48th Highlanders beret

[ROBB]

Killer Bacon Jock beret . Rob

[JMmilitaria]

He was awarded with the Croix de Guerre (Palm). Quite unusual.

[peter monahan]

Interesting! A Yank who enlisted in Toronto.

The 48th has a proud history and is still one of Toronto's premiere militia regiments. I was priviliged to know, for many years, one of their retired pipies, Major Bill Elms. Often saw them in the parades in Toronto too, in the 1980s and '90s when the ranks included both Oriental and black soldirs, who look a bit unusual but still very martial in their kilts and Balmorals. I suspect that today the unit will also have a number of South Asian members, given the demographics in Toronto and even 3 decades ago the % of Scotsman in the regiment was small and decreasing yearly. But, as has been mentioned, a regiment with a history.

[byterock]

Hmm interesting Decorated Veteran. With French Croix Du Guerre and US Silver Star. Must be in the Gazette some place

So
CVSM
39~43 star (should be 45)

[Jean-Loup]

How would a canadian soldier have received the Silver Star (without being in the FSSF, which he seems not to have been in)?

[byterock]

The 48th where D'day dodgers and spent most of it time in sunny Italy where they where alongside both US and French units so he could of got it that way.

While there was a quota system in recommendation for citations in CW awards it was quite common to for the US and French to say here are X awards hand them out.

As there is no citation for the Silver Start that will be hard one to back trace.
As the Croix Du Guerre with palm requires a citation at the Army level one might be able to trace that back.

That being said all foreign awards had to be Gazetted as far as I know so that is the place to start.

So it could be the case where this chap was recommended for a MM or DCM perhaps, did not get it and was given the US and French award when they where handed out.

[peter monahan]

"The 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders went overseas in December 1939, again with the first contingent of the Canadian forces, as part of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division. Training in England was interrupted briefly in 1940 when they were sent by Prime Minister Churchill to France; just two weeks after the Dunkerque evacuation had been completed. The battalion thrust 300 km into enemy-occupied France before being recalled. "

My friend, Bill Elms also managed to get to North Africa with some of the very few Canadians there, but he was an exceptional soldier even as a 19 year old Corporal. he wound up as Crerar's bodyguard/driver at one point.