Passing Peacefully – Life message to family and friends
A peaceful departure for a dear friend, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband, uncle, soldier, gunner, wise, kind, generous, humble man! It is with great sadness that the family of Russell Avard Kaye announces his passing peacefully at home in Parkland Place...
D-Day 80 Special Events & Local Commemorations
News Release31 May 2024 – Moncton, NB – Veterans Affairs Canada We live in a country strong and free thanks to the one million Canadians who served in uniform during the Second World War and fought selflessly to achieve peace.Eighty years later, we are gathering to...
Where did the 12th Field Regiment troops load their LCTs for DDay
June 4th, 1944Stokes Bay and Gosport, England12th Field Regiment LCTs ready for D-Day. ( Landing Craft Tanks ) "All the LCTs in Force J (the naval force which carried troops to Juno Beach for D-Day) loaded vehicles at Stokes Bay and Gosport, just to the west of...
They stood strong in the face of fear, together, fighting for freedom.
Do We Remember?From our archives: From the history of the 12th Field Regiment: “About 0630 hrs the LCT’s deployed for the firing run-in and at 0715 the blue flag broke out at the masthead of our ML. Everyone forgot his sea sickness for this was it! 12thField-DDayOur...
Remembering Easter weekend in Holland ~ 1945
A journey of remembrance! April 1st, 1945, is Easter for the 12th Field Regiment. The Padre held a church parade at 1100 hrs in the Legion Barn which was well attended. Quote from the regiment war diary for April 1st: Being in Holland we can now fraternize again. This...
In Memory
For Remembrance Day 2020! From our archives in retrospect in history in memory for today for tomorrow!! Follow the links over time: >>Perpetual Remembrance for the 12th Field Regiment - 2014 >>Remembrance Day ~ 21 Gun Salute at Queen’s Park -2014 >>...
Canada’s Phantom Regiment Free On-Line Presentation
To mark the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands, Canada's Phantom Regiment Documentary of the 12th Field Regiment will be presented on-line for a limited time. Sign-up to have access to the on-line free presentation by the 12th Field Regiment...
75th Anniversary of the Liberation on the Dutch-German border
Today marks the 75th Anniversary of the liberation in the city of ’s-Heerenberg, on the Dutch-German border near Emmerich, Germany, just north of the Rhine River. Remembrance day gatherings in the streets and centre square have been the annual tradition of...
Passing of Barry Bittle, son of a soldier-father he never met!
It is with fond memories and regrets we share of the passing of Barry R. Bittle, March 5th, 2020, age 79. Barry reached us through the website for the 12th Field Documentary project and was an important inspiration to our story and research for this project. He...
Celebrating the big 96th!
Sir Russell Kaye had a great day celebrating his 96th birthday with his family and is looking forward to next years!He received a special gift from his daughter Susan Kaye-Hachey: “ I made my father a beautiful photo book of his trip to France! Glossy coloured pages...
“May they be watching now from on high”
Doreen Hertel, niece of Fred Rogers (1920-2006), a veteran of World War II, 12th Field Regiment, 16th Battery, Canadian Army, remembers her uncle well. Rogers was 82 years when he made his fourth travel to Normandy Coast of France for the official opening of the Juno...
Reported Killed in Action, Fourteenth August
November 6th, 2019, 12th Field Regiment, veteran gunner, Russell Kaye at 95 years, recounts the tragic bombing on August 14, 1944, during an interview with journalist, Alan Cochrane, Moncton Times & Transcript. Vivid memories of the bombing attack gone wrong...
D-Day 12th Field Gunner returns to Juno Beach
The last known veteran gunner of the 12th Field Regiment, 43rd battery, Sir Russell Kaye, from Dorchester, New Brunswick is living today a very different experience from 75 years ago when he landed on Juno Beach, D-Day 1944, firing from an M7 Priest, with a 105mm...
Gunner’s Park Memorial
In memory of Gunner's Park, near Arthur, Ontario. The memorial park of the 12th Field Regiment R.C.A. for those who served: 1940 - 1945. The park was donated by 12th Field Regt. Gunner Knowles. The 25 pdr was moved to the Guelph Armoury for a...
Dear Friend, a Soldier who never left his uniform
Dear friend, Sir Fred Heber, we miss you!! For all those who have met you in one way or another, a true gentleman, veteran soldier and dear friend, it has been an honour, a privilege, a very special treat to have crossed paths with you. Your very special friend and...
