Page 16 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Summer Giver 2024

A Review of Soldiers

By Johannes Bosma

SOLDIERS of the North Shore along the English Channel, the
(New Brunswick) Regiment, WW2 brutal Battle of the Scheldt, and the
(Who They Were and the Battles Invasion of Germany.
They Fought) by Bruce Morton, is During the campaign that
a history of Canada’s contribution began on June 6, 1944, and ended
to WW2, told in brief biographies on May 5, 1945, the North Shore
of about 200 soldiers of all ranks. (NB) Regiment suffered 1,314
At all times during the war, the casualties: 371 were killed and 943
majority of these NS (NB) Regt. were wounded. The War Diary
soldiers were men who were born records the strength of the regiment
in New Brunswick or were living on May 31, 1945, at 1,050 men.
there before the war. About 60% This number would include
were of English, Irish, or Scottish wounded from the earlier battles
descent, 35% were French, and the like Carpiquet who recovered and
balance were First Nations, Blacks returned. Approximately ninety of
and others. Biographies of First the men who started with the
Nations soldiers include Peter regiment on D-Day were still with
Barlow, Clarence Simpson, and them at the end of the war.
Walter Trumbley. Biographies of Most of the men who served
Black soldiers include Sydney Falls, Anselm Knox, and with the NS (NB) Regt. had lived through the ten years
Harold Moss. of the Great Depression (1929–39). Unemployment at
The North Shore (NB) Regiment was part of the first times was estimated to be as high as 30%. There was no
wave of the landing on Juno Beach on D-Day (June 6, employment insurance, very few government welfare
1944). SOLDIERS describes their casualty-intensive programs, no Canada Pension, and no provincial health
battles in Normandy, the capture of the French ports care programs.

16 www.GiverMiramichi.com Summer 2024