Heroes Remember

13 Platoon - Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa

Enlisting

Mr. Champoux recalls attempting to join the Navy and then the Air Force but they were not yet recruiting. He then joined the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa - Army.

A Mother’s Intervention

Mr. Champoux speaks of his parent’s reaction to his joining up and his mother’s intervention in ensuring he did not transfer to the Navy.

Adventure, Training and the Cameron Highlanders

Mr. Champoux recalls his sense of adventure upon enlisting and enjoying training on the Vickers machine gun with the Cameron Highlanders.

Off to Iceland

Mr. Champoux describes how he went to Iceland on July 17, 1940. The Allies wanted a machine gun regiment to set up their guns on the Island in the event of an invasion.

Invasion Scare in Iceland

Mr. Champoux recalls how a case of mistaken identity was taken for the beginnings of a German invasion..

Leaky Vessels; Dangerous Journeys

Mr. Champoux recalls sailing from Iceland to Scotland in leaky cattle boats and wondering if they’d make their destination.

The Machine Gunner

Mr. Champoux describes the duties of a machine gun crew.

13: My Lucky Number

Mr. Champoux explains how his entire military experience (from his enrollment to his wounding) revolved around the number 13.

Platoons, Brigades, Regiments and Divisions

Mr. Champoux explains the difference between Platoons, Brigades, Regiments and Divisions, while describing his own allegiance to the 13 platoon (Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa).

Stalin's Second Front: The Raid

Mr. Champoux explains how “The Raid” affected the morale of Canadian troops who were left behind. He also reveals his opinion of the true reason behind sending soldiers there.

Indirect Firing; An Innovation in Machine Gunning

Mr. Champoux talks about indirect firing; a technique made available by new machine guns.

Training After “The Raid” and Before D- Day

Mr. Champoux talks about their special training in Wales and Scotland after the raid to the Russian front. He also talks about how the type of training they were undergoing led them all to believe that something big was about to happen (D Day).

Crossing of the English Channel

Mr. Champoux describes the crossing of the English Channel on the way to France as part of the D-Day invasion. Due to rough seas, one of the moorings on the Bren guns broke.

Mines in the English Channel

Mr. Champoux describes the mines he experienced in the English Channel as he was going over to the D-Day landing. He also describes how the Navy cleared a path to the Beach for them.

Landing at Juno Beach

Mr. Champoux describes landing at Juno Beach and how a large barge fired rockets for 15 minutes while they were landing.

Encounter with Hermann Goering’s Unit

Mr. Champoux describes how the Germans did not believe the invasion was real. He describes an encounter with Hermann Goering’s Unit.

First Time in Action

Mr. Champoux describes the operation of a range finder and the first time that he went into action. The Germans were fighting a defensive battle and the Allied Forces were fighting an offensive battle.

Falaise Gap

Mr. Champoux describes how the Germans were attempting to escape. He also describes the destruction on the road of the Falaise Gap.

Destruction on the Falaise Gap

Mr. Champoux continues to describe the destruction on the road of the Falaise Gap. Many German soldiers were taken prisoner at this time and Allied soldiers were betting “Invasion Money” on how many prisoners they could capture.

Polish Division

Mr. Champoux describes the Polish Division - soldiers who managed to get out of Poland and who fought fiercely against the Germans because their families were at still home in Poland.