Thanks for clearing that up Gerry. You would have passed my dad's guns on the way up on the 23rd. he was with the 17th field Regiment RCA. that is an excellent report you published regarding tank development and improvements. This is likely a repost but since it is May 24th. 69 years after the fact and the 5th Canadian Armoured Divisions 1st action as a division; I thought I could get away with it. Terry Copp's Article for Legion Magazine. http://legionmagazine.com/en/index.php/2008/06/bridgehead-on-the-melfa-army-part-76/
View attachment 5thCanAD.doc While taking a break scanning pages of the Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War decided to take a shufti in Volume II to see what pages have about CAD. On page 4 of the attachment Montgomery's telling Hoffmeister that "There is no role for an armoured division in Italy." This, and that he would not allow the Churchill Brigades sitting in Algeria, makes one wonder! As soon as he gave up command of 8th Army the new commander couldn't get the Churchill Brigades sitting in Algeria to sail to Italy quickly enough. Gerry
Here is a link to the 24th Canadian Field Ambulance RCAMC unit History supporting the 5th Canadian armoured division in Italy and Holland Written by Howard Russell. Hope you find it interesting Corporal Howey of 24th Field ambulance recalls the stress of combat http://www.wlu.ca/lcmsds/cmh/back%20issues/CMH/volume%208/Issue%201/Russell%20-%2024th%20Canadian%20Field%20Ambulance%20-%20Royal%20Canadian%20Army%20Medical%20Corps.pdf
Matt, Through the help of a researcher provided by Klambie, I was able to obtain the service records for Pt. Samuel Binder who served in Italy under the RCAMC, Any info on Binder would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
hi New to the group I have some hand typed transcripts written by Stan Scislowski Perth Regiment written long before his book "Not all of Us Where Brave" I received them from the Son of Pte Hugh Detlor D Company Perth Regiment. Pretty fair accounts of there actions in Italy once I figure out how to post images here I will post them
PerthRegiment, Welcome to the forum. Tom Canning and Stan used to correspond before Stan's stroke. My wife's second cousin is the last remaining officer from the Perth Regiment. Name is Jock Fleming. Look forward to seeing your posts. Cheers
Here are some maps of the dispositions of the 5th Canadian Armed division from of May 23rd to May 30th after the exploitation of the Hitler line break-though by the 1st CID and the 21st TB (Edit 25th TB) on May 23rd. If you want to go large scale and cross-reference to better copies here is a link Earthician discovered to Macmaster University Maps. http://library.mcmaster.ca/maps/ww2/ww2_Italy_home.htm. Great find by btw Earthician Matt
GPO's son slight correction - exploitation of the Hitler line was by 1st CID and 25th TB on 23rd May '44 21st TB were moving up from Prezenzano at that time… Cheers
Tom I think that is what I said. I did however get the wrong Tank brigade; the 21st was not in the line at the time. You were busy with other tasks at the time I believe. Matt
GPO's son Not really busy - just waiting to move up if we were needed - it was close the first day when both NIH and 51st RTR lost 14 Tanks each- about 16% of Brigade strength- heavy losses for first half hour..we moved up with 5th CAD… Cheers
Here you will find the war diaries of the Irish Regiment of Canada for the May 1944 during the actions in the Liri Valley including the build up to, breeching and expliotation of the Hitler line by the 1st Canadian Corp. http://iroc.no-ip.org/Project_info/Battle_diary/1944/May44.pdf . After reading this memory I realized this fellow; being a GPO had many experiences similar to my dad. In fact I had to do a double take to be sure he wasnt in the same regiment. covering the period Spring 44 including the winter positions in the international line. http://www.artillery.net/beta/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2-Cassino-Revisted-Honourable-Mention.pdf CBC Digital achives of ww2 report from the battle field. http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/war-conflict/second-world-war/the-italian-campaign/the-hills-of-hell.html Enjoy Matt
I was saddened to-day to discover that Stan Scislowski passed away in March A great story teller, Author, and Veteran of the Italian Campaign. RIP Stan Scislowski Matt
Hi Matt Thread here about the passing of Stan http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/52709-stan-scislowski-rip/
Heritage Canadiana website has complied a huge number of micro file discs containing war diaries and opertion reports for Canadian units in ww2. Disc t-1848 for expample has all (i think all as I havent been able to get through it, over 2000 images) 1st Canadian corp reports including maps and overlays for all ops both in Italy and NWE. I found it quite amazing to go through this file. link to t-1848 http://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.lac_reel_t1848/941?r=0&s=3 huge amount of info without a trip to the archives. Matt
updated Maps of the positions of the 5th Canadian Armoured division During Operaton Chesterfield the last week of May '44 Taken from Hertige Canadiana disc t-1848 images 1115 to 1120. Matt
Just came across this story written by Lt Stanley F. Farrow GPO (soon to be FOO) of the 8th field regiment RCA of the 5th CAD. he arrived just in time to be on the start line with the rest of the 5th Cad for Operation Chesterfield May 23rd 1944. http://www.spiritofcanada.com/veterans/stories/open.php?type=rca&target=ddayDodger Matt
Matt - a very fair account of what actually happened in the Liri Valley and at the Gothic Line- thanks for that Cheers
Thanks Tom above a great narrative 3 things kind of struck me. Farrow points out that 1) 8th field reg SP RCA only received their new M7 priests on the eve of Diadem. 2) aop which was hit by an artillery round has to be mentioned in almost every story we read about hitler line. 3) My Gradfather (a ww1 infantry officer) gave my Dad a (a colt 45 on his embarkment leave), and told him more or less the exact same words "the 38 will kill a man but 45 will stop a man; hope you never need to use it". Matt