by Mark Zuehlke
33 Douglas How, The 8th Hussars: A History of the Regiment (Sussex, NB: Maritime Publishing, 1964), 242.
34 “Report on Operations: 5th Canadian Armoured Regiment (8NBH), Gothic Line to Fiumicino Rubicone–24 Aug 44 to 13 Oct 44,” Reginald Roy Collection, Special Collections, University of Victoria, 2.
35 8th Princess Louise New Brunswick Hussars War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
36 How, 242–43.
18: ABSOLUTE BEDLAM
1 “HQ 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade: The Attack on the Gothic Line and the Capture of Coriano, 30 Aug – 14 Sep 44,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 4.
2 Princess Louise Dragoon Guards War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 1–2.
3 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 69.
4 Princess Louise Dragoon Guards War Diary, 1.
5 J.M. McAvity, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians): A Record of Achievement (Toronto: Brigdens, 1947), 125.
6 Princess Louise Dragoons Guards War Diary, 2.
7 Arthur Bishop, Courage on the Battlefield: Canada’s Military Heritage, vol. 2 (Toronto: McGraw Hill-Ryerson, 1993), 262–63.
8 Gordon McGregor, interview by author, 3 Jan. 2001, Victoria, BC.
9 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 521.
10 McAvity, 125.
11 Princess Louise Dragoon Guards War Diary, 2.
12 McAvity, 125.
13 Jackson, H.M. The Princess Louise Dragoon Guards: A History (Ottawa: The Regiment, 1952), 206.
14 Irish Regiment of Canada War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 1.
15 Douglas How, The 8th Hussars: A History of the Regiment (Sussex, NB: Maritime Publishing, 1964), 243.
16 Ibid.
17 Ibid., 244.
18 Gordon Wood, The Story of the Irish Regiment of Canada, 1939–1945 (Heerenveen, Holland: Hepkema, 1945), 44.
19 How, 244.
20 Wood, 44.
21 The Irish Regiment of Canada War Diary, 1.
22 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
23 John Dougan, interview by author, 9 Oct. 2000, Victoria, BC.
24 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, n.p.
25 Nicholson, 522.
26 Dominick Graham and Shelford Bidwell, Tug of War: The Battle for Italy, 1943–1945 (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1986), 356–57.
27 Stacey, 71.
28 Ibid., 70.
29 I Canadian Corps (GS Branch) War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 1.
30 Stacey, 71–72.
31 Ibid., 72.
32 E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 188.
33 Ibid., 188–89.
34 I Canadian Corps (GS Branch) War Diary, 1.
35 Dr. William McAndrew, “Eighth Army at the Gothic Line: The Dog-Fight,” ru si, June 1986, 58.
36 Ibid., 60.
37 Graham and Bidwell, 360.
19: A LONG CHANCE
1 W.R. Freasby (ed.), Official History of the Canadian Medical Services, 1939–1945, vol. 1: Organization and Campaigns (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 194.
2 Waldo E.L. Smith, What Time the Tempest: An Army Chaplain’s Story (Toronto: The Ryerson Press, 1953), 267.
3 Ibid., 268.
4 Ibid., 269.
5 Ibid.
6 1st Canadian Infantry Division (GS Branch) War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 1.
7 Royal Canadian Dragoons War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 1.
8 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 75.
9 G.R. Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919–1957, vol. 3 (Griesbach, AB: Historical Committee of the Regiment, n.d.), 188.
10 “21st Tank Brigade (British) report on 1 CID support at Gothic Line,” National Archives of Canada, 5.
11 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
12 “21st Tank Brigade report,” 5.
13 John Dougan, “Account Given to Historical Officer on 11 Oct 44,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.
14 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, n.p.
15 G.R. Stevens, A City Goes to War (Brampton, ON: Charters, 1964), 311.
16 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
17 “21st Tank Brigade report,” 5.
18 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 522.
19 John Marteinson and Michael R. McNorgan, The Royal Canadian Armoured Corps: An Illustrated History (Toronto: Robin Brass Studio Inc., 2000), 201.
20 Ibid., 197.
21 Royal Canadian Dragoons War Diary, 2.
22 Ibid.
23 Ibid.
24 Stacey, 76.
25 Royal Canadian Dragoons: 1939–1945 (Montreal: The Regiment, 1946), 105.
26 Royal Canadian Dragoons War Diary, 2.
27 Royal Canadian Dragoons, 106.
28 Ibid.
29 Royal Canadian Dragoons War Diary, 3.
30 Royal Canadian Dragoons, 108.
31 Ibid.
32 Ibid., 108–109.
33 Brereton Greenhous, Dragoon: The Centennial History of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, 1883–1983 (Ottawa: Guild of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, 1983), 354.
