Edward Albert Chipchase

CHIPCHASE, Albert Edward

War
2nd Word War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
London - Ontario
Regimental Number
3854
Rank
Sergeant
Date of Death
Age at Death
29 years 1 month
Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

NAME                    CHIPCHASE           Albert Edward  3854
RANK                     Sergeant 
                               I Canadian Corps - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - 1st Infantry Brigade                                    REGIMENT            Royal Canadian Regiment
                               “for country”
                               Royal Canadian Infantry Corp                                                                                                      Residence              Thorndale - Ontario                                                                                                                      Born                        August 25, 1914 - London - Township of London - County of Middlesex - Ontario                  Died                       October 2, 1943          29 years   1 month
Cemetery               Bari War Cemetery - Bari - Apulia - Italy
                               III C 2
Parents                   Mr. Joseph and Nora Chipchase - Aylmer - Ontario                        
Best Friend             Miss Beatrice Cooper - Kippen - Ontario.                                                                        Brothers                  Gordon and Eric both lived in Aylmer.                                                                                                                         John was was a prisoner in a concentration camp in Germany.                                                                                 Walter was on active service in Canada.                                                                                                                     William was on active service in the Canadian army in Italy.                                                                                       Ernest was living in Kippen.                                                                                                                                         Henry enlisted under an assumed name and it is believed he was killed at Dieppe.                  Sisters                    Mary and Dorothy both lived at home in Aylmer.

Albert was born on August 25, 1914 in London. He likely attended St George's Anglican Church in Thorndale where he was living prior to his enlistment. He completed Grade 8 and left school at the age of 14. He was employed in farming before he enlisted.

Canada

Albert enlisted into the Canadian Army at the age of 26 years on March 25, 1940. When he enlisted he stood      5' 9" tall and weighed 159 pounds. He had a fresh complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. He was attached to the Regimental Depot of the Royal Canadian Regiment. On  April 3 he went to Toronto to the Infantry Rifle Training Centre. On June 7 in preparing for going overseas he is attached to the Royal Canadian Regiment reinforcement Battalion at Camp Borden.

Overseas

He disembarked from Canada on June 9, 1940 and is Struck off Service to the Canadian Army in Canada. The following day he is Taken on Service with the Canadian Army in the United Kingdom. Private Chipchase disembarks in England on June21. That same day he is Taken on Service with No. 1 Canadian Infantry Holding Unit. Then on July 22 he is on Command and three months later he returns. On November 6 he is Taken on Service with the Royal Canadian Regiment. On December 12 he receives privileged leave.                                On April 25, 1941 he receives a week of privileged leave and again in June, September and December.            He is awarded the rank of Corporal on February 11, 1942. On March 20 he begins a NCO course. He received leave in March and June. On June 6 he is appointed the rank of Lance Sergeant. Between Sept 6-19 he attended a 3" mortar course and is now qualified on this weapon. From October 11- November 4 he attended a mortar course at the Canadian Training School. Between November 9-23 he is attached to 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters and following that Lance Sergeant Chipchase receives leave between November 27-December 11.                                                                                                                                                            He then receives the rank of Sergeant on December 26, 1942.                                                                           The training is continuing into 1943 and between May 31-June 7 he receives leave.

The Mediterranean Theatre

Sergeant Chipchase embarks from northern Scotland on June 28, 1943 and is Struck off Strength to the Canadian Army in the United Kingdom and Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army in the Mediterranean theatre. The Regiment disembarked onto the beaches at Pachino, Sicily and they fought through Sicily and up the west coast of Italy. He lost his life during the battle for Bari.
Starting on October 1st the Canadians began to harass the Germans throughout an area stretching from north
of Potenza and Biferno Rivers, near the Adriatic and very soon the German Army began to respect the
Canadians.
The Royal Canadian Regiment met there first serious enemy resistance at Motta Montecorvino on October 1/2, and during this time the 1st German Panzer Division inflicted 31 casualties before the Royal Canadian Regiment withdrew. Motta Montecorvino was a high feature west of the city of Foggia. The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Calgary tanks advanced without artillery support. The Germans had made it apparent that they would dispute Motta Montecorvino, and there was heavy enemy fire that separated the infantry and the tanks. Later in the day on October 2 the infantry was pinned down. Seven members of the Royal Canadian Regiment lost their lives. The town sat like a thimble on a pointed hill atop a ridge and was protected on all sides by the enemy 88s. Because of this a night assault was thought to be the tactic to capture the town.
During the evening of October 1st at 21:00 hours “C & D” Companies had secured a platform half way up
the ridge and later reported the town was secure and when they moved forward they were hit with heavy
enemy fire. They withdrew, the town was shelled and then ”A & D” Companies assaulted began their
assault of the town and by first light Motta Montecorvino was secured. The next objective was a road
junction and as they moved they were pinned down by German fire.
It had been a thunderous night early on October 2nd, with sheet lightning and torrential rain, and at 02:50
hours the shoot began and at 03:00 hours the infantry began to move forward. “A” Company tried to enter
the town from the north but was foiled by a high wall of buildings. “B” Company attacked from the front
and reached the far side of town in time to see the tail end of the German vehicles retreating to the west. Shortly after dawn “C” Company began riding on tanks to pursue the Germans only to have very accurate German artillery come down on them resulting in several tanks being knocked out. The infantry then began moving forward toward a commanding ridge to the west. They had covered 2,000+ yards through muddy ploughed fields and when they were within 600 yards of the ridge to were hit with heavy enemy machine gun and mortar fire.
In the late afternoon both “A & D” Companies moved forward with “B” Company following astride a
secondary road and reached the foot of the ridge which had been under artillery fire since the advance had
begun. As they mounted the ridge machine guns opened up and began firing along fixed lines. It was now
raining heavily and small groups pushed on in the hope of closing with the Germans, and the final battle
was a fierce burst of firing. Then there was silence and on the morning of October 3rd the Royal Canadian Regiment was in possession of the high ground. The fighting the day previous had cost the Royal Canadian Regiment five lives.
It is believed that Sergeant Chipchase was a member of “C” Company and he lost his life on the field of battle at Motta Montecorvino at the top of the hill 200 yards north of the road junction.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              On November 9, 1943 Albert's mother Norah received the Memorial Cross. On October 12, 1944 the family was informed that his final resting place was the Bari Military Cemetery. Then on January 23, 1950Sergeant Chipchase was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

Albert is honoured and remembered on the Hensall Cenotaph and his name should be on the Thorndale Cenotaph. He is honoured and remembered on the Aylmer Cenotaph along with his brother Henry. He is possibly honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of St George's Anglican Church in Thorndale. He is honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial.