Operation Husky Read online

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

  32 Historical Officer “Report No. 135,” 16.

  33 Mowat, The Regiment, 79.

  34 Ibid., 80.

  35 G.R. Stevens, The Royal Canadian Regiment, vol. 2 (London, ON: London Print & Lithography, 1967), 74.

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

  37 Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona (n.p., n.d.), 138.

  38 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in World War II (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1988), 55.

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

  40 Galloway, Bravely Into Battle, 54.

  41 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, n.p.

  42 Ibid.

  43 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 99.

  44 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 18.

  45 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 99.

  46 Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona, 132-33.

  47 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle, 56.

  13: MOUNTAIN BOYS

  1 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 4.

  2 Michael Pearson Cessford, “Hard in the Attack: The Canadian Army in Sicily and Italy, July 1943-June 1944,” PhD thesis, Carleton University, September 1996, 171.

  3 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, July 1943, 4.

  4 Robert Tooley, Invicta: The Carleton and York Regiment in the Second World War (Fredericton, NB: New Ireland Press, 1989), 127.

  5 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy, 1939-1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 96.

  6 Headquarters, 1st Divisional Artillery, RCA War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 10.

  7 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 96.

  8 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 135: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, Part II: The Execution of the Operation by 1 Cdn Inf Div, Section 2: The Pursuit of the Germans from Vizzini to Adrano 15 Jul- 6 Aug,” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 15.

  9 Thomas H. Raddall, West Novas: A History of the West Nova Scotia Regiment (n.p., 1947), 90.

  10 West Nova Scotia Regiment War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  11 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 96-97.

  12 Daniel G. Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943-1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 57.

  13 Ross Munro, Gauntlet to Overlord: The Story of the Canadian Army (Toronto: Macmillan Company of Canada, 1945), 392-93.

  14 Tooley, 128.

  15 Munro, 392-93.

  16 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 97.

  17 Tooley, 129.

  18 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 15.

  19 Charles-Marie Boissonault, Histoire du Royal 22e Régiment (Quebec: Éditions du Pélican, 1964), 134.

  20 Nicholson, 99.

  21 “Letter Major-General Simonds to Lieutenant-General McNaughton, 30 July 1943,” MG30, vol. 202, McNaughton Papers.

  22 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 100.

  23 Ibid., 102.

  24 Bill McAndrew, Canadians and the Italian Campaign, 1943-1945 (Montreal: Éditions Art Global, 1996), 49.

  25 Carlo D’Este, Bitter Victory: The Battle for Sicily, 1943 (New York: Harper Perennial, 1988), 425.

  26 Robin Neillands, Eighth Army: From the Western Desert to the Alps, 1939-1945 (London: John Murray, 2004), 270-71.

  27 Rowland Ryder, Oliver Leese (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1987), 141.

  28 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), 112-13.

  29 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 103.

  30 4th Reconnaissance Regiment (Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  31 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 20-22.

  32 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 102.

  33 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  34 Richard Victor Latimer, “The Gibblers: Or Balmorals and Bully Beef,” unpublished memoir in possession of author, 299-300.

  35 R.H. Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919-1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 171.

  36 “Diary of Major Durnford,” RG24, vol. 20405, Library and Archives Canada, 34.

  37 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 102.

  38 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 19-20.

  39 “Comments by Seaforth Veterans,” Dr. Reginald Roy Collection, University of Victoria Special Collections, 4.

  40 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 104.

  41 Ibid., 102.

  42 Bert Hoffmeister, interview by B. Greenhouse and W. McAndrew, n.d., transcript, 2001/26, Directorate of Heritage and History, 51.

  43 Roy, 172.

  44 “Comments by Seaforth Veterans,” 3-4.

  45 Roy, 173.

  46 “Comments by Seaforth Veterans,” 3-4.

  47 Roy, 172-73.

  48 Hoffmeister interview, 51.

  49 Durnford, 35.

  50 Roy, 173.

  51 Headquarters, 1st Divisional Artillery, RCA War Diary, July 1943, 10.

  52 Douglas E. Delaney, The Soldier’s General: Bert Hoffmeister at War (Vancouver: UBC Press, 2005), 58-59.

  53 Hoffmeister interview, 50-51.

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

  55 Headquarters, 1st Divisional Artillery, RCA War Diary, July 1943, 10.

  56 Roy, 173-74.

  57 Chris Vokes, Vokes: My Story (Ottawa: Gallery, 1985), 109.

  58 Richard S. Malone, A Portrait of War, 1939-1943 (Toronto: Collins Publishers, 1983), 162-63.

  59 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, July 1943, n.p.

  60 Malone, 163.

  61 G.R. Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919-1957, vol. 3 (Griesbach, AB: Historical Committee of the Regiment, n.d.), 80.

  62 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 12.

  63 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 21.

