We were on high ground, as I remember it, a large sandy ditch ran across the area. It
was a warm and sunny day and, if you disregarded the occasional sound of shell or mortar
fire a distance away, interrupted by small arms fire and the very occasional friendly or
enemy aircraft, we could have been on a military scheme anywhere in the Comox Valley!
[Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada] In and around the ditch drinking tea were a
disgruntled group of British soldiers drinking tea. A large opened tin of Peak Frean
biscuits lay in the ditch. A dead and plucked chicken, small arms, ammunition and rations.
Not too much discipline either. I got the impression we were regarded as suckers if we
went to the sloping wooded area facing the enemy. German tanks could be heard approaching
up a road. I had not heard enemy tanks before and it was reminded of the sound of
bulldozers in the Canadian woods. Our platoon was very well disciplined, still quite green
I suppose, but eager and well trained and equipped. I took the liberty of working my way
over to the brambles and deciduous trees and was very interested to find a German
bino-scope (?) on a tripod. It was hidden at the edge of a field and my first impulse was
to snatch it for my collection! Well hidden, I thought, I started toward it, noticing the
area had been raked by small arms fire, in fact I think the tripod had been damaged. Near
an apple tree, with my back to our troops, I carefully stood up and just as I did, I was
astounded to see a German soldier about fifty yards from me, bound out of the brambles and
run diagonally across the adjacent field toward enemy ground. As I raised my rifle to
shoot him, about fifty or some more of them exploded into the field and ran down the
slight slope. How plainly I remember the long Mauser rifles, the L.M.G. [light
machine-gun] , colour of the uniforms and particularly the corrugated gas mask containers
on their hips. They all had packs. I automatically swung my head toward out [i.e. our]
area and right behind me appeared a man dressed in a British army officer's uniform. If I
am not mistaken I saw a Black Watch badge and either HD or 51 HD [51st Highland Division]
on his shoulder patch. I screamed to him to get a Bren [a light machine-gun] up here fast.
His reply was "Don't shoot! They are our own men!" I was astounded. Quickly I
weighed up the possibilities. This was a direct order from an officer, and I was only a
private. Were these some clandestine British troops? Impossible. Probably for the first
time in my life I did not respect an officer. I shouted angrily "They're f_____g
Krauts!" I aimed once again at a disappearing man's back but held my fire. When the
German troops had faded into the bush I turned back to have it out with the officer. (?) I
think I may have shot him, I was that angry. He had gone. I ran back to my platoon,
searched for him with the British in the ditch, but he was not there. Was he a Kraut in a
British uniform, was he a coward afraid to bring enemy fire on us? I wish I knew. I
probably had time, initially, & from my concealed position, to empty my No. 4 mag
[magazine of 10 cartridges] 4 I am not a bad shot. [I believe Cliff actually was carrying
a sniper rifle although the scope had been damaged in action - he was a good shot.]
Private C. N. Douglas K62214
Fall of 1983.
An Invaluable Spring Knife by Private C. N. Douglas K62214 ex-C Coy,
1 Cdn Para Bn.
It was just a simple spring-blade knife, probably not very expensive but how
priceless it would soon become.
Shortly after joining the 1st. Canadian Parachute Battalion in England, I spotted it,
and it was love at first sight! I had never seen a spring-blade before although I had
heard of them. It was of good steel, compact and attractively designed. The owner, Pte. M.
M. Clark (since deceased) of Englehart, Ontario explained that it had been given to him by
the U.S. Parachute Training School in Fort Benning, Georgia where the Canadian unit was
trained. I understood each member was given one upon qualifying as a parachutist. Pte.
Clark or 'Pop' as he was affectionately known in the unit when in England, just would not
sell! I had to have one! He did mention that some day when is playing poker he may need to
sell it. I was not a gambler but I watched every hand he came up with and finally one day
he had a run of bad luck! A one-pound note changed hands and I was the proud owner of my
first spring-blade knife!
It went with me always, snugly tucked away in my service book in the left pocket of my
battledress tunic, and near to my heart. Every day and night, whether it was on a scheme,
training or in a pub, my little friend was with me in the same pocket.
D Day came and the knife jumped with me into enemy occupied Normandy shortly after
midnight of June 5th., a few minutes into 'the Longest Day'. Seven days later, in Le
Mesnil, my companion sacrificed his all for me.
Our platoon had been on five minutes notice to scramble from our slit trenches in the
nearby apple orchard, and relieve a pinned down British unit in this small wood called Le
Mesnil [Bois de Bavent?]. I remember running past Brigadier Gale [He probably meant
Brigadier James Hill, Commander 3 Para Bde], holding his long staff, and [hearing the
Brigadier] calling out "atta boy Canada!" He was accompanied by a British
warrant officer who was one of our physical training instructors, when our unit was in
England.
