William Irving Worth was born in Cross Roads Country Harbour, Guysborough County, on June 23, 1918. Both of Irving’s parents were Country Harbour natives. His father Henry Edward Worth was the son of Joseph James and Mary Ann “Annie” (Mason) Worth, while his mother Sarah Jane was the daughter of Henry and Emma (Mason) Mason.
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| Corporal William Irving Worth |
Henry and Sarah were married in Country Harbour on January 23, 1909. At the time of the 1911 census, they were residing in Country Harbour with Henry’s parents. Also in the household were the couple’s three oldest children—Henry Edward “Harry,” age two; Stanley Edward, age one; and Franklin James, age one month.
Over the following decade, another five children—Hilda Gladys, Robert Arthur, Annie Emma, William Irving and Everett Gardner—joined the Worth household. Eight more children—Lambert Gordon, Maurice Arnold, Walter Warren, Ina Lois, Muriel Florence, George Saunders, Minnie Ethel and Ross Maynard—were born between 1921 and 1934. Of Henry and Sarah’s 16 children, only one died in youth—Stanley Edward passed away on March 10, 1927, one day shy of his 17th birthday.
Irving Worth left school at age 14, having completed Grade VII. While he “liked school and got on well there,” life in a large family meant he “had to go to work.” He first spent several years working on the family farm. During that time, Irving’s father Henry Edward passed away in St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish, on October 7. 1936, the result to “cardiac insufficiency.”
Over the three years following Henry’s death, Irving worked as a farm labourer and did “bush work” for various employers. In 1939, 21-year-old Irving headed to Timmins, ON, with his younger brothers, Everett and Lambert. Irving was hired by Hollinger Mines, where he worked as an underground hard rock miner and “power shovel operator” in the gold-mining operation. All three Worth boys regularly sent money home to their mother, who was still caring for several young children.
The outbreak of the Second World War soon impacted the lives of the Worth brothers. In August 1940, the Canadian Parliament passed the National Resources Mobilization Act. The law provided the government with special powers to organize national resources in support of the war effort. Among its provisions was a compulsory national registry of all Canadian men of military service age and a six-week training program.
Once registered, young men were randomly “called up” for training, after which they could be “conscripted” into service in Canada. If they wished, the trainees could volunteer for active service overseas. For many young Canadian men, the NRMA training program became the first step into military service.
On April 9, 1942, Irving Worth reported to No. 23 Basic Training Centre, Newmarket, ON, where he completed the required NRMA enrolment form. A week and a half later, he reported to Camp Borden for basic training. Upon completing the program, Irving decided to enlist with the Canadian Active Service Force at Camp Borden, ON, on June 6, 1942.
Irving spent the summer of 1942 in Ontario. During that time, he was assigned to guard duty at a Basic Training Centre in the Niagara region for one month. On September 10, he was granted 10 days’ embarkation leave. Upon returning to duty, Irving was transferred to the Canadian Army Overseas on September 22 and departed for overseas one week later. Irving set foot in the United Kingdom on October 7 and was immediately assigned to No. 2 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU). Two weeks later, he joined the ranks of the Royal Regiment of Canada (RRC).
The Royal Regiment of Canada traces its origins to the 10th Battalion Volunteer Militia Rifles, Canada, a reserve force regiment established in Toronto, Canada West [Ontario], on March 14, 1862. The unit amalgamated with the Toronto Regiment in December 1936 and was re-designated the “The Royal Regiment of Canada” on February 11, 1939, with its headquarters located in Toronto.
The RRC mobilized for active service on September 1, 1939, and departed Canada for garrison duty in Iceland on June 10, 1940. The unit relocated to the United Kingdom at the end of October 1940 and spent almost two years in training. During that time, the regiment was assigned to the 2nd Canadian Division’s 4th Infantry Brigade, which included two other Ontario units—The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Hamilton, ON) and The Essex Scottish Regiment (Windsor, ON).
On August 19, 1942, the RRC and its 4th Brigade counterparts participated in the ill-fated Dieppe Raid. During the fighting, the unit lost almost half of its fighting strength. Over the next several months, the RRC rebuilt its ranks after returning to the United Kingdom. Irving was one of the new recruits who joined the regiment during that time. As the months passed, it appears that he made a favourable impression on his superiors. On August 16, 1943, Irving was promoted to the rank of Acting Lance Corporal and advanced to the full rank of Corporal before year’s end.
