A Memorial Cross to Private Rose; Artillery Casualty Outside Caen 1944

GRVI (B.134438 PTE. E.A. ROSE). Naming is officially engraved. Suspended from a hanger but missing its pinback, light contact, near extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, GRVI crown on the lid, lightly soiled medal bed, case also near extremely fine. Accompanied by a Photograph of His Original Grave Marker (black and white, matte finish, marked "BENY sur MER CANADIAN CEMETERY PLOT VII ROW A GRAVE 4" on the reverse, 77 mm x 118 mm) and a CD containing sixty pages with copies of his Canadian Army Soldier's Service and Pay Book, Index Cards, Attestation Paper, Service Records, Medical Records, Will, Personnel Selection Board Assessment Form, Particulars of Family Form, Occupational History Form, Statement of War Service Gratuity Form and Computation Form, Estate Branch Form, Estates Branch Inventory List (dated November 28, 1944), Canadian Army Overseas Casualty Notification (Death) Certificate, Province of Ontario Certificate of Registration of Death, Canadian National Telegraph Telegram, Letter of Inquiry from His Father, William C. Rose (dated November 10, 1944, addressed to Major Barwick, in regards to where his son died and where he was buried, noting that his death was a "sad blow and caused us great anxiety, awaiting further news", on William Neilson Limited letterhead), along with various correspondence (between his wife, Elizabeth Rose and government officials, in regards to his death, and her concerns for his personal effects and the War Service Gratuity). Footnote: Eugene Allan Rose was born on December 7, 1922, the son of Allan Charles Rose and Bernice Rose of Toronto, Ontario. His parents later divorced, his mother assuming the name of Bernice Newson of Toronto. His father was employed as an Office Clerk with William Neilson Limited of Toronto. Eugene attended school from the ages of 5 to 17, the last four of which were in high school, attending Western Technical School (1936-1940) in Toronto and also completing a three year course in Commercial Art. His hobbies included collecting records, Victorian art and participating in sports, including skating, swimming, skiing, playing as a centre in hockey, as a shortstop in softball and volleyball. Rose left school, in order to help his family financially, his first two years working as a truck driver and shipper, with William Neilson Limited of Toronto (1940-1942) at $25 per week, the same company his father worked for. He followed that by an eight month stint with the Hamilton Gear & Machine Company of Toronto as a Timekeeper at $25 per week. Before he enlisted, he married Elizabeth Marie Rose and settled in Toronto. Eugene Rose signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (B/134438) on October 19, 1942, at the Recruiting Centre at No. 2 District Depot, Infantry (R) "R" Wing, No. 4 Company in Toronto, at the age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Elizabeth MarieRose of Toronto, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Married, that his religion was Roman Catholic and that his trade was that of Timekeeper. The examiner noted in his Personal Service Board Report, that Rosewas of "Above average intelligence, well-built, healthy looking young man of neat appearance and polite manners. Is ambitious. Was married two months ago, and would like to be placed where he could use his experience in Art. Can do some sign painting. General interest in sports." and recommended him for the Infantry as a Rifleman, and designating him as a non-tradesman. A later report established Rose as a "particularly fine type of young man registering both fighting qualities and trade training potentialities.", the examiner going on to state that the "experience, intelligence and manual dexterity fit (this) man for trades training in (the) Automotive field." Rose was transferred to No. 20 Canadian Infantry (Basic) Training Centre in Brantford, Ontario on November 6, 1942 and while at Brantford, an address change was noted on December 7th, as his wife had moved to Mimico, near Toronto. After completing his basic training on January 5, 1943, he was transferred to A10 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Borden. It was here that he qualified as a Class III Driver Wheeled on March 5, 1943 and qualified as a Class III Driver (M/C Comb) two weeks later, on March 20th. While at Camp Borden, he suffered a "Fractured Nasal Bone" on April 13, 1943, signing a statement describing the incident: "In attempting to jump up onto the Ramp at No. 9 Coy. Compound, I slipped, landing on my face causing the above mentioned injuries." He was treated at the Regimental