Canadians in & around Eastbourne (Sussex) in WW2

[Michael Ockenden]

Hello Stuart

Thanks for responding to my post.

I know that the R R of C formed part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, together with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry and the Essex Scottish Regiment.

My records do not show the R R of C as being stationed in Eastbourne for lengthy periods, but according to correspondence I had with a veteran some years ago, they were in the town from 4 March 42 – 19 Apr 42. As far as I can make out from his description, A Coy at least was billeted in the Landsdowne Hotel on King Edward’s Parade, which is part of the seafront. The hotel overlooks the Channel - over the horizon lies Dieppe. The official history, ‘Battle Royal’ gives scant information.

From the comfort of the hotel, they went to a tented camp at Hellingly, which is about 10 miles north of Eastbourne and near the small market town of Hailsham. They left for Dieppe from this camp, but I don’t know what happened to them after the raid.

A Canadian Army Location Statement dated 1 May 1942 shows them at ‘Parkwood’, which must be near Hellingly. Unusually no map reference is given although there is a telephone number – Horam Road 21/2.

In the history of Rodean School (at Rottingdean, near Brighton) there is also mention of the regiment. This states that the First Battalion was at this large girls’ school (all the girls had been evacuated!) from 29/12/40 – 20/1/41. The CO was Lt.-Col. G H Basher.

I suppose you are in Canada and if you can get to Ottawa, you should consult the Regiment’s War Diaries. At the time of my last correspondence, the Regiment’s museum was in Toronto.

Hope the above is of some help.

Kind regards

Mike