We moved down through the wood near a fence overlooking a field, across from which we
could hear approaching German tanks and the shouting of the enemy troops. I was on the
right flank, armed with my rifle, bandoliers, grenades and some plastic explosive above my
toggle belt and against my stomach. A Nebelwerfer, or 'Moaning Minnie' fired its six 15
Centimeter howling projectiles. I believe this barrage destroyed our two Vickers Guns
killing the crews. These Vickers Guns were behind us and I saw them looking very lonely (I
thought at the time) as I later hobbled back to a field dressing station. I had been
warned that I may be needed on the crews because of my extensive Vickers Gun training with
the 16th Cdn. Scottish Regt. [16th Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's)] in
Courtenay [on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada] and in the Ordnance depots. A
third barrage landed slap-bang on top of us, wounding or killing practically everyone in
the wood.
I had crouched down tight up against a fir tree which, if my memory serves me
correctly, was about eighteen inches or so in diameter, possibly two feet, but no more. It
was an uncleared wood, and to my right was a lot of scrub bush, very thick and impossible
to see through. I suppose it could be compared to Stanley Park in Vancouver [British
Columbia], near the approach to the Lion's Gate Bridge. Apparently a German had managed to
sneak up pretty close to my flank, which I was trying to protect. The tree seemed to
explode in my ear! I bounced back from the tree and felt a piece of shrapnel deep into my
left thigh. Also I felt a pain in my left chest. I glanced at the tree an found one bullet
protruding about half it's length out of the bark. This bullet had dented some cartridges
in one of my bandoliers. Another bullet passed clean through this part of the tree,
entering my left jacket pocket, passing thought into my tunic pocket, across my chest and
away. I discovered the bullet had hit the little knife, spreading it open and smashing it
into a tin of ration chocolate against my left chest. My close adversary did not fire
again, he was so close I can only assume he was wounded or killed by the barrage which put
us all out of business. We licked our wounds and those who survived regrouped only to be
met with a very severe attack later at night. On my way back to the dressing station the
first troops I had seen from the beach started to reinforce us. A Bren gun carrier
[Universal Carrier] I believe it was, headed toward the area, the grim faces of the men
aboard I will never forget.
When I later examined the knife more carefully, it appeared to have been hit right on
top of the back of the blade, flattening it out like an open book. The knife was later
stolen from me at the dressing station. I wonder what wondrous tales the new owner has
come up with?
Private C. N. Douglas K62214
Fall of 1983.
[This web site editor believes the knife was a US M2 paratrooper knife which could be
opened with one hand by an injured paratrooper as it was a switch-blade. This was useful
in case of injury as it could be opened with one hand.]
The Rochefort Incident by Pte. C. N. Douglas ex-C Coy, 1 Cdn para Bn.
On or about Jan. 2nd 1945 'C Coy' left the village of Esplechins in convoy. Our
destination was in an area in which heavy fighting between the U.S. troops and the Germans
was taking place. In the afternoon, as the convoy rumbled over the snow-packed roads I was
struck by the beauty of the country. Fields covered in a few inches of snow, low rolling
hills with a good covering of trees, much as you would find in most parts of Canada. A
cloudy, threatening sky completed the ensemble. We soon encountered a number of U.S. Tanks
which slowed down the convoy as they fitted into our convoy of trucks. It was cold, and we
were frightened by the prospect of engaging the well trained Germans at any time. Our
heavy coats protected us well enough. Several men in the truck in which I rode slept, some
just talked, some prayed. Being a Bren gunner, I stayed near the tailgate, where the cold
wind behind the trucks disturbed the light snow causing much of it to enter the rear of
the box.
Our convoy turned off to the left, the tanks carrying on along another road. We
approached a pretty and peaceful looking hill at the base or near the base of which the
trucks stopped. I remember the long walk up the steep road to the top. We seemed to carry
a lot of equipment. Tired and apprehensive as we neared the top, we passed a large
American sign stating 'You are now under enemy observation beyond this point'. A discarded
U.S. Garand rifle lay alongside the road, partly covered in snow. Enemy vehicles could be
heard in the distance leaving Rochefort. It was getting dark now, and colder. A field
kitchen was rapidly set up and while in the line up for slops we saw a German come out of
the nearby woods. His hands clasped behind his head, overcoat open, an old Mauser rifle
slung over his shoulder. We had been increased in strength (?) by a number of new arrivals
from Canada. One, directly behind me, asked what kind of uniform the soldier wore, and was
the gun a Tommy Gun! Unbelievable! A very dead German soldier lay nearby, having been run
over by a tracked vehicle. After eating we were briefed on the situation and the patrols
were organized. From our vantage point, overlooking the city of Rochefort and the hills
beyond, we could see the road we would approach the city by. I think the patrol on which I
was going, would be the second or third out. I believe one patrol would stay at a road
intersection in the city as an outpost. At midnight we started out. Sgt. Harry Wright of
Nanaimo, armed with a Sten and Colt .45 led the patrol. I followed close behind with my
Bren over my shoulder and a .45 Colt on my hip. Behind me was Pte Danz (or Dans) with a
Sten and behind him Pte. Pinay. I believe with a rifle. Down the hill we went, up the long
straight road and over a small bridge, passing a sentry. The town looked forboding
[foreboding] indeed, No lights of course. The strange cold silence broken only by our
careful advance.
