| By 1944, Canadian infantry
battalions had as part of their organization a platoon of "scouts and snipers."
Specially equipped and trained in stealth and camouflage, they were the forerunners
of today's recce troops. The Scout Platoon came under the command of a lieutenant;
they were responsible for reconnoitering ahead of the battalion on the advance. It was dangerous business; Private William C.
Alexander was a popular member of the Calgary Highlanders' scout platoon. At
Turnhout Canal on 29 September 1944 he exposed himself to friendly fire when the Fusiliers
Mont Royal mistakenly mortared "D" Company during their attack. Finding a
small rubber boat, he floated across the canal and managed to find an officer who would
order the FMR to stop their mortar fire. He returned to the Highlanders, but when
the FMR again mortared them, he went back across the canal again; this time the FMR
stopped the firing altogether. As a scout, though, he was constantly exposed to enemy
fire, and on 18 October, while on patrol in the vicinity of the "Coffin", he was
struck by automatic weapons fire and killed. He had enlisted in the first year of
the war, and was only 21 years old when he died.
| At right - Widely reproduced,
but never redundant. This photograph of Sergeant Harold A. Marshall, a Calgary
Highlanders sniper, is perhaps one of the most famous Canadian images to come out of the
Second World War. Marshall's equipment includes a No. 4 Mk 1 (T) rifle, specially
selected, tested and fitted with a sniper scope for sharp shooting. The sniper rifle
was was also fitted with a wooden cheek piece on the butt (visible on the photo
below). He also carries a machete (presumably for assisting him in camouflaging his
position) and a Mills grenade. The binoculars would be used by his number two man
for spotting targets. His
jacket is a Denison smock, one of but a handful of camouflage garments issued to Canadian
soldiers during the Second World War. The Denison was originally issued to
paratroopers, but snipers and scouts also took them in to wear, and "official"
modifications to the jacket for wear by snipers had been carried out by war's end. |
(PAC photo (Ken Bell)
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The one item of camouflage clothing issued to all Canadian
soldiers was the face veil. In green and brown, this veil could we worn at the neck
for warmth, or worn over the head (Marshall is shown here doing both). The veil was
made of a wide mesh, and could cover the face entirely (as shown below) yet permit vision;
it was an effective personal camouflage tool. The battalion War Diary offers the following information, recorded
on 6 October 1944.
The Scout platoon came into the
limelight when Lt. Bell of "Army News" came around to get pictures and a
write-up about Calgary's Western Scouts. The photographers found Lt. G. Sellar,
Sniper-Sgt. H. Marshall and Scout J. J. Levesque very photogenic. The 'I' section had a
"quickie" screen test when the I.O. appeared briefly with his Sgt.'s map board
in a "briefing" shot. The entire Scout platoon had a group picture and in all,
the Army photographers were very satisfied with their visit.
Some of these photos are shown below:
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Corporal
Steven Kormendy and Sergeant Harold Marshall pose for photographer Ken Bell in Belgium on
6 October 1944. Kormendy had been wounded on 26 August 1944; Marshall
would be hit on December 15th.
(PAC photos 141722 and 141723 (Ken Bell))
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Above: The Scout Platoon advances on Fort de Brasschaet
for photographer Ken Bell. Belgium, 1944.
Public Archives of Canada photo 116737 (Ken Bell)
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At right: Corporal Kormendy demonstrates the use of foliage as cover.
Public Archives of Canada photo 138412 (Ken Bell)
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At right: Corporal
Kormendy covers Sereant Marshall as in an obviously posed photograph, near Kapellen,
Belgium, 6 October 1944.
Public Archives of Canada photo 131245 (Ken Bell) |
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The battalion war diary also
relates the following incident from 27 April 1945:
During the afternoon two scouts, namely
Private Gould and Private Walton patrolled North from 'D' company and lay doggo in a hedge
at (map reference) 533022. After a short time, they were surprised to see eleven enemy
coming down the side road from the West. The Germans were much more surprised when
suddenly confronted by two savage looking individuals in camouflage jackets. Though
completely armed, they surrendered as one, and were dismayed to learn later that they were
not in our lines as they thought when captured. |
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