by Mark Zuehlke
27 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, n.p.
28 Potvin account.
CHAPTER 14 / OPERATION CHESTERFIELD
1 Lieutenant General E.L.M. Burns, I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, p. 9.
2 N.a., “Report on Air Operations in Support of I CDN Corps, 11 May–4 June 1944,” 8 June 1944, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.
3 Burns, I Canadian Corps War Diary, 9.
4 Ibid.
5 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, n.p.
6 GS Branch, HQ 1st Canadian Infantry Division War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, p. 15.
7 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 179 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Canadian Operations in the Liri Valley,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 40.
8 Vokes Papers.
9 John Ellis, Cassino: The Hollow Victory: The Battle for Rome, January–June 1944 (London: Andre Deutsch, 1984), 389.
10 N.a., “Report Hitler Line Defences by GS, 1 Canadian Infantry Division,” n.d., National Archives of Canada, 1.
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
13 GS Branch, HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 54, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
14 G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 416.
15 GS Branch, HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 54.
16 N.a., “Report Hitler Line Defences by GS, 1 Canadian Infantry Division,” 8.
17 GS Branch, HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 54.
18 N.a., “Report Hitler Line Defences by GS, 1 Canadian Infantry Division,” 10–14.
19 Ibid., 6–7.
20 Ibid., 5–10.
21 N.a., “The Enemy on the Adolf Hitler Line: May 1944,” n.d., National Archives of Canada, 4–5.
22 Ibid., 4.
23 Albert Kesselring, The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring, Lynton Hudson (trans.) (London: William Kimber, 1953), 202.
24 Stacey, 38.
25 GS Branch, HQ I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, Appendix A, Intelligence Summary No. 58.
26 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
27 Vokes Papers.
28 Pierre Potvin, account in possession of the author, translated from French version published in The Citadelle (Tony Poulin, trans.), n.d., n.p.
CHAPTER 15 / IT’S SHEER MURDER
1 N.a., “Report on Air Operations in Support of I CDN Corps, 11 May–4 June 1944,” 8 June 1944, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.
2 Ibid.
3 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, May 1944, Sheet 8, National Archives of Canada.
4 E.A. McCusker, “Medical History of the War: 1st Canadian Corps, 1 April 1944–30 June 1944,” National Archives of Canada, 6–12.
5 Ibid., 5.
6 Charles Prieur, correspondence with author, 17 Aug. 2000.
7 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 541.
8 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Sheet 8.
9 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
10 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, Sheet 8.
11 Ibid.
12 Daniel G. Dancocks, D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943–1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 248.
13 Strome Galloway, A Regiment at War: The Story of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1939–1945 (Royal Canadian Regiment, 1979), 139.
14 Strome Galloway, interview with author, Ottawa, 6 May 2000.
15 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, n.p.
16 Beattie, 543–45.
17 Vokes Papers.
18 48th Highlanders of Canada War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
19 Ian Johnston, “48th Highlanders of Canada: The Liri Valley and the Adolf Hitler Line,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 4.
20 Ibid.
21 Ibid., 4–5.
22 Beattie, 556.
23 Johnston, 5.
24 Beattie, 557.
25 Johnston, 5.
26 Princess Louise Dragoon Guards War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
27 3rd Field Regiment, RCA War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
28 Johnston, 5.
29 Beattie, 559.
30 Lt. Gen. E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 148.
31 Lt. Gen. E.L.M. Burns, I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, p. 10.
32 Beattie, 560–62.
33 Johnston, 6–7.
34 G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 414.
35 Albert Kesselring, The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring, Lynton Hudson (trans.) (London: William Kimber, 1953), 202.
36 N.a., “The Enemy on the Adolf Hitler Line: May 1944,” n.d., National Archives of Canada, 5–6.
CHAPTER 16 / THE HARDEST THING TO WATCH
1 Cameron Ware, interview by Reginald Roy and William S. Thackray, 23 June, 25 June, and 10 July 1979 and 16 July 1980, University of Victoria Special Collections.
