TAMAN, Clifford Alfred

NAME                  TAMAN          Clifford Alfred
RANK                  Lance Sergeant         31094                                                                                                                                        1st Canadian Army - 1st Canadian Army Troops - No. 2 Army Group of Royal Canadian Artillery REGIMENT          7th Medium Regiment
                             “everywhere”
                             Royal Canadian Artillery                                                                                                          Born                      April 12, 1913 - Fort William - Township of Neebing -  Ontario                                                    Residence            Wingham - Ontario                                                                                                                      Died                      August 8, 1944          31 years   4 months                                                                      Cemetery             Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery - Cintheaux - Calvados - France
                             X A 8
Wife                     Mrs. Leila Taman - Wingham / Allanford - Ontario                                                                          Daughter              Miss Karen Anne Taman - Winmgham / Allanford
Parents                Mrs. Hilda Taman - Wingham / Blyth / Allanford                                                                    Brother                 Mr. Wesley Taman - Clintin - Ontario                                                                                      Sister                   Mrs. Audrey Walsh - Blyth - Ontario

Clifford was born on April 12, 1913 in Fort William. During 1939, the family had moved to Blyth. The family would have attended Wingham United Church. He was employed as a barber prior to his enlistment. He had served in the militia with the 99th Field Battery in Wingham in 1939. He would have taken his public schooling in Wingham and 4 years of high school at Wingham Collegiate.

Canada

On September 12, 1939 Clifford drove down the highway to Listowel and enlisted into the Canadian Army with the rank of Gunner and this was with the 100th Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery and just two days after Canada declared war of Germany. In the middle of January 1940 he was given the rank of Bombardier and while still in Listowel is granted a Leave of Absence from March 17-May 19 to assist of the family homestead. Then his next posting took him to Camp Petawawa on May 25 to the Canadian Artillery Training Centre. On October 28-November 11 he was again granted a Leave of Absence to assist on the family homestead.  He had taken rifle training during the year.                                                                                                                                      Throughout the winter of 1940-41 his training continued at Camp Petawawa. On May 10, 1941 he went to Wingham and was married to Miss Leila Irene Ard. He was On Command on Nay 25-June 14 at Long Branch - Ontario for a Small Arms Course at "C" Wing No. 295. From Sept 4-12 he received Embarkation Leave while posted at Tracadia - Nova Scotia. On October 6 he is AWOL and loses a day of pay while attached to the 97th Field Battery at Camp Sussex. He obtained furlough between October 15-29.

Overseas

Bombardier Taman was Struck off Service to the Canadian Army in Canada on November 12 and the same day he embarked from Canada for overseas. The following day while at sea he was Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army overseas. Ten days later on November 22 he disembarked in the United Kingdom. Between December 11-17 he was granted Landing Leave.  He took rifle training during the year.                                          He received Leave from March 14-20, 1942 and again between June 29-July 6. On August 28 he received the rank of Lance Sergeant. While he was here his father passed away on May 19. Between September 22-October 27 he was with No. 1 Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit for a Surveyor Course. On November 5 he was assigned to the 7th Medium Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery. On November 12 he had passed his surveyor course and qualified as a surveyor. From December 4-13 he had received leave.                                      In 1943 between January 4-30 he was again assigned to No. 1 Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit and while here between May 11-August 25 he was on a War Gunner Course as a Gun Position Officer Assistant "C". He was Taken on Strength with the 7th Medium Field Regiment.  Training continued.                                                    On July 7, 1944 Lance Sergeant the 7th Medium Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery embarked from the United and stepped foot on French soil on July 9.                                                                                                They had trained for 2 1/2 years in the United Kingdom. During the month of November 1943 it was reclassified as a Medium Regiment from a Field Regiment The Medium Artillery Regiments were not part of the Artillery component but were instead classified as "Army" troops that would support any formation wherever needed. The 7th Medium Artillery Regiment was comprised of 16 5.5" guns (140 mm) that would fire 100 pound shells. It was a two battery regiment. Lance Sergeant would have been involved in the battles of Normandy.                                They had 16 – 5.5” guns firing a 100 lb. shell. The weight of one gun on its carriage was approximately
10,600 pounds. The guns were able to fire a shell up to a maximum of 16,200 yards. These guns could fire
2-3 rounds per minute and each gun was normally manned by a crew of 10 men. In most cases it was pulled
by a gun tractor.
The 7 Medium Artillery Regiment fired their first shots in anger on July 13 from their position at Rots near Caen. During the period between July 21st – August 9th the 7th Medium Regiment was posted at Cornelles and the
objective being to cross the River Orne south of Caen. During the day of August 8th, the weather was clear and warm and the 7th Medium Regiment was in action and firing its guns at the Germans, they had engaged numerous targets - two of which were enemy tanks. Suddenly at 13:30 hours “P” Battery - three guns in one troop received a direct hit from bombs that were dropped by American bombers. The bombs landed directly on one of the batteries and an ammunition dump. Eleven men from "B" Troop lost their lives and eighteen were wounded. From this incident 3 "B" type guns, 3 15 cwt trucks, 2 Mack trucks, 3 No. 22 sets, 1 60 cwt truck along with numerous small equipment was destroyed or damaged.
Lance Sergeant Taman was killed in action by friendly fire, and died from burns he received from the
bombing. He was originally buried at Mondeville in a temporary Canadian Military Cemetery on the day he lost his life.                                                                                                                                                                                            
In August of 1945 both his wife Leila and his step mother Hilda received the Memorial Cross. During the month of October 1949 his wife received the medals awarded to Her husband which included the 1939-45 Star, the France-Germany Star, the Defence and War medals along with the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Clifford is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaques of Wingham United Church and Wingham High School as well as on the Wingham Cenotaph. He is honoured and remembered in the Books of Remembrance which are found in the Centre Tower of the Canadian Parliament. In addition, he is honoured and remembered on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.