by Mark Zuehlke
8. Ibid.
9. 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., 60.
10. G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 308.
11. 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), 111.
12. Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, Dec. 1943, 36-N-13, National Archives of Canada.
13. West Nova Scotia Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 42-N-5, National Archives of Canada.
14. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 62.
15. Ibid., 61.
16. Ibid., 62–64.
17. Thomas H. Raddall, West Novas: A History of the West Nova Scotia Regiment (n.p., 1947), 161–62.
18. N.a., “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 23–24.
19. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 64.
20. June Thomas, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 23 Oct. 1998.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Lex Schragg, History of the Ontario Regiment: 1866–1951 (n.p., n.d.), 162–63.
24. Thomas, interview.
25. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 309.
26. John Alpine Dougan, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 23 Oct. 1998.
27. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 66–67.
28. Fritz Illi, interview by Major Michael Boire, Zuffenhausen, Germany, 20 Feb. 1999.
29. Willi Fretz, interview by Major Michael Boire, Sinsheim, Germany, 19 Feb. 1999.
30. Ibid.
31. Karl Bayerlein, diary.
32. 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., 57.
33. Ibid.
34. W. Victor Madej (ed.), German Army Order of Battle, 1939–1945 (New York: Game Marketing Company, 1978), n.p.
35. Steiger, “Report #18,” 57.
CHAPTER 16 / THE SAFEST PLACE FOR US
1. Gunner H.R. Martin, “Press Release Regarding Major Paul Triquet Winning Victoria Cross. Miscellaneous Biographies of Army Personnel, 1939–1945,” Department of National Defence, 1944, 1–6, 1–4.
2. 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), 112.
3. Jean V. Allard, The Memoirs of General Jean V. Allard (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1988), 59.
4. Ibid.
5. Martin, “Miscellaneous Biographies,” 3.
6. N.a., The Canadians at War, 1939/45, vol. 2 (Montreal: Reader’s Digest Association (Canada) Ltd., 1969), 362.
7. N.a., “Battle Drill and the PIAT,” Appendix to Royal 22e Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
8. 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., 68.
9. Headquarters 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Dec. 1943, 40-N-8, National Archives of Canada.
10. The Canadians at War , 362.
11. Ibid.
12. Allard, Memoirs, 60.
13. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 69.
14. The Canadians at War, 362–63.
15. Daniel Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943–1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 169.
16. Mitchell, RCHA, 112.
17. Captain Lex Schregg, History of the Ontario Regiment: 1866–1951 (n.p., n.d.), 164–65.
18. Ibid., 164.
19. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 69–70.
20. Mitchell, RCHA, 112–13.
21. The Canadians at War , 365.
22. Ibid.
23. Schregg, History of the Ontario Regiment, 165.
24. 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., 59–60.
25. Ibid., 59.
26. Ibid., 58.
CHAPTER 17 / A NEW PLAN IS NEEDED
1. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 33-N-12, National Archives of Canada.
2. Princess Patricia’s Canadian Regiment Light Infantry War Diary, Dec. 1943, 36-N-13, National Archives of Canada.
3. 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., 71.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. PPCLI War Diary, 36-N-14.
7. Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona (n.p., n.d.), 188.
8. Carleton and York Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 8, National Archives of Canada.
9. Robert Tooley, Invicta: The Carleton and York Regiment in the Second World War (Fredericton, N. B.: New Ireland Press, 1989), 189.
10. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 72.
11. Headquarters 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Dec. 1943, 40-N-10, National Archives of Canada.
12. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 72.
13. N.a., The Canadians at War, 1939/45, vol. 2 (Montreal: Reader’s Digest Association (Canada) Ltd., 1969), 365.
14. Ibid, 366.
15. N.a., “Biographies Regarding Medals Won at Ortona,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 26.
16. 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), 112.
17. Mitchell, RCHA, 114.
18. Headquarters 3 CIB War Diary, 40-N-10.
19. Mitchell, RCHA, 114.
20. Headquarters 3 CIB War Diary, 40-N-10.
21. Jean V. Allard, The Memoirs of General Jean V. Allard (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, 1988), 61.