Message from 12th Field Regiment Veteran Gunner
The 12th Field project crew, families and friends are happy to share that on July 1st, 2018, we received the following message on the website from 12th Field Regiment Veteran Gunner Russell A. Kaye # M101068, 43rd D Battery at the age of 94 years! July 1st, 2018 I...
Give the Children Freedom
The first of April 2015, the 12th Field crew captured the emotions for the 70th commemorations during the Final Push liberations and re-enactments by the Keep them Rolling Netherlands. Give the Children Freedom is a poem reading and excerpt preview for the documentary...
12th Field Regiment Guelph Memorial Ceremony
Sir Fred Heber, 12th Field Regiment Veteran Gunner, standing strong at 96 years representing his regiment yesterday at the Guelph Armoury, a dedication ceremony for his Regiment. (1940-1945 )A historic commemoration with 25 pounder and 12th Field plaque sign.The 25...
Dedication ceremony for 12th Field Regiment R.C.A. May 26th, 2018 in Guelph
A dedication ceremony to the memory of all members of the 12th Canadian Field Regiment R.C.A. is planned for Artillery day, Saturday, May 26th, 2018 at the Guelph, Ontario, Armoury. RSVP by May 19th: Rob Stark robstark@bellnet.ca 12th Field Regement Association...
Just Remember Who’s Senior
Now in his 96th year, Sir Fred Heber is still going strong, carrying the torch for the 12th Field Regiment. Happy to celebrate with close friends and family his 96th birthday at the Orangeville Legion, January 10th, 2018! Happy Birthday dear friend. From Shirley's...
Documenting your second world war ancestor
Canadians in Uniform 1939-1945 - Documenting Your Second World War Ancestor - Author: Glenn Wright - Historian and Archivist. Royal Canadian Legions Branch 226, Arthur, Ontario, 7, June 2014 - Presentation Part One: Documenting your second world war ancestor Our Armed...
Accessing war service records
Canadians in Uniform 1939-1945 - Documenting Your Second World War Ancestor - Author: Glenn Wright - Historian and Archivist, Accessing war service records Part Two: How to send an inquiry to Library and Archives Canada Accessing war service records living veterans...
Service files of Second World War
Canadians in Uniform 1939-1945 - Documenting Your Second World War Ancestor - Author : Glenn Wright - Historian and Archivist, Royal Canadian Legions Branch 226, Arthur, Ontario, 7, June 2014 - Presentation - Part Three : Service files of Second World War Read...
War Diaries
Canadians in Uniform 1939-1945 – Documenting Your Second World War Ancestor – Author: Glenn Wright – Historian and Archivist, Royal Canadian Legions Branch 226, Arthur, Ontario, 7, June 2014 - Presentation - Part Four: World War Two War Diaries 12th Field Regiment...
Perpetual Remembrance for the 12th Field Regiment
A remembrance day service in honour for the 74 men who were killed, Roll of Honour 12th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, C.A.S.F. (1940-1945) Family and military history segment presented by well-known speaker Glenn Wright, a family historian, former archivist...
Ordinary Canadians who made extraordinary sacrifices
Freedom Isn't Free Ordinary Canadians who made extraordinary sacrifices Why Remember? We must remember. If we do not, the sacrifice of those one hundred thousand Canadian lives will be meaningless. They died for us, for their homes and families and friends, for a...
We remember our local heroes
Headline News in local newspaper, The Orangeville Citizen Sir Fred Heber, Veteran Gunner, 12th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery was featured in the following article for Remembrance week, 2017 : We remember our local heroes November 10, 2017, By Mike Pickford...
Happy 95th Birthday, Sir Fred Heber, 12th Field Regiment
12th Field Regiment Gunner, Sir Fred Heber humbled by France saying he is a Knight, will celebrate his 95th at the Orangeville Legion, Tuesday, January 10th, 2017 with friends and family. Happy Birthday dear Fred! Veteran Gunner Frederick Heber, in 2014, earned the...
Showing of the Phantom Regiment, Toronto Reference Library
A wonderful audience came for screening of the documentary at the Toronto Reference Library - November 21st, Beeton Hall. Here is an excerpt of Penny Bell, daughter of Lieutenant Thomas. J. Bell, 12th Field Regiment, opening comments : " The documentary that...
Greater Love Hath No Man Than This
Remembrance Day commemorated by the Orangeville Community, November 11th, 2016! An emotional remembrance ceremony, especially with Sir Fred Heber remembering the soldier friends left behind of the 12th Field Regiment. A great show of respect and remembrance by all who...