My Father's War - looking for details

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by paultp

Does anyone have details of 5 A/Tk Regt and know which part my father served with and where they were? I know generally he must have been part of Totalize and Tractable but I'm looking for a bit of detail about the unit.

Hi Paul;

The following will give you an idea of the roll played by 5th Anti-Tank Regiment, R.C.A. during Operations TOTALIZE and TRACTABLE, it is taken from:

REPORT NO. 169 - HISTORICAL SECTION - CANADIAN MILITARY HEADQUARTERS
CANADIAN PARTICIPATION IN THE OPERATIONS IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE, 1944
PART III: CANADIAN OPERATIONS, 1 - 23 AUGUST - dated: 14 Jan 47
APPENDIX "A"
THE ATTACK FOR FALAISE BY 2 CDN CORPS (OPERATION TOTALIZE)
ORDER OF BATTLE

4 Cdn Armd Div

10 Cdn Inf Bde

With under command:

One Sqn 1 Lothians
Two Btys 17-pr A.Tk (Towed) (from 5 A/Tk Regt RCA)
One Tp 17-pr A.Tk (S.P.) (from 5 A/Tk Regt RCA)

With in support:

15 Cdn Fd Regt
One Sqn less One Tp 87 Sqn A.V.R.E.
One Tp 8 Cdn Fd Sqn

4 Cdn Armd Bde

With under command:

One Sqn 1 Lothians
One Bty A.Tk (S.P.) (from 5 A/Tk Regt RCA)

With in support:

23 Cdn Fd Regt (S.P.)
One Bty 17-pr A.Tk (S.P.) (from 5 A/Tk Regt RCA)
One Tp 8 Cdn Fd Sqn

The Order of Battle for Operation TRACTABLE was substantially the same as the above except for the following changes:

4 Cdn Armd Div

With under command:

8 Cdn Inf Bde (for Phase I only)
1 Lothians (Flail Regt)
'A' Sqn 141 R.A.C. (Crocodiles)
19 Cdn Fd Regt (S.P.)
One Sqn A.V.R.E., 5 Aslt Regt

As you can see, 5th Anti-Tank Regiment, R.C.A. was more or less evenly split between the Infantry Brigade (10 Cdn Inf Bde) and the Armoured Brigade (4 Cdn Armd Bde) of 4th Canadian Armoured Division for both Operations.

Cheers