MUGFORD, Earl Robert
NAME MUGFORD Earl Robert
RANK Private 105054
REGIMENT Royal Canadian Regiment
“for country” 1st Canadian Army - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - 1st Infantry Brigade Royal Canadian Infantry Corp Born May 9, 1922 - Colborne Township - County of Huron Residence Auburn Died April 15, 1945 22 years 11 months
Cemetery Holten Canadian War Cemetery - Holten - Overijssel -Netherlands
II D 4
Parents Mr. George Youngblut and Mrs. Jenny (Mugford) Youngblut - Auburn - Ontario Brothers Roy and Ben - Goderich - Ontario Sister Mrs. Beatrice Riordan - Ayr - Ontario
Earl was born on May 9, 1922 and was a resident of Auburn prior to his enlistment. and completed his public schooling and 2 years of high school. As he was growing up, he enjoyed reading and playing hockey along with baseball. After his schooling he was a labourer and then worked for his step father on the family farm. The family attended Knox United Church
Canada
Earl enlisted into the Canadian Army on October 29, 1942 in London. He stood 5' 7" and weighed 145 pounds. He had a medium complexion with blue grey eyes and brown hair. Upon his enlistment he went to No. 1 District Depot. His next posting took him to Listowel and No. 13 Basic Training Centre. Then he was off to No. 14 Basic Training Centre in Stratford. From December 23-27 he had Christmas Leave. On January 25, 1943 he was allocated to the Infantry and transferred to No. A29 Advanced Training Centre at Camp Ipperwash. He was then granted furlough from April 26-May 9 but was recalled 4 days early on May 5. Less than a week later he was posted t o the Canadian Army overseas. On May 13th he was Struck off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada and that same day Private Mugford set sail from Halifax for overseas.
Overseas
On May 14 he was Taken on Service with the Canadian Army overseas and a week later on May 22nd he disembarked in the United Kingdom. A day later he reported to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre. From here Private Mugford as assigned to No. 8 Canadian Reinforcement Unit. He received leave from August 20-28.On October 28 he qualified "G" at No. 3 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit. He then received leave from November 20-28. In the middle of February of 1944 on the 17th he was Struck off Service of the Canadian Army Overseas and embarked from the United Kingdom. A day later while at sea he was Taken on Service with the Canadian Army in the Mediterranean Theatre. Disembarkation in Italy took place on March 3 and he was Taken on Service with the X4 Reinforcement and attached to the Royal Canadian Regiment. On May 20 the Royal Canadian Regiment took Private Mugford on Service. He received a promotion to Lance Corporal on August 31,1944.
In the Field
On the night of September 4/5, 1944 plans were made for a deliberate set piece attack on the feature "Dornier" with the attack advancing at 6 am with the support of an intense artillery barrage. The advancing infantry found no German forces as they had been hammered the day before and had vacated their positions. By 7am all Companies had consolidated their positions on "Dornier". The anti tank guns were firing onto enemy positions over open sights and the 3" mortars and machine guns in support until the barrels were red hot. At 8 am, "C" Company was called back from the feature to establish a fire base and "B" Company began to move forward with all speed with their objective being the feature "Missouri". "B" Company pushed off across country and when they were about 400 yards from their objective they came under heavy enemy fire. All Companies were ordered to new positions. At 8 pm. "B" Company assaulted "Missouri" and the forward Platoon became engaged in hand to hand fighting both inside and outside of a church the enemy occupied. The enemy had the superior numbers and the Platoon was forced to disengage and to rejoin "B" Company. The RCR then tried to consolidate just short of the objective but this was difficult due to the light from burning buildings and haystacks. Plans were then decided upon to commit the whole Regiment. The weather on this day had been bright and warm. Duringthe fighting on this day Lance Corporal Mugford received wounds from shell fragments in the buttocks and chest. He was attended to in the field on September 5th and taken to No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance, then to No. 5 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and finally to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital where he was until September 9. Then it was to No. 48 British General Hospital on September 9 and he was here until October 5th.. The same day he was admitted to No. 10 British Convalescent Depot where he stayed until December 13 and on that day he moved to No. 5 Canadian General Hospital. On January 8,1945 he moved from No. 5 Canadian General Hospital to No. 10 British Convalescent Depotand he was there as a patient until February 7. After 4months of medical care he rejoined the Royal Canadian Regiment just prior to the move to north-west Europe. While in Italy Private Mugford had taken part in the fighting on the Gustav Line, the Liri Valley, The Hitler Line, the Rimini Line, and the Gothic Line at the Misano Ridge. The Royal Regiment of Canada left Italy on March 7 arriving in France on March 9 before being transported byroad to north-west Europe. On April 14th the RCR was in the Deventer area and were to advance at 11 pm of April14 and were to reach the line of the Canal. "B" Company was left "C" Company and was right. The advance was slow. On April 15 in the Garderen area "C" Company on the right made good progress but the road junction called for a 2 platoon attack against heavy enemy fire and then 200 yards further on the enemy stiffened his defence again because all the building held the enemy and in the darkness could not be flushed out. The advance halted at4:30 am to await daylight and the support tanks. "B" Company on the left was experiencing the same circumstances after taking casualties. At 8 am "C" Company was on Sangberg and "B" Company was on Stevenson. There was a small but determined enemy counter-attack on the flank of "C" Company but this was beaten off. One of the tanks supporting "B" Company was knocked out. The enemy was seen digging in in front of the 3rd Infantry Brigade were engaged. During the day"C" Company found its position to be dangerous as they were under sniper fire from the north and when at 3 pm "A" Company attacked with supporting armour on the right flank of "C" Company the enemy sniping eased off. "A" Company had caused the enemy many casualties. "A" Company firmed in this area and the remaining Companies were ordered to move by 8:30 pm. "D" Company formed at "Sash", "C" Company at "Swordfish" and "B" Company was at "Seafire". A' and B" Company areas were quiet but "C & D" Companies were taking enemy fire from 5 cm mortars, enemy stick grenades and small arms fire from across the Canal. At 11 pm orders came for all to hold their positions and not to cross the Canal. It was determined that the Germans had blown the bridge. For the Royal Canadian Regiment this was to be their last fighting of the war. From April 12-17 their casualties numbered 61 men killed, wounded, missing or being pows.
In May of 1945, his mother Jenny was awarded the Memorial Cross and in July of 1949 his parents were awarded his 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the France-Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.
Private Mugford is honoured and Remembered on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, and on the Memorial Plaque of Knox United Church in Auburn. Private Mugford is not honoured and remembered on any Huron County Cenotaph.
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