Articles: About Italy, Sept. - Oct. 1943 (Parts 1 - 14)

News from The Winnipeg Tribune, and Memoirs

Photo - As found in an Oct. 1943 issue of The Winnipeg Tribune

During Operation Baytown and Avalanche, related to the invasion of Italy beginning in early September 1943, a group of Canadians in Combined Operations fulfilled a unique and significant role.

The group, as a separate Canadian entity - the 80th Flotilla of Landing Crafts - delivered Canadian troops to a foreign shore. 

By about mid-October the 80th Flotilla was gone from the Italian theatre of war and was heading back to England, where they received news they would be returning to Canada in the near future.

In the 14 entries that appear below, one will find photographs and news clippings from The Winnipeg Tribune, related passages from Navy memoirs (e.g., from Canadians in Combined Operations who manned the barges) and rare photographs from several sources (e.g., the Imperial War Museum, and Joe Spencer of RCNVR and Comb. Ops.).

I have searched many newspaper files related to the invasion of Italy and have provided links to only a portion of the available material. Briefly, I provide details about the invasion of Italy and subsequent actions up to mid-October, 1943, even though our troops were active until early June 1944 (occupation of Rome) and more.

Some items relate closely to Canadians in Comb. Ops., "men of the barges", others do not. However, hopefully all items will provide some context for what was happening in Italy for six weeks during WW2.

Please use the Links provided below -

1. A New Chapter for Canadians on Landing Crafts.

2. D-Day Italy: Operation Baytown at Reggio Calabria

3. Canadians on Landing Crafts Get Top Billing!!

4. Canadians on Landing Crafts - No More Top Billing.

5. Operation Avalanche, at Salerno, Was a Close Call!

6. Strong Stories about Salerno and One Great Lead.

7. Allies Advance in Italy, But Chickens Go Missing

8. Hard Work Continues on Italian Mainland... and Beaches
       (And the Navy Boys Find Time to Go Waterskiing!)

[Photo: NA6220. Personalities: The Commander of the Eighth Army, Lieutenant

General Sir Bernard Montgomery, watches troops as they pass through the streets

of Reggio. Photo Credit - Major Geoffrey Keating, No. 2 Army Film and

Photographic Unit, Imperial War Museum (IWM)]

9. Canadian Troops Push North; Navy Boys Sight See.

10. Allied Troops Italy, Supplied by 80th Canadian Flotilla of Landing Crafts

11. Final Days for Canadian Sailors in Italy

12. Allies Gain Ground in Italy, But...

13. Allies Advance in Italy, and Tirpitz is Hit.

14. Navy Boys on Their Way Home

Readers are encouraged to visit The Digitized Winnipeg Tribune found at the University of Manitoba and search their extensive collection of complete newspapers that span not just WW2 but several decades.

Link - The Winnipeg Tribune

For information about the invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky), please link to About Sicily, July - August 1943, (Parts 1 - 18)

Unattributed Photos GH