Operation Husky Read online

  29 Kesselring, 161.

  30 1st Canadian Infantry Division, General Staff War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 1.

  31 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 126: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, Part 1: The Preliminaries of Operation ‘Husky’ (The Assault on Sicily),” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 77.

  32 Ibid., 78.

  33 Pope, interview.

  34 Kitching, 157.

  35 Historical Officer, “Report No. 126,” 78.

  36 Ibid.

  37 Ibid., 53-54.

  38 Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona (n.p., n.d.), 123-24.

  39 Historical Officer, “Report No. 126,” 56-58.

  40 Ibid., 58.

  41 Ibid., 59.

  42 Hoffmeister interview.

  43 Historical Officer, “Report No. 126,” 79-80.

  44 Felix Carriere, interview by Tom Torrie, 4 June 1987, University of Victoria Special Collections.

  45 Robert Law McDougall, “Letter to Mother,” July 1943, Robert Law McDougall Fonds, R-10755, Library and Archives Canada, 1-2.

  4: GOING TO BE SOME PARTY

  1 George Kitching, Mud and Green Fields: The Memoirs of Major General George Kitching (Langley, BC: Battleline Books, 1986), 160.

  2 Cameron Ware, interview by Dr. Reginald Roy, 23, 25 June, and 10 July 1979, University of Victoria Special Collections.

  3 http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship.html?shipID=2977 (accessed 26 June 2008).

  4 Ware interview.

  5 1st Canadian Infantry Division, General Staff War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 4.

  6 http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/2978.html (accessed 26 June 2008).

  7 Ware interview.

  8 http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/2978.html (accessed 26 June 2008).

  9 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy, 1939-1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 46.

  10 Daniel G. Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943-1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 27.

  11 http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/2981.html (accessed 26 June 2008).

  12 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 126: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, Part I: The Preliminaries of Operation ‘Husky’ (The Assault on Sicily),” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 79.

  13 Captain A.T. Sesia, “Personal Notes and Observations: Part I—Sicily, 24 Apr. 43- 2 Sep. 43,” RG24, vol. 10878, Library and Archives Canada, 17.

  14 ADMS, 1st Canadian Infantry Division War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 1.

  15 9th Canadian Field Ambulance War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  16 W.R. Freasby, ed., Official History of the Canadian Medical Services, 1939-1945, vol. 1., Organization and Campaigns (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 134.

  17 ADMS, 1st Canadian Infantry Division War Diary, July 1943, 1.

  18 Sesia, 17.

  19 ADMS, 1st Canadian Infantry Division War Diary, July 1943, 9.

  20 “An Account given by Lt-Col. D.G.J. Farquharson, R.C.O.C., ADOS 1 Cdn Div, at Rear Div HQ nr Regalbuto, 7 Aug 43,” RG24, vol. 10878, Library and Archives Canada, 1.

  21 ADMS, 1st Canadian Infantry Division War Diary, July 1943, 6.

  22 Sesia, 18.

  23 ADMS, 1st Canadian Infantry Division War Diary, July 1943, 6-7.

  24 Ibid., 9-10.

  25 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 47.

  26 Ibid.

  27 C.J.C. Molony, The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and the Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944 (London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1973), 32-33.

  28 http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=feature/italy99/ithistory/armynavy (accessed 26 June 2008).

  29 Molony, 46-50.

  30 Samuel W. Mitcham Jr. and Friedrich von Stauffenberg, The Battle of Sicily (New York: Orion Books, 1991), 61.

  31 Sesia, 22.

  32 Molony, 52.

  33 http://www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-lca-e.htm (accessed 9 July 2008).

  34 W.A.B. Douglas, et al., A Blue Water Navy: The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, vol. 2, pt. 2 (St. Catharines, ON: Vanwell Publishing, 2007), 125-27.

  35 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 48-49.

  36 Molony, map opp. 29.

  37 Sesia, 22-23.

  38 Kitching, 162-63.

  39 Sesia, 22-23.

  5: THE ACTUALITY OF WAR

  1 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 5.

  2 Thomas de Faye, interview by author, Victoria, 3 November. 1998.

  3 Chris Vokes, “Some Reflections on Operational Command,” Canadian Army Journal, vol. 2, no. 10 (January 1949), 9.

  4 Bert Hoffmeister, interview by author, Vancouver, 23 November 1998.

  5 R.H. Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919-1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 150.

  6 Diary of Major Durnford, RG24, vol. 20405, Library and Archives Canada, 4.

  7 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, July 1943, Appendix 1, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  8 Howard Graham, Citizen and Soldier: The Memoirs of Lieutenant-General Howard Graham (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1987), 147-48.

  9 Major D. Brain, “The initial landing in Sicily,” in “Accounts of Actions during the Sicilian campaign as prepared by various officers of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry,” RG24, vol. 10982, Library and Archives Canada, 38-39.

  10 Felix Carriere, interview by Tom Torrie, 4 June 1987, University of Victoria Special Collections.

  11 Brain, 38.

  12 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 126: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, PART I: The Preliminaries of Operation ‘Husky’ (The Assault on Sicily),” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 80.

