World War 2

Following two decades of active Militia training between the wars, the RMR was again mobilized in 1939. With the sailing of the 1st Battalion to England in December of that year it was quickly apparent that a training depot was necessary, thus the 2nd Battalion was formed in the spring of 1940. While the 2nd Battalion continued in its task of providing trained reinforcements for overseas duty, the 1st passed through a long series of reorganizations. These saw the unit’s role shift from Machine Gun, to Armoured Reconnaissance and Armoured Cars, and finally to the designation of “First Canadian Army Headquarters Defence Battalion”.

LEOPOLD CANAL
It was during this last incarnation that a future Commanding Officer and Honorary Colonel, Major Robert Schwob distinguished himself by earning the Military Cross at the storming of the Leopold Canal on October 6th, 1944. In announcing the award, the Department of National Defence released a citation, which read in part as follows: “This officer of the Royal Montreal Regiment Company attached to the Regina Rifle Regiment was in command of the assault company which was to form a bridgehead on the left flank of the battalion front across the Leopold Canal near Maldeghem, Belgium.

- at 0630 hours the attack started. Accurate enemy machine-gun fire came from positions that enfiladed the canal and took a large toll of those in the boats.

- By 1000 hours, ‘C’ Coy., Regina Rifle Regiment, had crossed into the bridgehead held by the Royal Montreal Regiment. They soon lost all their officers and most of the non-commissioned officers. Major Schwob took charge of the remnants of the company and continued to hold the bridgehead in face of fierce and continuous counter-attacks.

- Eventually, the remainder of the battalion went through this position to extend the bridgehead, as it was the only crossing that had been made and held in that sector of the front. For three days and nights of bitter hand-to-hand fighting, Major Schwob commanded the left flank of the bridgehead, which was only ten yards in depth, and carried on quietly and efficiently, though casualties continued to be very heavy. By his courage, determination, and control under the most difficult circumstances, the bridgehead was not only gained, but held, through these perilous days and nights.”

MAJOR BARRE In 1943, Major Paul Barre was second in command of the RMR, and went on course with the Army to participate with the Allied Military Government at the end of hostilities. After cessation of hostilities on May 5th, 1945, he was posted with the Allied Military Government in Continental Europe and then attached to British Army 5th Corps Headquarters at Carintia, Austria, and it was there his duties took him to the nearby village of Viktring to attend to a large group of Yugoslav refugees.

There was, however, confusion over a decision taken at the February 1945 Allied meeting at Yalta, in the Crimea, regarding the return of USSR and Yugoslav citizens - both military and civilian - to their country of origin, whatever their wish. Major Barre disagreed with this interpretation, certainly with respect to the civilians, and made strong presentations to successively higher authorities in the chain of command. Eventually it was decreed that civilians would not be repatriated against their will, knowing full well the fate of probable execution that awaited them across the border.

By the fourth of June, following a visit to Viktring by Field Marshal Alexander, the Supreme Allied commander in the Mediterranean theatre, when the situation was explain to him, a new Army policy was issued prohibiting the repatriation of military and civilian citizens against their will. This humanitarian intervention saved the lives of thousands of people. Recognition for this effort was manifested at a reception held in the Officer’s Mess on April 4th, 1987, when Major Barre was presented with “the degree, rank, and status of a Knight Commander of the Order of the Saint-Sava for his outstanding service to the Yugoslav Royal Army in 1945”.