During the winter and spring of 1943-44, Allied units in the UK participated in several major training exercises that involved large-scale amphibious landings. The purpose was clear to all participants—their units were preparing for an Allied invasion of German-occupied France. The plans became reality on June 6, 1944, when the Canadian 1st and 3rd Infantry Divisions landed on Juno Beach as part of the Allied D-Day invasion of Normandy.
The 2nd Canadian Division briefly remained in the UK, crossing the English Channel and landing in Normandy on July 7, 1944. At the time of its arrival in France, Allied forces were still struggling to break out of the small beach-head they had established. The major obstacle was Caen, approximately 20 kilometers south of Juno Beach. At the time of the 2nd Division’s arrival, the city was still firmly under German control.
While British and Canadian forces focused on securing Caen, American forces on their western flank pushed southward along the French coast toward Avranches. The plan was for the Americans to then press eastward inland and then northward toward Argentan, encircling the German 7th Army in what became trapped became known as the “Falaise pocket.” Falaise, a French town south of Caen, was located in what gradually became a diminishing gap.
The British and Canadian assignment was to push southward from Caen to Falaise, closing the pocket by reaching their American allies. The first stage of the plan commenced with a July 8 attack on Caen. While units succeeded in securing large parts of the city, several sectors remained under German control. In response, plans were developed for a two-pronged attack called “Operation Goodwood,” scheduled for mid-July. The plan would provide the 2nd Canadian Division’s units with their first major combat experience.
After landing on Juno Beach, the 2nd Canadian Division prepared for its first deployment in the front line. The Royal Regiment of Canada’s personnel moved to a concentration area north of Bazenville, where they resumed training. On July 10, the unit moved out to positions near Bretteville, where the soldiers occupied slit trenches. The following day, personnel took up positions in St-Germaine, one-third of its ranks “standing to” in case of an enemy attack.
On July 12, the RRC moved into positions at Éterville, southeast of Caen, in relief of a British unit. Over the next five days, the location was subjected to considerable enemy mortar fire that inflicted approximately 175 casualties. On the night of July 16/17, the unit exchanged positions with The Essex Scottish, its Brigade mates, who were holding reserve positions 1,500 meters to the rear. Its soldiers then rested throughout the following day as they prepared for their first combat assignment.
Operation Goodwood consisted of two separate components. British units would attack the sectors of Caen still under German control. Simultaneously, the 2nd Canadian Division’s 5th and 6th Brigades would cross the Orne River that ran south of the city and secure the area along the river’s southern bank known as Faubourg de Vaucelles. The long-range goal was to capture two strategic areas of high ground further south, known and Bourgébus Ridge and Verrières Ridge. German forces were concentrated there, blocking the Allied path to Falaise.
The 4th Brigade was assigned the task of securing the 2nd Division’s right flank during the operation. Specifically, the RRC was to capture the village of Louvigny, southeast of the city, its first active combat target. Shortly after first light July 18, the unit’s Company commanders reconnoitred the ground over which the advance would take place.
The Allied attack commenced around 0830 hours as 2nd and 3rd Division units crossed the Orne and began to push southward along its banks. The RRC’s soldiers waited for orders to advance on Louvigny. Finally, in the early evening hours, “D” Company led the way across a wheat field into an orchard beside the village, with “A” Company following in support. While the soldiers encountered considerable small arms fire, both Companies reached the orchard.
As “D” Company resumed the advance, personnel encountered enemy machine gun fire but continued to press forward, “A” Company once again following in its wake. The soldiers cleared the northern part of the village before darkness forced them to establish defensive positions and settle in for the night. When personnel advanced into the remainder of the village the following day, they discovered that German forces had withdrawn overnight. By 0900 hours July 19, the entire village had been secured.
The RRC’s war diary reported four officers and 30 “other ranks” (OR) killed during the fighting at Louvigny, while another 75 OR were wounded. Its person captured 55 prisoners of war while clearing the village. The regiment was relieved in the early morning hours of July 20 and retired to Verson, where personnel rested and cleaned up after their first combat experience. A draft of six officers and 74 OR arrived later in the day, compensating for some of the unit’s Louvigny losses by increasing its fighting strength to 36 officers and 658 OR.