  14: PRIVATE MIRACLES

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

  2 “Account by Capt F.N. Pope, IO, 2 Cdn Inf Bde on the battles of Leonforte and Aderno,” RG24, vol. 10982, Library and Archives Canada, 16.

  3 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy, 1939-1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 102-03.

  4 G.R. Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919-1957, vol. 3 (Griesbach, AB: Historical Committee of the Regiment, n.d.), 80.

  5 Captain A.T. Sesia, “Personal Notes and Observations: PART I—Sicily, 24 Apr. 43- 2 Sep. 43,” RG24, vol. 10878, Library and Archives Canada, 42.

  6 Captain R.W. Potts, “The Regiment’s First Contact With the Germans” 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, 42.

  7 Gerald Astor, Terrible Terry Allen: Combat General of World War II—The Life of an American Soldier (New York: Ballantine Books, 2003), 210.

  8 4th Reconnaissance Regiment (Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  9 H.M. Jackson, The Princess Louise Dragoon Guards: A History (Ottawa: The Regiment, 1952), 119.

  10 “A Squadron, 4 Cdn Recce Regt (4 PLDG),” 141.4A4011(D5), Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 77-78.

  11 Astor, 211.I.

  12 Martin Blumenson, The Patton Papers: 1940-1945 (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1974), 298.

  13 Omar N. Bradley and Clay Blair, A General�
�s Life: An Autobiography (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1983), 193.

  14 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 135: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, Part II: The Execution of the Operation by 1 Cdn Inf Div, Section 2: The Pursuit of the Germans from Vizzini to Adrano 15 Jul-6 Aug,” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 24.

  15 48th Highlanders of Canada War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  16 Strome Galloway, A Regiment at War: The Story of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1939-1945 (repr. Royal Canadian Regiment, 1979), 77.

  17 “Diary of Lt. J.F. Wallace,” MG30, vol. 1, Library and Archives Canada, 15.

  18 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in World War II (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1988), 58.

  19 Wallace, 15.

  20 John Marteinson and Michael R. McNorgan, The Royal Armoured Corps: An Illustrated History (Toronto: Robin Brass Studio, 2000), 422.

  21 Three Rivers Tank Regiment War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 13.

  22 Wallace, 15.

  23 “The Historical Account of the Fighting Operations of the 12th Canadian Tank Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment of Quebec) from the Time of Their Landing in Sicily Up to and Including Their Last Action Fought West of Adrano on August the 5th, 1943,” RG24, vol. 10990, Library and Archives Canada, 6.

  24 Galloway, Bravely Into Battle, 67-68.

  25 Ibid., 59.

  26 Galloway, Some Died at Ortona, 139-40.

  27 Howard Graham, Citizen and Soldier: The Memoirs of Lieutenant-General Howard Graham (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1987), 166-67.

  28 Ibid., 167-68.

  29 Sheridan Atkinson, correspondence with author, 17 November 2007.

  30 “Personal Account by Lt.-Col The Lord Tweedsmuir of the Sicilian Campaign,” 145.241011(D31), Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 12.

  31 Graham, 169.

  32 Ibid., 169.

  33 Tweedsmuir, 12-13.

  34 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 30.

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

  36 “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.

  37 Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 83-85.

  38 Tweedsmuir, 13.

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

  40 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 30-31.

  41 Farley Mowat, And No Birds Sang (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1979), 128.

  42 Mowat, The Regiment, 84.

  43 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 31.

  44 Tweedsmuir, 14.

  45 Mowat, The Regiment, 84.

  46 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 31.

  47 Tweedsmuir, 14.

  48 Mowat, The Regiment, 85.

  49 Mowat, And No Birds Sang, 130-31.

  50 Mowat, The Regiment, 85.

  51 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 31.

  15: FACES TO THE FOE

  1 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 135: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, Part II: The Execution of the Operation by 1 Cdn Inf Div, Section 2: The Pursuit of the Germans from Vizzini to Adrano 15 Jul-6 Aug,” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 31.

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

  3 Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 86-88.

  4 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 32.

  5 Farley Mowat, And No Birds Sang (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1979), 134.

  6 “Personal Account by Lt.-Col The Lord Tweedsmuir of the Sicilian Campaign,” 145.241011(D31), Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 14.

  7 Mowat, And No Birds Sang, 133.

  8 John S. Moir, ed. History of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, 1903-1961 (Ottawa: Corps Committee, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, 1962), 129.

  9 “Personal Account by Lt.-Col The Lord Tweedsmuir of the Sicilian Campaign,” 145.241011(D31), Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 15.

  10 Mowat, The Regiment, 89.

  11 Kenneth B. Smith, Duffy’s Regiment: A History of the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment (Toronto: Dundurn, 1987), 96.

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

  13 Tweedsmuir, 15.

  14 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 32.

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

  16 Tweedsmuir, 16.

  17 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy, 1939-1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 107.

