Samuel James “Sam” Carr was born in Manassette Lake, Guysborough County, on February 12, 1924, the youngest of Howard Thomas and Mary Eviva (Diggins) Carr’s three sons. Howard and Eviva were married at Guysborough on February 10, 1914, and raised a family of seven children—sons Ernest Robert (March 17, 1917), Maurice Martin (December 17, 1921) and Samuel James, and daughters Margaret Helen (1914), Mary Naomia (May 6, 1920), Ann (1925) and Gertrude (1926).
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| Private Samuel James "Sam" Carr |
At the time of the 1931 Canadian census, the Carr family was living in Manasette Lake, where Howard operated a farm and worked in the local fishery. Tragically, Howard passed away suddenly in St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish, on July 9, 1935, the result of “acute nephritis [kidney inflammation] with hypertension.” His death at age 45 left Eviva to care for five dependent children.
Sam attended public school for seven years, leaving at age14 to work on the farm of Robert S. Grady, St. Francis Harbour. He came of age at a time when Canada was at war and actively seeking enlistments for military service. Canadian units participated in the invasion of Italy in early July 1943 and the demand for reinforcements, particularly in infantry ranks, grew rapidly over the subsequent months.
On August 3, 1943, Sam was “taken on strength” by No. 6 Military District, Halifax, under the terms of the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA). The June 1940 federal law gave the federal government the power to mobilize the resources necessary to fight the war. Among its provisions, young men of military service age were required to complete a basic training program, after which they were encouraged to volunteer for domestic or overseas service.
One week after reporting to No, 6 Depot, Sam formally enlisted with the Canadian Army at Halifax. On September 9, he reported to No. 60 Canadian Army Basic Training Depot, Yarmouth, where he completed his initial training. One month later, he joined the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF), making him eligible for overseas service. On November 5, he reported to No. 14 Advanced Infantry (Reserve) Training Centre, Aldershot, where he completed his training.
On December 30, 1943, Sam was granted a one-week pass that was later extended to a two-week pre-embarkation leave. He returned to duty on January 17, 1944, and was struck off the strength of the Canadian Army (Canada) one month later. Sam arrived in the United Kingdom on February 24, 1944, and was immediately assigned to No. 7 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).
As there was considerable demand for infantry reinforcements in Italy at the time, Sam’s path to active duty in the field occurred quickly. In mid-March 1944, he was transferred to No. 4 CIRU, which provided reinforcements for Canadian units in the Mediterranean theatre. He departed for Italy on March 16 and was ‘taken on strength” by the Central Mediterranean Force on April 9. That same day, Sam’s name was placed on the West Nova Scotia Regiment’s 1st Battalion reinforcement list. Exactly one month later, he was transferred to the Regiment’s 4th Battalion, the last posting before joining the unit in the field.
The West Nova Regiment was created in 1936, when the Lunenburg and Annapolis Regiments amalgamated into one unit. The battalion officially mobilized for overseas service on September 1, 1939, and departed for the United Kingdom before year’s end. The “West Novas” were assigned to the 1st Canadian Division’s 3rd Brigade, where its soldiers served alongside the Carleton & York Regiment (New Brunswick) and the Royal 22e Régiment (Quebec’s “VanDoos”).
The entire 1st Canadian Division was part of the Allied force that landed in Sicily on July 10, 1943, and fought its way across the island over the next five weeks. Canadian forces crossed the Strait of Messina to Reggio, located on the southernmost tip of the Italian peninsula, on September 3, 1943. Several days later, a second, larger American and British force landed at Salerno, south of Naples. Throughout the autumn of 1943, Allied forces pushed their way northward. While the Italian government officially surrendered shortly after the mainland invasion, German units firmly resisted the advance.
Canadian units spent the early months of 1944 in Allied sectors north of the town of Ortona, which they had liberated in late December 1943. While British and Canadian forces advanced slowly up the Adriatic coast, an Allied army consisting of American, British and Commonwealth forces on the western coast, adjacent to the Tyrrhenian Sea, struggled to make its way toward the capital of Rome. While a small Allied force had landed at Anzio and Nettuno on the German right flank, the units were unable to push inland beyond their beach-head along the Pontine Marshes.
In an effort to break the deadlock, Allied commanders devised a plan to launch an attack inland, east of the Anzio beach-head. The primary target was the Liri Valley, located between the Lepini Mountains on the western side and the main chain of Apennine Mountains to the east. The entrance to the valley stretched for 15 to 20 kilometers from the town of Cassino beneath the Apennines to the Liri River, which wound its way northwestward along the valley’s western side.
