Info on SFHQ and Canadian 'Special Force Detachment'

[Dudley]

Hi guys,

I'm looking for more info on SF-detachments in which Canadians were active and especially interested in info on No. 2 SF Detachment, which was attached to the 1st Canadian Corps. This detachment was commanded by Canadian lieutenant-colonel De Rome.

Anyone got any more info on how the Canadians were included in SFHQ?

Thanks in advance.

[byterock]

The on note I have is a lt col M.L. De Rome

A prewar Permanent Force officer. He transferred to the Royal 22e Regiment in 1942, then to staff duties in CMHQ, London, UK. His decorations included the Efficiency Decoration for long service and the Order of the British Empire.

What exactly were the 'SF-detachments'

anway here is a list of army level units at the time

First Canadian Army

from my buddies over at www.canadiansoldiers.com

[Dudley]

The on note I have is a lt col M.L. De Rome

A prewar Permanent Force officer. He transferred to the Royal 22e Regiment in 1942, then to staff duties in CMHQ, London, UK. His decorations included the Efficiency Decoration for long service and the Order of the British Empire.

What exactly were the 'SF-detachments'

anway here is a list of army level units at the time

First Canadian Army

from my buddies over at www.canadiansoldiers.com

Thank for looking that up. That was all the info on De Rome I could find on the internet.

Special Force detachments were attached by SFHQ to each army (group) to coordinate its operations with that of the field army.

Since the Canadians played a big role in Holland, especially during 1945, I'm in the need for extra info on the SF-detachments.

[Adam H]

DeRome was quite highly decorated. I can add the following info:

DeROME, Maurice Louis De, Lieutenant-Colonel - Officer, Order of the British Empire - Infantry (Royal 22e Regiment and Special Force Detachment, Headquarters, First Canadian Army) - awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 17 March 1945 and CARO/5466 dated 19 March 1945.

Lieutenant-Colonel De Rome has during the last eight months trained and commanded with outstanding success the Special Force Detachment attached to Headquarters, First Canadian Army. His quick grasp of the unusual problems involved, his application, enthusiasm and drive, have been an inspiration to all ranks, British and Canadian, in his detachment.

DeROME, Maurice Louis, Lieutenant-Colonel, OBE - Chevalier of the Legion of Honour and Croix de Gurre avec Palme (France) - Infantry - awarded as per CARO/6763 dated 23 September 1946.
Prior to 6 June 1944, successfully furnished material and moral aid to the forces of the Resistance Movement operating in France, in close liaison with French Military Headquarters in Great Britain. Synchonized the actions of French patriots with that of the Canadian Army and then proved a great comprehension [sic] in contributing to their well being and organization.


DeROME, Maurice Louis, Lieutenant-Colonel, OBE - Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (with Swords) (Holland) - Infantry - awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 22 December 1945 and CARO/6291 dated 24 December 1945.

DeROME, Maurice Louis, Lieutenant-Colonel, OBE - Medal of Freedom with Bronze Palm (United States) - Infantry - awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 2 November 1946 and CARO/6816 dated 4 November 1946. Citation found in Canadian Army file HQ 54-27-94-25, "Honours and Awards - USA - Decorations Policy", Volume 4 (National Archives of Canada RG.24 Volume 2230).
For outstanding performance of duty from 1st December 1943 to 23rd September 1944. During this period, Lieutenant-Colonel DeRome by his complete devotion to duty, untiring efforts, exceptional ability and organizational and executive skills made outstanding contributions in the implementation of Special Force detachments, both British and American for the direction of Resistance groups in enemy occupied territory in support of military activities. His efforts contributed in large measure to the successful invasion of the continent by the Allied Expeditionary Force and the resulting liberation of France.

Additionally, he was awarded the ED in 1947.

I hope that helps. I can probably get images of the original citation documents for the above, if these are of interest.

Cheers,

Adam

[Dudley]

Thank you very much Dave! Great info! This is indeed the man I was referring to.

I am interested in all the info you have on De Rome and his Special Force detachment. For example more info on the contributions this detachment made to the operations of the 1st Canadian army. Would you happen to have info on the (number of) people who worked at this detachment or other Canadian Special Force detachments?

[Adam H]

Dave?

Sorry I have no info on his unit, only on his awards.

There may be war diaries held by the Canadian National archives.

Cheers

Adam

[force136]

Sfhq

That was great info Adam, thanks for posting it. However I doubt you will find much at the NA in Ottawa. You would probably have more success at Kew in the UK. I intend to go there in March 2008 to research these very people. I have tried to locate all I can in the National Archives here and there appears to be very little on these fellows. I think a good place to look would also be De Rome's parent units museum. I am not sure at the moment, was it Vandoo's??
Anyway I will let Mr. Cobra know when I am going to the UK and could possibly do some research for him.

Ken

Dave?

Sorry I have no info on his unit, only on his awards.

There may be war diaries held by the Canadian National archives.

Cheers

Adam

[Dudley]

Thank you gentlemen for responding to this thread. I am assuming that I can find more information on the Canadian SF-detachment(s) in the Dutch archives as well, since they worked closely with the staff of our forces of the interior (binnenlandse strijdkrachten) during the campaign in nothern Holland.

If anyone finds some more information, you are very welcome to post it here.

Thanks again!

[Adam H]

Hi Ken,

DeRome was indeed from the R22eR. His ED, however, is listed as CIC.

It does sound like you'll probably have more luck at Kew than the archives in Ottawa. Good luck!

Adam

[Strider]

Dudley,

These are some Special Forces papers held at Kew in the SHAEF archive which might be of use to you:

WO 219/2353 Special Forces H.Q. G3 periodical reports, Belgium, Holland and Denmark 1944 Aug.- Dec.
WO 219/2354 Special Forces H.Q. G3 periodical reports, Belgium, Holland and Denmark 1944 Dec.- 1945 Apr.
WO 219/2355 Special Forces H.Q. G3 periodical reports, Belgium, Holland and Denmark 1945 Apr., May
WO 219/2356A Special Forces H.Q. G3 periodical reports, Belgium, Holland and Denmark: daily summaries 1944 May - July
WO 219/2356B Special Forces H.Q. G3 periodical reports, Belgium, Holland and Denmark 1944 June
WO 219/2357 Special Forces H.Q. G3 periodical reports, Belgium, Holland and Denmark 1944 July, Aug.

However, the SHAEF archives at Kew are poor quality, often illegible, microfilm copies of the original documents. The originals are held in US National Archives at College Park, Washington DC.

There are other SFHQ files especially amongst the WO (War Office) series and a small number in the SOE archive (HS). I didn't see any reference to No. 2 detachment though, only Nos. 1 & 6.

I'll be visiting Kew in October with a digital camera. If there's any particular files you'd like copied let me and I'll try to fit it in with my own research if at all possible.

Lee