Maximum attrition, 21st Panzer Division and 12th SS Panzer Division counter attack Canadian 3rd Division

This game was one of the first where 27th Armoured Regiment supported the Canadian 3rd Division. The 9th Brigade supported by elements of the 7th and 8th Brigade held out against two Panzer divisions.

Ian's tatic is to constantly rely on his tanks to smash into my lines, and use his mortars and anti-tank weapons to knock out my heavy weapons. In this game, I held out my armor, artillery and airstrikes until the third turn in which I flanked the German lines. On turn three, I let it all rip.
The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa rushed in their machine-gun jeep to slice down Germans with concentrated fire. The armored car fired and resulted in the Jagpanther being imobolised for the rest of the game. The Bren carrier rushed in firing all its guns with the Queen's Own Rifles mounted ready to jump out and charge into the Germans

They then fired accurate mortar rounds into the Bren carrier which destroyed it and the Queens Own. The rest of the game was basically the Germans trying to win back the trench line which the Canadians had held at the start of the game. The Germans called on the Luftwaffen to give a air sortie which failed.
By turn six, one Canadian brigade was still on the field. The Germans still had one division but decided to withdrawl. The Canadians had fought hard.

Some lessons we both learned. If I am going to use a lot of fire support, I need to concentrate it all in one spot, not over the whole board.
Ian found out that you can use air strikes and artillery indirect fire.
Next time, he'll find out about minefields!

North Shore New Brunswick Regiment (NSNBR), Royal Regina Rifles (RRR) Canadian Scottish Regiment (CSR) Queens Own Rifles (QOR) dismounted waiting for the order to mount and charge in with machine-guns blazing then dismounting to run in and to drive off the Germans.

 27th Armor Regiment, Bren Carrier and Machine-gun jeep of Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa await their order to advance and fire.

Markers for air support and artillery barrage. Ian had no idea this was coming.

The Germans about to smash into the Canadian lines. The German Panzers ran straight at the Canadian trenches on the left. The trenches were being held by the mortars of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa 

For King And Country E1 P1/4 (+playlist)

 An excellent documentary on World War 2 from the Canadian perspective. This was produced by the Canadian History Television channel. Thanks to MapleBalls for posting these.

Test of Will - Canada in Korea - Part 1

 Just outside what my Grandfather was in, this is what post war Canadians faced. Many of those who joined the Canadian Forces were either vets from WW2 or had grown up during the war. I began my teaching career in South Korea. I visited the Canadian memorial at Kapyong, and laid a wreath in memory of those who didn't come back, and to those who did come home, but had to deal with the trama of war.

Canadian Military Heritage Minutes

What many of the young Canadian men and women did for Canada, freedom and peace.

Home from the Wars (1946)

 Another heritage minute from the CRB foundation. My grandfather was one of the veterans who benefited from his service, eventually establishing King's Bedford Limited, a quality clothing store, in Bedford, Nova Scotia. He retired in 1979. And lived until 2005.

Osprey Publishing - Canadian Forces in World War II

Osprey Publishing - Canadian Forces in World War II




As it states the obvious, this covers all the forces Canada mobilized to fight in World War Two.

This was the army my grandfather was in. And I'm proud of what he was able to do, to come home, raise a family, run a business, and help us to remember, that war is not the answer.