The Van Doos

During the month of August 1939, the international situation worsened to the point where on September 4th, Great Britain declared war on Germany. Canada followed 6 days later. After a short period of training in Quebec, the Royal 22e Regiment becomes part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and is sent to Great Britain on December 9th 1939 with 800 men. From that date to July 1943, the Regiment is mostly in training in order to get ready for an eventual allied offensive.

That day finally came on July 10th 1943 when the Regiment was sent to Sicily under the commandment of Lieutenant-Colonel Bernatchez. Seven days later, the soldiers of the Regiment finally got in action during the Battle of Grotta-Calda. This was not the only battle in which the Regiment would take part. After 38 days in Sicily, the island was conquered and the men of the Royal 22e Regiment had done more than expected after their baptism of fire. Italy was their next destination and a bigger challenge.

After their landing on September 3rd 1943, the Regiment procedeed on capturing Reggio, Potenza, Sangro, Gambatesa and, at the end of the year, the junction of San Vito Grande road and Orsogna-Ortona. One after the other, the 1st Brigade, the 2nd one, the West Nova Scotia Regiment and the Carleton and York Regiment of the 3rd Brigade failed to capture that junction. The Royal 22e Regiment remained the last hope of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division. The seizure of that objective was of high importance to open a road to Ortona and Rome. The Casa Berardi was situated close to the junction and was also an objective which was specifically attributed to the C Company of the Regiment which had Captain Paul Triquet as their commander. The offensive was a success, with only 17 men remaining out of over 100 soldiers, Triquet held and secured Casa Berardi. Triquet would later receive the Victoria Cross for his exploit.

The Italian Campaign was not over. After a break in which reinforcements were sent and new corporals (section leaders) were taught tactics, the Royal 22e Regiment is sent to fight on the Gustav Line and then on the Hitler Line in order to reach Rome in early June 1944. The Regiment then fought on the Gothic Line in Northern Italy from July 1944 to March 1945.

During the same month, the men of the Regiment are secretly sent to Marseille in France were they are ordered to not speak in French. Less than a month later, the Regiment is sent to Holland and will stay there until Germany surrendered on May 8th 1945. That will be the last battle of the soldiers of the Royal 22e Regiment during the Second World War. Most of those men were dismissed after returning to Camp Val-Cartier.

The Royal 22e Regiment is officially attributed 25 battle honours during that war. Note that the Regiment has also participated in World War 1, the Korean War and is currently fighting in Afghanistan.


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