45

Located near a gap in the wall is a memorial to Jerry Jobsey [45] who was one of many Canadian soldiers in the area during WWII who stayed and married an English woman (Pat, who was in the Land Army) in 1949.

The photo below (from the Dept. of National Defence, Library & Archives of Canada) is of Private Jerry Jobsey, driver with the PPCLI (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry), riding a motorcycle over a wrecked German power dam near Colle d'Anchise [view], Italy in October 1943.

The PPCLI spent three and a half years in the UK, most of which was spent in coastal defence and training in various parts of the country. In 1943, along with the British 8th Army, they landed in Sicily during Operation Husky. They advanced north for two months, although they were slowed down by the demolished bridges and the German rear guard.

In May 1944 the PPCLI took part in the offensive against the Hitler Line, west of Monte Cassino, during the allied offensive against Rome.

Later, in 1945, as part of the I Canadian Corps, they joined the First Canadian Army and took part in the liberation of The Netherlands. On May 7th 1945 they were the first Allied force to enter Amsterdam.

Prior to this, back in Rottingdean, the Canadian Army's officers requisitioned The Grange [view] as an officer's mess. More dramatically, they had a significant impact on the history and landscape of the edges of Rottingdean. The historic hamlet of Balsdean, situated between Saltdean and Woodingdean had been a remote chapelry of the Parish of Rottingdean for many years. In medieval times it consisted of two farms, one of which, in the 19th century, was used as a lunatic asylum. But by WWII the hamlet became deserted due to evacuation. In 1942 the Canadian Army decided to use the abandoned area for target practice!

Courtesy of Rottingdean Heritage, some photos below show 'before and after' pictures of the results of the Canadian Army's exploits.

_{Balsdean Manor House - before and after...}

_{Balsdean farmhouses - before and after...}

_{Canadian tanks at Rottingdean pond.}