Aid Post (RAP) and x-rayed, before returning to duty. His new wife was one month pregnant when he enlisted, his daughter, Sharron Darlene Marie Rose being born on June 19, 1943 in Etobicoke Township, York County. Upon completing training at Camp Borden, he was transferred to the Lincoln and Welland Regiment at Aldershot, Nova Scotia on June 30, 1943, where he was taken on strength as a Rifleman on July 2nd. Two weeks later, he proceeded overseas on July 16th, taken on strength of the Canadian Army Overseas the next day. He disembarked in Gourock, Scotland on July 22nd and would remain in the United Kingdom for one year for additional preparation and training, successfully completing a course as a Bren Gunner (light machine gun) on December 1, 1943. Six weeks after the D-Day Normandy landings, PrivateRose embarked the United Kingdom on July 20, 1944, arriving in France on the 22nd. Private Rose was with the 1st Battalion, Lincoln and Welland Regiment, 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Armoured Division, when he was wounded on August 2, 1944 near Caen, during the Battle of Normandy, the shell amputated his left leg, with his right foot and leg suffering lacerations and incurring puncture wounds above the buttocks. He arrived at the Regimental Aid Post (RAP) at 0900 hours , then "evacuated rapidly" and admitted to No. 15 Canadian Field Ambulance. Later that same day, he was transferred to No. 2 Canadian Casualty Station, where he was listed in "Grave Shock". The following day, the doctor noted that his "condition (was) poor, pulse 150". By the second day, August 4th, the doctor noted that he was "toxic this am - no odour from stumps". The doctor went into detail, describing Rose has having "gas gangrene (in) both stumps" and that the "muscle (was) only slightly affected". The doctor's final entry stated the inevitable: "2:50 hours - died. This probably due to gas infection but this man was in very poor condition from shock & hemorrhage from the first and never made a recovery from it." Private Eugene Allan Rose died from his wounds on August 4, 1944, at the age of 21 and was one of four members of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment that died that day. The following day, he was buried in a cemetery in Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe (Sheet 7F/1 M.R.998692). After the war, he was re-interred in Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Calvados, France, Grave Reference: VII. A. 4., the government official noting in a letter to Rose's wife, dated February 12, 1946, that he would be "carefully exhumed from the original place of internment and reverently reburied". Rose is commemorated on page 432 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance and is remembered with honour on the Western Technical School Memorial in Toronto, dedicated to the memory of the students from Toronto who served during the Second World War and did not return. He was posthumously awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945, credited with having served in Canada (October 19, 1942 to July 16, 1943), the United Kingdom (July 17, 1943 to July 21, 1944) and Northwest Europe (July 22, 1944 to August 4, 1944). Two Memorial Crosses were issued: one to his wife, Elizabeth Rose of Mimico, Ontario, the other to his mother, Bernice Newson of Toronto, Ontario. His wife was also paid a War Service Gratuity of $312.61. In his Will, dated July 9, 1943, Rose stated "I Give, Devise and Bequeath unto my dear Wife, Elizabeth Marie Rose, of 114 Simpson Ave., Mimico, Ont. All my Estate, both, Real, and personal and Wheresoever Situate." His personal effects had been stored at his wife's aunt's place in Devonport, England but the government collected them in September 1944. Elizabeth Rose pursued the authorities to get them back, well into 1945, writing three letters to them, inquiring as to why they had been collected, if the government had no intention of forwarding them on to her. The Inventory List, received from Canadian Section GMQ 2nd Echelon 21 Army Group and dated November 28, 1944, recorded the following personal possessions: red identification disc, red service chevron, receipt 6th Victory Loan $50.00 to Officer i/c Estates, leather wallet, comb, package Gillette razor blades (removed from distribution), hankie, identification bracelet, religious wallet with medallions, package of lighter flints, photo wallet with snapshots, five British 3d and three 1/2d stamps (to C.P.M.), two keys, collar pin, safety pin and CVSM ribbon. Rose was also in the process of purchasing a Victory Bond, as part of the Dominion Government Employees' Installment Purchase Plan. (C:44)