Over this past weekend I was married to a wonderful Canadian woman whose uncle was a member of the North Shore Regiment and while speaking to her and her mother, they mentioned that while he died and is listed as having been assigned to the West Nova Scotia Regiment, I found that he was actually a member of the North Shore Regiment and had fought and died serving with the West Nova Scotia Regiment in Italy in 1943-44.
The North Shore Regiment was formed in the early 1870's to provide a permanent non-militia support for the counties of North Shore, Kent, Northumberland, Gloucester and Restigouche, and was initially the 73rd Northumberland Battalion of Infantry. In 1922 it was renamed the 2nd Battalion Royal New Brunswick Regiment (North Shore), "North Shore Regiment" for short.
The North Shore Regiment fought in both World Wars and in 1914 was one of the first Canadian units to fight in the war. Many of the Regiments men fell in the 'Vimy Ridge' campaign and many believe that this one action is what gave Canadians their first true feeling of national identity and pride.
World War Two didn't see the North Shore activated until it was deployed to Europe. Before their deployment they were stationed in Woodstock and began training in makeshift camps and using inferior equipment and weapons. Rivalry between French and English speaking troops was brisk, but well mannered, and all in jest. On December 5th the Regiment moved to a larger more permanent facility at Sussex. Sussex was a large base with many other units in attendance and the NSR found itself a small fish in a big pond, rather than the only fish in a little pond.
Upon their arrival in England the unit was assigned to coastal defense, to repel any attack by Germany anywhere on the island. They spent many months training and presenting mock attacks and defensive moves all over England and in many places in Scotland.
The Regiment was split and some men were sent to Italy for the invasion of Sicily and the further attacks up the boot of Italy. The main bulk of the unit participated in the 'D' Day landings at 'St-Aubin-sur-Mer - NAN 7 beach' on June 6th, 1944. The North Shore Regiment acquited themselves quite well during their time in France and written by Major Bill Harvey : There never was the like of those North Shore men for sheer guts and durability¨. The men of the NSR also acquitted themselves well in Italy. From the beaches of Sicily to the Po River, the blood of Canadians stained the mud and fields, and
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