Research: Three Months in the Mediterranean, 1943 (1)

Allied Progress in the Mediterranean as Printed 80 Yrs Ago (from 2023)

And the Hunt for a Montreal War Correspondent is Renewed!

Italy is hitched to a ruthless war wagon and Sicily will pay

Introduction:

In 2023 we will be reminded in more than a few ways that a significant anniversary is at hand. Sicily was invaded by Allied forces beginning in July 10, 1943, and mainland Italy was invaded about two months later beginning on September 3, exactly 80 years earlier than those same dates this year. Will there be ceremonies, services, memories and memoirs shared, reminders of the brutality of war and its inevitable and long-lasting costs?

I'm sure there will be. Hymns will be sung, stories told, Butchers' Bills in today's dollars will be tabulated, the loss of young men and women who died under their country's flag will be mourned.

I will visit Sicily in August, near the middle of the two most significant dates, i.e., the D-Days for Operation Husky and Operation Baytown, come home with a zillion photos, the odd new story or two (you'll hear them here first!), and perhaps a deeper understanding about my father's experiences in 'the Med' as a member of RCNVR and Combined Operations when he was a 23-year old.

Gordon 'Doug' Harrison turned 23 on Sept. 6, 1943, three days after the initial invasion of Italy on the toe of the boot, at Reggio, and celebrated aboard a landing craft mechanised (LCM) as it crossed the Strait of Messina loaded down with Canadian soldiers and the material of war. "12 hours on, 12 hours off" was his schedule for most of that month.

With the Invasion Fleet: Troops Manning their Assault Landing Craft before

the Landings in Sicily, Dawn, July 10th 1943. "The deck of a ship at night. A line

of fully kitted out troops prepare to board a landing craft, each soldier with his right

hand on the shoulder of the man in front to help guide each other in the dark."

Imperial War Museum, ART LD 3452 by Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving

Over the next few weeks I will be searching The Montreal Gazette - as found on microfilm at University of Western Ontario - for news stories from the Med as published between July 1 and September 30, 1943, about the length of time my father and approx. 400 - 500 other Canadian sailors were serving there. (How many exactly were in RCNVR and Combined Operations, like my father and mates? I do not know).

I will surely find 100s and 100s of individual clippings by various war correspondents, many of them from Canada, along with old photographs, editorials, cartoons, movie posters and ads (etc.) to provide details and context re WWII and hopefully inform the reader of various roles filled by Canadians on various war fronts, whether on land or sea or in the air.

That being said, I will particularly be watching for an article or two by one certain writer from the Montreal newspaper because a young sailor in the 80th Flotilla of Canadian Landing Crafts said in memoirs that he delivered a reporter to Italy in his landing craft. That particular sentence - please see below - launched me on a lengthy research task many months ago re The Montreal Star, including a particular war correspondent, Sholto Watt. "Could he be the guy?" I wondered at the time. 

My conclusion at the end of a lengthy search was, "It must have been someone else. Maybe the sailor got the name of the paper wrong."

 Please click here for more details.

Details that led me on quite the adventure, as found in

Combined Operations by Londoner Clayton Marks.

Maybe the sailor meant from "The Montreal Gazette." Or maybe he meant from "The Montreal Standard" or "The Toronto Star," even "The Windsor Star." Maybe I'll be searching microfiche files for years to come!

Follow along if you will to "Three Months in the Mediterranean, 1943." Questions and comments can be addressed to me at gordh7700@gmail.com

Churchill is careful not to spill the beans, or, the invasion date:

The ferry between Messina and, e.g., Reggio (toe of Italy's boot) became a target for some time, perhaps to strand German troops on the island of Sicily. I hope it is back in action because I will want to follow my father's faint footsteps this coming summer.

