Robert Charles Anderson was the son of Edith Anderson and Clarence Wallace, formerly of Brantford, Ontario who, in 1904 left to homestead NE14-25-18-W2 in the Crosswoods district of Southey, Saskatchewan. *1
Bob farmed in the Crosswoods District and on October 17, 1939 he married Helen Louise Jasper.
27 October 1939, he enlisted in the South Saskatchewan Regiment (L/12464) in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. While taking part in the Dieppe raid 18 August 1942 Bob was wounded. He managed to make it back to England.*1
After he had recuperated, Bob transferred to the Canadian First Special Services Battalion RCIC (B/128516), becoming part of the "Devil's Brigade".
The "Devil's Brigade" was a joint Canadian-American force, (First Special Services Force- FSSF) highly trained and illusive. After hard training, they were in Casablanca November 1943, moving up to Naples while fighting German positions until 4 June 1944 they entered Rome to protect the bridges. By the time American troops entered Rome, they had moved north. They landed on islands off the southern coast of France 14 August 1944, preparing for the assault on the mainland. They were attached with the First Airborne Task force 7 September and moved to the border of France and Italy.
Faces blackened with boot polish for night operations they were called the black devils. They earned such a reputation of being unmerciful, treacherous and clever that the Germans thought they were facing a division of men. They were surprised when they learned just how small the unit was.
At times they worked behind enemy lines undetected. In their civilian lives some of the men had worked in the bush, others were aboriginals with tracking and other skills that could be used on reconnaissance missions.
Any German soldier or soldiers who could capture any illusive members of the "Devil's Brigade" were promised a ten-day furlough.
While their unit losses were great, they made heroic inroads into enemy strongholds, capturing many and causing greater losses for the other side.
The unit was disbanded 5 December 1944 when the men returned to their regular troops. The Canadians became replacements for the First Canadian Parachute Battalion.
The final act of the unit was to dismiss the Canadians while the American troops honored them with a march past, eyes right and officers' salute as a tribute to their valient effort.
Bob was killed 13 September 1944 and buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseilles, France.
He left a wife and young daughter.
In his honor, the province of Saskatchewan named an Anderson Peninsula on the eastern shore of Tazin Lake (74N15) 59degrees 49' 108degrees 49' for Private Anderson.*1
*1 Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial
Bob farmed in the Crosswoods District and on October 17, 1939 he married Helen Louise Jasper.
27 October 1939, he enlisted in the South Saskatchewan Regiment (L/12464) in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. While taking part in the Dieppe raid 18 August 1942 Bob was wounded. He managed to make it back to England.*1
After he had recuperated, Bob transferred to the Canadian First Special Services Battalion RCIC (B/128516), becoming part of the "Devil's Brigade".
The "Devil's Brigade" was a joint Canadian-American force, (First Special Services Force- FSSF) highly trained and illusive. After hard training, they were in Casablanca November 1943, moving up to Naples while fighting German positions until 4 June 1944 they entered Rome to protect the bridges. By the time American troops entered Rome, they had moved north. They landed on islands off the southern coast of France 14 August 1944, preparing for the assault on the mainland. They were attached with the First Airborne Task force 7 September and moved to the border of France and Italy.
Faces blackened with boot polish for night operations they were called the black devils. They earned such a reputation of being unmerciful, treacherous and clever that the Germans thought they were facing a division of men. They were surprised when they learned just how small the unit was.
At times they worked behind enemy lines undetected. In their civilian lives some of the men had worked in the bush, others were aboriginals with tracking and other skills that could be used on reconnaissance missions.
Any German soldier or soldiers who could capture any illusive members of the "Devil's Brigade" were promised a ten-day furlough.
While their unit losses were great, they made heroic inroads into enemy strongholds, capturing many and causing greater losses for the other side.
The unit was disbanded 5 December 1944 when the men returned to their regular troops. The Canadians became replacements for the First Canadian Parachute Battalion.
The final act of the unit was to dismiss the Canadians while the American troops honored them with a march past, eyes right and officers' salute as a tribute to their valient effort.
Bob was killed 13 September 1944 and buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseilles, France.
He left a wife and young daughter.
In his honor, the province of Saskatchewan named an Anderson Peninsula on the eastern shore of Tazin Lake (74N15) 59degrees 49' 108degrees 49' for Private Anderson.*1
*1 Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial
Robert Charles Anderson was the son of Edith Anderson and Clarence Wallace, formerly of Brantford, Ontario who, in 1904 left to homestead NE14-25-18-W2 in the Crosswoods district of Southey, Saskatchewan. *1
Bob farmed in the Crosswoods District and on October 17, 1939 he married Helen Louise Jasper.