  18 Strome Galloway, Bravely Into Battle: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in World War II (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1988), 60-61.

  19 Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona (n.p., n.d.), 141-42.

  20 Historical Officer “Report No. 135,” 25.

  21 “Comments by Seaforth Veterans,” Dr. Reginald Roy Collection, University of Victoria Special Collections, 4-5.

  22 Henry “Budge” Bell-Irving correspondence, 3 May 1967, Dr. Reginald Roy Collection, University of Victoria Special Collections, 2.

  23 “Comments by Seaforth Veterans,” 5.

  24 R.H. Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919-1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 175-76.

  25 Roy, 178-79.

  26 E.W. “June” Thomas, interview by author, Victoria, 23 October 1998.

  27 Roy, 178.

  28 Bert Hoffmeister, interview by B. Greenhouse and W. McAndrew n.d., transcript, 2001/26, Directorate of Heritage and History, 59.

  29 Roy, 178.

  30 Hoffmeister interview, 59.

  31 Roy, 178.

  32 Howard Mitchell, My War With the Saskatoon Light Infantry (M.G.) 1939-1945 (n.p., n.d.), 74.

  33 Hoffmeister interview, 59.

  34 “Diary of Major Durnford,” RG24, vol. 20405, Library and Archives Canada, 42-43.

  35 Hoffmeister interview, 59-60.

  36 “Comments by Seaforth Veterans,” 6.

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

  38 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  39 1st Canadian Infantry Division, General Staff War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, 29.

  40 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, July 1943, n.p.

  41 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 25-26.

  42 Henry “Budge” Bell-Irving correspondence, 20 February 1967, Dr. Reginald Roy Collection, University of Victoria Special Collections, 2.

  43 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  44 “Further Discussion With Lt-Col Cromb,” RG24, vol. 10981, Library and Archives Canada, 2.

  45 G.R. Stevens, A City Goes to War (Brampton, ON: Charters Publishing, 1964), 237-38.

  46 “Account by Capt. C.H. Pritchard, Edmn R., formerly Adjutant and now carrier pl. comd. Given in bn. rest area, 18 Aug 43, near Militello in Val di Catania,” RG24, vol. 10982, Library and Archives Canada, 30.

  47 “Further Discussion, 13 Dec 49,” 2.

  48 “Interview D.D.H.S. with Brigadier J.C. Jefferson,” RG24, vol. 10982, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  49 Pritchard, 30.

  50 Daniel G. Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943-1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 69.

  51 Col. A.J. Kerry and Maj. W.A. McDill, History o
f the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, vol. 2 (Ottawa: The Military Engineers Association of Canada, 1966), 141.

  52 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 108-09.

  53 Dancocks, 70.

  54 Chris Vokes, My Story (Ottawa: Gallery Press, 1985), 111.

  55 Historical Officer, “Report No. 135,” 27.

  56 Dominick Graham, The Price of Command: A Biography of General Guy Simonds (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1993), 95.

  16: DARING AND SPECTACULAR ACTIONS

  1 G.R. Stevens, A City Goes to War (Brampton, ON: Charters Publishing, 1964), 238.

  2 “Further Discussion With Lt-Col Cromb, 13 Dec 49,” RG24, vol. 10981, Library and Archives Canada, 2-3.

  3 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, July 1943, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  4 Stevens, A City Goes to War, 238.

  5 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy, 1939-1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 108.

  6 “Interview D.D.H.S. with Brigadier J.C. Jefferson,” RG24, vol. 10982, Library and Archives Canada, n.p.

  7 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 108.

  8 Chris Vokes, My Story (Ottawa: Gallery Press, 1985), 111-13.

  9 “Statement by Lt-Col. R.A. Lindsay on the Engagements of the PPCLI from battle at Piazza Armerina to the battle for Agira given on 30 Jul 43,” RG24, vol. 10982, Library and Archives Canada, 3.

  10 Major Coleman, MC, “Sicilian Campaign—Leonforte,” 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, 43.

  11 Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 109.

  12 Lindsay, 4.

  13 Jefferson, n.p.

  14 “Diary of Lt. J.F. Wallace,” MG30, vol. 1, Library and Archives Canada, 17.

  15 G.R. Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919-1957, vol. 3 (Griesbach, AB: Historical Committee of the Regiment, n.d.), 82.

  16 Coleman, 44.

  17 Lindsay, 4.

  18 Coleman, 44.

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

  20 Wallace, 17.

  21 Coleman, 44.

  22 Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 83.

  23 Historical Officer, Canadian Military Headquarters, “Report No. 135: Canadian Operations in Sicily, July-August 1943, Part II: The Execution of the Operation by 1 Cdn Inf Div, Section 2: The Pursuit of the Germans from Vizzini to Adrano 15 Jul-6 Aug,” Directorate of Heritage and History, Department of National Defence, 28-29.