2 N.a., “Battle for the Liri Valley,” Appendix to Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
3 Ware interview.
4 Sydney Thomson, correspondence with author, Oct. 1998; interview by author, 27 May 2000, Salmon Arm, BC.
5 G.R. Stevens, A City Goes to War (Brampton, ON: Charters, 1964), 289.
6 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, May 1944, Appendix 15, “Battle of the Hitler Line,” National Archives of Canada, June 1944, 2.
7 Ibid., 2–3.
8 Ware interview.
9 Ibid.
10 Stevens, 293.
11 “Account by Lieutenant Kenyon, RCE,” 2 July 1944, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.
12 Rowland Ryder, Oliver Leese (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1987), 170.
13 G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 414.
14 E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970),149–50.
15 Brigadier Bill Ziegler, Operations — Italy — Hitler Line, “Part II Artillery 1 Canadian Infantry Division in the Liri Valley Battle,” RG 24, vol. 10779, National Archives of Canada, 3–5.
16 N.a., “Report Hitler Line Defences by GS, 1 Canadian Infantry Division,” n.d., National Archives of Canada, 5.
17 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, n.p.
18 PPCLI War Diary, Sheet 3.
19 Major Roy C.H. Durnford, diary, National Archives of Canada, 49.
20 Ibid., 54.
CHAPTER 17 / THOSE WERE FINE BOYS
1 Reginald Roy, The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, 1919–1965 (Vancouver: Evergreen Press, 1969), 292–93.
2 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, May 1944, Sheet 18, National Archives of Canada.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
5 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
6 N.a., “Major W. DeN. Watson, MC, interviewed at 14 General Hospital, 2 July 1944.” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.
7 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry War Diary, May 1944, Appendix 15, “Battle of the Hitler Line,” National Archives of Canada, June 1944, 3.
8 N.a., “Attack by 2 CIB on the Adolf Hitler Line, 23 May 1944,” 10 July 1944, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 3.
9 N.a., �
�Major Watson interviewed at 14 General Hospital,” 1.
10 N.a., “Attack by 2 CIB on the Adolf Hitler Line, 23 May 1944,” 10 July 1944, 4.
11 N.a., “Major Watson interviewed at 14 General Hospital,” 1–2.
12 N.a., “Lieutenant Browne-Clayton, PPCLI, interviewed 15 Canadian General Hospital,” 2 July 1944, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.
13 Arthur Bishop, Courage on the Battlefield: Canada’s Military Heritage, Vol. 2 (Toronto: McGraw Hill-Ryerson, 1993), 220–21.
14 Ibid., 221.
15 N.a., “Attack by 2 CIB on the Adolf Hitler Line, 23 May 1944,” 5.
16 PPCLI War Diary, Sheet 20.
17 Ibid., Sheet 19.
18 Donald Gower, correspondence with author, 25 June 2000.
19 Cameron Ware, interview by Reginald Roy and William S. Thackray, 23 June, 25 June, and 10 July 1979 and 16 July 1980, University of Victoria Special Collections.
20 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
21 G.R. Stevens, A City Goes to War (Brampton, ON: Charters, 1964), 294.
22 Loyal Edmonton Regiment War Diary, n.p.
23 Stevens, 161.
24 N.a., “Major Watson interviewed at 14 General Hospital,” 1–2.
25 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, n.p.
26 “Report by CCRA 1 CDN Corps on Operations of Canadian Artillery in Italy, May–June 1944,” n.d., Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 23–24.
