The Liri Valley

Home > Other > The Liri Valley > Page 54
The Liri Valley Page 54

by Mark Zuehlke


  2 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 179 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Canadian Operations in the Liri Valley,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 24.

  3 Ralph Bennett, Ultra and Mediterranean Strategy: 1944–1945 (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1989), 282–83.

  4 Albert Kesselring, The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring, Lynton Hudson (trans.) (London: William Kimber, 1953), 200.

  5 Bennett, 283–84.

  6 Nicholson, 404.

  7 GS Branch HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 51, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  8 John Ellis, Cassino: The Hollow Victory: The Battle for Rome, January–June 1944 (London: Andre Deutsch, 1984), 310–11.

  9 Jim Quinn, “Gari River and the Gustav & Hitler Lines,” Onward II: The Informal History of the Calgary Regiment, 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment, Dick and Jessie Maltby (eds.) (Vancouver: 50 / 14 Veterans’ Association, 1989), n.p.

  10 Stan Kanik, interview by author, Sidney, BC, 9 Aug. 2000.

  11 Quinn.

  12 Fred Ritchie, correspondence with author, Oct. 2000.

  13 Capt. R.T. Currelly, “Report on Operations of 14 CAR (Calgary Regiment) for the period of 10 May to 28 May 1944,” Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, Aug. 31, 1944, 3–4.

  14 Ritchie correspondence.

  15 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Ontario) War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, p. 5.

  16 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 158 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade in Italy: May 1944 to February 1945 — Part I, The Gustav and Hitler Lines,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 14.

  17 Stan Kanik interview.

  18 Nicholson, 405.

  19 Ibid., 6.

  20 Peter Stursberg, CBC Radio broadcast, 18 May 1944, CBC Radio Archives.

  21 Capt. Lex Schragg, History of the Ontario Regiment: 1866–1951 (n.p., n.d.), 203.

  22 N.a., “Account of Recent Operations by 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Ontario Regiment): The Breaking of the Gustav Line,” Ottawa: Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 4.

  23 Stursberg, 18 May 1944.

  24 Schragg, 204.

  25 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 179,” 25.

  26 Ritchie interview.

  27 Ibid.

  28 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Calgary Tanks) War Diary, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  29 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 158,” 15.

  30 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary.

  31 Stacey, ibid.

  32 Headquarters, 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, 17–19.

  33 Stan Kanik interview and Donald Reid, correspondence with author, 25 Oct. 2000.

  34 Stan Kanik interview.

  35 Bryan Perrett, Tank Warfare (London: Arms and Armour Press, 1990), 105–34.

  36 Steve J. Coppinger, interview by Tom Torrie, 11 Aug. 1987, University of Victoria Special Collections.

  37 Perrett, 105–34.

  38 Lieutenant General E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 140–41.

  39 John Ellis, Brute Force: Allied Strategy and Tactics in the Second World War (London: Andre Deutsch, 1990), 325.

  40 Bennett, 280–82.

  41 Dominick Graham and Shelford Bidwell, Tug of War: The Battle for Italy, 1943–1945 (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1986), 280.

  42 Eric Morris, Circles of Hell: The War in Italy, 1943–1945 (New York: Crown Publishers, 1993), 321–23.

  43 Graham and Bidwell, 277.

  CHAPTER 9 / ONE COULD NOT AFFORD TO GRIEVE

  1 Gwilym Jones, To the Green Fields Beyond: A Soldier’s Story (Burnstown, ON: General Store Publishing, 1993), 87–88.

  2 G. W. L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 405–6.

  3 Horace Dugald Beach, interview by Chris D. Main, 15, 19, 24 May 1978, University of Victoria Special Collections.

  4 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment) War Diary, May 1944, Sheet No. 34, National Archives of Canada.

  5 Ibid.

  6 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 158 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade in Italy: May 1944 to February 1945 — Part I, The Gustav and Hitler Lines,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 16.

  7 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Sheet No. 35.

  8 Beach interview.

  9 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, ibid.

  10 Beach interview.

  11 Ibid.

  12 Colonel C.P. Stacey, 17.

  13 Capt. Lex Schregg, History of the Ontario Regiment: 1866–1951 (n.p., n.d.), 205.

  14 Stacey, ibid., 16.

  15 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Sheet No. 35.

  16 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 179 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Canadian Operations in the Liri Valley,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 26.

  17 Albert Kesselring, The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring, Lynton Hudson (trans.) (London: William Kimber and Co., 1953), 200.

  18 GS Branch HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 53, National Archives of Canada, 1–2.

  19 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Calgary Tank Regiment) War Diary, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  20 Stan Kanik, interview by author, Sidney, BC, 9 Aug. 2000.

  21 Ibid.

  22 Jim Quinn, “Gari River and the Gustav & Hitler Lines,” Onward II: The Informal History of the Calgary Regiment, 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment, Dick and Jessie Maltby (eds.) (Vancouver: 50 / 14 Veterans’ Association, 1989), n.p.

