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Source Organization
Kitchener Public Library
Collection
Soldier Information Cards - World War Two
Transcription
Barrie, Douglas see also Rodes J.L.
Lieutenant
[image]
[clipping]
Arrive Overseas
Two Kitchener officers who have arrived in England are shown here. They are, right, Lieut. D. S. Barrie, 19 year-old son of Lieut.-Col. and Mrs., E.G. Barrie
[clipping] 17 Jul, 1944
Lieut. Douglas Stanton Barrie
Lieut Barrie, only son of Lieut.- Col. E.G. Barrie, O.B.E., E.D. and Mrs Barrie, was wounded in action with the H.L.I. unit, in France July 8. No further details were given in the telegram received by his parents Saturday. They are expecting further word, but at present know only that he is in hospital.
The 22-year-old officer, a former member of the Scots Fusiliers, went active with the H.L.I. in 1941 and went overseas in June 1942, as a reinforcement officer.
[clipping] 19 Jul, 1944
A bomb fragment wound in the head was suffered by Lieut. Douglas barrie, a telegram informed his parents, Lieut.-Col. E.G. Barrie, O.B.E., E.D., and Mrs Barrie, 53 Fairview Ave. today. he was first reported as wounded July 8.
In an airmail letter written July 10, and received here yeterday, Douglas told his parents he is "100 per cent fit." He did not mention having been injured.
His relieved parents believed the wound to have been very slight, and surmised he is back in the fight with his unit.
Returns To England
His father believes that he was temporarly in hospital for the reason tha all wounded men go to hospital for treatment regardless of the lightness of the injury, provided it draws blood.
[clipping] 25 July, 1944
Lieut. Douglas Barrie, recently reported wounded in action in Normandy, has been promoted to the rank of captain, he has informed his parents Lieut.-Col. E.G. Barrie O.B.E., E.D., and Mrs. Barrie, Fairview Ave.
The letter dated July 15 and received yeterday, was the second since the young officer was lsited as wounded, and in neither did he mention his injury to his parents.
The head wound, Col Barrie believes, must have been a very minor one. Douglas said he was "fine." He is second-in command of a company of the H.L.I.
Barrie Douglas
Captain
[clipping] 13 Oct 1944
Capt. Douglas Barrie
Capt Barrie has been wounded a second time while serving with the H.L.I. His father believes he might have been in Holland when he was injured on Sept 21. Capt Barrie is remaining with his unit and it is therefor assumed that his wound was not serious.
He was first injured on July 8 while fighting in France. At that time a bomb fragment caused a head injury, which was also believed slight, and kept him from his unit for only a brief period.
A former member of the Scots Fusiliers reserve unit Capt., Barrie enlisted for active service with the H.L.I. in 1941 and went overseas as a reinforcement officer in June 1942.
[clipping] 18 Dec 1944
Hurt 3 Times, Capt. Barrie Returns Home
Two Kitchener soldiers Capt. Douglas Stanton Barrie and Lance-Cpl. Harold W. Wendorf, 32, who have been in the thick of fierce fighting in France, Belguim and Holland since D-day are home for Christmas.
They arrived in London yesterday with a party of 138 soldiers, the largest single group to arrive at that city in this war. Men from Galt, Preston, Doon and New Hamburg were also in the group.
Capt. Barrie was wounded three times, but in the hand-to-hand tussle in which he had his closest call he escaped without a scratch.
Had Close Call
"It happened in a French wheat field." said the soldier today as he sat in a chair at the home of his parents Col. and Mrs., E.G. Barrie, 53 Fairview Ave.
"I was on my first patrol. We were going forward just before the battle of Buron. We were supposed to take prisoners and secure information on Jerry`s position. It was night. We could hear digging on all sides of us in the field. The Nazies knew something big was in the offing and
[clipping] 18 Dec 1944 cont'd
were making desperate efforts to get ready.
"We had crawled on our bellies through three quarters of the wheat field when a German sentry started to walk straight towards us. When he got right up to me I challenged him to throw up his hands. I saw his hands go up but in one hand I could see a grenade. I hadn't much time to prepare for that patrol and having given my pistol to a mortarman had picked up a nearby rifle. I hadn't time time to test the rifle. When I saw the grenade in his hand I tried to pull the trigger but the weapon was defective and failed to fire.
"Rolling over to one side I called for a section commander immediately behind me to let him have it. He gave him a burst from his Sten gun. The German fell right beside my head.
"In a moment all the digging stopped. We could hear them cocking their machine guns and giving commands all around us. We didn't stir a muscle. By some miracle of luck we managed to wait them out and after a while crawled in different directions over the field. We got back to our lines without a scratch and handed in identification of the sentry."
To Be Instructor
A member of the H.L.I. Capt. Barrie is home on a 30-day leave following which he will be posted in Canada for six months as an instructor. This concession is granted to any soldier wounded three times. He was nicked in the head with shrapnel at Buron on July 8. He received a bullet in the thigh at
[clipping] 18 Dec 1944 cont'd
Boulogne, Sept 21 and suffered a sniper bullet wound in the hand Oct 15 at the Schelde pocket.
"Buron was our toughest short fight but the Schelde pocket fighting was the fiercest prolonged engagement" said the soldier who believes the war in Europe will likely wind up in June or July. "The average German soldier is not much of a match for the Canadians" he said.
"The SS., panzer and paratroopers are in a different class. They are very good and fight fanatically. The others give up when we get within bayonet range."
Refering to the Zombies the captain said "the boys overseas don't feel the chaps who have volunteered should have to do all the work. They feel the Zombies should bve sent over at once in strength. That means the whole lot of them."
Need Reinforcements
"Reinforcements are needed. The H.L.I. has suffered a lot of casualities."
He liked the people of England "Once you got to know England we liked it very much. The people treated us wonderfully and really think a great deal of the Canadians"
Barrie went to France on D-day and fought right through France, Belgium and the Schelde pocket. he was born in Kitchener and attended the Collegiate Institute. Before enlisting he held a position in the Bank of Commerce. He was a member of the Scots Fusiliers (R).
Capt. barrie went overseas two and one half years ago as a lieutenant and received his promotion at Caen.