22. George “Duff” Mitchell, interview by author, Ottawa, 12 Sept. 1998.
23. Headquarters 3 CIB War Diary, 40-N-10.
24. The Canadians at War , 367.
25. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 73.
26. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 317.
27. Antonio Di Cesare, interview by author, Ortona, 9 Dec. 1998.
28. Antonio D’Intino, interview by author, Ortona, 8 Dec. 1998.
29. Americo Casanova, interview by author, Ortona, 7 Dec. 1998.
30. Fritz Illi, interview by Michael Boire, Zuffenhausen, Germany, 20 Feb. 1999.
CHAPTER 18 / MORNING GLORY
1. West Nova Scotia Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 42-N-6, National Archives of Canada.
2. Headquarters 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Dec. 1943, 40-N-12, National Archives of Canada.
3. 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
4. West Nova Scotia War Diary, 42-N-6.
5. Thomas H. Raddall, West Novas: A History of the West Nova Scotia Regiment (n.p., 1947), 166.
6. Ibid., 167–68.
7. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 316–19.
8. Captain A.J. Porter, “Report No. 166 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Administrative Aspects of the Operations of 1 Canadian Infantry Div
ision in Italy, December 1943,” Department of National Defence, 29 Nov. 1946, 76.
9. 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), 114.
10. Porter, “Report No. 166,” 76.
11. Ibid., 78.
12. Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada: 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 433.
13. 48th Highlanders of Canada War Diary, Dec. 1943, 32-N-9, National Archives of Canada.
14. Beattie, Dileas, 436.
15. Porter, “Report No. 166,” 80.
16. Ibid., 80–81.
17. Beattie, Dileas, 437.
18. Ibid., 439.
19. Ibid., 438.
20. Ibid.
21. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 318.
22. Beattie, Dileas, 439.
23. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 318–19.
24. Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona (n.p., n.d.), 192–93.
25. G.W. Stephen Brodsky, God’s Dodger (Sidney, B.C.: Elysium Publishing Co., 1993), 203.
26. Galloway, Some Died at Ortona, 192.
27. Ibid., 192–94.
28. 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), 22–23.
29. Galloway, Some Died at Ortona, 193–94.
30. Porter, “Report No. 166,” 82–83.
31. Quayle, In Action, 23–24.
CHAPTER 19 / THE DRIVE TO ORTONA
1. 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), 24.
2. Charlie Prieur, “Chronicles of the Three Rivers Regiment (Tank) at War,” n.p., n.d., 115.
3. Colonel Strome Galloway, Some Died at Ortona (n.p., n.d.), 195.
4. Captain J.A. Porter, “Report No. 166 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Administrative Aspects of the Operations of 1 Canadian Infantry Division in Italy, December 1943,” Department of National Defence, 29 Nov. 1946, 83.
5. Quayle, In Action, 24.
6. Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
7. Galloway, Some Died at Ortona, 196.
8. Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, n.p.
9. Strome Galloway, A Regiment at War: The Story of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1939–1945 (RCP, reprint, 1979), 115.
10. G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 320.
11. Porter, “Report No. 166,” 84.
12. Ibid.
13. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 323.
14. Karl Bayerlein, diary.
15. Americo Casanova, interview by author, Ortona, 8 Dec. 1998. It is unlikely the Germans destroyed the Casanova apartment because of American possessions. More probable is that the building, on Ortona’s southern outskirts, was perceived as a threat to the defensive positions inside Ortona. Such a large building would have provided an excellent observation point for Canadian artillery forward observation officers and would have been virtually immune to German artillery or mortar fire.
16. John Alpine Dougan, interview by Tom Torrie, 27 July 1989, University of Victoria Special Collections.
17. Jim Stone, interview by William S. Thackray, 13, 20 May and 3, 10, 17 June 1980, University of Victoria Special Collections.
18. 12th Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, Dec. 1943, 108-N-27, National Archives of Canada.
19. Ibid.
20. 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), 151.
21. Ibid.
22. Jock Gibson, interview by author, Vancouver, B.C., 23 Nov. 1998.
23. McDougall, A Narrative of War, 151.
24. Ibid.
25. Reginald Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919–1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 258–61.
