Photographs: Imperial War Museum - Sicily, 1943 (5)

Operation HUSKY, Invasion of Sicily, July 1943.

Photograph NA4072. Men of 2nd Seaforth Highlanders

embarking ontolanding craft at Sousse en route for Sicily, 5 July 1943. 

Photo Credit - Sgt. Stubbs, No. 2 Army Film and Photographic Unit 

and Imperial War Museum (IWM).

Introduction:

The invasion of Sicily began on July 10, 1943 and though the majority of Allied armed forces landed within the first few days (with the able assistance of Canadians in Combined Operations in the 55th and 61st Flotillas of landing Craft), the vast resources that troops required for the duration - i.e., the materials of war - were steadily carried to various sites on shore well into August.

Canadians who participated in the month-long task related to transport duties were members of the 80th and 81st Flotillas of landing crafts, mainly LCMs. Many found accommodation in caves (aka The Savoy) near Avola and survived on meagre rations.

A member of the 80th Flotilla recalls the following about those days:

We used a pail of sand saturated with gasoline to heat our meals on if any food was available. Later we moved into a limestone cave, dank and wet, but safe from bombs. We hung a barrage balloon over it, about 1,000 feet up, and one sailor got drunk and shot it down but we had 50 - 60 feet of limestone over our heads. 

I had 27 days at Sicily living on tomatoes and Bully Beef. I swore I would kick the first bull I saw in Canada - right in the posterior - if I got back. Everywhere I looked there were anti-personal hand-sized grenades that needed only to be touched to go off. They were built to maim and not kill because it takes men to look after the wounded, but if you’re dead, you’re dead. We threw tomatoes at a lot and exploded them in that manner.

One morning as we returned to the beach after a heavy bombing we noticed an LST with its bows completely gone and smoldering a bit. We went aboard to examine it and found under the rear canopy a sailor sound asleep in his hammock. After we awakened him he said he hadn’t heard a thing. The rest of the crew was missing. (Doug Harrison, page 33, "DAD, WELL DONE")

Once the island was under Allied control, the Canadians were sent to Malta to repair their landing craft for the upcoming invasion of Italy.

Many excellent photographs - revealing troop carriers in convoy, flotillas of landing craft, beach landings and subsequent Allied action in Sicily are part of a vast collection belonging to the Imperial War Museum, U.K.

Several RN and U.S. photographers worked aboard airplanes (see top photo), troop ships, landing craft and on the beaches creating valuable still photographs and newsreels that inform us of many details pertaining to the invasion. I encourage readers to browse IWM collections at their leisure. Copies of rare photographs can be purchased, if desired.

Please link to IWM at Search Our Collections.

Displayed below are a few pictures taken by photographers during World War 2. They are now archived at IWM and may assist those searching for more information about the role of Canadians in Combined Operations - and many other divisions, regiments, etc. - during Operation HUSKY.

The captions that accompany the photographs are provided by IWM as well:

A17902. An American freighter on her way to Sicily with troops, landing craft and

other equipment. Lt. E.E. Allen, Royal Navy Official Photographer and IWM

A14676. HMS UNA returning to harbour after being in action. 

Photo - Lt. F.G. Roper, as found at IWM.

A14678. HMS UNITED leaving harbour on patrol.

Lt. F.G. Roper, IWM.

A14681. HMS RORQUAL returning to harbour at the end of a patrol.

Lt. F.G. Roper, IWM.

A14684. HMS RORQUAL returning to harbour at the end of a patrol.

Lt. F.G. Roper, RN Official Photographer, IWM

A14687. HMS UNRUFFLED returning to harbour in Malta after a patrol in the

Mediterranean where she supported the Allied victories in North Africa, Sicily

and Italy. Here the submarine is just making its way past the boom. The ancient

walls of the harbour are towering down on UNRUFFLED. 

Lt. F.G. Roper, RN Official Photographer, IWM.

A14689. HMS UNRUFFLED returning to harbour. During the campaigns, the

Ship's Company were awarded a DSO and bar, three DSCs, eleven DSMs and

were Mentioned in Despatches on six occasions. Success on her "Jolly Roger"

indicates the sinking of 12 supply ships totalling 40,000 tons, three supply

schooners, the disabling of an Italian cruiser disabled and a train shot up.

Lt. F.G. Roper, IWM.

A14690. MTB's and submarines in Valletta harbour.

Lt. F.G. Roper, IWM.

NA5562. Three Italian babies wait to be examined by an RAMC medical officer,

4 August 1943. Lt. Chetwyn, No. 2 Army Film and Photographic Unit. IWM.

I recall a few lines from my father's memoirs that seem to fit nicely between pictures of babies. He and mates set up a tent in Messina when they had a few hours off (from transporting goods to Italy, Sept. 1943):

In the navy we just acquired things. A tent was set up on the beach after we acquired some salves, soap and gauze to treat the locals who had rashes and cuts, etc. The word spread about the Canadian Marina Hospital and one morning a few days after we opened, two very pregnant ladies appeared. The work of mercy ended, and very quickly I might add, amidst our embarrassment.

"Good try, Dad," I say.

NA5564. An RAMC medical officer examines babies in a Sicilian town, 4 Aug. 1943. 

Lt. Chetwyn, No. 2 Army F and P Unit. Imperial War Museum.

I have shared five sets of photographs concerning the invasion of Sicily and hope readers will gain a better understanding of conditions and events associated with that major assault on "the soft under belly of Europe" (as Winston Churchill would say).

I now finish on a high note:

A18151. Operation Husky: Men of the 51st (Highland) Division gathered round

a piano have a "sing-song" on the deck of HMS PRINSES BEATRIX just before

the start of the invasion of Sicily. Lt. C.H. Parnall, IWM.

Please link to Photographs: Imperial War Museum - Sicily, 1943 (4)

Unattributed Photos GH