The editorial cartoon from July 1, 1943:

Many hundreds of members of RCNVR served in the Mediterranean but a relatively small number or percentage were in charge of landing crafts. Stories about the duties they fulfilled are rare enough, and stories related to a father and son at the same time - in any capacity - are rarer still, especially those written by a member of the family:

Canadian war correspondents play an important part in my search for more information about Canadians in Combined Operations - "Hey, is my Dad mentioned in any stories?" - as well as Canadian servicemen and women no matter what uniform they are wearing. In the past many of those writers mentioned below have been featured in some way on this site, and a few mentioned, in fine detail, the exploits and responsibilities of the sailors who manned landing crafts in the early hours of D-Day Sicily (July 10) and D-Day Italy (Sept. 3, 1943) and also for several weeks after troops were initially landed to secure beachheads. 

I have wondered for a few years if I can find the writer mentioned early who travelled aboard a Canadian landing craft to Reggio. Careful readers, who have spotted some of the stories I have shared by Ross Munro, may already be thinking I need look no farther. Yes, I have wondered about Mr. Munro because he seemed destined to scoop every other Canadian war correspondent about the first landings by Canadian troops wherever they landed, from Dieppe to Reggio. But, to my mind, I don't think I've read a story where he mentions landing in Sicily or Italy with a Canadian landing craft crew. Surely I would have remembered or featured it already!

So, I'll keep looking. If I have no luck with The Montreal Gazette then I will move on to The Montreal Standard... and so on until I feel I've turned over every stone. PS - if you do find a Munro article re his ride to Reggio, please let me know!

Did you know that Midland, Ontario, played an important role - associated with the Royal Navy - during WWII?

More information about the 'Isles-class Trawlers' (aka island class) can be found at Wikipedia. Under the heading 'Builders' one will find Midland Shipyards, of Midland, Ontario, Canada. 

 H.M.T. (aka H.M.S) Ailsa Craig. Underway, coastal waters. Pennant No T377. 

Photo Credit - IWM FL 292 at Imperial War Museum

More about Naval Trawlers can also be found at another page on Wikipedia, and I recommend it here because some very good artwork is included in the accompanying 'Gallery'. By clicking the art pieces one will discover their connection to the Imperial War Museum. They are very informative and high quality pieces. I chose to share the following charcoal drawing because my Grandfather Harrison was a stoker with the Royal Navy. And because he was good with a shovel, he later became a grave digger in my hometown, Norwich, Ontario:

The Stokehold, HM Trawler Mackenzie. "In a cramped enclosed space

of metal plating and machinery, a stoker is bent over shovelling coal from

a bunker into a boiler." Imperial War Museum, IWM ART 903

Out of the stokehold and back to stories (etc.) from Sicily:

Do the words below - "Prelude To Invasion" - give the game away? Were the Allies pointing to Sicily, or some part of it, as their landing place in an upcoming invasion? 

Though the island would certainly be among the possible or likely spots in the Mediterranean the Allies would wish to exploit, plans were already afoot to tease German and Italian leaders into believing (though an invasion seemed imminent) that it would not be on Sicily's shores.

"Attack Sicily en masse? Oh no, not us!" said the Allies. More details after the U.S.'s smashing prelude.

Allied forces advance with the greatest armada in history (up to that time)  

"A view from the bridge of HMS Alynbank of the huge Allied convoy on their

way to Sicily." Photo Credit - Lt. E. E. Allen, RN Photogr. © IWM A 17904 

The news article continues with a brief description of a 'combined operation' (i.e., "a delicate coordination of land, sea, and air forces" that includes "a fierce concentration of air bombing and sea bombardment" - parts of which were absent during the Dieppe raid - and "the technique of bombing invasion points into complete submission", etc.)

In the above article we read of the bombing of Pantelleria (a small, separate island south of Sicily) and Palermo (on north-west coast of Sicily). A video shared in an earlier post can provide some information about both of those locations:

Title - Campaign in Sicily, a U.S. Army production on YouTube via PublicResourceOrg

Time - 19min:54sec.

Storyline by Editor - good narration and filming from American POV; bombing and take over of the island of Pantelleria in June, 1943; ships assembling in Alexandria in July, prior to invasion of Sicily; 3,000 ships embark; then we see US landings, goals and progress, e.g., from Palermo to Messina; many views as well of British 8th and landing craft so there is some value and balance to the video.

