I'm currently reading Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians): A Record of Achievement, by Lt-Col McAvity, and just came across this bit which is pretty funny. The date is early September 1944, the Strathconas are in a harbour south of the Conca river, there was a week when the unit didn't move forward: During this week of inactivity, several plans were "teed up", involving orders and markings of maps, but each of these was cancelled soon after birth. One insubordinate bard in the regiment scribbled some doggerel entitled "The Lieutenant-Colonel's Lament" which he sang to the tune of "Trees": "I think that I shall never see A plan that goes from A to B A plan, dear God, that seems to be just right Is always cancelled overnight Such plans are made for fools like me But God's still in his A.C.V. - A plan, with "arty" and with air To drive Tedeschi from his lair; A plan both well thought out and bold, For now the details can be told - A new plan's on its way to me, And God's still in his A.C.V."
More lighthearted stories from the Italian campaign. These read as typically Canadian. This from the memoirs of Gordie Bannerman. He would gain some notoriety in 1945 as the 17th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, fought an infantry battle in Otterloo. "The 17th Regiment was in position to support the attack on Coriano Ridge. We had moved into position around September 11th on a reverse slope of a fairly steep hill. Fox troop was just below a small village. In this village our battery command post was located. In this spot, L/sgt Elmer Applegren and Bombardier, Mickey Lalonde, were up at the observation post and were given two German prisoners to deliver to Brigade for interrogation. Elmer and Mickey loaded the prisoners in their jeep and started to return to Headquarters. On the way down they came under German shell fire and took shelter in an old house which had a good supply of wine. Elmer and Mickey had a few drinks then thought that the German prisoners should have a drink too. After many drinks Elmer arrived at our Battery Headquarters, walked in, reported to Capt Hand and said look what we have in the jeep. Capt Hand came out to see what was going on and one German prisoner was driving the jeep, the other prisoner was holding the tommy gun and Mickey very drunk in the back of the jeep. Capt Hand said, along with a few other chosen words, that it looked like they brought you here not the other way around. Brigade was not happy as the German prisoners were too full of vino and ready to sleep and in no shape for any questioning." "Sgt Sid Robertson was a scrounger supreme. During this snow storm Sid thought it would be a good idea to get some rum for his crew and the rest of the troop. About this time a British unit was moving up past our area. Sid seeing the opportunity went over to the convoy and asked the nearest officer where their Colonel was. Here was a Canadian sergeant coming out of a snow storm enquiring where the Colonel was, from the first officer he ran into. This first officer was likely so taken aback at the sheer gall of this Canadian he replied that the Colonel was at the head of the column. Sid saluted the officer and thanked him for this information. Sid marched down to the head of the convoy, found the British Colonel, saluted him and immediately shook hands with him. Within moments the Colonel was calling Sid by his first name and Sid was calling the Colonel by his first name. All this to the awe and utter disbelief of the rest of the British officers standing around. One of these officers standing was a major and he had the rest of the officers calling him Lord so and so. He was a titled gent with beautiful breeches and high knee boots polished. A bit out of place during a snowstorm and standing on a muddy road. The colonel said to Sid is there anything I can do for you? Sid replied yes there is. If you look out into that field you will see a troop of gunners digging their gun pits and they are soaked to the ass. I was wondering if I could get a drop of rum for them. The colonel answered absolutely, Sid. Have you anything to put this rum into? Sid replied just by chance I have two water bottles inside my tunic. The colonel then directed the Lord so and so [the major] to go with his friend Sid to the supply truck and fill the water bottles with rum. This was carried out and Sid came back with the rum. That convoy was stopped overnight on the road and Sid went back and stole a gallon of rum right under their noses."
