Seven Days in Hell: Canada's Battle for Normandy and the Rise of the Black Watch Snipers

by David O'Keefe

Vic Foam, the consummate company sergeant major who died leading his company from the front, left his leather wallet, a trusty penknife and his pair of highly polished black oxfords. A stack of letters from home formed part of the collection of Private George Crogie, along with a Waterman pen and pencil and an Eveready flashlight—used, no doubt, to scrawl letters home after lights out. Corporal Bill Herd’s collection included an address book and a rail and bus guide from what must have been a most memorable leave in London. A math textbook and a collection of short stories betrayed John Henry Harper’s desire to better himself, while Private Harvey Mahaffy left a set of leather gloves, a toothbrush and his personal identification bracelet (a gift from his family), which matched a personalized cigarette case. Lieutenant Alan Robinson left his kilt, his fawn balmoral and his prized cribbage board, a veteran of many a tussle in the officers’ mess with the Bishop’s College School “old boys.” A rosary and a photo of Anthony Barbagallo, mugging for the camera with his Bren gun slung around his shoulder and a machete tucked into his pack, formed a lasting visual reminder of the job that took his life. Private Reg Long, Cantlie’s batman, left a sleeveless sweater that maintained the scent of his aftershave, while Cantlie himself left a trunk containing over 150 items very much befitting a Black Watch CO, including a silk dressing gown, badminton racquets, a blue blazer and lampshad...