RMR’s Battle for Leopold Canal told by BGen Patterson
Westmount, Quebec – 08 January 2023: At the end of October 2022, friend of the Regiment, Brigadier-General (ret’d) David Patterson, was featured on the YouTube channel “On This Day In Canadian Military History” to discuss the RMR’s participation in the Battle for Leopold Canal, one of the Regiment’s principal battle honours earned in the Second World War.
Maj Robert Schwob, Officer Commanding “A” Coy RMR, distinguished himself by earning the Military Cross at the storming of the Leopold Canal on October 6th 1944. This officer of the RMR Company attached to the Regina Rifle Regiment was in command of the assault company which was to form a bridgehead … across the Leopold Canal near Maldeghem, Belgium. At 0630 hours the attack started… watch the video here to learn the outcome.
5 Comments
Join the discussion and tell us your opinion.
That was a great history lesson. Brigadier-General (Ret’d) David Patterson, well-known to many Montreal-area reservists of the late Cold War era, put together a really comprehensive presentation with videos, pictures, maps, and citations from letters written by participants. It gave me an appreciation for the RMR’s WW2 role that I didn’t previously understand. BZ!
Hello General Patterson, just watched a video you did about the Leopold Canal, so well done and your knowledge of details is amazing.
We were so lucky to have you as the guest speaker at the Remembrance ceremonies in Guelph last fall.
We were honored to have you join our family at our table at Legion 241 and meet you.
You met my father William Seifried that day.
He was in D company, Regina Rifles at the Leopold canal, and yes they had heavy losses dad told me… he had to count the dead … said he counted 24 dead after one nights battle… including the sergeant…killed right next to him.
He picked up a german grenade and through it back and says he captured 20 german soldiers.
He was later a scout under Lt Bergeron and carried a sten gun and hand grenades and was later Colonel Mathesons Batman and they were both on their way to the far east when the war ended.
Old Bill will be 99 this May and is doing well, lives in his own home by himself, still drives his car on occasion.
Best Regards
Kevin, it was great to meet your family in Guelph. Have you had any success contacting Veterans’ Affairs about getting your Dad to Normandy in June?
Hello, David ( General Patterson), yes my sister is in contact with veterans affairs and plans to have Dad attend. ( I have reservations about it at his age but if old Bill feels up to it, it’s his decision) he will be 99 in May! If you could email me your mailing address (kjseif55@gmail.com) I can send you a copy of the interview he did for the documentary ” War Story”, Dad has a small part about the.Leopold Canal. I think you would find his interview very interesting. Scary stuff to say the.least !
He tells the whole story about crossing the canal in rafts at night, flame throwers, machine guns,people being on fire, grenades landing,soldiers ( boys) ” their minds went”, being.” sent.back” capturing Germans etc.
Geese.
Hello David ( sorry so informal)
My Father Bill Seifried has returned from France, ( again haha after 80 years).
What an experience for him and all thanks to you, geese, it was something !
Thanks so much for.everything !
You can only imagine what it.meant to our family, thanks so much again geese !
All the best to you always .
The Seifried Family !