27 G.W.L. Nicholson, The Gunners of Canada, vol. 2 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1972), 204.
28 Charles Monroe Johnson, Action With the Seaforths (New York: Vantage Press, 1954), 304–9.
29 Roy, 294–95.
30 Jack McLean, correspondence with Dr. Reginald Roy, n.d.
31 N.a., The North Irish Horse, Battle Report: North Africa and Italy (Belfast: W. and G. Baird, 1946), 33.
32 Seaforth Highlanders of Canada War Diary, n.p.
33 L.M. McBride, correspondence with Dr. Reginald Roy, 15 Feb. 1968.
34 Sydney Thomson, interview with author, 27 May 2000, Salmon Arm, BC.
35 Bishop, 223.
36 N.a., “Major Jim Allan, Seaforths of Canada, interviewed at 14 Canadian General Hospital 2 July 1944,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1–2.
37 N.a., “CSM Duddle, Seaforth of Canada, interviewed 1 July 1944,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1–2.
38 N.a., “Major Jim Allan interviewed at 14 Canadian General Hospital 2 July 1944,” 2.
39 N.a., “CSM Duddle, interviewed 1 July 1944,” 2–3.
40 Thomson interview.
41 N.a., “CSM Duddle, interviewed 1 July 1944,” 3–4.
42 Roy, 305–6.
43 Ibid.
44 PPCLI War Diary, Sheet 21.
45 Gower correspondence.
46 Cameron Ware, interview by Reginald Roy and William S. Thackray.
47 Nicholson, 423.
48 PPCLI War Diary, Sheet 21.
49 Howard Mitchell, My War: With the Saskatoon Light Infantry (M.G.), 1939–1945 (n.p., n.d.), 97.
50 G.R. Stevens, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, 1919–1957, vol. 3 (Griesbach, AB: Historical Committee of the Regiment, n.d.), 163.
51 Stevens, A City Goes to War, 296.
52 Roy, 310.
53 Nicholson, 423.
54 W.R. Freasby (ed.), Official History of the Canadian Medical Services, 1939–1945. Vol. 1: Organization and Campaigns (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 183.
55 Durnford, 54–55.
CHAPTER 18 / AN HONOUR TO DIE
1 Carleton and York War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, p. 11.
2 Don Smith, correspondence with author, 15 Aug. 2000.
3 Carleton and York War Diary, 11.
4 N.a., “Regimental History, Carleton and York Regiment,” n.d., Department of National Defence, Directorate of History, 2–3.
5 Robert Tooley, Invicta: The Carleton and York Regiment in the Second World War (Fredericton, NB: New Ireland Press, 1989), 238.
6 Ibid., 239.
7 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 179 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Canadian Operations in the Liri Valley,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 44.
8 N.a., “Regimental History, Carleton and York Regiment,” 3.
9 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, pp. 4–5.
10 N.a., “Regimental History, Carleton and York Regiment,” 3.
11 Tooley, 242.
12 Stacey, 47.
13 N.a., “Regimental History, Carleton and York Regiment,” 4.
14 Stacey, 48.
15 Ibid., 50.
16 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, n.p.
17 Stacey, 50.
18 West Nova Scotia War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, p. 2.
19 Thomas H. Raddall, West Novas: A History of the West Nova Scotia Regiment (n.p., 1947), 193–94.
20 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers) War Diary, May 1944, Sheets No. 45–46, National Archives of Canada.
21 West Nova Scotia War Diary, 2.
22 Raddall, 195.
23 West Nova Scotia War Diary, 2.
24 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Sheet No. 47.
25 West Nova Scotia War Diary, 2.
26 Raddall, 198.
27 Ibid., 200–2.
28 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment War Diary, Sheet No. 47.
29 Jean V. Allard, The Memoirs of General Jean V. Allard (Vancouver: University of British Columbia, 1988), 78.
30 N.a., “History of Royal 22e Regiment from 17 May 1944 to 26 May 1944,” n.d., Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 5.
31 Allard, 78.
32 Ibid., 79.
33 Ian Johnston, “48th Highlanders of Canada: The Liri Valley and the Adolf Hitler Line,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 6.
