Military Service Recognition Book

185 The 28th Armoured Regiment (the British Columbia Regiment) and Algonquin Regiment memorial near Soignolles. This “off the beaten track” memorial is rarely visited other than by regimental associations and Canadian military staff course students. It commemorates the men of both units that formed a battlegroup known as “Worthington Force” during Operation Totalize. On 9 August 1944, under the command of Lt. Col. Don Worthington, the battlegroup was ordered to take a high ground position, Pt. 195 just west of the Caen-Falaise Highway. Moving in the dark of the early morning, Worthington Force lost their direction and mistakenly occupied a high ground position on the east side of the highway. By morning, Worthington Force discovered that they were behind German lines and surrounded by the 12th SS. Worse still, believing that they were on top of Hill 195, the battlegroup’s location remained unknown through the day and so no possible fire support or relief could given. Repeated German armoured attacks and artillery fire through the day eventually wiped out Worthington Force. By early evening, after twenty hours of fighting, Worthington Force sustained 240 casualties including 184 killed including Lt. Col. Worthington.

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