Petawawa - General Frederick Gate

 

Location:  Renfrew County     N 45.90720   W -77.28775

At the main entrance to CFB Petawawa, 44 Menin Road.

 

This memorial is dedicated to the memory of Major-General Robert T. Frederick (1907-1970) of the U.S. Army, who commanded the 1st Special Service Force, more commonly known as the Devil's Brigade.  The history and exploits of this unique and effective Canadian/US commando unit can be found in movies and books that will tell an impressive story of bravery and bold military achievement during World War II.  

The location of this memorial, at the front gate to CFB Petawawa, is appropriately placed as this base carries on the traditions and battle honours of the 1st Special Service Force, which was home to the Canadian Airborne Regiment and the Special Service Force.

The famous red shoulder patch can also be found on the memorial.  Gen. Frederick was also instrumental is helping to design the V42 Combat Knife, used by these same special forces and whose profile can be seen in the crests of the U.S. Special Forces and Canada's JTF2.

 

Marker text:

MAJOR-GENERAL
ROBERT TRYON FREDERICK

MGEN ROBERT T. FREDERICK, U.S. ARMY (1907-1970)
ORGANIZED AND LED THE ELITE WORLD WAR II JOINT
CANADIAN-AMERICAN FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE,
WHICH GAINED AN OUTSTANDING AND DISTINGUISHED HISTORY
IN THE PACIFIC, ITALY AND FRANCE.
FORCEMEN WERE HIGHLY AND UNIQUELY TRAINED,
INCLUDING PARACHUTING AND SKIING. FREDERICK BECAME
THE YOUNGEST MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE U.S. ARMY
AND WAS WOUNDED EIGHT TIMES.
BATTLE HONOURS OF THE FORCE ARE CARRIED IN CANADA BY THE
CANADIAN AIRBORNE REGIMENT OF THE SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE,
AND IN THE UNITED STATES BY THE 1ST SPECIAL FORCES
REGIMENT.

MAJOR GÉNÉRAL
ROBERT TRYON FREDERICK

MGEN ROBERT T. FREDERICK, ARMÉE É.U. (1907-1970)
A ORGANISÉ ET COMMANDÉ LA 1ÉRE
FORCE DES OPÉRATIONS SPÉCIALES,
UNE UNITÉ D’ÉLITE FORMÉE DE CANADIENS ET D’AMÉRICAINS
QUI S’EST COUVERTE DE GLOIRE DANS LE PACIFIQUE,
EN ITALIE ET EN FRANCE.
LES HOMMES DE LA FORCE, ÉTAIENT DES EXPERTS EN
PARACHUTISME ET EN SKI. FREDERICK EST DEVENU LE PLUS JEUNE
MAJOR-GÉNÉRAL DE L’ARMÉE É.U.
IL A ÉTÉ BLESSÉ HUIT FOIS.
LES HONNEURS DE BATAILLES DE LA FORCE SONT PORTÉS PAR
LE RÉGIMENT AÉROPORTÉ DU CANADA DE LA
FORCE DES OPÉRATIONS SPÉCIALES,
ET AUX ÉTATS-UNIS PAR LE 1ER RÉGIMENT DES FORCES SPÉCIALES. 

Small plaque:
DEDICATED IN THE PRESENCE OF
DÉDIÉ EN PRÉSENCE DE

BGEN I.C. DOUGLAS, CD, COMMANDER SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE
COL JESSE L. JOHNSON (US ARMY),
COMMANDER 10TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (ABN)
MR. J. RED SUMMERSIDES,
CANADIAN VICE-PRESIDENT FSSF ASSOCIATION
ON THIS 9 SEPTEMBER 1988