26. McDougall, A Narrative of War, 153.
27. Charles Comfort, Artist at War (Pender Island, B.C.: Remembrance Books, 1995), 102–3.
28. Americo Casanova, interview.
CHAPTER 20 / A BUNCH OF MADMEN
1. Jim Stone, interview by William S. Thackray. 13, 20 May and 3, 10, 17 June 1980, University of Victoria Special Collections.
2. Ibid.
3. John Alpine Dougan, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 23 Oct. 1998.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Elwyn R. Springsteel, correspondence with author, fall 1998.
7. John Alpine Dougan, interview by Tom Torrie, 27 July 1989, University of Victoria Special Collections.
8. Dougan, interview by author.
9. Alon Johnson, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 29 Sept. 1998.
10. Stone, interview.
11. Johnson, interview.
12. Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 38-N-8, National Archives of Canada.
13. 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, Dec. 1943, 583-N-23, National Archives of Canada.
14. Dougan, interview by Torrie.
15. Ibid.
16. Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, Dec. 1943, n.p., National Archives of Canada.
17. Associazone Archeologica Frentana, Immagini: Ottobre 1943–Giugno 1944, Nove mesi di martirio (Ortona: Soc. Coop. Iniziativa Cristiana, 1993), n.p.
18. 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., 86–87.
19. Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, n.p.
20. Ibid.
21. 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 108-N-29, National Archives of Canada.
22. Reginald Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919–1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 265.
23. Jock Gibson, interview by author, Vancouver, B.C., 23 Nov. 1998.
24. Karl Bayerlein, interview by Michael Boire, Heilbronn, Germany, 12 Jan. 1999.
25. Karl Bayerlein, diary.
26. Porter, “Report No. 165,” 86.
27. 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., 63.
CHAPTER 21 / THEY ALWAYS MESS THINGS UP
1. Jim Stone, interview by William S. Thackray, 13, 20 May and 3, 10, 17 June 1980, University of Victoria Special Collections.
2. Daniel Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943–1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 176.
3. Alon Johnson, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 29 Sept. 1998.
4. Stone, interview, by Thackray. Stone was awarded the Military Cross for this exploit.
5. Ibid.
6. In fact, Stone never accepted that the attack probably would have failed at the rubble pile. He remained convinced that the tankers’ timidity was the only reason the Edmontons failed to break resistance in Ortona on Dec. 22.
7. John Dougan, interview by author, Victoria, B.C., 23 Oct. 1998.
8. G.R. Stevens, A City Goes to War (Brampton, Ont.: Charters, 1964), 176.
9. Melville A. McPhee, correspondence with author, 21 Oct. 1998.
10. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 327.
11. 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 108-N-30, National Archives of Canada.
12. Peggy Turnbull, correspondence with author, Feb. 1999.
13. Karl Bayerlein, diary.
14. Karl Bayerlein, interview by Maj. Michael Boire, Heilbronn, Germany, 12 Jan. 199
9.
15. Ibid.
16. 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., 64.
17. Bayerlein, interview.
18. Steiger, “Report #18,” 63.
19. Major N.L.C. Mathers, “Lessons learned and experience gained during fighting for Ortona,” National Archives of Canada, n.p.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
CHAPTER 22 / FIGHT FOR THE BULGE
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., 94.
2. Ibid., 95.
3. Ibid.
4. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, Dec. 1943, 33-N-13, National Archives of Canada.
5. Frank McGuire eyewitness account, as related in note to author. June 1999.
6. Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment War Diary, 33-N-13.
7. McGuire account.
8. Basil Smith, “Memoirs of a Quarterbloke,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 42.
9. Ibid., 43.
10. Farley Mowat, The Regiment, 2nd ed. (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1973), 154.
11. Lex Schragg, History of the Ontario Regiment: 1866–1951 (n.p., n.d.), 170.
12. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians In Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 334.
13. Daniel Dancocks, The D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943–1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 182.
14. Schragg, History of the Ontario Regiment, 170–71.
15. Mowat, The Regiment, 157.
16. N.a., “Battle of the Moro River: Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.p.
17. Smith, “Memoirs,” 44.
18. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy, 334.
CHAPTER 23 / THE UNMUFFLED DRUMS OF HELL
1. G.W.L. Nicholson, The Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 327.