Ortona
Page 45
28. Ibid.
29. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1939–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 295.
30. Ibid.
31. Captain A.G. Steiger, “Report #18 Historical Section Army Headquarters: The Campaign in Southern Italy (Sept.–Dec. 1943), Information from German Military Documents regarding Allied operations in general and Canadian operations in particular,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 51.
32. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 295.
33. Both sides routinely overestimated the dead suffered by the enemy. Ruckdeschel, for example, believed that most of the thirty men fired on by tank 712 were killed or wounded. While German casualties at Villa Rogatti during the Dec. 5–6 battle were undoubtedly high, it is unlikely that the equivalent of one and a half companies was killed or captured, not factoring in wounded, which usually outnumbered dead and captured by at least about three to one.
34. PPCLI War Diary, sheet 5.
35. Ibid.
CHAPTER 7 / MIXED RESULTS
1. J.D. Forin, correspondence with Dr. R.H. Roy, 19 Jan. 1968, University of Victoria Special Collections, 11–13.
2. J.D. Forin, “Baranello to San Leonardo: The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, December 1943,” Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 3.
3. Forin, correspondence with Roy, 12.
4. Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Regiment Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
5. Matthew Halton, CBC Radio broadcast, 7 Dec. 1943, CBC Radio Archives.
6. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 33-N-5, National Archives of Canada.
7. Forin, correspondence with Roy, 13.
8. Seaforth War Diary, n.p.
9. Forin, “Baranello to San Leonardo,” 4.
10. Bert Hoffmeister, interview by author, West Vancouver, B.C., 23 Nov. 1998.
11. Anna Tucci, interview by author, Ortona, 9 Dec. 1998.
12. Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 140–41.
13. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, 33-N-5.
14. Mowat, The Regiment, 141.
15. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, 33-N-5.
16. Mowat, The Regiment, 141.
17. Mowat, And No Birds Sang (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1979), 226.
18. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Regiment Diary, 33-N-5.
19. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians In Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 297.
CHAPTER 8 / THE IMPOSSIBLE BRIDGE
1. 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: The Golden Dog Press, 1996), 114–15.
2. Reginald H. Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919–1965. (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 242.
3. Ibid., 241.
4. Ibid.
5. J.D. Forin, “Baranello to San Leonardo: The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, December 1943,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 4.
6. J.D. Forin, correspondence with Dr. R.H. Roy, 19 Jan. 1968, University of Victoria Special Collections, 14.
7. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Gunners of Canada, vol. 2 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1972), 167.
8. Roy, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 242–43. Teece was awarded the Military Medal for his exploits. Carter won a Military Cross for his gallantry on Dec. 6–7, which included at one point calling an artillery barrage down on his own position to drive off attacking Germans.
9. Jerry Richards, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 6 Nov. 1998.
10. Ibid.
11. Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, Dec. 7, 1943, sheet 6, National Archives of Canada.
12. Cameron Ware, interview by Dr. Reginald Roy, 23, 25 June and 10 July 1979, University of Victoria Special Collections.
13. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1939–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 297.
14. Richards, interview.
15. Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 144.
16. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 33-N-6, National Archives of Canada.
17. Basil Smith, “Memoirs of a Quarterbloke” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 38.
18. Ibid., 37.
19. Ibid.
20. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, 37-N-7.
21. N.a., “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 39.
22. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, 37-N-7.
23. “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” 39. Nolan was awarded the Military Medal for his exploits.
24. Nicholson, Gunners of Canada, 298–99.
25. 1st Canadian Division Intelligence Summary No. 27, File RG 24 Vol. 10888 234C1.023(D1), National Archives of Canada.
26. Nicholson, Gunners of Canada, 298–99.
27. Bill Strickland, interview by author, Kelowna, B.C., Aug. 1989.
CHAPTER 9 / INTO THE INFERNO
1. Peter Stursberg, The Sound of War (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1993), 52–56.
2. Matthew Halton, CBC Radio broadcast, 8 Dec. 1943, CBC Radio Archives.
3. Charles Comfort, Artist at War (Pender Island, B.C. Remembrance Books, 1995), 69–70.
4. Victor Bulger, correspondence with author, 22 Sept. 1998.
5. Comfort, Artist at War, 70–71.
6. Ibid.
7. Bill Strickland, interview by author, Kelowna, B.C., Aug. 1989.
8. Bulger, correspondence.
9. Halton, broadcast.
10. Comfort, Artist at War, 72.
11. Ibid, 71.
12. Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada: 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 419–21.
13. 48th Highlanders of Canada War Diary, Dec. 1943, 32-N-5, National Archives of Canada.
14. Beattie, Dileas, 421–22.
15. 48th Highlanders War Diary, 32-N-6.