34 Ibid.
35 Fred Cederberg, The Long Road Home: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in Italy in World War II (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1985), 151.
36 Ibid., 152.
37 Lanark & Renfrew Scottish Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
38 Stacey, 72.
39 Westminster (Motorized) Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
40 J.E. Oldfield, The Westminsters’ War Diary: An Unofficial History of the Westminster Regiment (Motor) in World War II (New Westminster, BC: n.p., 1964), 118.
41 Stacey, 72.
42 Ibid., 77.
43 Nicholson, 523.
44 Stacey, 77.
45 Carl Bayerlein, “Retreat through Central Italy, 1944,” account in possession of author, translated from German (Alex MacQuarrie, trans.), n.d., 10.
46 Ibid., 11.
47 Ibid.
48 von Austerman, Eben Emael–Edewichter Damm (Alex McQuarrie, trans. from passage provided by Carl Bayerlein), (n.p., n.d.), n.p.
49 Leutnant Hobeck, “Letter to Mr. Bayerlein,” Dec. 12, 1944 (Alex McQuarrie, trans.), letter provided by Carl Bayerlein.
50 Nicholson, 523.
51 Douglas Orgill, The Gothic Line: The Italian Campaign, Autumn 1944 (New York: W.W. Norton, 1967), 94.
52 Stacey, 88.
20: ALL THIS UNPLEASANTNESS
1 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 526.
2 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 78–79.
3 “5 Canadian Armoured Brigade: I–Account of Ops from 30 Aug to 14 Sep 44,” Reginald Roy Collection, Special Collections, University of Victoria, 3.
4 J.M. McAvity, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians): A Record of Achievement (Toronto: Brigdens, 1947), 130.
5 Lord Strathcona’s Horse War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 3.
6 McAvity, 131.
8 McAvity, 133.
9 Ibid., 131–33.
10 Ibid., 133–35.
11 Ibid., 135.
12 J.E. Oldfield, The Westminsters’ War Diary: An Unofficial History of the Westminster Regiment (Motor) in World War II (New Westminster, BC: n.p., 1964), 118–19.
13 Ibid.
14 Westminster (Motorized) Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
15 Oldfield, 119.
16 Westminster Regiment War Diary, n.p.
17 McAvity, 135.
18 Governor General’s Horse Guards War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 7–11.
19 Ibid.
20 Fred Cederberg, The Long Road Home: The Autobiography of a Canadian Soldier in Italy in World War II (Toronto: Stoddart Publishing, 1985), 154.
21 Ibid., 155.
22 Ibid.
23 Governor General’s Horse Guards War Diary, 11.
21: A SURE-THING GALLOP
1 Gordon Potts, “Battle Narrative, 3 Sep–6 Sep 44: The Royal Canadian Regiment,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.
2 “21st Tank Brigade (British) report on 1 CID support at Gothic Line,” National Archives of Canada, 6.
3 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 2.
4 J.T.B. Quayle, In Action: A Personal Account of the Italian and Netherlands Campaigns of WW II (Abbotsford, BC: Blue Stone, 1997), 196–97.
5 Ibid., 197.
6 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, 3.
7 Ibid.
8 Ibid., 3–4.
9 Ibid.
10 Royal Canadian Dragoons War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 3.
11 Royal Canadian Dragoons: 1939–1945 (Montreal: The Regiment, 1946), 112.
12 Royal Canadian Dragoons War Diary, 3.
13 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
14 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
15 Ibid.
16 Royal Canadian Dragoons War Diary, 3–4.
17 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, n.p.
18 “B 55, B Coy: Log Book–2 Sept 44 – 6 Sept 44, Appendix to Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 2.
19 Ibid.
20 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, n.p.
21 1st Canadian Infantry Division (GS Branch) War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 3.
22 E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 190.
23 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 88.
24 Ibid.
25 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 528.
26 Daniel Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943–1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 326.
27 Dr. William McAndrew, “Eighth Army at the Gothic Line: The Dog-Fight,” ru si, June 1986, 60.
28 Dominick Graham and Shelford Bidwell, Tug of War: The Battle for Italy, 1943–1945 (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1986), 360.
29 Ibid., 351.
30 McAndrew, 59.
31 Ibid., 58.
32 Ibid., 58.
33 Douglas Orgill, The Gothic Line: The Italian Campaign, Autumn 1944 (New York: W.W. Norton, 1967), 106–7.
34 Ibid., 70.
35 “B 55, B Coy: Log Book–2 Sept 44–6 Sept 44,” 2.
36 Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 215–16.
37 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, n.p.
38 “21st Tank Brigade (British) report on 1 CID support at Gothic Line,” 6.
39 Mowat, 216.
40 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, n.p.
41 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, n.p.
42 “21st Tank Brigade (British) report on 1 CID support at Gothic Line,” 7.