 More WWII videos re the invasion of Sicily can be found here - Videos: Operation HUSKY, Sicily, July 1943 (Part 1)

And about the Allied ploy to tease Axis defenders to look elsewhere ("Attack Sicily? You must be kidding"). It is ably described in the book below (Very good reading by the way):

A movie has been made based on this true story by Ben McIntyre. Details here.

Questions or comments can be addressed to me at gordh7700@gmail.com

After reading many articles about the amount of shipping destroyed by German U-boats, this one confirms that "times have changed":

I would suspect that "ALLIED BOMBS" had a good deal to do with the capitulation Italy during the summer of 1943:

An author touches on what a future invasion of Europe might entail. He may be correct about his assumptions re the Dieppe raid...

Food for thought? If the USA is worried about the bombing of American cities, one thing they could do is turn all the lights out! German submarines (for a time) had many happy days sinking supply ships along America's eastern seaboard at night because the cities were so well lit.

More news clippings from The Montreal Gazette will soon follow. My walking trips to the University of Western Ontario have been good exercise in the month of February (so far) and I already have 1,000+ clippings to share. some touching on Canadians in Combined Operations, others by a particular war correspondent that has caught my eye. The one who accompanied Canadians in the 80th Flotilla of Landing crafts during Operation Baytown? It's definitely a possibility. (More details to follow re L. Shapiro!)

Please click here to view an item by Doug Harrison related to the invasion of Sicily -
Passages: Canadians in Combined Ops - Sicily

Unattributed Photos GH

Correspondence: "My Grandad Served on the Reina Del Pacifico" (2)

"I Was Involved in Four Invasions; Norway, North Africa, Sicily and Italy."

A very healthy-sized tot of rum (excellent idea, in my opinion. Be right back)!

Photo with permission of Mark Pountney, with his Grandad. Cheers!

Introduction:

A number of years ago (I'm embarrassed to say how many) I was informed via email from Mark Pountney of England that his Grandad Herbert Jones ("a bosun and quartermaster" during WWII) had been on the liner Reina Del Pacifico off the shores of North Africa, at the very same time my father Doug Harrison was in the very same area. 

Even better. Reina Del ('Queen of the Pacific', converted from ocean-going liner to troopship) was carrying U.S. soldiers for the first time, and my father (RCNVR/Combined Operations) was charged with carrying those troops to shore, with many of their supplies, on board Landing Craft, Assault (LCAs) and Landing Craft, Mechanised (LCMs) morning, noon and night for several days on end without a break.

American troops manning their landing craft assault (LCA) from a doorway

in the side of the liner Reina Del Pacifico. (D. Harrison, second from left).

 Photo Credit - RN Lt. F. A. Hudson. Imperial War Museum (A12647, IWM)

Would the two men have met?*

As I said in an earlier post re our correspondence, the odds "are not impossibly thin" because my father was able to go aboard the Reina Del for rest, recuperation and "a big tot of rum" after four days of work aboard landing crafts during Operation TORCH, November 1942. The odds get thicker when I consider that Mr. Jones and Mr. Harrison served in Sicily and Italy at the same time as well - for lengthy durations - from July - September (Operations HUSKY, BAYTOWN, and AVALANCHE), the year after the invasion of North Africa by Allied forces. 

Mark Pountney reinvigorated our correspondence on Remembrance Day, 2022: 

From: Mark
Sent: 11 November 2022
To: Gord
Subject: RE: Reina Del Pacifico

Hi Gord,

How are you? It’s been a long time. I was just checking your site again, I’m so glad you’ve kept it up to date with more articles. 

There are some more images of the Reina Del  although I’m sure you have seen them.

HMS Reina Del Pacifico ("Underway"), w landing crafts hanging from davits.

Photo by J. Hall, Gourock, Scotland. Imperial War Museum (IWM) FL18191

I’ve been listening to the audio clips, lots of references to my local area, Liverpool, Birkenhead, Wallasey.

I’ll see if I can find any more info relating to my Grandad’s service.

Best wishes

Had I seen the photo Mark was referring to? I checked the link to IWM, found I had not seen the photo (!), saw an opportunity to also use a link to its photographer... and more. Good score, in my opinion!