16. Ibid.
17. N.a., “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 12.
18. Major S.J. Simons, “Unit History, 2nd Canadian Field Park Company RCE, Campobasso to Ortona, Dec. 43/Jan. 44,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 10 Feb. 1944, 3.
19. “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” 12.
20. 3rd Canadian Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
21. Matthew Halton, CBC Radio broadcast, n.d., CBC Radio Archives.
22. 3rd Canadian Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers War Diary, n.p.
23. Kerry, Col. A.J., and Maj. W.A. McDill, History of the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, vol. 2 (Ottawa: The Military Engineers Association of Canada, 1966), 169.
24. 3rd Canadian Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers War Diary, n.p.
25. Fraser’s leadership example to his men this night earned him the Distinguished Service Order. Sapper McNaughton earned a Military Medal. When Matthew Halton tried to record an interview with McNaughton, the rough bulldozer operator from Manitoba was too shy to tell his story. So Halton did it for him in a memorable broadcast that made the sapper a nationally known hero.
26. Strome Galloway, A Regiment at War: The Story of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1939–1945 (n.p., reprint 1979), 108.
27. Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona (n.p., n.d.), 176.
28. The Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
29. Galloway, Some Died at Ortona , 177.
30. The Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, n.p.
31. Ibid.
32. J.T.B. Quayle, In Action: A Personal Acc
ount of the Italian and Netherlands Campaigns of WW II (Abbotsford, B.C.: Blue Stone Publishing, 1997), 15–16.
33. Ibid.
CHAPTER 10 / YOU TAKE IT NOW
1. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians In Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 300.
2. Ibid., 297.
3. 3rd Canadian Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
4. Daniel Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943–1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 161.
5. 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
6. A.K. Harris, “Account at Ortona,” University of Victoria Special Collections, 4.
7. 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary.
8. N.a., “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 14.
9. Reginald Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919–1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 246.
10. N.a., “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” 54.
11. Jock Gibson, interview by author, Vancouver, B.C., 23 Nov. 1998.
12. Roy, Seaforth Highlanders, 247.
13. Ibid.
14. Gibson, interview.
15. Captain A.G. Steiger, “Report #18: Historical Section Army Headquarters: The Campaign in Southern Italy (Sept.–Dec. 1943), Information from German Military Documents regarding Allied operations in general and Canadian operations in particular,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 53.
16. Harris, “Account at Ortona,” 5.
17. N.a., “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” 44, 50. There were many medals won this day at San Leonardo. Lt. McLean would win a DSO, as would Brigadier Wyman and 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Calgary Tanks) commander Lieutenant Colonel Cyril Noulton Neroutsos. Amy picked up a Military Cross. Price, McDougall, and Barss collected Military Medals.
18. Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada: 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 423–24.
CHAPTER 11 / STERLIN CASTLE
1. Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona (n.p., n.d.), 179.
2. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1939–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 302.
3. Galloway, Some Died at Ortona, 180.
4. W.R. Freasby (ed.), Official History of the Canadian Medical Services, 1939–1945: Volume One: Organization and Campaigns (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 166.
5. Jerry Richards, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 6 Nov. 1998.
6. Galloway, Some Died at Ortona, 181.
7. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 33-N-8, National Archives of Canada.
8. N.a., “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 40. Pemberton received the Military Medal.
9. Ibid., 16, 38. Hammond won a Military Cross, Yearwood a Military Medal.
10. Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
11. Ibid.
12. J.T.B. Quayle, In Action: A Personal Account of the Italian and Netherlands Campaigns of WW II (Abbotsford, B.C.: Blue Stone Publishing, 1997), 12–17.
13. Ibid.
14. Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, n.p.
15. Quayle, In Action, 20.
CHAPTER 12 / AT ALL COSTS
1. Captain A.J. Porter, “Report No. 165 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 Canadian Infantry Division and 1 Canadian Armoured Brigade in Italy, 25 Nov. 43–4 Jan. 44,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 50–51.
2. Canadian 1st Division War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
3. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 50.
4. Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada: 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 425.
5. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 50.
6. Farley Mowat, And No Birds Sang (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1979), 228.
7. 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: The Golden Dog Press, 1996), 120.
8. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 47.
9. 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 5, National Archives of Canada.
10. Ibid., 51.
11. Anna Tucci, interview by author, Ortona, 9 Dec. 1998.
12. Antonio Di Cesare, interview by author, Ortona, 8 Dec. 1998.
13. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 33-N-8, National Archives of Canada.
14. Maj. N.L.C. Mathers, “Lessons learned and experience gained during HQ 1 Canadian Division fighting for Ortona, 1st Canadian Division Intelligence Summary No. 29,” National Archives of Canada, n.d., n.p.
