Second World War

Artifact W2-16: Memories of a Canadian Driver

Submitted by David Chapman, a member of the Society of Friends of the Royal Logistic Corps Museum, Princess Royal Barracks, Deepcut, England.

Army Driver1 Copy

My father, Walter Chapman, was in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) during the war, having joined as a reservist in February 1939. He was commissioned in 1940 and was sent to North Africa. Towards the end of that campaign he achieved the rank of Major (in Tripoli – January 1943) and was transferred to X Corps (attached to US Fifth Army under General Mark Clark) in preparation for the Salerno landings in September of that year. In July 1944 he moved to AFHQ at Caserta Palace near Naples before re-joining 8th Army in Austria in 1945.

The photographs are of a Canadian soldier whose name I believe to be something like “Forsberg”, but I cannot be certain of that. (My father also referred to him by his nickname of “Canada” – not the most original!!). “Canada” was assigned as a driver to my father during the period of 1943/44 but I am unable to confirm the precise dates or the location of the pictures. My father thought highly of “Canada” and I wonder if these pictures might be of interest to researchers or possibly family members.

Army Driver1 Copy Army Driver 3 Copy

Army Driver2 Copy

Support the Friends

Be a Donor

Help the Friends support the Museum by becoming a donor today.

Why Volunteer?

The Friends is an all-volunteer organization and needs interested people willing to provide time, knowledge and skills to support our mission.

Why be a Member?

If you have an interest in furthering the Friends purposes a membership may be for you.