Gunner Frank Babineau

2 Forward Observation Unit, Royal Artillery (Airborne)

By Roy Akins

Francis Joseph Jude (Frank) Babineau was born in Toronto on March 14, 1922. Frank had been serving

in the 2nd Field Ambulance, R.C.A.M.C. (Militia) when he volunteered for active service in the Royal

Canadian Artillery on 12 March 1942.

Pte. Babineau was initially attached to No. 2 District Depot in Toronto and Borden. On 8 June 1942 he was allocated to the Royal Canadian Artillery and three days later was transferred to Petawawa. On 25 June, Gunner Babineau was officially TOS to 50 Battery, 4 Medium Regiment, R.C.A. Less than two weeks later he was shipped overseas to the UK. On 3 September he was TOS to 1 Signals Reinforcement Unit and qualified as Regimental Signaller (Artillery) on 29 December. The following year Frank underwent intensive training with 4 Medium Regiment. His unit participated in numerous artillery shoots (schemes) throughout England and Southern Scotland. During this time he advanced his wireless skills to a 28 words/min. rating, qualified as driver/operator and certified in vehicle waterproofing. On 11 June 1944 Gnr. Babineau was attached to No. 2 Canadian Base Reinforcement Group and sent on a Forward Observation Officer’s course with his good friend Capt. Charles Emile Gagnon, “They sent me to Ringway but didn’t tell me what I was in for. When we arrived we saw British paratroopers jumping out of planes and I said, ‘What the hell am I getting into? You have to be kidding’. I was paired with Charlie Gagnon as they wanted one French-Canadian with one English-Canadian.”i Before long Frank had successfully completed 3 jumps from a basket suspended below a balloon, and 5 with full kit from a C47 Dakota. On 8 August 1944 he became a qualified parachutist and was entitled to wear the Canadian Parachutist Badge. Also on this date Frank was officially attached to No. 2 Forward Observation Unit, Royal Artillery (Airborne), “They gave me a British Paratrooper cap badge but I wore my Canadian Artillery badge throughout the war. I still have that British badge though and it’s on the beret I wear to remembrance services.”ii But the training wasn’t over yet as Frank went on to become Glider-Qualified, “We went up twice in training. Both times we landed hard in a field and blew out both tires.”iii

The months of relentless training soon ended as he embarked for France arriving Christmas Day, 1944. Frank soon found himself in the Ardennes Offensive (Battle of the Bulge) known for its bitter freezing conditions and horrific casualties. The first engagement undertaken by 2 FOURA was during the massive German counter-offensive at the Village of Bure, which is considered one of the toughest battles of the campaign. Allied troops, in particular the 13th Parachute Battalion had come under extremely heavy German mortar fire which 2 FOURA successfully silenced, ”You wouldn’t believe the number of mortar positions we fired on.”iv Frank also recounts taking out his first German tank in the Ardennes, “We had just set up an OP [Observation Post] on the 3rd floor of a farmhouse when we spotted a German tank coming up the road. It stopped 300 feet from us and turned left. I got the map references from Capt. Gagnon and called it in. We got the tank in one shot. We were then ordered to ‘vacate, vacate immediately’. We figured an artillery barrage was going to be laid in so we got out of there fast.”v Gnr. Babineau and 2 FOURA returned to the UK on 25 February 1945 but were given little time to regroup and refit. On 24 March they participated in Operation Varsity, also known as the Rhine Drop, which was the largest airborne operation in history. Some FOUs parachuted into Germany while others went in with heavy equipment in gliders. This was a particularly hazardous tactic as gliders had to land on open ground amidst enemy artillery, mortar and machine gun fire. Frank’s unit and their jeep were assigned to a Hamilcar. Constructed primarily of birch, spruce and fabric-covered plywood, the Hamilcar offered no protection.

