Pte Roland Bernard Aubry Pte Roland Bernard Aubry (B144940) was born in Ottawa on 18 Feb 1925 to Blanche and Stanislas Aubry.
His enlistment papers show his enlistment date of 27 Mar 1943 at North Bay, Ontario. His city of residence at the time of enlistment was Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, which is where his mother had been living. He had 3 brothers (Roger, Guy, and Jean) and 2 sisters (Jacqueline, Suzanne). Pte Aubry was French-Canadian but fluently spoke English and French. He was an athletic young man, playing rugby and baseball while in school, and had done considerable running, swimming, boxing, and skiing. Prior to his service, Pte Aubry worked as a Machine Operator for International Nickel and for OtisFensom Elevator Co., but he had been working for a year as a garage mechanic before enlisting. He had hoped to work in this capacity with the military, but due to a low score on his “M” test, he was deemed to have “low-average intelligence and ability” and was not suitable for the trade. He insisted he could have done better on the test had it been administered in French, and his personnel selection record noted that he “seems much brighter than his ‘M’ score would indicate.”
After a brief bout of scabies in Apr 1943, his only injury or illness recorded during his service, Pte Aubry completed his Basic training in the summer of 1944, qualified infantry on 15 Sep 1943, and was ultimately deemed suitable for overseas service on 29 Sept 1943.
He departed Canada for England as part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU) in Dec 1943. He embarked for Italy in Feb 1944 with the 3rd CIRU and was taken on strength with the 48th Highlanders at the beginning of Mar 1944. In the summer of 1944, Pte Aubry was taken on strength with the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion, with which he was in France from Aug 1944 to Dec 1944, and was trained in amphibious landings and demolitions, but he ultimately returned to the 48th Highlanders in Italy in Jan 1945.
In March of 1945, the 48th Highlanders, along with the First Canadian Infantry Division, were sent to Holland. Pte Aubry was a member of ‘A’ – Able Company for Op CANNONSHOT, commencing on 12 Apr 1945. Their end goal was the liberation of Apeldoorn; however, the goal for the first day was to cross the lJssel River to the town of Wilp and then secure the town of Twello. The river crossing, starting at 0500 hrs, was accomplished using Buffalo amphibious vehicles, but this took longer than expected. At 1045 hrs, the crossing was complete, and the troops took on Machine Gun fire and SP gunfire while accomplishing their first task by 1400 hrs. The next objective of the day was started: secure Twello. Able Company would attack west on an axis south of Wilp, then swing north, following an axis 300 yards to the west of the main road. Able Company ran into trouble; they were reported to be pinned down at 1500 hrs by 6 machine-guns and 3 SP-guns. A 25-pounder (Howitzer) was asked to destroy or neutralize the guns with smoke. This had worked, the SP-guns were blinded with smoke, one was hit, and the rest had pulled away. The machine gunners went into a panic, some were killed, and the rest raced to the rear. The town of Twello was secured by 2300 hrs.
Pte Aubry lost his life during this first day of battle, 12 Apr 1945, likely a result of ambushing or other aimed fire from a dug-in enemy. He was buried the following day in a temporary grave in Wilp, and his mother would be notified by a letter dispatched on 21 Apr 1945. Among his personal effects at the time of his death were a US FS Cap, an Italian phrase book, and other souvenirs from Italy including postcards, photo books, and a seashell. On 15 Jun 1946, he was re-buried at the Holten Canadian War Cemetery in, grave 7, row c, plot 1.
For his Service, Pte Aubry was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star, 19391945 War Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.