  13 “1 Canadian Division Operation Order No. 1, 7 Jun, 43,” RG24, vol. 10879, Library and Archives Canada, 1-4.

  14 Ibid., 10.

  15 Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona (n.p., n.d.), 132.

  16 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in World War II (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1988), 21-23.

  17 Galloway, Some Died at Ortona, 120-21.

  18 Galloway, Bravely Into Battle, 23-25.

  19 Durnford Diary, 11-12.

  20 Ibid., 16-17.

  21 Ibid., 17.

  22 Jock Gibson, interview by Ken MacLeod, Vancouver, n.d.

  23 Carriere interview.

  24 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy, 1939-1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 68.

  25 Farley Mowat, And No Birds Sang (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1979), 74.

  26 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 68.

  27 “1 Canadian Division Operation Order No. 1,” 4.

  28 Roy, 158.

  29 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 6.

  30 G.R. Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919-1957, vol. 3 (Griesbach, AB: Historical Committee of the Regiment, n.d.), 72.

  31 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  32 Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 56-57.

  33 Galloway, Bravely Into Battle, 25-26.

  34 Graham, 150-51.

  35 Roy, 159.

  36 Robert L. McDougall, A Narrative of War: From the Beaches of Sicily to the Hitler Line with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1943-1944 (Ottawa: Golden Dog Press, 1996), 4.

  37 Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 73.

  38 Brain, 38.

  39 Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadia
n Light Infantry, 73.

  40 Carriere interview.

  41 Brain, 39.

  42 David Bercuson, The Patricia’s: The Proud History of a Fighting Regiment (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 2001), 176.

  43 Brain, 39.

  44 Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 73.

  45 Roy, 159-160.

  46 Gibson interview.

  47 George A. Reid, Speed’s War: A Canadian Soldier’s Memoirs of World War II (Royston, BC: Madrona Books & Publishing, 2007), 7-8.

  48 Harry Rankin, interview by author, Vancouver, 15 October 1998.

  49 Gibson interview.

  50 Col. S.W. Thomson, “Wounded in Sicily: 12 July 1943,” Canadian Military History, vol. 2, no. 2 (Autumn 1993), 109.

  51 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  6: WHICH DIRECTION DO WE TAKE?

  1 L. Col. Ian Hodson, “‘D’ Day Sicily, 10 July 43,” http://thercr.ca/history/1939-1945/d-day_sicily_10jul43.htm (accessed 26 June 2008).

  2 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 127: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, Part II: The Execution of the Operation by 1 Cdn Inf Div, Section 1: The Assault and Initial Penetration Inland,” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 3.

  3 Farley Mowat, And No Birds Sang (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1979), 74.

  4 “Comments by Seaforth Veterans on Chapter VI,” Reginald H. Roy Collection, University of Victoria Special Collections, 1-2.

  5 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  6 Maj. R.G. Liddell, “The Assault on the Beaches of Pachino, Sicily; July 1943,” http://thercr.ca/history/1939-1945/pachino_1943_liddell.htm (accessed 26 June 2008).

  7 Historical Officer, “Report No. 127,” 3.

  8 Hodson.

  9 Mowat, And No Birds Sang, 74-78.

  10 Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 59.

  11 Ibid., 59.

  12 Mowat, And No Birds Sang, 78.

  13 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, n.p.

  14 Mowat, And No Birds Sang, 79-80.

  15 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, n.p.

  16 Historical Officer, “Report No. 127,” 2.

  17 Mowat, The Regiment, 60.

  18 Sam Lenko, interview by author, Edmonton, 4 October 1998.

  19 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in World War II (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1988), 26-27.

  20 Bert Hoffmeister, interview by B. Greenhouse and W. McAndrew, transcript, n.d., 2001/26, Directorate of Heritage and History, 46.

  21 Bob Hackett letter, n.d., possession of the author.

  22 Bill Worton written summary, n.d., possession of the author.

  23 R.H. Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919-1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 161-62.

  24 “Account by Lieutenant-Colonel I.S. Johnston, Officer Commanding 48 Highlanders given on 14 August 1943 at the Battalion Rest Area near Scordia,” RG24, vol. 10880, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  25 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada: 1929-1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 221.

  26 Johnston, n.p.

  27 G.W.L . Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy, 1939-1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 70.

  28 Historical Officer, “Report No. 127,” 4.

  29 Howard Graham, Citizen and Soldier: The Memoirs of Lieutenant-General Howard Graham (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1987), 151-52.

  30 Robert Kingstone, “Transcription of Interview No. 31D 1,” interview by D.W. Edgecombe, 6 October 2000, Ottawa, Canadian War Museum Oral History Project Collection.

  31 Frederick Norman Pope, interview by Chris Bell, 31 May and 7, 10, 15, 22 June 1982, University of Victoria Special Collections.

  32 Rennie Harry Heggie, The History of the Three Rivers Regiment (12 Canadian Armoured Regiment), 1943-1945 (n.p., n.d.), 24.