General Aircraft GAL49 Hamilcar. Life Magazine

After 70 years, Gnr. Babineau still cannot forget the horrific events that followed, “As soon as we landed we were releasing the hitches on the trailer for the jeep and found ourselves flat on our faces. We had been hit by heavy mortars. The whole front section of the glider was destroyed. The pilot, co-pilot, two British paratroopers and Captain Charlie Gagnon were killed. Only Stokes and myself survived. You would not believe what heavy mortars would do to a man. Charlie’s chest and face were gone; his arms were hanging by the thread of his sleeves. The pilot had a hole in his head that I could put my fist in. We needed to get our maps and get out of there”.vi

Captain Charles Emile Gagnon is buried at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetary, Netherlands. Veterans Affairs Canada

Gnr. Babineau and his 2 FOURA comrades forged deeper into Germany, directing fire for the Ox & Bucks, Royal Ulster Rifles, 6th Airlanding Brigade and the US 101st Airborne. He recalls being taken prisoner in April near the Elbe River,

“We were heading for the Elbe to set up an OP for the Ox & Bucks. Capt. Alan Finlayson was in a jeep and Granger Martin was his driver. I was in a private car with a Dutch interpreter, and Sgt. Jimmy Webster was driving. The interpreter could speak English, Dutch and German, and wore a uniform like ours, only tailored like an officer’s*. We stopped by a British MP and asked if the road was clear. He said ‘your men have been going down there all day’. Well, we got about 500 feet down the road and Capt. Finlayson’s jeep was hit and we crashed into a ditch. When I came to I saw Jimmy standing there with his hands up. He said ‘get up Babs, it’s no use’. I got up and saw 2 Hitler Youth standing there with Schmeissers [MP40 submachine guns] and an anti-tank gun; it had blown off the front of Finalyson’s jeep. Finlayson was alive but wounded in the knee. These Hitler Youth were only about 15-16 years old; the bottom of their greatcoats were dragging on the ground. They took us to a barn and took our paybooks and what-not. We were there for 1 or 2 hours when a wounded SS officer arrived. He had us turn our berets inside out and then ordered something to the Hitler Youth. We were marched through a village down to a river where we saw a rowboat heading for the other side; 2 fellows in the boat had their hands up. The Dutch interpreter said ‘if they get us across that river we’re dead’. Well, before the boat returned the Ox & Bucks showed up. We yelled ‘We’re Canadians. We’re Canadians. Don’t shoot’. About an hour later we saw one of those Hitler Youth dressed in a suit and smiling at us. The officer in charge of the Ox & Bucks said they weren’t Germans and had been forced into it but we were still surprised they were let go.”vii

Alan Finlayson, Granger Martin, Frank Babineau and Jimmy Webster, Wismar, Germany May 1945. LAC

* The interpreter could have been Dutch Army in exile, a Dutch Britisher attached as interpreter to 6th AB HQ or Special

Force HQ Detachment.

On 1 May 1945, elements of the 6th Airborne Division were ordered by Churchill to advance with all haste to Wismar, Germany, on the Baltic Coast. This city was crucial in halting the Russian advance into Denmark. The 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion succeeded in arriving first. Frank Babineau and 2 FOURA participated in guarding the Canadian zone to prevent the Russians from crossing over. “Once the town was secured, Chuck Bradley, Zeke Miller and I were driving around looking for loot [souvenirs]. One of the photo guys took our picture beside a sign. It ended up in the Globe & Mail.”viii

(L-R): Gnr. Frank Babineau, Gnr. Zeke Miller, Gnr. Chuck Bradley, Wismar, Germany, May 1945.

After the cessation of hostilities, Frank and 2 FOURA returned to the UK on 20 May 1945. Frank was posted to Finsbury Barracks, Aldershot, Liverpool, and finally repatriated to Canada. For his service in the war, Frank was awarded was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp, and the War Medal. Frank married Lillian “Girlie” Tonner and worked for the City of Toronto (Parks & Rec) until he retired at age 65. He lives in Toronto.

The first 2 FOURA reunion, held in London, Ontario on 21-23 September 1984. Frank Babineau is kneeling, centre. R.C. Hamilton

Veterans of 2 FOURA during Remembrance Day services at St. Mary’s, ON, Nov. 11, 1991. Frank Babineau is standing front row, far right.

Frank Babineau with members of his family prior to laying a wreath in honour of 2 FOURA. Included are his son, 4 grandsons, his granddaughter’s husband and his nephew, all members of the Toronto Police Service.

Frank Babineau with members of his family during Remembrance Day services at the East York Civic Centre Memorial Gardens, 2008.

Gnr. Frank Babineau’s Pay Book

Gnr. Frank Babineau’s 2 FOURA beret.

Gnr. Babineau wearing the above beret, Wismar, Germany, May 1945.

i Author’s Archive, Telephone Conversations with Frank Babineau, 2015 ii Ibid

iii Ibid

iv ibid

v Ibid

vi Ibid

vii Ibid

viii ibid