The Liri Valley provided a direct route to the Alban Hills, beyond which lay the Italian capital. Recognizing its strategic value, German forces established an elaborate defensive system to block Allied access to the area. Monte Cassino, a former monastery located in the Appenines above the town of the same name, provided an excellent vantage point for observing Allied troop movements.
Behind the valley entrance, the Germans constructed two elaborate defensive lines. The first, called the Gustav Line, lay in the area around Pignatoro, while the second, main position, dubbed the Hitler Line, was located further north, near Pontecorvo. On the eastern side, the Polish Corps was assigned the unenviable task of dislodging German forces from atop Monte Cassino. Meanwhile, British and Commonwealth forces focused on the central and western sectors of the line.
The Allied attack on the Liri Valley commenced on May 11, 1944, with French, British and Indian units advancing as far as the Gustav Line on the first day. While Polish forces on the eastern flank continued their efforts to dislodge enemy forces atop Monte Cassino, Allied commanders sought to exploit the gains made in the central and western sectors of the line.
On May 15, Canadian units moved forward to support areas behind the Allied line’s western sector. The West Nova Regiment departed from their camp at Bucciano and travelled by motor transport through mountainous terrain to the Liri Valley in hot, dry weather. Among its “other ranks” (OR) was Private Sam Carr, who officially joined the unit that same day.
The following day, the soldiers had their first glimpse of their next objective—a lush, green valley nestled between mountains on either side, its landscape dotted with orchards and fields of tall grass or waist-high wheat. Streams running from the mountains wound their way across the valley, carving deep gullies that presented obstacles for tanks and armoured vehicles. Shrubs and trees along their banks provided excellent cover for anti-tank weapons.
On the evening of May 16, the West Novas relieved a Mahratta battalion from the Indian Division. The following morning, its soldiers were served a hot breakfast and then formed up along the Pignatoro - Pontecorvo Road, where they awaited orders to advance. Enemy artillery and mortar fire blanketed the area, inflicting several casualties.
Around mid-morning, the West Novas passed through their Royal 22e Régiment comrades’ line and attacked the remnants of the Gustav Line. The defences consisted of slit trenches, machine gun, mortar and neberwerfer (rocket-propelled projectiles) pits and fortified houses scattered across the fields and orchards. Two Companies led the way, with support from British tanks, while the remaining two Companies followed in support.
Numerous German soldiers surrendered as the unit pushed forward, while an occasional group, usually occupying a farmhouse, resisted but were quickly overpowered. Snipers in trees and along the roads presented a greater threat, but overall enemy resistance collapsed quickly. Most casualties were the result of artillery and mortar fire.
Tanks supporting the attack encountered a ravine several hundred meters from the start line and fell behind the advancing soldiers. The armoured vehicles soon caught up and provided supporting fire as the unit consolidated its positions. By nightfall, personnel were safely entrenched in fields near a farmhouse called Case di Georgio, located on a bend of the highway that extended into the valley from Pignatoro.
Under cover of darkness, West Nova soldiers pushed forward approximately three kilometers and established a base from which their Carleton & York comrades could continue the advance the following day. Artillery shelling continued to strike the area throughout the evening, but casualties were light. Meanwhile, German forces gradually withdrew to the Hitler Line, blanketing the main roads with harassing mortar and artillery fire to inhibit Allied movement.
Over the next several days, the 3rd Brigade’s three units rotated through advanced positions in a series of “leap frog” movements. On May 19, the West Novas swung westward and passed through the Royal 22e’s lines under intense artillery, mortar and machine gun fire. The maneuver involved crossing the 20-foot-wide Forme d’Aquino, a stream running through a deep gully.
Once on the other side, the soldiers made their way across a swampy flat covered with bushes and dug in along a low ridge in the evening hours. A heavy rain commenced during the night and continued into the morning of May 20, making for uncomfortable conditions. The sun emerged in the afternoon and support personnel were able to bring hot meals to the men. The unit then held its position for the next 48 hours.
By May 22, Canadian forces had reached the Hitler Line and adjusted their brigades in preparation for an attack on the Liri Valley’s final defences. Following a preliminary bombardment, three Canadian battalions, including the 3rd Brigade’s Carleton & Yorks, would launch the initial advance with tank support.
The New Brunswick regiment’s target consisted of a series of well concealed slit trenches, machine gun, mortar and nebelwerfer emplacements hidden in wooded areas. In every stone structure, German forces established strong points, reinforced by sandbags and equipped with dugouts under their earthen floors. Tanks were concealed in clusters of shrubs or buried almost to turret depth in grain fields, which provided cover for the weapons. Artillery covered all approaches, while low belts of barbed wire and personnel mines were deployed across the landscape.
