HK Training in England

Training in England

#1 CACRU was a training unit for the Canadian Armored Regiments. #2 CARU had specific training for reconnaissance regiments. #1 and #2 CACRU were training units for heavy armored units. Similarly, there were training units for infantry, artillery, engineers, etc.

 At #1 CACRU, what do you think? We started with GMT and then advanced training in all the other specialities. At the conclusion though, there was a two week battle course on Thursley Commons. On this course we were under canvas. It was still winter and we would get up at 5 a.m. and start running with a variety of gear until 6 p.m. in the evening. We were shot at and had to cross ravines on ropes, etc. I have never again been as physically fit as I was when we completed this course. For one thing, we couldn’t stop running. Instead of taking the bus into town, we would run the four miles because it was quicker. At the dances, the girls felt as light as matchsticks that you could lift to the ceiling.

After CACRU, I was assigned to a fighting regiment of the 8th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment, which was in the 2nd Canadian Division. The Canadian Army had five divisions. The 1st Infantry and the 5th Armored Divisions were already fighting in Italy.

Woking is just outside of London and so on weekends we would naturally go to London. This city was chock-a-block full of troops: British, Canadian, American, Polish and many others. I had the experience of using the Tube, going to pubs and dances and taking cover during air raids.

Shortly after arriving at the 8th Recce, there was the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6th, 1944. The Canadian involvement was the 3rd Division. We knew that it was only a matter of time before the 2nd Division would go. During this waiting period, the whole of the south of England was sealed off and people couldn’t get in or out of the region. Our vehicles were water-proofed for the channel crossing. There were only two things to do. The first was cross-country runs every morning. These would be 16 to 20 miles. The second thing to do was volleyball and this was played in the afternoons and evenings.