B119256 Private Christopher Joseph Raymond Cadeau

Enlistment

Christopher enlisted in the Army in Toronto on 13 Nov 1943, at the age of 18. In December 1943, he attended basic training at Number 24 Basic Training Centre in Brampton, Ont.

Armoured Training

He was selected to serve in the Armoured Corps, and in Feb 1944 was assigned to #2 Canadian Armoured Corps Training Centre at Camp Borden, near Barrie, Ontario in Feb 1944.

At the start of the War, Canada had no Armoured Corps. They initially bought 256 M1917 WWI tanks from the US, sold as scrap metal to get around the US neutrality laws.

Christopher qualified as a Class III (Wheeled Vehicle) Driver in Jun 1944.

Overseas

In Aug 1944 Christopher was sent overseas and assigned to the #2 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Centre.

On 01 Sep 1944 Christopher remustered to Infantry. After D-Day and the follow-on battles there was a critical shortage of infantry, so we are not sure whether he volunteered, or was volunteered to remuster. He was assigned to the Winnipeg Grenadiers, who had been wiped out in Hong Kong, then reconstituted as an infantry training battalion in England.

Canadian Scottish Regiment

The Canadian Scottish were part of the 3 ^rd  Canadian Division, 7 ^th  Brigade. The Canadian Scottish had been involved in the D-Day landings then the battles inland. One company of the CSR came ashore during the initial assault, and the remainder of the regiment landed in the second wave around 0830, then pushed inland.

Later they were involved in clearing the Channel ports, and completed the clearing of Calais on 01 Oct.

Can Scots Progress Oct 1944

The path of the Canadian Scottish Regiment in Oct 1994 is shown below. After clearing the port at Calais, they immediately moved into the Scheldt Estuary to clear the access to Antwerp.

An interactive Version of the map is given  here . Click on any marker on the interactive map to see the location and action of the Regiment.

Battle of the Scheldt

On 17 October Christopher was sent to Belgium, and on 24 Oct he joined the Canadian Scottish Regiment. The Canadian Scottish were part of the 3 ^rd  Canadian Division, 7 ^th  Brigade. The Canadian Scottish had been involved in the D-Day landings then the battles inland. Later they were involved in clearing the Channel ports, and completed the clearing of Calais on 01 Oct.

Operation Switchback

They immediately moved north to participate in Operation Switchback, the operation aimed at the clearing of all enemy from the south bank of the river SCHELDT. This action was essential for the eventual use by Allied shipping of the Port of ANTWERP some miles up the Scheldt Estuary.

27 October 1944

The Coys began what was to prove to be a very difficult day. "A" Coy had kept on but were now enduring painfully heavy shelling. Allwent well until suddenly 9 Pl found itself fired on by machine guns at point-blank range. They were travelling along a road at the foot of a dyke and were met by a hail of fire from all sides. The enemy had allowed them to pass through and had then closed in. It was a well-planned and well-executed manoeuvre by the defending Paratroopers of the German Army. 9 Pl's runner, Pte Bowling, was sent back to warn Coy HQ of the situation. A bloody battle ensued with every ounce of fighting energy that the gallant "A" Coy men possessed. 4 CanScots were killed including Christopher Cadeau, 5 wounded and 40 missing.

Christopher Cadeau

Christopher was killed during fighting on 27 Oct 1944.

Christopher's time in the Can Scots was tragically short, only 4 days. Of the 420 members of the Can Scots that were lost throughout the war, 260 members had been killed since D-Day, and almost 800 wounded, so there were very few originals left in the regiment.

Temporary Burial

Christopher and his comrades were buried in a temporary cemetery just east of Hoofdplaat, buried in an orchard. According to his service records the location is shown with a cross.

The location is on a farm. There were no indications of the temporary cemetery location, but it was likely in the trees near the farm. Private Ronald Hoole and Cpl George Kawiuk, both killed the same day as Christopher were temporarily buried in the same location.

Temporary Burial

Temorary Burial site, just outside Hoofdplaat.

Adegem Cemetery

After the war, the graves were moved to Adegem Canadian Military Cemetery.

After the war, the graves were moved to Adegem Canadian Military Cemetery.

Christopher's Marker

Christopher's marker is located in Plot VII, Row A, Position 1.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Certificate

Penetanguishene Cenotaph

Christopher is also memorialized on the Penetanguishene Cenotaph.

Waverley Memorial

Christopher is also remembered on the Waverley Memorial.

Christopher's Medals

Christopher earned the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the General Service Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with bar for 60 days service outside Canada.

Memorial Cross

Christopher's Mother Ethel was awarded the Memorial Cross to commemorate the loss of her son.