At 4:30 am May 23, the West Novas ate breakfast and moved into their assigned positions at first light. In front of them, the Carleton & Yorks launched the opening attack as a rolling artillery barrage provided cover. In response, German artillery shelled the Canadian support areas. Many of the tanks supporting the attack fell victim to fire from well-concealed positions and from self-propelled guns moving through wooded area by-passed by the infantry during its advance.
So many tanks were lost in the initial attack that infantry units were forced to pause until replacements arrived. By mid-morning, rain began to fall, turning into a torrential downpour by afternoon. Support personnel once again brought hot meals forward as the soldiers waited. As the hours passed, German artillery, nebelwerfer and mortar fire impacted the West Novas’ ranks. While C Company had set out in the morning with 107 men, its ranks were reduced to 55 before day’s end.
Tank support from the Trois Rivières Regiment finally arrived around 4:30 pm and the advance resumed. The West Novas’ A & B Companies passed through the Carleton & Yorks’ line in front of the Pontecorvo - Aquino Road. The 1st Canadian Brigade to their left had moved forward along the Liri River’s west bank but were soon held up. Similarly, the 2nd Brigade encountered fierce resistance on the right, gaining little ground while suffering heavy casualties.
The West Novas’ successful advance placed them in a position to have a significant impact on the attack’s final outcome. The Pontecorvo - Aquino road in front of them represented the best escape route for German forces. Close by, a second road out of Pontecorvo ran northward at an angle to their location. If the West Novas could secure it, enemy units would face the prospect of being cut off from any retreat. As Pontecorvo was the Hitler Line’s main bastion, its capture would result in the line’s collapse.
Brigade commanders immediately recognized the opportunity and ordered the West Novas forward with orders to cut off the second road and hold it at all costs. A & B Companies immediately advanced, following a supporting artillery barrage. The attack surprised the Germans opposite their location, prompting many to surrender without opposition. The few posts that held out were left to C & D Companies as they conducted a “mopping up” operation.
As supporting tanks were unable to cross a deep gully, the soldiers pressed forward on their own, passing through a German counter-barrage and reaching the second Pontecorvo road before sunset. Along the way, the unit overcame spotty resistance, advancing to a ridge beyond the road where the men established a defensive position.
The West Novas assumed that the 48th Highlanders had advanced to positions on their left flank. Unbeknownst to them, German forces had gathered along a smaller road on their left flank, shielded from view by thickets and small hills. Within minutes, the Nova Scotians were the target of a significant counter-attack from the front and left that soon spread to their rear. D Company officers soon spotted large numbers of German soldiers moving through grain fields on their left flank. While they placed an urgent call for artillery fire that extinguished the threat, the Company lost an entire section before the enemy retreated.
Meanwhile, another large group of enemy forces assembled in front of A Company and prepared to attack its location. While officers requested an artillery barrage, the soldiers dug in close to the road in preparation. To make matters worse, while the West Novas were engaged in defending their position from attacks on the western flank, a second German force from Pontecorvo crept through waist-high grain along the southeastern side of the road, well past the rear of C & D Companies. As daylight began to wane, enemy soldiers attacked A Company from the flank and rear.
A Company’s forward platoons, busy digging in and having no weapons at hand, were taken completely by surprise. The soldiers who survived were taken prisoner. As German forces escorted their captives northward along the road, they unexpectedly encountered the West Novas’ B Company, which fired its machine guns over the enemy soldiers’ heads before focusing on the column. The prisoners quickly dove into the surrounding fields in an effort to escape.
Also unknown to the other three Companies, a group of ten A Company soldiers had survived the German attack and established a defensive position in slit trenches around their headquarters. The men managed to hold off enemy soldiers advancing toward them through the grainfield. To their left, D Company, spread out among farmhouses about 700 to 800 meters to the left of the road, were in considerable danger as they were totally unaware of what was happening to their comrades.
As night fell, German soldiers and one tank attacked D Company from the front, while another group, supported by two tanks, attacked from the left flank. The West Nova soldiers managed to force the enemy forces to the ground, but suffered considerable casualties in the process. Discouraged by anti-tank fire in the dwindling light, the German tanks eventually withdrew, providing some relief to the besieged Nova Scotians.
C Company also found itself in a precarious situation, cut off in the direction of Pontecorvo well behind German lines. Meanwhile, B Company was isolated on the ridge to the northeast. Between the two groups lay a handful of A Company survivors, clinging to a strip of land along the Pontecorvo road.