July 21 saw the first heavy rains since the 2nd Division’s arrival in France The RRC moved out at 1830 hours, passing through Caen and crossing the Orne River. Its solders travelled through the recently captured Faubourg de Vaucelles to the town of Ifs, south of Caen. That evening, its Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Charles Holtby Anderson, attended meetings concerning a large-scale attack on Verrières Ridge, which lay south of the Allied front line, blocking the path to Falaise.
The impending operation, dubbed “Operation Spring,” involved units from the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Divisions. The 3rd Division’s North Nova Scotia Highlanders (9th Brigade) were assigned the task of capturing the village of Tilly-la-Campagne on the eastern flank, with two 6th Brigade units—The Royal Highland Light Infantry and Royal Regiment of Canada—and a 7th Armoured Division tank regiment concentrating on Verrières and Rocquancourt in the centre. On the western flank, 5th Brigade infantry regiments were to advance southward along the Orne’s eastern bank and secure the villages of May-sur-Orne and Fontenay le Marmion.
The operation commenced on July 24, as the 6th Brigade’s units began to clear enemy forces from the area designated as the start line for the following day’s major attack. While Troteval Farm on the Brigade’s left flank was secured by day’s end, the advance on the right encountered stiffer opposition and fell short of its designated target.
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| Source: C. P. Stacey, "The Victory Campaign" |
At H-Hour—0530 hours July 25—the RRC moved through an area between Beauvoir Farm on its right and Troteval Farm on its left. The ground around them was littered with dead bodies and burning vehicles as personnel advanced through the area. The unit’s mortar Company, moving forward ahead of its infantry, reached its designated location on the southern slope of Verrières Ridge but was immediately engaged by enemy forces. Personnel quickly deployed their mortars, using the weapons to repel an attack.
The Royal Highland Light Infantry (RHLI) , which was to advance on the RRC’s right flank and clear Verrières, were late crossing the start-line and soon encountered stiff opposition as its personnel approached their target. As the RRC reached the area, RHLI soldiers were still engaged with enemy forces in the village, forcing the unit to delay its advance toward Rocquancourt. As a result, a scheduled artillery fire plan that was to assist the RRC took place before its soldiers were in position to attack their objective.
Commanding officers finally decided that the RRC should bypass the village on the left, leaving their Brigade comrades to deal with enemy forces there. As its soldiers moved toward Verrières, however, a major tank battle unfolded in front of them. A squadron of Sherman tanks from the 6th Canadian Armoured Regiment (1st Hussars) engaged German anti-tank guns in a confrontation that lasted for several hours. As the fighting progressed, the tanks proved to be no match for enemy fire power, every one destroyed by day’s end.
In mid-morning, the RRC launched its delayed advance with tank support. Two Companies—“C” on the right and “B” on the left—led the attack, with “A” and “D” following in support. The soldiers headed up a gradual slope of the ridge that extended eastward from Verrières. While personnel managed to reach the top, they immediately encountered “a hurricane of fire” from German tanks and 88-mm guns in well-camouflaged positions in front of them.
The Regiment’s official history later described what followed:
“As the remnants of ‘C’ Company… continued to press forward over the ridge, they were suddenly surrounded by large numbers of German infantry who appeared out of the grain fields on all sides. Those who had not been killed or wounded were taken prisoner. Only 18 other ranks of ‘C’ Company survived the day’s fighting.”
At that point in the day, no artillery support was available, prompting “B” Company’s commanding officer to cancel the scheduled advance through their comrades’ lines. A Brigade officer, however, ordered “D” Company to move forward. Its soldiers were unable to make any progress and gradually spread out to the right, filling a gap between “B” Company and the RHLI soldiers still fighting in Verrières.
While commanding officers formulated a plan for a second attack in the afternoon, the destruction of an entire section of carriers and a tank squadron on the left side of the village resulted in its cancellation. At 1550 hours, the RRC’s soldiers received orders to “dig in” and hold their present positions, the RHLI to their right and the main Caen - Falaise Road on their left. German forces remained heavily entrenched in strong positions approximately 300 meters in front of their line.
As darkness fell, “B” Company repelled a weak counterattack. The unit held its ground throughout the night, “D” Company managing to move approximately 300 meters forward under cover of an artillery barrage the following day. It was clear, however, that there would be no major breakthrough as the unit repelled three counter-attacks during the evening hours of July 26.
