CANADIAN PARA Eadie, George Fraser

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Eadie
  • FORENAME
George Fraser
  • UNIT
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
  • RANK
Major
  • NUMBER
  • AWARD
Distinguished Service Order, Silver Star (US)
  • PLACE
Germany 1945
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 20.7.1917 Winnipeg, Manitoba
employed by Ford Motor Company pre and post war
Calgary Highlanders + Royal Winnipeg Rifles (Pte) 1930s
Royal Winnipeg Rifles (Lt-Major)
1 Canadian Parachute Bn (Major-LtCol)
Honorary Colonel, Canadian Airborne Regiment 1989-94
married Kathleen Halliley (1 son) (both died)
married Eileen (2 sons and 1 stepdaughter)
died 11.8.2003 Oakville, Ontario
Trafalgar Lawn Cemetery, Oakville, Ontario
 

CITATION:

Distinguished Service Order : For great gallantry and devotion to duty.

Lt.Col. Eadie joined the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in Normandy in August 1944 and assumed temporary command of the Battalion at Annebault during the advance to the Seine. His leadership and determination to pursue and get to grips with the enemy inspired his men enabling them to achieve a series of outstanding successes until the Division was withdrawn from the Seine on 3rd September 1944.

Lt.Col. Eadie carried out his duties as second-in-command of the Battalion during the battles in the Ardennes in December 1944 to January 1945 with great distinction, and on dropping over the Rhine on 24th March 1945 he immediately had to assume command of the Battalion on the death of the Commanding Officer on the DZ. His brilliant handling and inspiring leadership of his Battalion enabled them in spite of heavy opposition and considerable casualties to capture all their objectives and inflict tremendous losses on the enemy. Throughout the campaign until 10th May Col. Eadie's inspiring leadership and utter disregard of danger enabled his Battalion to kill and rout the enemy wherever they found them. The battles of Greven, Dortmund-Ems Canal and Ricklingen Bridge, and the rapid advance of his Battalion to Wismar on the Baltic are instances where his outstanding leadership had a decisive influence on the result of the engagements.

Silver Star (USA) : Lieutenant Colonel George EADIE (then Major) 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion for gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United States in the vicinity of WESEL, GERMANY on the 24th March 1945. Lieutenant Colonel EADIE parachuting into GERMANY at H-Hour quickly organized his Battalion and led it against extremely defended position. His aggressiveness personal leadership and courage carried his battalion forward in a driving attack which destroyed the enemy and permitted a rapid consolidation and exploitation of the area. Constantly to the fire, Lieutenant Colonel EADIE, by his bravery, intrepid action and gallantry, contributed materially to the success of the airborne mission.

WEB LINKS:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7402739 (SS)
https://dhh-dhp.forces.gc.ca/cao-aco/details-en.asp?firstname=George%20Fraser&lastname=Eadie&rec=id2051

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50950431/g-fraser-eadie

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7402739 (SS)
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