43 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, n.p.
44 Ibid.
45 1st Canadian Infantry Division (GS Branch) War Diary, 4.
46 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, n.p.
47 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
48 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, n.p.
49 “B 55, B Coy: Log Book–2 Sept 44 – 6 Sept 44,” 3.
50 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, n.p.
51 Mowat, 217.
52 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, n.p.
53 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 630.
54 Ibid., 631.
55 Ibid., 632.
56 48th Highlanders of Canada War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 3.
22: IT WAS USELESS
1 Douglas How, The 8th Hussars: A History of the Regiment (Sussex, NB: Maritime Publishing, 1964), 249–50.
2 Ibid., 250–51.
3 8th Princess Louise New Brunswick Hussars War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 3.
4 How, 252.
5 8th Princess Louise New Brunswick Hussars War Diary, 3.
6 Westminster (Motorized) Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
7 J.E. Oldfield, The Westminsters’ War Diary: An Unofficial History of the Westminster Regiment (Motor) in World War II (New Westminster, BC: n.p., 1964), 120.
8 Ron Hurley, interview by author, 4 Oct. 2000, Vancouver.
9 Ibid.
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
13 Westminster Regiment War Diary, n.p.
14 Oldfield, 121–22.
15 Governor General’s Horse Guards War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 13–16.
16 British Columbia Dragoons War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
17 Reginald Roy, Sinews of Steel: The History of the British Columbia Dragoons (Kelowna, BC: Charters, 1965), 313–14.
18 How, 253–55.
19 Ibid., 255.
20 Ibid., 256.
21 Ibid., 256–59.
22 Ibid., 259–60.
23 Ibid., 260–62.
23: A HARD ROW TO HOE
1 Strome Galloway, Sicily to the Siegfried Line: Being Some Random Memories and a Diary of 1944–1945 (Kitchener, ON: Arnold Press, n.d.), 18.
2 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
3 48th Highlanders of Canada Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 3.
4 “Operations, 5th Canadian Armoured Division: ‘The Gothic Line,’” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 7.
5 Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
6 Strome Galloway, A Regiment at War: The Story of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1939–1945 (Royal Canadian Regiment, 1979), 158.
7 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, n.p.
8 Royal Canadian Dragoons: 1939–1945 (Montreal: The Regiment, 1946), 11.
9 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 82–83.
10 Ibid., 83.
11 “B 55, B Coy: Log Book–2 Sept 44 – 6 Sept 44, Appendix to Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 6–7.
12 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 637.
13 Stacey, 85.
14 “Operations, 5th Canadian Armoured Division: ‘The Gothic Line,’” 7.
15 Ibid.
16 Gordon Wood, The Story of the Irish Regiment of Canada, 1939–1945 (Heerenveen, Holland: Hepkema, 1945), 46.
17 Ibid.
18 “Operations, 5th Canadian Armoured Division: ‘The Gothic Line,’” 7.
18 Ibid.
20 I Canadian Corps War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, 2–3.
21 5th Canadian Armoured Division War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
22 Rowland Ryder, Oliver Leese (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1987), 189.
23 Ibid.
24 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, n.p.
25 Ibid.
26 Strome Galloway, Sicily to the Siegfried Line, 19.
27 Strome Galloway, A Regiment at War, 160.
28 48th Highlanders of Canada Regiment War Diary, n.p.
29 Gordon Potts, “Battle Narrative: 3 Sep – 6 Sep 44, The Royal Canadian Regiment,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 2.
24: FIVE MINUTES TO TWELVE
1 Douglas Orgill, The Gothic Line: The Italian Campaign, Autumn 1944 (New York: W.W. Norton, 1967), 112.
2 Ibid., 118.
3 E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 192.
4 Orgill, 119.
5 Gordon Wood, The Story of the Irish Regiment of Canada, 1939–1945 (Heerenveen, Holland: Hepkema, 1945), 47.
6 Ibid.
7 Col. C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 187 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 CDN Corps, 4 Jun 44 to 24 Sep 44—The Breaking of the Gothic Line and the Capture of Rimini,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 94.
8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
10 “Olive: The Battle for the Gothic Line and the Advance into the Po Valley: I Canadian Corps Narrative of Events,” National Archives of Canada, 10.
11 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 532.
12 Burns, 193–94.
13 Stacey, 94.
14 Strome Galloway, interview by author, 6 May 2000, Ottawa.
15 Burns, 194.
16 Bert Hoffmeister, interview by Greenhous and McAndrew transcript, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 100.
17 Nicholson, 533–34.
18 Stacey, 99.
19 Strome Galloway, Sicily to the Siegfried Line: Being Some Random Memories and a Diary of 1944–1945 (Kitchener, ON: Arnold Press, n.d.), 20.
20 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, Sept. 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.