For many Canadian regiments during the Second World War, the liberation of North-West Europe was an opportunity to prove their wartime mettle once and for all. Garrisoned in Great Britain from 1940 to 1944, this was especially true of the Royal Montreal Regiment. Indeed, the Battle of the Leopold Canal, which opened the way to Belgium, was their first major test. Motivated as they were to contribute to the war effort, the RMR unfortunately suffered many casualties among their young soldiers and officers, reminding them of the dramatic consequences of combat.

The liberation of North-West Europe solidified the lasting relationship between Canadians and Europeans, more specifically those living in war-torn Belgium and Holland. The journey to liberation was long and arduous, taking months of constant fighting and suffering on both the soldiers’ side and the civilian side. The Royal Montreal Regiment was in the centre of the action by the end of 1944, and their involvement in the Battle of Leopold Canal was their biggest contribution to the liberation of North-West Europe, happening seven months later, in May 1945.

Why the Leopold Canal? Built between 1847-1850, the location of the canal in northern Belgium made it an ideal spot for a German resistance line, being close to the Dutch border. Behind the canal was a large stretch of land called the Breskens Pocket, and behind that was the all-important Scheldt Estuary. In 1944, Germany had control over the Scheldt Estuary, making it impossible for Allied forces or support to come into Antwerp’s port. Since it was the largest inland port in North Western Europe, it was crucial for delivering food and supplies to Belgian and Dutch civilians. This is where the Canadians come in.

The Battle Plan

The goal was for the Canadians to cross the 3-7 ft deep Leopold Canal, push upwards towards the Scheldt and eventually get the Germans out of the Breskens Pocket to retake the Scheldt. This would allow them access to Antwerp, which was vital to the survival of the civilian population.

On the Axis’ side, Hitler and the German officers had understood that their loss of Antwerp’s port in September of 1944 would lead to a last stand over control of the Scheldt waterways. If the Germans lost control over Breskens pocket and, subsequently, the Scheldt, they would quickly lose control of North West Europe and lose the war altogether. Because of this, the German troops were told to “fight to the death”, making the battle of Leopold Canal all the more difficult for the Canadians.

The landscape of the Battle of Leopold Canal was difficult to navigate, with the Germans flooding the land with seawater, forcing the Canadians to find alternate non-flooded routes, to attempt amphibious attacks on vehicles or to wade through waist deep water wearing wool uniforms. Because of the low land in northern Belgium and Holland, the practice of flooding the terrain was common and was an extra challenge for the Canadians.

To gather a full understanding of the RMR’s influence, we must go back to September 1944. Until this time, the RMR had spent the majority of the war training in the United Kingdom, meaning they had not seen much action. The Canadians had been tasked with an assault on the Leopold Canal on September 13th, 1944, but it did not succeed in the Allies’ favour.

Crossing the Canal

At the end of September/early October 1944, a second Canadian attack on the Leopold Canal was planned to take place by the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. This included the Regina Rifles, the Royal Winnipeg Regiment, the Canadian Scottish Regiment and the Lorne Scots of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. The Regina Rifles had recently taken part in a battle and were in great need of a break. This is where the RMR comes in.

The first few years of the RMR consisted of training in the UK, but after four years, the Regiment was antsy to go fight. By the end of September 1944, it was decided that one company of 80 men from the RMR would replace and relieve a company of the Regina Rifles for the Battle of Leopold Canal, the introduction to the Battle of the Scheldt. Lieutenant Barclay was given a role of confidence during this battle, he would lead platoon number 2 across the canal and towards the enemy lines.

One company (80 men) from the three Regina Rifles companies was replaced by a company of RMRs, commanded by the newly appointed Captain Robert J. Schwob. The structure became the following:

3rd Canadian Infantry Division

7th Canadian Infantry Brigade

The young Lieutenant William Noel Barclay was given a role of confidence during this battle; he would lead platoon number 2 across the canal and towards the enemy lines.

On the eve of October 6, 1944, the company of about 80 men made their way on foot to their forming up place near the canal. The plan for the Montrealers was to use WASP flamethrowers, a 5ft tall small armoured vehicle mounted with a flamethrower. These large-scale weapons had a firing range of up to 120-140 yards, and were known to terrify the Germans. At 05:25 on October 6th, flamethrowers fired across the dark waters for five minutes, and platoons 1 and 3 crossed the canal in their assault boats under the cover of the smoke.

William proved his expertise as he figured out a passage to the Leopold Canal for the entire company. He confidently led the men to the northern bank of the canal by 5 am and was poised to cross the canal in an assault boat, leading platoon number 2 to the southern bank. However, the unpredictability and horrors of war struck the RMR quickly, as two of three assault boats were attacked as they crossed, a result of the lack of reconnaissance done for this battle. Lieutenant Barclay, sitting at the front of his assault boat managed to get his men across to the southern bank. As they reached the shore, German machine gun fire tore through the boat killing Lieutenant Barclay immediately.

By 06:00, the three platoons had crossed, but Lieutenant Barclay and his comrade Sergeant Murray had been killed – two of the three platoon leaders. Between October 6 and 9, 1944, the RMR company had 46 casualties; 10 killed, 16 captured as prisoners of war and 20 wounded. The effects of the battle lingered until April of 1945, when the German prison camp where the RMRs were kept, Stalag XI-B, was liberated.

