Bodies of Cape Breton Highlanders

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May 1, 1945

The bodies of Cape Breton Highlanders killed in the fighting are securely wrapped in blankets in preparation for burial. This photo would have been taken immediately after the fighting. Note the dike in the background on the right.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-26d.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014 (The museum copy is believed to have come from CBH veteran Reg Roy)
 

Captured German Gun Position

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May, 1945

This is a photo of one of the anti-aircraft gun positions of Battery Delfzijl. The photo would have been taken shortly after the battle. Note the large pile of spent shell casings testimony to the heavy firing that took place.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-26c.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014 (The museum copy is believed to have come from CBH veteran Reg Roy)
 

Cape Breton Highlanders at Captured German Bunker

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May, 1945

Cape Breton Highlanders stand outside the entrance to a captured German bunker shortly after the battle. Note the debris around the exterior and the pockmarks in the wall from shrapnel and gun fire.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 15-10 (40.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Heather Almon, Sydney, NS, 2015
 

Cape Breton Highlanders Display German Souvenirs

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May, 1945

Cape Breton Highlanders display a souvenir German battle flag. They are in a recently captured gun postion of Battery Delfzijl. This photo is the first in a sequence of three photos taken in this position.

In the back row, left to right, are Major Harry Barlow Boates of Foxbrook, Pictou County, NS; and Company Sergeant Major John Hugh MacQueen of Donkin, NS.

In  the front row, left to right, are Capt. Larry Fox; Lieut. William (Bill) Francis Connell of North Sydney, NS; and Lieut. Reginald (Reg) H. Roy of Sydney, NS.

Major Boates was awarded a Military Cross for his actions in Italy in December, 1944 and for the fighting at Delfzijl in April/May, 1945. CSM MacQueen was awarded a Distinquished Conduct medal for his actions during the assault crossing of the Lamone River in Italy on the night of December 10/11, 1944 and during the fighting at Delfzijl. Both men were in “D” Company which led the assault on Battery Delfzijl. Major Boates was in command of the company which became pinned down due to very heavy enemy fire. Because of the courage and leadership of both men, the company held their positions and eventually completed the attack which led to the capture of 275 Germans and four 10.5cm guns.

Lieut. Reg Roy went on to an illustrious career as a Canadian military historian. Dr. Roy wrote numerous books and articles, and lectured around the world.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-27c.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014 (The museum copy is believed to have come from CBH veteran Reg Roy)
 

Cape Breton Highlanders Display German Souvenirs

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May, 1945

Cape Breton Highlanders display a souvenir German battle flag. They are in a recently captured gun position of Battery Delfzijl. This photo is the second in a sequence of three photos taken in this position. Refer to the previous photo for the names of the men and a more detailed description.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-27b.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014 (The museum copy is believed to have come from CBH veteran Reg Roy)
 

Cape Breton Highlanders Display German Souvenirs

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May, 1945

Cape Breton Highlanders display a souvenir German battle flag. They are in a recently captured gun position of Battery Delfzijl. This photo is the third in a sequence of three photos taken in this position. This photo is similar to the previous two photos except that one man has been replaced.

In the back row, on the left, is an unidentified Cape Breton Highlander who has replaced Major Harry Boates from the previous two photos. In the back row on the right is Company Sergeant Major John Hugh MacQueen of Donkin, NS.

Standing in the front row, left to right, are Capt. Larry Fox; Lieut. William (Bill) Francis Connell of North Sydney, NS; and Lieut. Reginald (Reg) H. Roy of Sydney, NS.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-26b.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014 (The museum copy is believed to have come from CBH veteran Reg Roy)
 

Pte. Earl Wilson

Cape Breton Highlanders

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May, 1945

Cape Breton Highlander Earl Wilson stands in one of the captured gun positions of Battery Delfzijl. The gun is believed to be a 10.5cm antiaircaft weapon that was used in a ground role against the attacking Canadians. Earl appears to be wearing a souvenir German belt and buckle and is holding two German handguns. The photo would have been taken very shortly after the battle.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-3 (21-2.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Whitney Pier, Sydney, NS, 1990’s)
 

Two Cape Breton Highlanders

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa June, 1945

Cape Breton Highlanders John Wassilaskus (left) and Mack MacKenzie (right) pose in a captured German gun position of Battery Delfzijl. The gun position was dug into the top of the earthen dike. The gun is believed to be a 10.5cm antiaircaft weapon that was used in a ground role against the attacking Canadians. The photo is believed to have been taken in June, 1945.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-22.2)
Image Information: Scan of a original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014
 

Two Unidentified Soldiers

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

Two unidentified soldiers pose in a captured German gun position of Battery Delfzijl. The gun position was dug into the top of the earthen dike. The gun is believed to be a 10.5cm antiaircraft weapon that was used in a ground role against the attacking Canadians. It may be the same gun position as in the previous photo. The photo is believed to have been taken in May or June of 1945.

The caption printed on the reverse of the original photo read, “This gun was knocked out by our fellows. It got one of our officers, Mr. Nixon, April 29, 1945.” The Mr. Nixon referred to was Cape Breton Highlander Lieut. Norman James Nixon from Halifax, NS. He was killed in action on April 30, 1945. It is not known who wrote the caption or who originally owned the photo.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-23.2)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014
 

German Searchlight Position

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa 1945

This is a photo of a German searchlight position built into the side of the earthen dike. It would have been taken some time after the battle. Note the bunker in the background.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-21a.1)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014
 

Unidentified Cape Breton Highlander

Battery Delfzijl, Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

An unidentified Cape Breton Highlander stands in front of one of the captured bunkers of Battery Delfzijl. Note the pock marks on the wall of the bunker caused from shrapnel and gun fire.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-21b.1)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014