Clive/John;
Some additional notes on the 1st Canadian Centaur Battery, R.C.A.
- because of the fire support provided by "X" Armd Bty and the vast amount of ammunition that was at hand for the 95mm How., First Canadian Army decided to keep the guns and man them with Canadian gunners after the disbandment of "X" Armd Bty, who were disbanded due to their personnel, who had come from the reinforcement stream to begin with, being needed has reinforcements for R.A. units.
- "paper" establishment upon formation was: 11 officers and 103 other ranks, with an allotment of twelve 95mm How. Centaurs, three Sherman tanks O.P. and the requisite assortment of vehicles (Source: C.M.H.Q. Adm. Order No. 139, dated 18 Aug 44)
- approved strength by First Canadian Army was 60 all ranks
- three Instructors in Gunnery were rushed over to Normandy from the Canadian School of Artillery to help the gunners in mastering the workings of the 95mm How.
- most of the Battery's time was spent supporting the 3rd Parachute Brigade (of which 1 Can Para was a part), 6th (Br) AB Div.
- their role within 6th (Br) AB Div was: (a) maximum harassing fire on the enemy's administrative machine. (b) vigorous and immediate retaliatory fire
- due to its short range, the 95mm How. Centaur had to be deployed well forward, the result being heavy personnel and equipment casualties for the unit. At one point, it was reduced to a fighting vehicle strength of only two Centaurs and one Sherman, and a Cromwell borrowed from a Recce Regt.
- 1st Canadian Centaur Battery, R.C.A. were disbanded due to the simple fact, that the 6th (Br) AB Div was withdrawn from under command of I (Br) Corps (First Cdn Army) and the services of the Battery were no longer required
Little, by little, we should be able to put their story together.
Cheers