27 October 1939, he enlisted in the South Saskatchewan Regiment (L/12464) in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. While taking part in the Dieppe raid 18 August 1942 Bob was wounded. He managed to make it back to England.*1
After he had recuperated, Bob transferred to the Canadian First Special Services Battalion RCIC (B/128516), becoming part of the "Devil's Brigade".
The "Devil's Brigade" was a joint Canadian-American force, (First Special Services Force- FSSF) highly trained and illusive. After hard training, they were in Casablanca November 1943, moving up to Naples while fighting German positions until 4 June 1944 they entered Rome to protect the bridges. By the time American troops entered Rome, they had moved north. They landed on islands off the southern coast of France 14 August 1944, preparing for the assault on the mainland. They were attached with the First Airborne Task force 7 September and moved to the border of France and Italy.
Faces blackened with boot polish for night operations they were called the black devils. They earned such a reputation of being unmerciful, treacherous and clever that the Germans thought they were facing a division of men. They were surprised when they learned just how small the unit was.
At times they worked behind enemy lines undetected. In their civilian lives some of the men had worked in the bush, others were aboriginals with tracking and other skills that could be used on reconnaissance missions.
Any German soldier or soldiers who could capture any illusive members of the "Devil's Brigade" were promised a ten-day furlough.
While their unit losses were great, they made heroic inroads into enemy strongholds, capturing many and causing greater losses for the other side.
The unit was disbanded 5 December 1944 when the men returned to their regular troops. The Canadians became replacements for the First Canadian Parachute Battalion.
The final act of the unit was to dismiss the Canadians while the American troops honored them with a march past, eyes right and officers' salute as a tribute to their valient effort.
Bob was killed 13 September 1944 and buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseilles, France.
He left a wife and young daughter.
In his honor, the province of Saskatchewan named an Anderson Peninsula on the eastern shore of Tazin Lake (74N15) 59degrees 49' 108degrees 49' for Private Anderson.*1
*1 Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial
Bob farmed in the Crosswoods District and on October 17, 1939 he married Helen Louise Jasper.
27 October 1939, he enlisted in the South Saskatchewan Regiment (L/12464) in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. While taking part in the Dieppe raid 18 August 1942 Bob was wounded. He managed to make it back to England.*1
After he had recuperated, Bob transferred to the Canadian First Special Services Battalion RCIC (B/128516), becoming part of the "Devil's Brigade".
The "Devil's Brigade" was a joint Canadian-American force, (First Special Services Force- FSSF) highly trained and illusive. After hard training, they were in Casablanca November 1943, moving up to Naples while fighting German positions until 4 June 1944 they entered Rome to protect the bridges. By the time American troops entered Rome, they had moved north. They landed on islands off the southern coast of France 14 August 1944, preparing for the assault on the mainland. They were attached with the First Airborne Task force 7 September and moved to the border of France and Italy.
Faces blackened with boot polish for night operations they were called the black devils. They earned such a reputation of being unmerciful, treacherous and clever that the Germans thought they were facing a division of men. They were surprised when they learned just how small the unit was.
At times they worked behind enemy lines undetected. In their civilian lives some of the men had worked in the bush, others were aboriginals with tracking and other skills that could be used on reconnaissance missions.
Any German soldier or soldiers who could capture any illusive members of the "Devil's Brigade" were promised a ten-day furlough.
While their unit losses were great, they made heroic inroads into enemy strongholds, capturing many and causing greater losses for the other side.
The unit was disbanded 5 December 1944 when the men returned to their regular troops. The Canadians became replacements for the First Canadian Parachute Battalion.
The final act of the unit was to dismiss the Canadians while the American troops honored them with a march past, eyes right and officers' salute as a tribute to their valient effort.
Bob was killed 13 September 1944 and buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery in Marseilles, France.
He left a wife and young daughter.
In his honor, the province of Saskatchewan named an Anderson Peninsula on the eastern shore of Tazin Lake (74N15) 59degrees 49' 108degrees 49' for Private Anderson.*1
*1 Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial
Inscription
L12461 PRIVATE
R. C. ANDERSON
1ST CANADIAN
SPECIAL SERVICE BATTALION
13 SEPTEMBER 1944 AGE 25
MY TIMES ARE IN THY HANDS
Oh, For a Glimpse of
The grave Where You're laid
Only to Lay a Flower
At Your Head. Mother
Gravesite Details
Private, Canadian Special Service Battalion, R.C.I.C. Age: 25.
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