I understood we were to turn left before coming to the end of the street. Perhaps we
had gone one block too far? A T intersection was ahead, and just as the Sgt. turned left
to proceed down the street toward the Meuse a rifle shot rang out from across the street.
I saw the flash from the doorway directly in front of me. Sgt. Wright asked in a loud
voice, where the shot came from. Just as I was telling him it was from across the street
and we were hitting the snow covered sidewalk, another shot from the door, hitting the
Sgt. in the head and spinning him around in the snow up against my left side. Why did I
almost know it was one of our own men? Did I identify the sound of the .303 Enfield
action? I hesitated firing for perhaps a second for this reason then I was hit. The Bren
had been hastily taken from my shoulder as I lay prone, bipod slammed forward and ready
for firing. I pulled the trigger and the unbelievable happened. Perhaps it was the ice,
but for some reason, although it had stayed in place the long walk through town, the rear
of the magazine lifted from the catch as the breech rammed forward. Back on the cocking
handle down with the mag and the Bren fired a full mag into and around the door. Another
shot, likely from a window just before or while the Bren was firing, hit Pte. Danz. I do
not know what happened to Pte. Pinay, but I understand he is now a chief of a tribe in
Saskatchewan.
As the echoing of fire ceased I could hear men running from the Meuse area toward us. I
was right. A Sgt. major was shouting for us to stop shooting as we were shooting up our
own men! The trigger happy idiot who started the whole affair soon came out of the
darkened doorway carrying a rifle. My Bren was on it's side in the snow and I was sorely
tempted to shoot the bastard with my .45 Colt automatic. Drowsiness and concern about
paralysis in my lower body took over. Eventually the medics arrived. My Sgt. was still
alive and I believe Danz was unconscious, having been hit in the lower back.
The crossing of the Meuse on stretchers and the dangerous route of the RAMC ambulance
through the German lines is another tale.
Private C. N. Douglas K62214
Fall of 1983.
Cliff Douglas had served pre-W.W.II in the Canadian Militia - with 'C' Coy, Canadian
Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's). The local platoon in Courtenay, BC was equipped with
Vickers MMGs. During the war Cliff joined the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps I believe and
reached the rank of Sgt. He transferred to the 1 Cdn Parachute Bn in England and took a
voluntary drop in rank to Private. He was employed as a sniper for D-Day (1944 Jun 05/06).
He was with C Coy 1 Cdn Para when they were among the first Allied troops to land as his
group dropped from Albemarle aircraft as a protection force for the Pathfinders. For the
Ardennes Cliff was tasked as a Bren Gunner. Due to his wounds he missed Operation Varsity
(the Rhine Crossing 1945 March).
After the war, Cliff's picture was used as a recruiting image by the Canadian Army. The
drawing shows him in his Denison smock, airborne helmet and holding a Sten Mk. II. Cliff
later joined the Royal Canadian Navy and was on a winning shooting team. He wore his
coveted parachute badge on the cuff of the jacket in Naval fashion.
In the late 1940s Cliff had the inspiration for a submachine-gun where the bolt and
barrel both recoiled and in opposite directions. (His concept sketch was in the back of a
book that disappeared after this death.) He built about 7 prototypes. The designs varied
and he eventually came up with a tubular magazine (like the roll for paper towels) in
which the bullets were nose to tail in a spiral inside the outer shell. This magazine
could be inserted from the rear and allowed the shooter to keep a low profile. He also
placed a pistol grip under the centre of gravity. He formed a company, but the business
end of it was badly run by a colleague and the business failed. There is a chapter with
some photos written about his inventions in one of the major books on SMGs. Interestingly
the photos show one prototype being tested by Army officers. Cliff explained that the
business partner had taken a bench test model to the trials without asking or telling
Cliff! In spite of that it did well but the Canadian Army did not adopt it.
I donated Cliff's prototype Douglas SMGs to the Canadian War Museum.
Unfortunately Cliff died of cancer after writing the above three recollections. I
recall that he spoke of the trip on the stretcher as a nightmare. At Rochefort, the bullet
had entered his shoulder, travelled through his body and exited around or below his waist.
The people carrying him had to negotiate the stretcher over a steep bank by the edge of
the river, and they dropped him.
Shortly before his death his last wishes included the desire to make one more parachute
jump (his Doctor refused him permission), and after his death for his prototype Douglas
Submachine-guns to go to the Canadian War Museum (CWM) http://www.cmcc.muse.digital.ca/cwm/cwmeng/cwmeng.html
and for his beret with badge, toggle rope and 2 foot wide cast aluminum Parachute
Regiment barracks sign in the shape of their cap badge to come to me. After Cliff died the
prototype breech blocks, prototype magazines, beret, badge, toggle rope and PR sign
disappeared. The Douglas SMG prototypes and his medals were lost for a year but I was able
to track them down and deliver them to the CWM. His Denison smock, battledress tunic, and
pay books are legitimately in other private collections.
I had the great pleasure of calling Cliff Douglas a friend
Colin Stevens seaforth72@gmail.com