  23 Kanik interview.

  24 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Calgary Tank Regiment) War Diary.

  25 Kanik interview.

  26 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Calgary Tank Regiment) War Diary.

  27 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Sheet No. 36.

  28 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Ontario Tank Regiment) War Diary, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  29 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Sheet No. 37.

  30 Jones, 85.

  31 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, ibid.

  32 Dominick Graham and Shelford Bidwell, Tug of War: The Battle for Italy, 1943–1945 (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1986), 282.

  33 Lt. Gen. E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 140.

  34 Ibid., 144–45.

  35 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Sheet No. 38.

  36 Burns, 145.

  37 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, “The Adriatic Front — Winter 1944, 36.

  38 Ibid., 37.

  39 Jones, 86–87.

  CHAPTER 10 / IT IS STIFF FIGHTING

  1 G.S. Branch, HQ 1st Canadian Infantry Division War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  2 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, May 1944, Sheet 4, National Archives of Canada.

  3 Operations — Italy — Hitler Line, “Part III Engineers, 1 Canadian Infantry Division in the Liri Valley Battle,” RG 24, Volume 10779, National Archives of Canada, 1.

  4 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, May 1944, Sheet 5.

  5 48th Highlanders of Canada War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  6 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  7 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, ibid.

  8 Lieutenant G. Potts, “Battle Narrative: The Royal Canadian Regiment, 15 May 1944–24 May 1944,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 1.

  9 G.S. Branch, HQ 1st Canadian Infantry Division War Diary, May 1944, 10–11.

  10 Ibid.

  11 Royal Can
adian Regiment War Diary, May 1944, n.p.

  12 Dominick Graham and Shelford Bidwell, Tug of War: The Battle for Italy, 1943–1945 (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1986), 284.

  13 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 179 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Canadian Operations in the Liri Valley,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 26.

  14 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, May 1944, n.p.

  15 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  16 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, May 1944, Sheet 5.

  17 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, ibid.

  18 Stacey, 28.

  19 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, May 1944, n.p.

  20 Strome Galloway, The General Who Never Was (Belleville, ON: Mika Publishing, 1981), 200.

  21 Stacey, 28.

  22 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, ibid.

  23 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 519–20.

  24 Stacey, 30.

  25 Graham and Bidwell, 284–87.

  26 G.S. Branch HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 55, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  27 G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 407.

  28 Albert Kesselring, The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring, Lynton Hudson (trans.) (London: William Kimber, 1953), 202.

  29 Stacey, 29.

  30 Ibid.

  31 War Diary West Nova Scotia Regiment, May 144, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  32 Ibid., 30.

  33 Beattie, 525.

  34 Cassino Map Sheet 160, Second Edition, 1943 Geographical Service, General Staff No. 4164. Copied from Carta Topigrafica 1/100,000 Sheet 160, 1927. Map in possession of the author.

  35 Italy 1:50,000 Sheet No. 1, Atina, AFV Going Overprint, April 1944. Map in possession of the author.

  36 Rowland Ryder, Oliver Leese (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1987), 168.

  CHAPTER 11 / THE FOG OF WAR

  1 Jean V. Allard, The Memoirs of General Jean V. Allard (Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 1988), 71–72.

  2 Pierre Potvin, account in possession of the author, translated from French version published in The Citadelle (Tony Poulin, trans.), n.d., n.p.

  3 Royal 22e Regiment War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  4 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  5 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers) War Diary, May 1944, Sheet No. 39, National Archives of Canada.

  6 Potvin account.

  7 Ibid.

  8 N.a., “History of Royal 22e Regiment from 17 May 1944 to 26 May 1944,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 1–2.

  9 Potvin account.

  10 Royal 22e Regiment War Diary, n.p.

  11 Potvin account.

  12 Thomas H. Raddall, West Novas: A History of the West Nova Scotia Regiment (n.p., 1947), 188.

  13 West Nova Scotia Regiment War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  14 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Sheet No. 39.

  15 Raddall, 189.

  16 West Nova Scotia Regiment War Diary, n.p.

  17 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, n.p.

  18 Raddall, 190.

  19 N.a., “Regimental History Carleton and York Regiment,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 1.

  20 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  21 Lieutenant Colonel Don Cameron, Operations — Italy — Hitler Line, “Part V 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade in the Liri Valley Battle,” RG 24, Volume 10779, National Archives of Canada, 3.

  22 Lieutenant Colonel Don Cameron, The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment Canadian Army Overseas, CMF, “The Battle of the Woods — Wed. 17 May 1944,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.p.

  23 Lieutenant Colonel Ian Johnston, 48th Highlanders of Canada, “The Liri Valley and the Adolf Hitler Line,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1–2.

  24 Bryan Perrett, Tank Warfare (London: Arms and Armour Press, 1990), 134–35.

  25 Johnston, 2.

  26 G.S. Branch HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 58, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  27 Johnston, 3.

  28 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 532.

  29 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, n.p.

