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LSR(M) Cap Badge1945
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Collection of David Ratz
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Recruiting Add in Local Newspaper10 June 1940
Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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MobilizationThe regiment anxiously waited through the last months of 1939 and early 1940 as the first three divisions were mobilized. It was not until after the formation of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division was announced in May 1940 that the "Lake Superiors" received the call to arms. On 2 June Lieutenant-Colonel H. Cook received a telegram ordering him to "mobilize now" and proceed to Military District No. 10 Headquarters in Winnipeg for instructions. Recruiting began by taking volunteers from members of The Lake Superior Regiment, Non-Permanent Active Militia the next day. General recruiting for The Lake Superior Regiment, Canadian Active Service Force opened on 10 June, to an overwhelming response. After the unit was up to wartime establishment, it went to Camp Borden in October for further training. Between June 1941 and June 1942 the Regiment was first stationed at Aldershot, Nova Scotia, then assigned to coastal defence duty at Saint John, New Brunswick and ultimately Camp Debert, Nova Scotia.
While in Debert the 4th Division was completely reorganized in January 1942 and converted into an armoured division. Several infantry regiments were re-rolled into tank regiments and the LSR became a "Motor Battalion." This meant the regiment would eventually be mounted in scout cars, bren carriers and half tracks to form the close mechanized infantry support for the armoured brigades of the division. Finally, on 20 August the news that the men of the regiment had waited two years to hear came; the Lake Sups were ordered overseas. They departed from Halifax aboard H.M. Troopship Strathmore. Appropriately the last visitor as the troops prepared to depart was Brigadier W.W. Foster, the CO who twenty-three years previous, brought home the 52nd Battalion through this same port.
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Mobilization31 July 2006
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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LSR leave Port Arthur for Camp Borden1940
Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada
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LSR leave Port Arthur for Camp Borden7
Lieutenant Norman B. Weston1939
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Collection of David Ratz
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LSR soldiers on Canada's east coast1941
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Collection of Bruce Reith
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4th Canadian Armourd Division patch1940
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Collection of David Ratz
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Operation Number 54 Stood for the Motor Battalion of an Armoured Division1942
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Collection of David Ratz
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WaitingThe Lake Superiors spent the next two years training in Britain. Not until 26 July 1944 did the unit finally reach the theatre of war. Vehicles began disembarkation on Red Beach and the rest of the battalion followed two days later. The Normandy campaign was well under way and the 4th Canadian Armoured Division was at last committed to battle. On the 30th they moved into the line.
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Waiting31 July 2006
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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Lieutenant Norman B. Weston1943
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Collection of David Ratz
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Sergeant Reg Baillough instructs troops on the 3 inch mortar25 November 1942
Thunder Bay Military Museum, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Credits:National Archive of Canada Photo PA113708
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