The Italian Campaign as recalled from one of the Veterans who was there. Ortona, 75 years later: The tragedy of Canada’s ‘Little Stalingrad’
The Mystery of the Christmas Day Photo Revealed The late Tom Canning, Veteran and forum member and DDAY Dodger, gave me reference to this photo. 'Other Ranks' in the Canadian Army are served by officers and NCO's.
The most recent episode of the podcast Juno Beach and Beyond is a chat with Mark Zuelke about Ortona. Little Stalingrad with Mark Zuehlke
Hi, I haven’t seen that article before. Thanks for sharing on the forum. I met the author Karen Storwick in Calgary in September 2013 as she had helped me make contact with “long lost” relatives there (with help from forum member Alieneyes - Dave) and remain in touch with her. The Governor General of Canada awarded her the Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division) in April 2017 - invested on February 28, 2018. The citation - Karen Storwick is the founder of the Mural of Honour at The Military Museums in Calgary. Each tile in this educational mosaic represents an event or individual from Canada’s military history. Ms. Storwick has devoted countless hours to making school presentations, commemorating unmarked battlefields where Canadians fought in Italy, and conducting interviews with veterans, all with an aim to enriching the preservation of our military heritage. My mother’s cousin Fl Lt Bill Fowler RCAF of Michel, British Columbia (attached 263 Squadron RAF) is featured in the Mural of Honour mentioned in the citation. Steve
I’d most certainly agree with your comments. As I was staying with Bill Fowler’s daughter - only about 10 minutes walk away from the Museum - I was able to fit in 3 lengthy visits during my 3 week stay I’m sure you are aware of Calgary based Valour Canada organisation? Valour Canada Karen is a Director and Bill Fowler’s daughter Patti has been involved as a fundraiser. Steve
There is a comprehensive account of the Battle for Ortona in the ATB No 183 out now.....author Lieutenant Colonel G W L Nicholson. Looking further, the main text has been taken from The Canadians in Italy 1943-45 (Volume 11 of the Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War by Lieutenant Colonel G W L Nicholson (Roger Duhamel: Ottawa 1966) The account of the Ist Canadian Infantry Division and 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade involved in a 3 week battle to breach the town's defences but a further 8 days of street fighting to take the town.
There are an apparently large number of threads on Ortona, but I have added this post as it fits well being 'lessons in urban warfare'. It is a newly released documentary (on 18/7/2020 of 29 minutes) from the British Army, under the title 'URBAN WARFARE WW2 - Fighting In Built Up Areas Documentary - Part 2' from 2010. It has a number of Canadian officers talking, graphics and some film footage - several clips look like a training film: One officer refers to the PIAT not being destructive enough; six pounders were supplemented by seventeen pounders in direct fire mode. Oddly he adds the German paratroopers never made a counter-attack, but were able to re-infiltrate areas lost at night.
Colonel James Riley (Jim) Stone, DSO, MC, CD Colonel Stone of Salmon Arm, BC enlisted in the Loyal Edmonton Regiment in 1939 and in less then five years was commanding his unit in action in Italy. He was decorated four times for gallantry and leadership under fire. For his skill in handling his troops in action, especially during the bloody and costly fighting at Ortona, Italy, he was awarded the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order. Later, he was awarded a bar to his DSO. After the war he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Rocky Mountain Rangers (Militia). He returned to the Army in 1950 to command the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the first Canadian Unit in action in Korea. While commanding this battalion he won a second bar to his DSO for courageous leadership under fire. Colonel Stone later commanded the Canadian Army's coronation contingent in London and on his return to Canada was appointed Chief Instructor at the Royal Canadian School of Infantry. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Provost Marshal in August 1954, remaining in this post until being seconded to the Department of Justice in November 1958. He retired from the army in October 1960. James Riley "Big Jim" Stone September 1939 James Riley Stone joined the regiment as a private soldier. By war's end he had risen to command the battalion. As a Major commanding a company at the Battle of Ortona he was awarded the Military Cross for single-handedly charging and destroying a German anti-tank gun.
Gary, From your reading is there a clear difference between the contemporary accounts and those made later? My recollection is that the later interviewees attested to the value of direct artillery fire, whereas the 'Current Report' minimizes its value once in the town. I am aware that in a more recent urban fighting exercise the British Army were shocked at how much ammunition was used to clear one tower block. See pg.4 on this for details:https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/160628-lwc16-s3-closing_remarks-newton.pdf IIRC the reference is in this thread, which looks at contemporary urban fighting and has historical articles too: Urban / City Warfare (merged thread) Thanks
There is a livestream presentation and discussion going on right now with a Canadian officer who has studied urban warfare for 20+ years and studied Ortona for his Master's. After the fact it will still be watchable. So far I've been impressed with his map presentations outlining the defensive points that the Germans set up and the geography. It hadn't really sunk in to me that on both the west and east sides, it wasn't possible to outflank the town.
I was disappointed to hear the comment that the Canadians were often written out of the Italian Campaign. When guiding at the epic Battle of Monte Cassino, I make a point of continuing the story right up the 5 Canadian Armoured Division securing the crossings over the River Melfa on 24-25 May 44 which then allows me to cover the assault on the Hitler Line on 23 May 44 by 1 Canadian Infantry Division. Both the events had enormous benefits for the Allies - the Hitler Line assault took place at exactly the same moment that VI (US) Corps started its breakout from the Anzio beachhead and unsettled the Germans about which was the main effort, and the bouncing of the River Melfa, and the Westminsters’ impressive operation to defend their gains, allowed the Allies to forego what could have been a very nasty and time consuming assault river crossing operation. I for one will keep the Canadians’ achievements uppermost in people’s minds. They did a very good job. When I am guiding on the Gothic Line, I major on the actions of 1 (Cdn) Corps. Regards Frank