According to my records, I wrote back in under six years:

Hi Mark, I am glad you got back in touch. Your email, linked to our first notes from several years ago, is an example of 'great timing!'

For Remembrance Day, I just happened to be putting two short entries together re Operation Torch, invasion of N. Africa, in which a few ships are mentioned - including the Reina Del, Derwentdale and a sister ship. Your email included good photos of Reina Del, so I was able to quickly add one to the second entry. I then remembered that the photographer's name acts as a live link to his collection of photos at IWM, so I clicked on his name - J. Hall - and it quickly led me to his photo of RFA Derwentdale, my father's ride to N. Africa... so I added it as well.

RFA Derwentdale, "At Anchor", by J. Hall, Gourock. IWM, FL11110

I wish you 'happy hunting' as you listen to audio clips. If you hear something re sailors visiting The Crown Pub in Wallasey, let me know. If The Crown still stands, I'd be tempted to get in touch with the owners! Even pop over for a pint.

I've had some good luck re audio files in the past. I'll keep digging too. My best luck of the past year or two (though I found several relevant WWII stories on decades-old microfilm) was the time a collector of militaria (from many miles away) googled the name and service number on a dusty duffle bag he'd purchased w a pile of 'other stuff' 30+ years ago... and the name/number led to my site. It was my father's duffle bag from 1944-45, his second during WWII. Long story short, I now have it back. So, I wish you that kind of luck as you continue your searches!!

Keep well.

My father's name and number are still visible on the duffel bag.

Returned to me before Fathers' Day 2021

A painted picture of (possibly) Betty Hutton, 1940s-style

Click here to read a post re the return of the duffel bag

And related to the above emails, when following the link to J. Hall of Gourock I found excellent photos of about a dozen other ships used during WWII as well as the aforementioned rides to N. Africa.

As well, the Imperial War Museum provides helpful links under many photographs to 'related subjects'. One subject caught my eye in particular re artwork produced during WWII under the heading 'What Life Was Like In Britain During The Second World War':

'Incendiaries in a Suburb, 1941' by Henry Carr, Great Britain

Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum, IWM Art LD 1518

Notes shared with Carr's painting:

This painting depicts an incendiary air raids, with explosions in the sky and fires raging in the distance. Civilians are putting out two incendiaries in their front garden. This is a jarring image of the war's effect on suburban Britain, with street lighting replaced by fires and normal life threatened and disturbed.

But for the next five years the British had to endure the bombing of their towns and cities in the Blitz, as well as attacks from flying bombs and rockets. In all 60,595 civilians were killed and 86,182 seriously injured. Rationing of food began in January 1940 and clothes in June 1941. By 1943, virtually every household item was either in short supply and had to be queued for, or was unobtainable.

The British were the most totally mobilised of all the major belligerents and there was a great and genuine community of spirit in wartime Britain which often transcended class and other barriers. But there was also an almost universal feeling, exemplified by the popularity of the 1942 Beveridge Report, that after victory the country could not go back to pre-war social conditions.

VE Day found Britain exhausted, drab and in poor shape, but justly proud of its unique role in gaining the Allied victory.

As some readers are well aware, resources housed at the Imperial War Museum are quite possible bottomless. Photographs alone reach into the millions upon millions. Then there are the resources related to other topics that catch my interest at times, e.g., the pubs my father visited with mates during his time in Great Britain and Scotland. I have been to a few but not all, and Mark subsequently provided information and links to one I mentioned above earlier, i.e., "The Crown Pub in Wallasey".

More correspondence to follow in the somewhat near future, less than six years time.

Please link to Correspondence: "My Grandad Served on the Reina Del Pacifico" (1)

*Would the two men have met: Final thought. In my experience, people who enjoy a tot of rum, a pint or two in a cozy pub, possibly a single malt - "whisky is but beer distilled" - now and again, tend to find others who feel the same. Well, that's how it works in my neighbourhood at any rate ; )

Questions or comments re the blog/website can be addressed to gordh7700@gmail.com

Unattributed Photos GH

Videos: Operation HUSKY, Sicily, July 1943 (Part 3)

80th Anniversary of HUSKY Coming Up This Year

One Good Video Often Leads to Another

Just after dawn men of the Highland Division are up to their waists in water

unloading stores from landing craft tanks. Meanwhile beach roads are being prepared

for heavy and light traffic during dawn of the opening day of the invasion of Sicily.

