Published by Authority of the Minister of National Defence
PRINTED BY THE KING'S PRINTER AT OTTAWA, CANADA
This booklet has been prepared by the Historical Section of the General Staff, Canadian Military Headquarters in Great Britain.The illustrations consist mainly of paintings by Official War Artists of the Canadian Army and photographs by Canadian Army Overseas Film and Photo Units.
In this brief account of operations involving many thousands of men it has not been possible to make specific reference to every unit engaged, let alone to every individual officer or man who distinguished himself by acts of gallantry. A few such officers and men are mentioned, in order simply that their deeds may stand as types of many; had space permitted, the number might have been increased to hundreds.
Battleground Before Ortona
In the background German rocket projectiles make a pattern in the sky above the town.
(From an oil painting by Captain L.P. Harris.)
This is the second booklet in a series designed to afford Canadians more information than has previously been published concerning the operations of their Army in the present war. Foreword
The previous booklet, "The Canadians in Britain, 1939-1944", dealt with our troops' experiences during the years when they helped to guard the British Isles against invasion. The present one tells the story of the first six months of Canadian fighting in the Mediterranean Theatre. It is the chronicle of Canada's contribution to a dramatic and significant phase of the war. This hard-fought campaign was very important, for in Sicily and Italy a large Canadian force was committed to protracted operations for the first time in this conflict, and in those countries our officers and men gained battle experience which was later turned to excellent account in the still greater operations in North-West Europe.
It is proposed to publish a similar booklet dealing with the Canadians' share in the decisive operations in Normandy in the summer of 1944.
/signed/
J.C. Murchie
Lieut.-General,
Chief of the General Staff.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. The Red Patch Goes to the Mediterranean Design for Victory--Training and Planning--Convoys to Sicily--Military Secret. II. Operation HUSKY Goes In The Magician's Spell--The Pattern of Assault--Ashore in Sicily--The First Advance Inland. III. Warfare in the Sicilian Hills The Canadians Meet the Germans--The Night Battle of Leonforte--The Escalade of Assoro--The Battles for Agira--Fighting Around Catenanuova and Regalbuto--Through the Hills to Aderno. IV. The Assault on Italy Planning the Leap to the Mainland--Across the Straits--Pursuit to the North. V. Approach to the Winter Line The Road to Campobasso--Across the Biferno--Scorched Earth on the Upper Sangro. VI. The December Battles: The Moro and Ortona The Crossing of the Moro--The Battle of the Crossroads--Ortona--Six Months of Battle.
Maps