Devil’s Brigade Brotherhood

It’s something we could brag about if we were so inclined but we left too many behind. The force had 134 percent casualties. You say 134, where did the extra 34 percent come from? People who were wounded more than once so wasn’t necessarily killed but wounds. The red spearhead, that was our shoulder flash. We had a spearhead on our shoulder and they used us for a spearhead. In Italy it was patrol, patrol, patrol. In southern France it was go, go, go. We were young and foolish. Although the originals in the force, they were from the older mid 20’s upwards but the replacements were 19 and as I mentioned one 16 year old. It didn’t matter what was going on you were a force man and you were always a force man from beginning to end.

Mr. Summersides talks about the high casualty rate within the Devil’s Brigade.

Jim Summersides

Mr. Jim Summersides was born in Welland, Ontario, a town where he has lived all his life. As a young man, he recalls that peer pressure played a role in his joining the army. After enrolling, Mr. Summersides volunteered for the First Special Service Force, a unique joint Canadian- American effort that snuck behind German artillery lines creating havoc for the enemy. Mr. Summersides, along with fellow Canadian comrades, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor from the American Congress for his rare and profound contribution to the war effort. After the force broke up, he joined the 48th Highlanders and finished the war with that regiment. Mr. Summersides is very proud of his service during the Second World War and has had the pleasure of returning to Holland as part of the Canadian delegation for anniversary events.