VIII Recce questions
 

Hello,

I am looking into some family history for a friend who had an uncle KIA while serving with the VIII Recce (L53542 Tpr. L A Charbonneau, KIA Jan 29/45). He had signed up with the regiment in early '41 in Saskatoon, was on strength with "B" Squadron, 6 troop when killed. (Killed while clearing some AP mines.)

We have the man's service records and now he's interested in learning more about the history of the unit. I can't tell him more than a few basics and I am stumped as to come up with any kind of comprehensive unit history? I know there was a privately published history at the end of the war, "Battle History of the Regiment: 14 Cdn Hussars" by (Major?) BM Always... but be damned if I can find a copy of it anywhere. :confused

Does anyone here have a copy of this elusive book?

Also, What was their WE for vehicles?? Seems from the little information I have found they did not use gun tanks like the South Alberta's (29CARR), but drove an assortment of armoured cars, half tracks and carriers?? Is that correct? Any enlightment would be appreciated. :note:

Bill.

Bill,

As with the Kangaroos, 8th Recce (14th Canadian Hussars) was a small, elite-ish organization. Their association seems to be dwindling, but I found the base page for them at http://members.shaw.ca/the8recce/ ... at least it's a start. Some of the links no longer work, unfortunately, and it seems they no longer hold reunions, but there's some contact details there. Good luck and keep us posted.

Geoff

Thanks Geoff, I saw the 8th Recce website previously. It is unfortunate that so many of the links are broken :confused

I think my next call will be to the Museum in Swift Current to see what info they might hold on the 14 CH/8th Recce. I just want to gather up some resources for my buddy Lawrence (his was named after the KIA in question)... basically wind him up and let him go (do his own research)

I don't want to get too wrapped up in this myself as I have a my own history project underway... :kangaroo

:D Bill.

Understood ref your own project. I hope that's going well!

Ref 8th Recce, you should know that their primary veh was the Daimler Mk.1 Armoured Car; obviously they had other vehs but that was their fighting tool.

BTW, if you ever seen (and can verify) 8th Recce insignia for a decent price, grab it.... that stuff is as scarce as 1CACR stuff and just as expensive! :ergh:

Geoff

I should be able to help you out. My grandfather was the last RSM for the 8th Recce. I attended their last reunion in BC and got to meet quite a few. I have the elusive book aswell as the war diaries which I copied from microfilm. Brian

The WE should be similar to 7 Recce and all the other Recce units in British Infantry Divisions. See below:

http://truxmodels.co.uk/page16.html

Re: VIII Recce questions
 

Hi Bill;

The War Diary of the 8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars) is available from Library & Archives Canada on mircofilm reels that can be obtained from them through an Inter-Library Loan. The references for these are:

Serial: 581 File Title: 8th Reconnaissance Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars)

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14221, Reel T-12683
(Outside Dates: 1941/01-1942/02)

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14222, Reel T-12684
(Outside Dates: 1942/03-1942/12)

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14223, Reel T-12685
(Outside Dates: 1943/01-1943/09)

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14224, Reel T-12687
(Outside Dates: 1943/10-1944/04)

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14225, Reel T-12688
(Outside Dates: 1944/05-1944/10)

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14226, Reel T-12689
(Outside Dates: 1944/11-1945/04)

Reference: RG24, National Defence, Series C-3, Volume 14227, Reel T-12690
(Outside Dates: 1945/05-1945/11)

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Re: VIII Recce questions
 

Bill;

"Battle History of the Regiment: 14 Cdn Hussars" (published by: 8th Cdn Recce Association, 1993, Victoria, B.C.) can be obtained through the Canadian War Museum's Hartland Molson Library Collection by an Inter-Library Loan, contact your local Library for details.

Cheers

Excellent info!
 

Thanks very much guys, I will pass this along to my friend Lawrence, I am sure he will be quite grateful for the assistance. Again, much appreciated!!
:salute:

Bill.

Brian, I just saw your PM and have responded in kind, thanks!
Bill.

Further question. Does anyone have an idea of where and what the squadrons of the 8th Recce were doing on August 29, 1944? This was the period of the pursuit, so the unit may have been going in many different ways that day.

Just saw this but its late. I will take a look in the war diary tomorrow night. Cheers Brian

My copy of the war diary stops at aug28th, maybe the next page could not be read. I will scan a couple of pages of the battle history but it does not give specific dates. Cheers Brian

Thanks Brian. Gives some idea of what was happening.

I should have included this page as it shows they were quite busy. Cheers Brian

Hello All,

Brian, you might remember me as we had some mail contact a while back.

I wonderd if these War Diarys are open for everyone and how hard is it to get? As i'm interessted in their actions around december 1944 /january 1945 of A, B and C SQN (especially B SQN) in the area of Boxmeer, Beugen, Oeffelt.

I guess there must me war diarys of this period.

Hopefully someone can tell me how to get these pages out of the war diary.

Best regards,

Guido
Netherlands

Hi Guido
They are not available on-line but if you pm me your e-mail I can scan them for you. Cheers Brian