Photo Credit - worldwar2today

Introduction:

While reviewing the many good videos related to Operation HUSKY on YouTube and other sites one will be led to others or think of ways of finding others.

Below is a selection of several videos 'found along the way.'

1. Title - Catania Captured - Successful Climax of Great Battle in Sicily, 1943 by British Pathé as found on YouTube

Time - 04min:15sec.

Details, if provided - Minesweepers check city streets, bombed German planes sit at an airfield, conquering British forces march into town amidst the rubble, scenes show the devastation of the battle, and some Sicilian peasants welcome the Eighth Army while others indulge in looting. As well, 8th Army clear mines in Catania OIL. Natives thrashing Linseed in Sicily. RAILWAYS. Bomb damage at Catania, Sicily, marshalling yards. RAILWAYS. Blasted tracks and rolling stock at Catania marshalling yards. Wrecked German planes in hanger. Blasted marshalling yards... 

2. Title - Fall of Catania, 1943 by British Pathé at YouTube

Time - 02min:03sec.

Details, if provided - Long shot of the town of Catania. Various shots of the troops advancing through Catania. Various shots of the engineers with mine detectors clearing stretch of street as a precaution. After that, Bren gun carrier moves through. Various shots of the Allied troops moving through streets and rubble. Some Sicilian civilians start to loot buildings that the Germans have evacuated. The British army has to restore order although nothing gets out of hand. Various shots of the allied troops moving through to the cheers of the civilians.

3. Title - Sicily Latest 1943 by British Pathé at YouTube

Time - 03min:01sec.

Details, if provided - Sicily, Italy. Various shots of the priest guns and 105 mm guns in action near Catania. Various shots of British infantry advancing along the road towards Catania. Several shots of a section of troops getting trouble from Italian snipers on the outskirts of Enna. The soldiers run through the ruins of the town and fire at their attackers. A couple of Italians surrender. Several shots of a poster with a picture of Churchill being put over the Fascist propaganda poster. Various shots of food being handed out by members of the Allied troops which have organised supplies for the refugees at small town of Floridia. Sherman tanks moving through street in Grammichele. Various shots of British troops advancing, they cross Coralunga Bridge. Various shots of Canadians and British of the 8th Army moving in column along road. Some soldiers find a stream and go for a swim. Some go in the water fully clothed and they do their laundry at the same time.

Caption: "...Every strip of usable beach was organized as a miniature port."

A view of supply and infantry landing craft on a beach near Syracuse.

Photo is found opposite page 15 in They Left the Back Door Open

Please click here to read more about the Canadian Landing Crafts and Beach Organisation used during the invasion of Sicily. 

Back to links to informative videos:

4. Title - Invasion of Sicily WWII, Operation Husky by War Documentaries at YouTube

Time - 23min:30sec.

Details, if provided - The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major campaign of World War II, in which the Allies took the island of Sicily from the Axis powers (Italy and Nazi Germany). It began with a large amphibious and airborne operation, followed by a six-week land campaign, and initiated the Italian Campaign. [Editor says, "Visit the YouTube page and not only watch the video but read the comments, from surviving family members of participants in Operation Husky. Very moving.]

5. Title - The Invasion of Sicily (1943) by Nuclear Vault at YouTube

Time - 09min:26sec.

Details, if provided - Motion Picture Films from "United News" Newsreels, compiled 1942 - 1945. An invasion fleet of over 3,000 ships forms and crosses the Mediterranean Sea. Gen. Patton receives a new battle flag. Shows the amphibious assault on Gela, Sicily. Land mines are cleared and troops advance. Shows Gen. Lucian Truscott.

6. Title - The Invasion of Sicily - Deception and Strategy by Warographics at YouTube 

Time - 16min:35sec

Details, if provided - "Talk about cooperation..."

