WorldWar II
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
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At 8:30 am, the 28th reported theywere under heavy attack and requested artillery support, but
because theywere still confused about their position, the artillery shells fell 6 kms away onHill 195.
At 9:00 am, BrigadeHeadquarters tried to contact the 28th but therewas no reply. By nightfall,
the28thArmoredRegiment (BritishColumbiaRegiment) had lost 47 of their 52 tankswith the
loss of 112men killed (including Lieutenant-ColonelWorthington) and 34 taken prisoner. The two
companies of theAlgonquinRegiment lost 128men killed and 45 takenprisoner.
That night, the few remaining tanks and the surviving infantrymen and tank crewmade their
way back to allied lines. Their reports describing the battle against much superior firepower and
manpower helped piece together the events of the day. After their near destruction, the 28th
CanadianArmouredRegiment (BritishColumbiaRegiment) was reinforced and re-equipped and just
fivedays later, theywere back in battle for the closingof theFalaiseGap.
Information from the few survivors told howTrooperWheeler’s tankwas hit and immediately caught
fire. Only oneof the fiveman crew escaped before the flames and fear of imminent explosion
prevented further attempts to search for survivors in themiddle of the battle.
On 9August 1944, Trooper DouglasWalterWheeler was killed in this action and buried in the near-
byBretteville-sur-LaizeCanadianWar Cemetery inCalvados, Normandy, France. His name is
alsomemorialized in theBooks of Remembrance in thePeaceTower of theCanadianParliament
Buildings, Ottawa.
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
7
CHARLESHUMPHREYWILSON
108336Private
Born:
13 June1922 inEdenMills, Ontario
PreviousOccupation:
Tool andDie
Enlisted:
28September 1943 in ondon, Ontario
Died:
8March 1945 at the age of 22
Buried:
Groesb ekCanadianWar Cemet ry, near Nijmegen, Nether-
lands.
harlesHumphreyWilsonwas born on13 June 1922 toWilkin Roy
andSusan Irene (neeSpinks)Wilson of EdenMill . Hewas their only
child. Charles grewup inEdenMills. While attending high school in
Guelph, he played hockey for theGuelph Juveniles. After leaving school at the age of 17, hewent
towork f r theCooke andDenisonTool andDieWorks of Guelph until 28Septe ber 1943, when he
enlisted in London, Ontario.
During his enlistment physical examination, hewas initially classified asmedically unfit for overseas
duty becausehewas deaf in ne ear from an earli r ear infectio . However, on 9February 1944,
hewas re-categorized as “Fit for Duty” and sent for b sic training at CampPetawawa. While there,
he trainedand qualified as adriver and gun fitter in theRoyal CanadianArtillery. After completing
his training, he embarked for England on 21November 1944. Shortly after his arrival inEngland, he
“re-mustered” (voluntarily transferred) on 2December into the Lincoln andWellandRegiment with
the rank of Private. TheCanadian InfantryCorpswas experiencing high losses andwere requesting
volunteers to replenish their ranks. After less than twomonths of further training inEngland, he
joined his regiment in theNetherlands. It was the beginning of February and as part of the 10th
Canadian InfantryBrigade, theLincoln andWellandRegiment was heavily involved in theBattle of
theRhine near theDutch frontier withGermany.
Fiveweeks later, on 8March 1945, PrivateCharlesHumphreyWilsonwas killed in actionwhile
taking part in the fierce door to door and room to room fighting in theGerman town of Veen. He
was initially buried 6 kmswest in the town of Sonsbeck. Shortly after the end of theWar inEurope,
his bodywas exhumed and reburied in theGroesbeekCanadianWar Cemetery, near Nijmegen,
Netherlands. His name is alsomemorialized in theBooks of Remembrance in thePeaceTower of
theCanadianParliament Buildings, Ottawa.
