Back Home, Hamilton HMCS Star is Commissioned
The search continues for more details about Sholto Watt of The Montreal Star. Though I come up empty in this post (re "Did Sholto bump into my father or his flotilla of landing crafts in Italy?") another Star is born, so to speak.
When my father volunteered for RCNVR in June, 1941, he did so at Hamilton Division. While overseas the Ontario navy base grew in size and significance and underwent a name change. Hamilton Division became known as HMCS Star. As well, a training ship was commissioned by the same name at about the same time.
When sailors like my father returned to Canada in December, 1943, after two years of service completed overseas (incl. service aboard landing crafts at Dieppe, North Africa, Sicily and Italy), they made remarks about the name change and some of the new types of training that had taken place in their absence. Related details will be shared later in this post.
In Italy the battle continues to rage. Stubborn German resistance does not stymie the Allied forces completely, but the war on the peninsula has turned into a tough slog, to continue until Rome is free, mere days before the Normandy landing in the first week of June, 1944.
News from various war fronts continues to reach Canada, with gripping details about the great cost to Italian cities, all manner of troops - and war correspondents. Below we see and read about growing numbers of German troops that are surrendering:
On one or two occasions I have come across the term "Butcher's Bill", and I have learned that it means the cost of battle or WWII in terms of human life. In the short article below we read that "up to September 20 the battle of the Salerno-Naples area had cost" the Allies over 8,700 casualties. Though there is usually a number at the bottom of every bill, the cost is always higher than the number given:
And now a word from our sponsors:
Copies of photographs from microfilm leave a lot to be desired but we can still learn a bit from 'sorry photos' and their captions:
The photograph accompanying news re C.W.A.C. (Canadian Women's Army Corp) is much clearer. One can see the cap and shape of the attached badge quite well.
I have no date attached to the following photo, but I assume it was taken once by father returned to Canada in late 1943 (after his duties in Italy were completed in October). Perhaps he is enjoying a milkshake with a member of CWAC in Halifax or Hamilton:
Some news about the surrender of German troops reaches Montreal by telephone:
The Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps has a history connected to World War II and the Canadians who served in Combined Operations. To this day Sea Cadets train on Vancouver Island, e.g., at HMCS Quadra, the navy base at Comox. And that navy base was formerly HMCS Givenchy III, the home of Canada's only Combined Operations training centre from 1944 - 46. After my father finished his milkshake in the above photo, he and several mates entrained for Vancouver Island and Givenchy III, where they served until discharge in Sept. 1945.
An editorial cartoon with an oriental flavour:
What's Buzzin' Cousin? : )
It was no easy job to accompany Allied troops during WWII...
I take an interest in the following story not only because my father was in the Canadian Navy, as was the lone survivor of the sinking of the St. Croix (stoker W. A. Fisher of Alberta), but also because my father met Bill Fisher while at HMCS Givenchy III and mentioned him in his memoirs. Details to follow:
This post concludes with some details concerning the St. Croix and new navy barracks (and a training ship), HMCS Star in Hamilton:
Though all roads seem to lead to Rome, they are long, winding, and filled with danger.
More to follow, including more news from Sholto Watt and information about why his news from Reggio and other locations was delayed.
Please link to Editor's Research: Invasion of Italy (16) - Montreal Star (Sept. 28-29, '43)
Unattributed Photos GH
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