1.C.S.B.D. (4 R.H.U.) (C.R.#1) What and where?

[Glen]

I'm chuffed by the prompt responses on this forum, so I'm going to go ahead and fire off some more questions!

After 2 CACRU, my grandfather was sent to Philippeville (now Skikda), Algeria. I'd like to know exactly where he was in or near Philippville.
Here's what I transcribed from his war logbook thingy:

S.O.S. 2 CACRU to 1.C.S.B.D. (4 R.H.U.) (C.R.#1) w.e.f. 10 May, 43

I think it translates as:
"Struck off Strength 2 Canadian Army Corps Reinforcement Unit to 1 Canadian Special Base Depot (#4 Reinforcement Holding Unit) Canadian Regiment?? #1 with effect May 10, 1943"

Does anyone know exactly where 1.C.S.B.D. (4 R.H.U.) (C.R.#1) would have been?
Does anyone know what the C.R.#1 stands for?

Here's what I have found so far: Charles Comfort's book "Artist at War" makes reference to a place "south from the port in Philippeville down a tortuous road...then came the Cork Forest and the tent line of No.1 Canadian Base Reinforcement Depot, British North African Force"
I remember hearing in an interview with my grandfather talk of "the cork forest" as if it were a specific landmark. The problem is, it seems there are as many cork trees in Algeria as there were olive groves in the Italian Campaign!

Any help is much appreciated!

Glen.

[Darrell Zinck]

Hi Glen

Sorry I won't be much help as I'm away from my refences at the moment (and may not be any help even if I were) but I believe 2 CACRU that your Grandfather was Struck off Strength from is actually #2 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit rather than "Army" and "Replacement". Three were created in England in early 1942.

But as they say, every little bit helps.

regards
Darrell

[cletrac (RIP)]

Here's a couple of pages of abbreviations I got with some Canadian service records.

[Dan Martel]

Glen,

Are you sure that the log entry you quoted refers to a transfer to North Africa? The effective date of the transfer is two full months before the Canadians took part in the invasion of Sicily. The units you are looking for may have been still located in the UK at the time the transfer took place and relocated (and renamed) later.

I haven't been able to find out exactly what CSBD and CR are short for but I think you are correct when you say you believe that RHU stands for Reinforcement Holding Unit.

Dan.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Dan Martel

Glen,

Are you sure that the log entry you quoted refers to a transfer to North Africa? The effective date of the transfer is two full months before the Canadians took part in the invasion of Sicily. The units you are looking for may have been still located in the UK at the time the transfer took place and relocated (and renamed) later.

I haven't been able to find out exactly what CSBD and CR are short for but I think you are correct when you say you believe that RHU stands for Reinforcement Holding Unit.

Dan.

From Glen on February 11th 2008:

Originally Posted by Glen

Here's what I transcribed from his war logbook thingy:

S.O.S. 2 CACRU to 1.C.S.B.D. (4 R.H.U.) (C.R.#1) w.e.f. 10 May, 43

Glen/Dan;

What the above says in plain English is:

Struck-off-Srength from No. 2 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit to No. 1 Canadian Special Base Depot (on strength of No. 4 Reinforcement Holding Unit as a '1st Line Reinforcement') with effect from 10 May 1943.

1 C.S.B.D. (No. 1 Canadian Special Base Depot) was the first designation used prior to the designation of: No. 1 Canadian Base Reinforcement Depot, which came into effect on 16 May 1943.

4 R.H.U. (No. 4 Reinforcement Holding Unit) was the first designation used prior to the designation of: No. 4 Canadian Base Reinforcement Battalion, which came into effect on 11 October 1943.

From: REPORT NO. 53
HISTORICAL SECTION (G.S.)
ARMY HEADQUARTERS
Dated: 11 Jun 52

"Originally, there had been authorized for the Canadian troops in the Mediterranean theatre a Base Reinforcement Depot consisting of a Headquarters and four battalions, each designed to hold 1500 all ranks. Of these, Nos. 1 and 2 Battalions were to hold infantry reinforcements, No. 3 Battalion was to hold those of other corps, and No. 4 Battalion a proportion of reinforcements for all. Thus, the comparatively small Canadian force which sailed for Sicily was provided with some 6000 reinforcements."

Hope this helps

Cheers

[Dan Martel]

Mark,

Thanks for the info. I'm curious however, how the designation '#1 CR' translates into '1st Line Reinforcement'?

Dan.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Dan Martel

Mark,

Thanks for the info. I'm curious however, how the designation '#1 CR' translates into '1st Line Reinforcement'?

Dan.

Hi Dan;

I've come across '#1 CR' before as meaning '1st Line Canadian Reinforcement'

Cheers