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Sydney Valpy Radley-WaltersCanadian officer, tank ace, commander of the Sherman Firefly tank
Date of Birth: 11.01.1920
Country:  Canada |
Content:
Biography of Sidney Valpy Redli-Walters
Early Life and Military ServiceSidney Valpy Redli-Walters, also known as 'Rad', was born on January 11, 1920 in Gaspé, Canada. He attended Bishop's College and was called to military service in October 1940, joining the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment. The regiment was renamed the 27th Armoured Regiment in January 1942 and was sent to England in October 1942. Redli-Walters' regiment was part of the 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade, supporting the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division on D-Day in Normandy on June 6, 1944. He served as a tank commander during the Battle of Normandy.
Combat Achievements
On June 7, 1944, Redli-Walters destroyed his first enemy tank, a 'Panzer IV', during the battle near Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, where his unit faced the 12th SS Panzer Division 'Hitlerjugend'. There are different accounts regarding his involvement in the destruction of Michael Wittmann, a German tank ace known as 'The Black Baron'. Some sources claim that Redli-Walters' unit was responsible, while others attribute it to Joe Ekins, a tank gunner from the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry.
Redli-Walters' regiment also participated in Operation Market-Garden and supported the 101st Airborne Division of the United States. By the end of the war, Redli-Walters had become one of the top tank aces among the Western Allies, having destroyed a total of 18 German tanks and assault guns.
Post-War Career
In July 1945, Redli-Walters was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and commanded the Sherbrooke Fusilier Regiment as part of the Allied occupational forces. After the war, he participated in peacekeeping missions in Cyprus and Egypt.
In 1957, Redli-Walters became the commanding officer of the 8th Princess Louise's Hussars Regiment. He attended the NATO Defense College in Paris and served at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) from June 1961 to July 1962. He returned to Canada as the commandant of the Royal Canadian Armoured School at Camp Borden, Ontario.
In June 1968, Redli-Walters was promoted to Brigadier General and took command of the 2nd Combat Group in Petawawa, a Canadian Forces Base. In 1971, he became the director of the Combat Training Centre at CFB Gagetown.
Redli-Walters retired in December 1974. He served as the Colonel of the 8th Princess Louise's Hussars for eight years and became the Senior Colonel of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps in November 1980. His leadership style is extensively discussed in the Canadian Military Journal.
