WILLIAMSON, Russel Keith
NAME WILLIAMSON Russel Keith
RANK Lance Corporal 1st Canadian Army - II Canadian Corps -2nd Canadian Infantry Division - 4th Infantry Brigade
REGIMENT Essex Scottish Regiment - 1st Battalion
“always ready”
Royal Canadian Infantry Corp
Born July 13, 1923 - Fordwich - Township of Howick - County of Huron - Ontario Residence Woodstock - Ontario Died July17,1944 21 years
CEMETERY Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery - Reviers - Calvados - France - IX H 5
Mother Mrs. Emma Williamson - Fordwich - Ontario
Russel was born in Fordwich on July 13, 1923. He left school at the age of 15 after completing a year of High School. Prior to his enlistment he was employed as a farmhand on the farm of Mr. Samuel Ridgewest at Woodstock - Ontario. He would have attended Forwich United Church.
Canada
Russel enlisted into the Canadian Army in London on March 25, 1942. When he enlisted he stood 5' 11" and weighed 148pounds. He had a ruddy complexion with green eyes and dark brown hair. He was sent to No. 1 District Depot where he stayed until April 10at which time he was posted to N10 Basic Training Centre in Kitchener. On May25 he was posted to the Highland Light Infantry and was Taken on Service on June 1 at Camp Borden. On June 9 he was back in Kitchener at No. 10 Basic Training Centre. He is going overseas as reinforcement for the Highland Light Infantry.
Overseas
On July 20 Private Williamson is Struck off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada and embarks from Halifax for the United Kingdom. The following day, while at sea he is Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army overseas. He disembarks in the United Kingdom on July 30. That same day Private Williamson is posted to No. 8 Canadian Reinforcement Unit. On September 12 he is Taken on Strength with the 2nd Canadian Division Infantry Reinforcement Unit and is posted with the Essex Scottish Regiment. He has leave from November 2-8. Private Williamson then receives leave from December 29 to January 5,1943. Training continues throughout 1943.
In the Field
The Essex Scottish embark from the United Kingdom on July 4, 1944 and disembark onto French soil on July 6. On July16 the Germans were shelling the units in the field and this increased in intensity during the night of July 16/17. There was also enemy small arms fire. Patrols were sent out and enemy snipers were active. The Germans when they were shelling were sending shells that would not explode for hours after striking the ground. The weather on the morning of July 17 was cloudy and wet. From our research we have concluded that at 1 am on July 17 the enemy fired his field mortars with a number of those shells landing in the HQ area. AT 5 am the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry on the right flank reported enemy armour moving from right to left. At 9:30 am the Essex Scottish began to clear our the Chateau and the buildings of Eterville. Late on the night of July 17the enemy brought his heavy artillery to bear and this barrage lasted 30 minutes. Just prior to midnight the right flank again reports enemy Tiger tanks on the move. At some point during the day, Lance Corporal Williamson was killed in action while performing his duties.
Private Williamson is honoured and Remembered the Virtual Canadian War Memorial, on the Fordwich Cenotaph, on the Memorial Plaque of Fordwich United Church, on the Essex Scottish Memorial Plaque in Dieppe Gardens in Windsor- Ontario.
In November of 1944, Russel's mother received the Memorial Cross. At a later date Russel was awarded to 1939-45 Star, the France-Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal plus the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp.
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