WorldWar II
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
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GEORGEROBERTWARE
A35224Gunner
Born:
8May 1917 inNassagaweya, Ontario
PreviousOccupation:
Farmer
Enlisted:
1 June 1940 inGuelph, Ontario
Died:
15August 1944 at the age of 27
Buried:
BayeuxWar Cemetery inBayeux, Normandy, France
GeorgeRobertWarewas born on 8May 1917 inNassagaweya, to
Albert andAliceWare of Rockwood. Hewas one of five children (Albert
Henry,Alice, EvelynPamela andPeaceAlbert Bruce). Georgewas
raised inRockwood and attendedEramosaS.S.#9 inRockwood. After graduating, heworked as
a farmer and operated farm tractors and equipment. Prior to enlisting for overseas service, hewas
amilitiamember of the 43rdBattalion of theRoyal CanadianRegiment headquartered inLondon,
Ontario.
On1 June 1940, GeorgeRobertWare enlisted in the12thFieldRegiment of theRoyal Canadian
Artillery (RCA), headquartered inGuelph. He completed his basic training and inMarch 1940,
hewas sent toCampSussex inNewBrunswick for further training as a tank driver/mechanic.
After completing this course on17February 1941, hewas assigned to theRegiment’sGuelph
Headquartered16thBattery. He embarked fromHalifax and arrived in Liverpool, England on30
July 1941. Theywere equippedwith the very good performingSorel, Quebecmade 25-Pounder
FieldGun/Howitzer. GunnerWare and his 12thFieldRegiment RCAwere part of the 3rdCanadian
Division. Hewas stationedwith his regiment inEngland until they landed at JunoBeach, Normandy
onD-Day, 6 June1941.
OperationTractable
(14August to 16August) was an important part of the larger, overall battle
of theFalaiseGap / FalaisePocket. The heavyCanadian losses duringOperationTotalizewere
inflicted by some of the strongest opposition on theNormandy front. After re-grouping, the launch
of OperationTractable on 14August was a concentrated effort to break through theGerman lines
towards Falaise. Supporting the groundattack, RAF andRCAF aircraft were providing tactical air
support. Unfortunately, in the afternoonof 14August, they attacked short of their target within the
German lines and for an hour, their bombs fell on theCanadianartillery and transport areas.
Thesewere the conditions in the afternoon of 14August whenGunner GeorgeRobertWarewas
severely injured by a bomb blast. Hewas initially taken to aFieldAmbulanceStation and then
transferred toaFieldHospital, followed by amore capableGeneral Hospital. Hiswoundswere
too severe and he died in the earlymorning of 15August 1944. Gunner GeorgeRobertWarewas
buried in theBayeuxWar Cemetery inBayeux, Normandy, France. His name is alsomemorialized
in theBooks of Remembrance in thePeaceTower of theCanadianParliament Buildings, Ottawa.
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
5
DOUGLASWALTERWH ELER
89 92Troop
15May 1923 inRR#1Belwood, Ontario
ing
5Nov mber 1942 inFergus, Ontario
9August 194 at he age of 21
retteville-sur-LaizeCa adianWar Ce eter inCalvados, Nor-
mandy, France
DouglasWalter he ler was born on 15May 1923 toWalter andElizabeth
Wheeler of RR#1Belwood. Theywer a large family andDouglaswith his four brothers and six
sisters (Ge rge, David,William,Arthur, Gladys, Myrtle, Maggie, Mary, Ida ndWilma) were raised on
the family farm. Douglas’ other died some ti e before he enlisted.
DouglasWheeler enlisted inFergus on 5November 1942, under theNational Resources
MobilizationAct (NRMA). From 19December 1942 to 7 January 1943, hewas in theChatham
MilitaryHospital withmumps. Once he had recover d, hewas reassigned to the 28thCanadian
rmouredRegim nt (BritishColumbiaRegiment) and sent for training as a tank gunner. After
completing his training, he mbarked for England on 10 July 1943 and arrived eight days later. A
fewmonths after his arrival inEngland, his regiment was equippedwith the newShermanMedium
Tank under the experienced command of Lieutenant-Colonel DonWorthington, with tank c mbat
experience inNorthAfrica. TrooperW el r and his regi e t continued training inEngland for
almost a full year. After theD-Day l
ings, they arrived inNormandy, France on 23 July 1944 and
weredeployed just southof Caen, inpreparation for OperationTotalize.
OperationTotalize
(7 to 10August 1944) was initiated to break out of theCaen perimeter and
force theGermanArmy into retreat. It was part of amuch larger FalaiseGap / FalaisePocket plan
to encircle and capture theGerman divisions that had opposed theD-Day invasionof Normandy.
In this four day operation, theCanadian army suffered heavy losseswhilegaining only half of the
distance towards their objectiveof capturingFalaise. TheCanadianArmywas advancing along the
mainCaen-Falaise road and the highest point along the roadwas ahill known asPoint 195. The
capture of this vital hill was assigned to Lieutenant-ColonelWorthington’s 28thArmoredRegiment
(BritishColumbiaRegiment) alongwith two companies of theAlgonquinRegiment. The attackwas
delayed by aday to allow for aerial bombing, but instead this allowed the enemy to prepare for the
inevitable assault.
At 5:00 amon 9August, the 28th started their advance through the fogand smoke but the poor
visibility soon had them heading to the left / east of their planned track. At 8:00 am, they reported
(incorrectly) that they had reached their objective, but they had accidently passed through a gap in
theGerman defences and in fact were 6 kms east of their objective. The 28thArmoredRegiment
was surrounded on three sides by stronger enemy forces. TheGerman attackwas swift and
devastating. The 28thwas initially enveloped in anti-tank and heavymortar firewhile a force of
morepowerful Tiger andPanther heavy tanks attacked them from the south.
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