7th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
Encyclopedia
The 7th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, was one of six Canadian medium regiment
s that saw
service in Britain
and continental Europe
in the Second World War, the others
being the 1st
, 2nd, 3rd
, 4th, and 5th Medium Regiment
s.
(There was no 6th Medium.)
The 1st, 2nd and 5th Mediums served in Italy, while the 3rd, 4th,
and 7th were in northwest Europe. Three of these units (1st, 4th, and 7th)
were each equipped with sixteen 5.5 inches (139.7 mm) gun
s, firing 100-pound shell
s,
while the other three had 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) guns firing 60-pound shells.
Medium regiments were not part of the artillery
component of the individual infantry or armoured divisions as were most field regiments (25-pounder guns) but were classed as "Army" troops and were available to support any formation which needed the fire of heavier guns.
The 7th Medium Regiment was raised in September 1939 with
the mobilization of four Ontario
militia field artillery batteries: the 12th
(London
), 45th (Lindsay
), 97th (Walkerton
) and 100th (Listowel).
In the period from then until February 1941, during which time
the regiment was at Petawawa
, there were a number of
organizational changes from which emerged the 7th Army
Field Regiment, RCA, consisting of the 12th, 45th and 97th
Batteries.
The 7th continued its training at Petawawa and in New Brunswick
until November 1941, when it went overseas to England
, where it spent over two and a half years in constant training. A major change occurred in November 1943 when the regiment was converted from Field to Medium, and gave up its 25-pounders for the much-bigger 5.5 inchs. In the process it became a two-battery regiment, and the 97th Battery was disbanded, most of its personnel, however, being absorbed by the other two larger batteries.
The war for the 7th Medium became the real thing when it crossed the Channel in the second week in July 1944, and from then until the end of the fighting in the first week of May 1945 it took part in all the major battles and actions in which First Canadian Army
was engaged: Normandy
, the Seine crossing, the Channel ports
(Boulogne
and Calais
), the Scheldt
, Bergen op Zoom
, Nijmegen salient,
the Rhineland
, the Rhine crossing
, the advance through central and northern Netherlands
, and finally across the Ems River into northwest Germany
.
The 7th Medium fired its first round in anger at Rots, near Caen
, Normandy
, shortly after 18:00 on 13 July 1944, and its last, also shortly after 18:00, from its last gun position at Veenheusen in Germany, a short distance from Emden
, on 4 May 1945. In the course of 10 months in action, the 7th occupied about 60 gun positions, fired nearly 70,000 rounds of 100-pound shells in support of three Canadian divisions, most of the British divisions and the 1st Polish Armoured Division, all of the British 21st Army Group
.
The major battles in which the 7th was engaged were of course Normandy, the Scheldt
and the Rhineland. The fire program for the opening of the latter is reported to have been the largest in the West during the war: at 05:00 on 8 February 1945, 1,400 British and Canadian guns of all calibres opened fire at once in support of the British XXX Corps, consisting for the opening of the battle of four British divisions and the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
attacking east from Nijmegen into Germany. Included in the preliminary bombardment, which ended at 09:30, were 16 medium regiments (13 Royal Artillery
and three Royal Canadian Artillery. This was followed at 10:00 by the 2½-hour barrage
in support of XXX Corps infantry attacking into Germany. In the ten months in which the 7th Medium was in action it had 124
casualties, of which 35 were killed and 89 wounded (some of the latter returned to the unit on recovery).
Several G.P.O.s from the 7th became 'Air Observation Post' pilots with No. 665 Squadron RCAF
, and No. 666 Squadron RCAF
: Lt. A.B. Culver, Lt. R.G. Everett, and Lt. R.A.S. Perley.
The 7th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, was disbanded on 8 June, 1945.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s that saw
service in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and continental Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in the Second World War, the others
being the 1st
1st Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
The 1st Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery was one of six Canadian medium artillery regiments which served in England, Italy, and northwest Europe during World War II.-History:...
, 2nd, 3rd
3rd Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
The 3rd Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery was raised as a medium artillery regiment of the Canadian Army on January 26, 1942. Formed in Petawawa, Ontario, it was made up of two former coastal batteries, the 5th from the west coast and the 87th, from the east coast.-History:The regiment was...
, 4th, and 5th Medium Regiment
5th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery
The 5th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, was one of six Canadian medium regiments that saw service in Britain and continental Europe in the Second World War, the others being the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th Medium Regiments...
s.
(There was no 6th Medium.)
The 1st, 2nd and 5th Mediums served in Italy, while the 3rd, 4th,
and 7th were in northwest Europe. Three of these units (1st, 4th, and 7th)
were each equipped with sixteen 5.5 inches (139.7 mm) gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s, firing 100-pound shell
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
s,
while the other three had 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) guns firing 60-pound shells.
Medium regiments were not part of the artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
component of the individual infantry or armoured divisions as were most field regiments (25-pounder guns) but were classed as "Army" troops and were available to support any formation which needed the fire of heavier guns.
The 7th Medium Regiment was raised in September 1939 with
the mobilization of four Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
militia field artillery batteries: the 12th
(London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
), 45th (Lindsay
Lindsay, Ontario
Lindsay is a community of 19,361 people on the Scugog River in the Kawartha Lakes region of south-eastern Ontario, Canada. It is approximately west of Peterborough...
), 97th (Walkerton
Walkerton, Ontario
Walkerton is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within and governed by the municipality of Brockton. It is the site of Brockton's municipal offices and the county seat of Bruce County...
) and 100th (Listowel).