The RRC held its position throughout the following day, finally retiring from its positions during the early morning hours of July 28 and making its way to a location between Ifs and Bras, along the Caen - Falaise road. A group of 254 much-needed reinforcements arrived in its camp that evening.
The Royal Regiment of Canada suffered a total of 36 fatalities during its Verrières Ridge tour. The greatest losses occurred during the first day of fighting, when 16 soldiers were killed. The overall outcome for Allied forces was disappointing. While 4th Brigade units had managed to secure the village of Verrières, the 5th Brigade on its right flank suffered significant losses, as did the 9th Brigade’s North Nova ScotiaHighlanders on its left flank.
In fact, German counterattacks on July 26 and 27 pushed Canadian forces back to their initial starting locations. Over the next 10 days, however, American successes to the west drew German forces away from the ridge, allowing British and Canadian units to finally secure the high ground on August 7. The Allied group then commenced its push toward Falaise, 40 kilometers south of Caen, in an effort to complete the encircling of German forces in Normandy,
Corporal William Irving Worth was killed in action during the July 25, 1944 attack on the outskirts of Verrières. Given the nature of combat that day, it is likely that Irving was among the “C” Company soldiers lost in its advance up the ridge. He was initially buried “in [a] gap in [a] hedgerow” near Verrières. As Allied forces did not secure the ridge until two weeks after his death, his mother Sadie did not receive official notification of his death until late August 1944.
On March 13, 1945, Irving’s remains were “buried with religious rites in a temporary grave located…approximately five miles [eight kilometers] southeast of Caen, in the Department of Calvados (Normandy) France.” Exactly six months later, he was re-interred in Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian Military Cemetery, Bretteville-sur-Laize, Calvados, France.
Both brothers who accompanied Irving to Timmins, ON, also served during the Second World War. Lambert Gordon Worth enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers and served in the Western European theatre. His exact whereabouts at the time of Irving’s death is unknown.
Some time after Irving's death, Lambert was leaning against an Army Jeep, reading a letter from home, when he met another Canadian serviceman. As the two men conversed, the soldier said that Lambert reminded him of a comrade with whom he had served, both in appearance and accent. The soldier commented, “He was also from Nova Scotia—his name was Irving Worth.” Remarkably, he was with Irving when he was killed. According to his account, his death was the result of an explosion on the battlefield.
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| Sapper Lambert Worth |
After the end of fighting in Europe, Lambert remained in the Netherlands for several months. He later recalled a Christmas 1945 celebration in the Netherlands, during which his unit hosted Dutch children from two nearby orphanages. Lambert never forgot the smile on one young girl’s face as he lifted her up to pick a gift from a large Christmas tree—a small burlap bag that contained a treat and home-made toy.
Lambert had married Thelma Burke in 1942, prior to heading overseas. Four years later, he returned to his wife in Ontario, where he worked for Swift Meats, a large meat processing company. Lambert and Thelma raised a family of three children—two sons and a daughter. Lambert Worth passed away in Etobicoke General Hospital, Toronto, on August 19, 2014, at 92 years of age. He was laid to rest in Glendale Memorial Gardens, Etobicoke.
Everett Gardiner Worth joined the Canadian Army and was serving in Italy with the West Nova Scotia Regiment at the time of Irving’s death. The West Novas relocated to the Netherlands in April 1945, where the unit spent the final month of the war. After his military service, Everett returned to Timmins in 1947. The following year, he married Ellen Jean Farnan,
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| Private Everett Worth |
Everett worked in the McIntyre and Pamour mines for a number of years and was later employed by the city of Timmins as a fire and police dispatcher. Everett and Jean raised a family of four children—two sons and two daughters. The couple lived in Timmons until 1986, when they moved to St. Thomas, ON. Everett Worth passed away in St. Thomas - Elgin General Hospital, St. Thomas, ON, on January 14, 1987, and was laid to rest in Elmdale Memorial Park, St. Thomas.
Irving’s mother Sadie remained in Country Harbour until her later years, when she took up residence with her youngest daughter Minnie (Mrs. Gordon Feltmate) in Goshen. Sarah Jane “Sadie” (Mason) Worth passed away in St. Mary’s Hospital, Sherbrooke, on December 23, 1987, and was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery, Cross Roads Country Harbour, beside her husband Henry.
Special thanks to Alanna Hayne, Country Harbour, for providing pictures of the three Worth brothers.
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