MacTAVISH, James Harold
NAME MacTAVISH James Harold
RANK Trooper Canadian Army 4106
I Canadian Corps - 1st Canadian Armoured Corps - 12th Armoured Tank Regiment REGIMENT Three Rivers Regiment - "in this sign conquer" Canadian Armoured Corps Residence Lucknow -Ontario Born June 18, 1920 - Wroxeter - Township of Howick - County of Huron - Ontario Died July 14, 1943 23 years 1 month Memorial Cassino Memorial - Cassino – Cassino - Frosinone - Italy
Panel 13
Parents Mr. Allan and Mary Belle Mactavish - Lucknow Brothers Cameron and Gordon MacTavish - Lucknow
James was born in Wroxeter on June 18, 1920. He left school at age 16 and finished 7 years of Public School. He was a farmer by trade and worked for Mr. C. Shields a cattle buyer from Wingham for 5 years. He was raised as Presbyterian and would have attended either Lucknow Presbyterian or South Kinloss Presbyterian Church aand possibly Knox Presbyterian Church close to Wroxeter.
Canada
He went to London to enlist into the Canadian Army on May 28, 1940 and upon enlistment he was 5' 10" tall and he weighed 150 pounds. He had a fair complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. He enlisted into the Royal Canadian Regiment and on June 13th Private MacTavish was posted to No. 1 Infantry Training Centre at Camp Borden. In 1941 he was granted furlough from March 10-17 and a week later transferred to the No. 1 Canadian Army Tank Brigade at Camp Borden and then on March 26th he Was Taken on Service with the 12th Armoured Tank Regiment the Three Rivers Regiment. He received furlough between April 23-May 1.
Overseas
It was then to Halifax where on June 21 Trooper MacTavish was Struck off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada and embarked from Halifax and Canada. The following day he was Taken on Service with the Canadian Army overseas. On July 1, 1941 he disembarked in Gourock, Scotland. Between July 7-12 he received landing leave. For the next two years his training continued. Trooper MacTavish qualified as a driver I.C. Class III for tracked vehicles. He received privileged leave from December 4-11. During the spring of 1942 between April 3-10 he was granted privileged leave. On June 9th, Trooper MacTavish qualified as a Driver Mechanic for tracked vehicles Group "C". Between July 3-10 he was granted privileged leave. He attended the Armoured Fighting Vehicle School Training Course between July 17-August 1. Shortly after this he went to No. 1 Canadian Army Tank Brigade Heavy Supply Company and on between August 12-21 he was with 19 Temporary Training Group which was in Luton in the south-east of England. He received priveleged leave between December 11-18 but was AWOL and lost days of pay. Trooper MacTavish on February 24, 1943 qualified as a driver Mechanic "C" with the 12th Armoured Regiment the Three Rivers Regiment.
Mediterranean Theatre
In the middle of June on June 13th he was Struck off Service of the Canadian Army in the UK and embarked from the UK with the 1stCanadianDivision. The next day he was Taken on Service with the Canadian Army in the Mediterranean Theatre. He disembarked on July 10th onto the beaches of Sicily during the invasion of the island.
In the Field
From the Pachino beaches where the resistance was light, the Canadians advanced over roads of choking
dust and of roads filled with mines. As the Canadians advanced the German resistance began to stiffen and the Canadians engaged increasingly determined German troops who fought tough delaying actions from their vantage points of towering villages and almost impregnable hill positions.
At 4:30 am on July 16th the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade passed through the 1st Canadian Infantry
Brigade and then seized Caltogrone. They were supported by the tanks of the Three Rivers Regiment less
“A” Squadron. The plan was that once the town was secure the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade would begin
to pursue the Germans. “C” Squadron was in action as they were in support of the Edmonton Regiment and were providing the covering fire. Once Caltigrone had fallen “B” Squadron moved through the town with the Carleton and York Regiment and continued along the main road toward Piazza-Armerina. But before they were able to reach the town they came under heavy enemy machine gun and mortar fire. 3 Troop was detailed to guard the flank where the machine gun fire was located and were able to provide good covering fire on those enemy guns on the right flank. 4 Troop was given the task of locating and destroying the enemy positions where the mortar fire was coming from but because of the roughness of the terrain they were unable to silence the enemy mortars.
They then came under extremely heavy mortar fire. The resulting return artillery fire from the Canadians
struck the lead tank causing it to lose a track. The crew immediately bailed out and attempted to get aboard
another tanks. Just as they had got aboard this tank a German mortar round exploded beside them and 3 men
from the disabled tank were killed instantly. This is where Trooper MacTavish lost his life.
After some tough days of fighting and stiff opposition north of the towns of Brottacalda and Valguarnera
the skills the Canadians had were put to the test and it was in this mountainous terrain where the Germans
labeled the Canadians the “mountain boys”. Trooper MacTavish was originally buried at Piazza Armerina.
On November 15, 1943 Mrs. Mary Belle MacTavish received the Memorial Cross. On October 28, 1949 Trooper MacTavish was awarded the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal + Clasp.
James is honoured and remembered on the Lucknow Cenotaph and possibly on the Memorial Plaques of Lucknow Presbyterian Church or South Kinloss Presbyterian Church or Knox Presbyterian Church in Wroxeter. He is honoured and remembered on the Three Rivers Regiment - 12th Armoured Tank Regiment Memorial Wall. He is honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial.