  30 Johnston, 3.

  31 Beattie, 534–35.

  32 Johnston, 3.

  33 Ibid., 7.

  34 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, n.p.

  35 Ibid.

  36 G.S. Branch HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 56, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  CHAPTER 12 / DON’T LET IT GET YOU DOWN, CHUM

  1 Pierre Potvin, account in possession of the author, translated from French version published in The Citadelle (Tony Poulin, trans.), n.d., n.p.

  2 Ibid.

  3 Jean V. Allard, The Memoirs of General Jean V. Allard (Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 1988), 74.

  4 Potvin account.

  5 Ibid.

  6 Allard, 74.

  7 Ibid., 74–75.

  8 Lieutenant Colonel Ian Johnston, 48th Highlanders of Canada, “The Liri Valley and the Adolf Hitler Line,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

  9 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, n.p.

  10 G.S. Branch HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 57, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  11 Strome Galloway, interview by author, Ottawa, 6 May 2000.

  12 Dominick Graham and Shelford Bidwell, Tug of War: The Battle for Italy, 1943–1945 (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1986), 289.

  13 Rowland Ryder, Oliver Leese (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1987), 170.

  14 Peter Stursberg, The Sound of War (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1993), 167–68.

  15 Charles Comfort, Artist at War (Pender Island, BC: Remembrance Books, 1995), 135–36.

  16 Ibid., 125–35.

  17 Waldo E.L. Smith, What Time the Tempest: An Army Chaplain’s Story (Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1953), 219–20.

  18 Ibid., 238–39.

  19 Jim Quinn, “Gari River and the Gustav & Hitler Lines,” Onward II: The Informal History of the Calgary Regiment, 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment, Dick and Jessie Maltby (eds.) (Vancouver: 50 / 14 Veterans’ Association, 1989), n.p.

  20 Smith, 240.

  21 C. Malcolm Sullivan, 3 Troop: A fighting unit of a Canadian Tank Squadron in wartime Italy and Holland, where Fear of Failure was finally overcome (Saint John, NB: ImPresses, 1998), 73.

  22 Capt. Lex Schregg, History of the Ontario Regiment: 1866–1951 (n.p., n.d.), 208.

  23 Ibid.

  24 Ibid.

  25 Sullivan, 74.

  26 Schregg, 209.

  27 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 158 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Operations of the 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade in Italy: May 1944 to February 1945 — Part I, The Gustav and Hitler Lines,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 22.

  28 Schregg, 209.

  29 Ibid., 209–10.

  30 Ibid.

  31 Stacey, 22.

  32 “Account of Recent Operations by 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Ontario Regiment): The Breaking of the Gustav Line,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 7.

  33 Schregg, 212.

  34 Sullivan, 74.

  35 Schregg, 212.

  36 Ibid., 75.

  37 Smith, 241–42.

  38 Schregg, 211–12.

&
nbsp; 39 Smith, 241.

  40 Stacey, 22.

  41 Sullivan, 76.

  42 “Account of Recent Operations by 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Ontario Regiment): The Breaking of the Gustav Line,” 7.

  43 Smith, 242.

  44 Sullivan, 75.

  CHAPTER 13 / WHERE ARE YOU GOING LIKE THAT, LITTLE POT?

  1 N.a., Operations — Italy — Hitler Line, “Part VII, The Advance to and Breaching of the Adolf Hitler Line by 3 Canadian Infantry Brigade,” RG 24, vol. 10779, National Archives of Canada, 1 June 1944, 3.

  2 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, May 1944, Sheet 7, National Archives of Canada.

  3 48th Highlanders of Canada War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  4 4th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment (Princess Louise Dragoon Guards) War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, p. 4.

  5 Jean V. Allard, The Memoirs of General Jean V. Allard (Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 1988), 71–75.

  6 N.a., “Regimental History, Carleton and York Regiment,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 2.

  7 Major J.P. Ensor, Carleton and York War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  8 N.a., Operations — Italy — Hitler Line, “Part VII, The Advance to and Breaching of the Adolf Hitler Line by 3 Canadian Infantry Brigade,” 3.

  9 Ibid.

  10 Allard, 75.

  11 Pierre Potvin, account in possession of the author, translated from French version published in The Citadelle (Tony Poulin, trans.), n.d., n.p.

  12 Ibid.

  13 Ibid.

  14 Allard, 75.

  15 N.a., “History of Royal 22e Regiment from 17 May 1944 to 26 May 1944,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.

  16 Allard, 76.

  17 Royal 22e Regiment War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

  18 Ibid.

  19 Potvin account.

  20 N.a., “History of Royal 22e Regiment from 17 May 1944 to 26 May 1944,” 4.

  21 Potvin account.

  22 Allard, 76–77.

  23 Royal 22e Regiment War Diary.

  24 Lieutenant General E.L.M. Burns, I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, pp. 8–9.

  25 Rowland Ryder, Oliver Leese (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1987), 170.

  26 GS Branch, HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 58, National Archives of Canada, n.p.

 

‹ Prev