Lieutenant Barclay’s ultimate sacrifice

The men fighting for the RMR and for the liberation of Europe were not only soldiers, but sons, brothers, fathers, friends, people. They had normal lives with regular jobs, but did extraordinary things while on the field. While the men who fought volunteered their service to Canada, their knowledge of warfare and understanding of their eventual fates were often limited. Young men would enlist in the war for a multitude of reasons; out of patriotism, out of a sense of adventure, to visit Europe, to follow in their father’s footsteps or because they liked machinery, weapons, just to name a few.

Some of the civilian jobs worked by the RMR men at the Leopold Canal were the following; machinist, student, insurance underwriter, farmer, baker, labourer, clerk, etc. One of the platoon leaders at Leopold Canal, Lieutenant Barclay, was a prime example of a young man putting his life on pause to serve his country.

25-year-old Lieutenant William Noel Barclay lost his life during the Battle of Leopold Canal, putting a sudden end to a young life full of accomplishments. Nicknamed “Jock”, he was educated at the prestigious Selwyn House School for boys and, later, Loyola High School in Montreal. At the time of his enlistment, William was in his third year of Commerce at McGill University, and he stated that he wanted to return to school after the war. He hoped to become a chartered accountant according to his enlistment paperwork. While academics seemed to be his priority, William had a keen interest in the military throughout his education, with three years of experience in the Loyola C.O.T.C (Canadian Officers Training Corps) and one year with the McGill C.O.T.C., William officially enlisted with the RMR on October 7th, 1941, as a second lieutenant.

Like many young soldiers who fought during the Second World War, William lived at home, in Westmount, with his father. His mother had passed away when he was 15, and as an only child, was left to live alone with his father Mr. Noel McEachran Barclay. The father-son duo lived at 3496 Côte-des-Neiges and 506 Grosvenor Avenue. Digging into the personal and sometimes mundane lives of soldiers before the war shows us today how young the men who fought for liberation really were. While they demonstrated unimaginable bravery and grit, the landscape of the war forced them to grow up much faster.

The war forced a huge lifestyle change for all, including William Barclay. He went from living at home with his father, his daily life consisting of university classes, C.O.T.C. training, playing sports, and hanging out with friends, to the most unimaginable fight of his life. Barclay quickly lost his life trying to cross the Canal. Even in death, he was a gallant soldier, shielding his men from the fire and essentially acting as a human shield. His platoon managed to scramble out of the boat and into trenches, joining the other two platoons. Lieutenant Barclay was one of the first RMRs to be killed during the Battle of Leopold Canal, and, unfortunately, he would be joined by nine of his comrades in the coming days. They are all buried in the same cemetery, the Adegem Canadian Military Cemetery in Belgium.

Lingering Consequences

While the RMR and the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division defeated the Germans and managed to take Breskens pocket, it was with great difficulty and it cost the RMR ten gallant and fearless soldiers. A few stand-out men were awarded medals for their service, Captain Robert J. Schwob notably earned a Military Cross for holding a bridgehead for three days, among other heroic actions. Sergeant Lorne G. Thomson earned a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his selfless leadership while under fire, and Private Stanley M. Enair won a Military Medal for heroically paddling his wounded comrades across the fire covered canal to safety, saving a number of them.

This battle, though it was won and produced three service medals, was also a tragedy. Not only with the loss of 10 soldiers, but the memories of the battle would live on in the minds of those who survived, many never speaking about the events of October 1944, and for some, their time in the German Prisoner of War camp. The horrors these soldiers were subjected to, and for many at such a young age would have been hard to relive, explain, even think about. Mental health services did not exist for service personnel during or after the Second World War, many jumping right back into work, family life, and normalcy. Without a dedicated outlet, many men bottled up what they experienced and felt, unable to share their experiences with their families and friends.

Eighty years later, all RMR veterans of the Second World War have left us, but the traces of their time at war – letters, photos, keepsakes and physical memories– stay with us and allow us to remember them as soldiers, but also as individuals.

Article written by Amynte Eygun, assistant curator for the Royal Montreal Regiment Museum, for Je me souviens. In November 2024, the RMR Museum released their latest travelling exhibit: A Regiment’s Sacrifice: Defeating Hitler’s Army, about the RMR’s participation at the battle of Leopold Canal. To book this exhibit for your establisment, contact the museum at .

Sources:

• C. P. Stacey, Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Vol III The Victory Campaign: The Operations in Northwest Europe, 1944-45, Ottawa, Queen’s Printer, 1960, 770 p.
• Terry Copp, “Canadian Participation In The World War II Battle To Win The Breskens Pocket“, terrycopp.com (previously published on Legion Magazine on March 1st, 2001).

In promotion of their travelling exhibit A Regiment’s Sacrifice, assistant curator Amynte Eygun also wrote several articles on the battle of Leopold Canal and of the RMR’s participation throughout the war:

• “Bravery Under Fire: A 22-Year-Old’s Final Mission“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.
• “Canada’s Fiery Arsenal : The role of WASP Flamethrowers during the Battle of Leopold Canal“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.
• “Captain Robert Schwob: Hero of the Battle of Leopold Canal“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.
• “Crossing Through Fire: Stanley Enair’s Courage at the Battle of Leopold Canal“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.
• “Enduring the Unthinkable: The lasting effects of being a WWII prisoner of war“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.
• “From flour to fire: Private Thornicroft, a baker turned soldier, the story of a tragic death“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.
• “How Canada Helped Free Belgium – And What It Means Today“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.
• “In Memory of his Courage: Lieutenant William Noel Barclay’s Legacy Lives On“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.
• “Surviving the Stalag : Life as a Prisoner of War in Germany“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.
• “What was the Battle of Leopold Canal?“, The Royal Montreal Regiment Foundation.