34 48th Highlanders of Canada War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
35 Kim Beattie, Dileas: History of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1929–1956 (Toronto: 48th Highlanders of Canada, 1957), 570–74.
36 Johnston, 6.
37 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
38 Stacey, 54.
39 Hastings and Prince Edward War Diary, n.p.
40 Stacey, 54–55.
41 Arthur Bishop, Courage on the Battlefield: Canada’s Military Heritage, Vol. 2 (Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1993), 224.
42 G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 425.
43 N.a., “The Enemy on the Adolf Hitler Line: May 1944,” n.d., National Archives of Canada, 6.
44 Nicholson, 425–26.
45 Ibid., 397.
46 Bert Hoffmeister, interview by B. Greenhous and W. McAndrew transcript, Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, n.d., 87.
CHAPTER 19 / A GRUESOME TASK
1 John Dougan, interview by author, 9 Oct. 2000, Victoria BC.
2 Vokes Papers, Royal Military College of Canada Massey Library, n.p.
3 Lt. Gen. E.L.M. Burns, General Mud: Memoirs of Two World Wars (Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1970), 152.
4 Ibid., 149.
5 G.A. McCarter, correspondence with G.W.L. Nicholson, Deputy Director Historical Section General Staff, 3 Apr. 1951, 2–4.
6 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 179 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Canadian Operations in the Liri Valley,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 57.
7 Daniel G. Dancocks, D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy, 1943–1945 (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1991), 261.
8 Ibid., 263.
9 Royal Canadian Regiment War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
10 Strome Gallo
way, A Regiment at War: The Story of the Royal Canadian Regiment, 1939–1945 (n.p., n.d.), 139–40.
11 G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 425.
12 Albert Kesselring, The Memoirs of Field-Marshal Kesselring, Lynton Hudson (trans.) (London: William Kimber, 1953), 202–3.
13 Stacey, 56–57.
14 Jack Haley, interview by author, 24 Aug. 2000, Victoria.
15 Wilf Gildersleeve, interviews by author, 14 Oct. 1998, 5 Oct. 2000, West Vancouver, BC.
16 Major Roy C.H. Durnford, diary, National Archives of Canada, 55.
17 Bill Worton, interview by author, 4 Oct. 2000, Vancouver, BC.
18 Ibid.
19 Victor Bulger, correspondence with author, 28 Nov. 2000.
20 Durnford, 56.
21 Haley interview.
22 Durnford, 56.
CHAPTER 20 / PUNCH
1 G.W.L. Nicholson, Canadians in Italy: 1943–1945, vol. 2 (Ottawa: Queen’s Printer, 1956), 427.
2 Bill McAndrew, Canadians and the Italian Campaign, 1943–1945 (Montreal: Éditions Art Global, 1996), 101.
3 I Canadian Corps War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, p. 12.
4 Nicholson, 427–28.
5 Colonel C.P. Stacey, “Report No. 179 Historical Section Canadian Military Headquarters: Canadian Operations in the Liri Valley,” Department of National Defence, n.d., 59.
6 3rd Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment (Governor General’s Horse Guards) War Diary, May 1944, National Archives of Canada, n.p.
7 Reginald Roy, Sinews of Steel (Toronto: Charters Publishing, 1965), 246.
8 N.a., “9th Canadian Armoured Regiment (British Columbia Dragoons): Report on Operations — 19 May 1944 to 29 May 1944,” Directorate of History, Department of National Defence, 1.
9 “Comments by Major J.W. Eaton on the Battle of the Melfa Crossing,” Reginald Roy Collection, University of Victoria, Special Collections, 2.
10 Roy, 247–48.
11 William Kurbis, correspondence with Reginald Roy, 26 July 1962, University of Victoria, Special Collections, 2–3.
12 G.T. Dodd, “Recollections of the Battle of the Melfa River,” n.d., Reginald Roy Collection, University of Victoria, Special Collections, n.p.