TRANSCRIPT

Mobilization

The regiment anxiously waited through the last months of 1939 and early 1940 as the first three divisions were mobilized. It was not until after the formation of the 4th Canadian Infantry Division was announced in May 1940 that the "Lake Superiors" received the call to arms. On 2 June Lieutenant-Colonel H. Cook received a telegram ordering him to "mobilize now" and proceed to Military District No. 10 Headquarters in Winnipeg for instructions. Recruiting began by taking volunteers from members of The Lake Superior Regiment, Non-Permanent Active Militia the next day. General recruiting for The Lake Superior Regiment, Canadian Active Service Force opened on 10 June, to an overwhelming response. After the unit was up to wartime establishment, it went to Camp Borden in October for further training. Between June 1941 and June 1942 the Regiment was first stationed at Aldershot, Nova Scotia, then assigned to coastal defence duty at Saint John, New Brunswick and ultimately Camp Debert, Nova Scotia.
While in Debert the 4th Division was completely reorganized in January 1942 and converted into an armoured division. Several infantry regiments were re-rolled into tank regiments and the LSR became a "Motor Battalion." This meant the regiment would eventually be mounted in scout cars, bren carriers and half tracks to form the close mechanized infantry support for the armoured brigades of the division. Finally, on 20 August the news that the men of the regiment had waited two years to hear came; the Lake Sups were ordered overseas. They departed from Halifax aboard H.M. Troopship Strathmore. Appropriately the last visitor as the troops prepared to depart was Brigadier W.W. Foster, the CO who twenty-three years previous, brought home the 52nd Battalion through this same port.
David Ratz