Lieutenant-Colonel Waterman, the West Novas’ commanding officer, managed to inform Brigade commanders of the situation and a troop of Trois Rivières Regiment’s tanks, accompanied by whatever West Nova soldiers were available at battalion Headquarters. were immediately dispatched to rescue the beleaguered groups.
With support from three tanks, an officer and 18 reinforcements managed to reached A Company. The small group persuaded attacking German forces that their numbers were far greater by continually relocating their four Bren guns to various position on their perimeter throughout the evening. By 1:00 am May 24, the situations had stabilized but still remained perilous.
During the night, the West Novas could hear the sound of transports moving along the nearby road. While the soldiers assumed that these were elements of the 1st Canadian Brigade, the vehicles were in fact carrying German soldiers fleeing Pontecorvo. Their Canadian comrades did not enter the town until after daylight on the morning of May 24. Throughout the day, German forces surrounding the West Novas gradually made their way northwest along a cart track that passed through the fields, following their retreating comrades.
As dawn broke, tanks from the 5th Canadian Armoured Division greeted the weary West Novas. The armoured vehicles had managed to advance through a gap in the Hitler Line and were pursuing the retreating enemy. Their arrival assisted the beleaguered unit in driving off the final German attacks on their positions.
During the morning, the remaining West Nova soldiers withdrew to positions behind the Pontecorvo road while the Irish Regiment of Canada and the 5th Armoured Division’s tanks moved off in pursuit of the retreating German forces. Thomas Raddall, author of the West Novas’ comprehensive regimental history, described what transpired in the aftermath of its rescue:
“Most of the dead were buried where they fell, but Padré Wilmot managed to collect the bodies of 14 where the Regiment had passed over the Pontecorvo - Aquino Road, close to a dug-in German tank which had done great damage before it was destroyed. Here they were buried in a small plot on the east side of the road immediately opposite a small Italian wayside shrine.”
The last of the wounded West Novas were evacuated from the battlefield at 4:00 pm May 24. Meanwhile the 5th Armoured Division reached the Melfa River, a tributary of the Liri located eight kilometers in front of the Hitler Line. The West Nova Scotia Regiment remained in the line until May 26, at which time its war diary entry described the state of its soldiers:
“…[B]attalion practically out on its feet[,] having been fighting in or under shell and mortar fire continually since 16 May with very little sleep…. Our best moment in days - [orders received] to move forward about one mile to new area, dig in and sleep.”
The attack on the Hitler Line was a costly one for the West Nova Scotia Regiment. From May 16 to 26, Commonwealth War Graves records indicate that the unit suffered a total of 48 fatalities. One day in particular accounted for almost one-third of these losses. On May 23, 1944, 17 West Nova soldiers perished. Private Samuel James Carr was one of the soldiers killed in action on that day during his first combat tour. The exact circumstances of his death are unknown.
Sam was initially buried “in a former slit trench some two miles south of [the] Pontecorvo - Aquino Road to [the] right of [an] 88 mm gun (German).” On June 1, 1944, military authorities sent a telegram to his mother Eviva, Manasette Lake, notifying her that her youngest son had been killed in action. Sam was re-interred in Cassino British Military Cemetery, Cassino, Italy, on January 27, 1945. Eviva Carr passed away in 1980 and was laid to rest beside her husband Howard in St. Francis Harbour Roman Catholic Cemetery.
After Eviva’s death, Sam’s service medals were passed along to two of his younger sisters. Gertrude “Gertie,” who presently resides in Boylston, received his service medals, while Mary was given his Silver Cross. Mary had married Donald Hirtle and lived in Blockhouse, near Bridgewater, for much of her married life. During a move to a new residence, Sam’s Silver Cross was misplaced. After her husband’s death in 2005, Mary returned to Manassette Lake, where she passed away on December 5, 2008.
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| Gertie Carr's Memorial Shadow Box |
In 2018, Collins Sawler, a resident of Martins River, NS, was scanning a recreational field in Blockhouse with a metal detector when he discovered a Second World War Silver Cross with F2079—Sam Carr’s initial service number—inscribed on the back. After identifying the soldier connected to the service number, Collins set out to locate a family descendant. After posting a photograph and news item in provincial media, he made contact with Gertie and drove to New Glasgow to return the medal to the Carr family. Gertie subsequently placed all of Sam’s medals, a picture of Sam and his headstone in a shadow box that is on display in her Boylston home.
Thanks to Debbie Poirier, Moncton, NB, who provided information on the discovery of Sam's Silver Cross and a picture of Gertie Carr's memorial shadow box.
