underlined] CHARLIE COMPANY'S LANDING [end underlined]

Charlie had a less stormy passage in the early stages of the landing but soon after getting out of the village they came under heavy fire from Tailleville. This was their objective so they at once deployed and began working their way forward to the wall around the main German Strong point. The enemy were more strongly entrenched here than had been anticipated. Numerous tunnels led from one gun pit to another, in addition their weapons were so disposed that all approaches were completely covered by fire, However, with the aid of a troop of tanks this strong hold was reduced. Four officers and 57 other ranks came out with their hands in the air. A feature of this action was the use, for the first time in the campaign, of the man-pack flame-thrower. The enemy displayed little inclination to stay at his post in the face of the searing flame.

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