15. Captain A.G. Steiger, “Report #18 Historical Section Army Headquarters: The Campaign in Southern Italy (Sept.–Dec. 1943), Information from German Military Documents regarding Allied operations in general and Canadian operations in particular,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 54.
16. W. Victor Madej (ed.), German Army Order of Battle, 1939–1945 (New York: Game Marketing Company, 1978), n.p.
17. Mathers, “Lessons learned.”
18. Karl Bayerlein, interview by Major Michael Boire, Heilbronn, Germany, 12 Jan. 1999.
19. Ibid.
20. Karl Bayerlein, diary.
CHAPTER 13 / A LITTLE OLD HEART STARTER
1. Reginald Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919–1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 250.
2. Jim Stone, interview by William S. Thackray, 13, 20 May and 3, 10, 17 June 1980, University of Victoria Special Collections.
3. John Alpine Dougan, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 23 Oct. 1998.
4. G.R. Stevens, A City Goes to War (Brampton, Ont.: Charters Publishing Co., 1964), 267.
5. Captain A.J. Porter, “Report No. 165 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 Canadian Infantry Division and 1 Canadian Armoured Brigade in Italy, 25 Nov. 43–4 Jan. 44,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 51.
6. Cameron Ware, interview by Dr. Reginald Roy, 23, 25 June and 10 July 1979, University of Victoria Special Collections.
7. Stevens, A City Goes to War, 268.
8. G.R. Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919–1957, vol. 3 (Griesbach, Alta: Historical Committee of the Regiment, n.d.), 131.
9. Thomas de Faye, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 3 Nov. 1998.
10. A.K. Harris, “Account at Ortona,” University of Victoria Special Collections, 6.
11. Ibid., 7.
12. Ibid., 7–8.
13. Bert Hoffmeister, interview by author, West Vancouver, B.C., 23 Nov. 1998.
14. Dougan, interview.
15. Ibid.
16. Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, Dec. 1943, 36-N-9, National Archives of Canada.
17. Ware, interview.
18. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 52.
19. Ibid.
20. Harris, “Account at Ortona,” 8.
21. Ibid.
CHAPTER 14 / ALL WE CAN DO
1. G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 305–6.
2. Captain A.J. Porter, “Report No. 165 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of 1 Canadian Infantry Division and 1 Canadian Armoured Brigade in Italy, 25 Nov. 43–4 Jan. 44,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 56.
3. Ibid., 57.
4. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 306.
5. Lex Schragg, History of the Ontario Regiment: 1866–1951 (n.p., n.d.), 161–62.
6. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 57.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. West Nova
Scotia Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 42-N-3, National Archives of Canada.
10. Daniel Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943–1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 165.
11. West Nova Scotia War Diary, 42-N-4.
12. John Matheson, correspondence with author, 24 Sept. 1998.
13. Major G.D. Mitchell, RCHA — Right of the Line: An Anecdotal History of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery from 1871 (Ottawa: RCHA History Committee, 1986), 110.
14. Waldo E. Smith, What Time the Tempest: An Army Chaplain’s Story (Toronto: The Ryerson Press, 1953), 176.
15. Matheson, correspondence.
16. Thomas H. Raddall, West Novas: A History of the West Nova Scotia Regiment (n.p., 1947), 156–57.
17. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 58.
18. Mitchell, RCHA, 110.
19. Ibid, 110–11.
20. Raddall, West Novas, 157.
21. West Nova Scotia War Diary, 42-N-5.
22. Raddall, West Novas, 157–58.
23. West Nova Scotia War Diary, 42-N-5.
24. George Garbutt, correspondence with author, 30 Nov. 1998.
25. June Thomas, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 23 Oct. 1998.
26. Syd Thomson, correspondence with author, Dec. 1998.
27. Thomas, interview.
28. West Nova Scotia War Diary, 42-N-4.
29. Raddall, West Novas, 159.
CHAPTER 15 / THE GERMANS AND THE MUD
1. Chris Vokes, Vokes: My Story (Ottawa: Gallery, 1985), 141.
2. Richard S. Malone, A Portrait of War: 1939–1943 (Don Mills, Ont.: Collins Publishers, 1983), 214.
3. Ibid.
4. Vokes, Vokes, 143.
5. Matthew Halton, CBC Radio broadcast, 15 Dec. 1943, CBC Radio Archives. Dates are those when report broadcast in Canada. Some were recorded earlier.
6. Matthew Halton, broadcast, 15 Dec.. Different broadcast, same date.
7. Major D.H. Cunningham, “The Press in the Ortona Battle,” National Archives of Canada, 1–2.