  33 Historical Officer, “Report No. 127,” 5.

  34 Dominick Graham, The Price of Command: A Biography of General Guy Simonds (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1993), 85.

  35 C.J.C. Molony, The Mediterranean and Middle East: The Campaign in Sicily 1943 and the Campaign in Italy 3rd September 1943 to 31st March 1944 (London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1973), 59-60.

  36 Norm Bowen, interview by A.E. “Tony” Delamere, 28 September 2000, Ottawa, Canadian War Museum Oral History Project Collection.

  37 W.A.B. Douglas, et al., A Blue Water Navy: The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, vol. 2, pt. 2 (St. Catharines, ON: Vanwell Publishing Limited, 2007), 129-30.

  38 Molony, 59-64.

  39 Ibid., 80-81.

  40 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 75-76.

  41 Molony, 68.

  7: CALL THIS A FIGHT?

  1 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in World War II (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1988), 27.

  2 Maj. R.G. Liddell, “The Assault on the Beaches of Pachino, Sicily; July 1943,” http://thercr.ca/history/1939-1945/pachino_1943_liddell.htm (accessed 26 June 2008).

  3 Galloway, Bravely Into Battle, 27-28.

  4 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  5 Galloway, Bravely Into Battle, 29.

  6 L. Col. Ian Hodson, “‘D’ Day Sicily, 10 July 43,” http://thercr.ca/history/1939-1945/d-day_sicily_10jul43.htm (accessed 26 June 2008).

  7 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, July 1943, n.p.

  8 Liddell.

  9 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  10 Liddell.

  11 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, July 1943, n.p.

  12 Galloway, Bravely Into Battle, 29.

  13 Liddell.

  14 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, July 1943, n.p.

  15 Liddell.

  16 Ibid.

  17 Hodson.

  18 Ibid.

  19 Liddell.

  20 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, July 1943, n.p.

  21 Hodson.

  22 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 127: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, Part II: The Execution of the Operation by 1 Cdn Inf Div, Section 1: The Assault and Initial Penetration Inland,” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 6.

  23 Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 60-61.

  24 Farley Mowat, And No Birds Sang (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1979), 84-86.

  25 Howard Graham, Citizen and Soldier: The Memoirs of Lieutenant-General Howard Graham (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1987), 168-69.

  26 Daniel G. Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943-1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 62.

  27 “Personal Account by Lt.-Col. The Lord Tweedsmuir of the Sicilian Campaign,” 145.241011(D31), Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 1.

  28 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada: 1929-1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 222-23.

  29 Historical Officer, “Report No. 127,” 6.

  30 48th Highlanders of Canada War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  31 Howard Graham, 153.

  32 Seaforth Highlanders War Diary, n.p.

  33 Hoffmeister, interview.

  34 R.H. Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919-1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 162.

  35 Hoffmeister interview.

  36 Roy, 163.

  37 Hoffmeister interview.

  38 Roy, 163.

  39 G.R. Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919-1957, vol. 3 (Griesbach, AB: Historical Committee of the Regiment, n.d.), 74.

&
nbsp; 40 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 6.

  41 Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 74-75.

  42 Ibid., 75.

  43 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, 7.

  44 Historical Officer, “Report No. 127,” 11.

  45 Ibid., 8.

  46 Ibid.

  47 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 72.

  48 Historical Officer, “Report No. 127,” 12.

  49 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, 7.

  50 Mowat, The Regiment, 62.

  8: THESE MEN HAVE SURRENDERED

  1 Historical Section (GS) Army Headquarters, “Report No. 14, The Sicilian Campaign (July-August 1943), Information from German Sources,” University of Victoria Special Collections, 5-6.

  2 Walter Warlimont, Inside Hitler’s Headquarters, 1939-1945, trans. R.H. Barry (New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1964), 335.

  3 Albert Kesselring, The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring, trans. Lynton Hudson (London: William Kimber, 1953), 162.

  4 Jochen Mahnke, “Assault on Sicily, 1943,” Military History Journal, vol. 7, no. 2 (December 1986), the South African Military History Society, http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol072jm.html (accessed 26 June 2008), 16.

  5 Kesselring, 162.

  6 Historical Section, “Report No. 14,” 6.

  7 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 127: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, Part II: The Execution of the Operation by 1 Cdn Inf Div, Section 1: The Assault and Initial Penetration Inland,” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 27.

  8 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy, 1939-1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 78.

  9 Historical Officer, “Report No. 127,” 27.

  10 Hugh Pond, Sicily (London: William Kimber, 1962), 71.

  11 Carlo D’Este, Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily, 1943 (New York: Harper Perennial, 1988), 282-88.

  12 Kesselring, 163.

  13 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 78.

  14 Kesselring, 163.

  15 Warlimont, 335.

  16 “Account given by Major A.R. Campbell Officer Commanding ‘A’ Company and Captain N.R. Waugh, MC, Officer Commanding ‘D’ Company, Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, on 18 August 1943, at Battalion Rest Area near Militello in val di Catania, Sicily,” RG24, vol. 10880, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.