In the period from then until February 1941, during which time
the regiment was at Petawawa
Petawawa, Ontario
Petawawa is a town located in eastern portion of Southern Ontario. Situated in the Ottawa Valley, with a population of 14,651 . Petawawa is the most populous municipality in Renfrew County.-Geography:...
, there were a number of
organizational changes from which emerged the 7th Army
Field Regiment, RCA, consisting of the 12th, 45th and 97th
Batteries.
The 7th continued its training at Petawawa and in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
until November 1941, when it went overseas to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where it spent over two and a half years in constant training. A major change occurred in November 1943 when the regiment was converted from Field to Medium, and gave up its 25-pounders for the much-bigger 5.5 inchs. In the process it became a two-battery regiment, and the 97th Battery was disbanded, most of its personnel, however, being absorbed by the other two larger batteries.
The war for the 7th Medium became the real thing when it crossed the Channel in the second week in July 1944, and from then until the end of the fighting in the first week of May 1945 it took part in all the major battles and actions in which First Canadian Army
First Canadian Army
The First Canadian Army was the senior Canadian operational formation in Europe during the Second World War.The Army was formed in early 1942, replacing the existing unnumbered Canadian Corps, as the growing number of Canadian forces in the United Kingdom necessitated an expansion to two corps...
was engaged: Normandy
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
, the Seine crossing, the Channel ports
Channel Ports
The Channel Ports are seaports in southern England and the facing continent, which allow for short crossings of the English Channel. There is no formal definition, but there is a general understanding of the term. Some ferry companies divide their routes into "short" and "long" crossings...
(Boulogne
Operation Wellhit
Operation Wellhit was the World War II operation by the 3rd Canadian Division to take the fortified port of Boulogne in northern France. At first, the 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade had hoped to take Boulogne as part of its advance up the coast...
and Calais
Operation Undergo
Operation Undergo was the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division's operation to take the fortified French port of Calais in September, 1944. A subsidiary operation was executed to silence and capture the heavy batteries at Cap Gris Nez, which threatened the sea approaches to Boulogne...
), the Scheldt
Battle of the Scheldt
The Battle of the Scheldt was a series of military operations of the Canadian 1st Army, led by Lieutenant-General Guy Simonds. The battle took place in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands during World War II from 2 October-8 November 1944...
, Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom
Bergen op Zoom is a municipality and a city located in the south of the Netherlands.-History:Bergen op Zoom was granted city status probably in 1266. In 1287 the city and its surroundings became a lordship as it was separated from the lordship of Breda. The lordship was elevated to a margraviate...
, Nijmegen salient,
the Rhineland
Battle of the Rhineland
The Battle of the Rhineland was a series of military operations completed by the 21st Army Group in February and March, 1945. Overall, it consisted of a pincer operation by the Canadian 1st Army moving south eastwards from Nijmegen and the US 9th Army from the Roer.The Canadian thrust was completed...
, the Rhine crossing
Operation Plunder
Commencing on the night of 23 March 1945 during World War II, Operation Plunder was the crossing of the River Rhine at Rees, Wesel, and south of the Lippe River by the British 2nd Army, under Lieutenant-General Sir Miles Dempsey , and the U.S. Ninth Army , under Lieutenant General William Simpson...
, the advance through central and northern Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and finally across the Ems River into northwest Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The 7th Medium fired its first round in anger at Rots, near Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, shortly after 18:00 on 13 July 1944, and its last, also shortly after 18:00, from its last gun position at Veenheusen in Germany, a short distance from Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
, on 4 May 1945. In the course of 10 months in action, the 7th occupied about 60 gun positions, fired nearly 70,000 rounds of 100-pound shells in support of three Canadian divisions, most of the British divisions and the 1st Polish Armoured Division, all of the British 21st Army Group
British 21st Army Group
The 21st Army Group was a British headquarters formation consisting primarily of British and Canadian forces. The Army Group was an important Allied force in the European Theatre of World War II. It was established in London during July 1943 under the command of Supreme Headquarters Allied...
.
The major battles in which the 7th was engaged were of course Normandy, the Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
and the Rhineland. The fire program for the opening of the latter is reported to have been the largest in the West during the war: at 05:00 on 8 February 1945, 1,400 British and Canadian guns of all calibres opened fire at once in support of the British XXX Corps, consisting for the opening of the battle of four British divisions and the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
2nd Canadian Infantry Division
The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the First Canadian Army, mobilized on 1 September 1939 at the outset of the Second World War. It was initially composed of volunteers within brigades established along regional lines, though a halt in recruitment in the early months of...
attacking east from Nijmegen into Germany. Included in the preliminary bombardment, which ended at 09:30, were 16 medium regiments (13 Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
and three Royal Canadian Artillery. This was followed at 10:00 by the 2½-hour barrage
Barrage
Barrage may refer to:In music* Barrage , a Canadian violin ensemble, or* Barrage , their self-titled debut albumIn engineering...
in support of XXX Corps infantry attacking into Germany. In the ten months in which the 7th Medium was in action it had 124
casualties, of which 35 were killed and 89 wounded (some of the latter returned to the unit on recovery).
Several G.P.O.s from the 7th became 'Air Observation Post' pilots with No. 665 Squadron RCAF
No. 665 Squadron RCAF
No. 665 "Air Observation Post" Squadron, RCAF was formed in England during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, with select British artillery pilots briefly seconded to assist in squadron formation...
, and No. 666 Squadron RCAF
No. 666 Squadron RCAF
No. 666 Squadron RCAF was originally an RCAF Air Observation Post squadron formed during the Second World War. It was manned principally by Royal Canadian Artillery and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel.-History:...
: Lt. A.B. Culver, Lt. R.G. Everett, and Lt. R.A.S. Perley.
The 7th Medium Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, was disbanded on 8 June, 1945.