I found the article below on microfiche on January 26, 2023 at University of Western Ontario:

As found in The Ottawa Citizen, December 23, 1943

Leading Seaman Arthur Roy Warrick, RCNVR, Hamilton appears below:

6 Canadians (RCNVR) in Combined Operations, on Vancouver Island, 1944-45

Front, L - R: Joe Watson (Simcoe), Doug Harrison (Norwich), Art Warrick 

Back, L - R: D. Westbrook (Hamilton), C. Rose (Chippawa), Joe Spencer (TO)

7. Title - "Heroes Remember Presents: The Italian Campaign - Sicily (Part 1)" by Veterans' Affairs Ca

Time - 09min:06sec.

Details, if provided - The Sicily Campaign was the first extended battle for the Canadian Army in Europe during the Second World War. Coming ashore with an Allied invasion force on July 10, 1943, the Canadians would see heavy action on this hot Mediterranean island and played a key role in defeating the strong German forces that were holding it. The “Heroes Remember Presents... the Italian Campaign” mini-documentary offers viewers a chance to hear what fighting there was like from those who know best – our Veterans. [Editor's Note - There is a Part 2 and 3 re Italy and the video should appear to viewers, with others, when visiting Part 1]

8. Title - 1943 Allied Invasion of Sicily World War II Newsreel Operation Husky (Silent) by Periscope Film

Time - 11min:00sec.

Details, if provided - Prepared for the home market, this silent WWII era Excel Newsreel was sold in Sears and other department stores for viewing by the American public. The film shows Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943, and contains some great shots of General George S. Patton in command of invasion forces. Operation Husky, was a major World War II campaign, in which the Allies took Sicily from the Axis Powers (Italy and Nazi Germany). It was a big amphibious and airborne operation, followed by a six-week land campaign and was the beginning of the Italian Campaign. Husky began on the night of 9/10 July 1943, and ended on 17 August. Strategically, Husky achieved the goals set out for it by Allied planners; the Allies drove Axis air, land and naval forces from the island and the Mediterranean sea lanes were opened for Allied merchant ships for the first time since 1941. Benito Mussolini was toppled from power in Italy and the way was opened for the invasion of Italy. Hitler "canceled a major offensive at Kursk after only a week, in part to divert forces to Italy," resulting in a reduction of German strength on the Eastern Front. The invasion of Sicily, code-named Operation Husky, began before dawn on July 10, 1943, with combined air and sea landings involving 150,000 troops, 3,000 ships and 4,000 aircraft, all directed at the southern shores of the island. This massive assault was nearly cancelled the previous day when a summer storm arose and caused serious difficulties for paratroopers dropping behind enemy lines that night. However, the storm also worked to the Allies’ advantage when Axis defenders along the Sicilian coast judged that no commander would attempt amphibious landings in such wind and rain. By the afternoon of July 10, supported by shattering naval and aerial bombardments of enemy positions, 150,000 Allied troops reached the Sicilian shores, bringing along 600 tanks. The landings progressed with Lieutenant General George S. Patton (1885-1945) commanding American ground forces and General Bernard L. Montgomery (1887-1976) leading British ground forces. Allied troops encountered light resistance to their combined operations. Hitler had been so deceived by “Mincemeat” that he had left only two German divisions in Sicily to battle Allied soldiers. Even several days into the attack he was convinced that it was a diversionary maneuver and continued to warn his officers to expect the main landings at Sardinia or Corsica. The Axis defense of Sicily was also weakened by losses the German and Italian armies had suffered in North Africa, in casualties as well as the several hundred thousand troops captured at the end of the campaign. For the next five weeks, Patton’s army moved toward the northwestern shore of Sicily, then east toward Messina, protecting the flank of Montgomery’s veteran forces as they moved up the east coast of the island. Meanwhile, jarred by the Allied invasion, the Italian fascist regime fell rapidly into disrepute, as the Allies had hoped. On July 24, 1943, Prime Minister Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) was deposed and arrested. A new provisional government was set up under Marshal Pietro Badoglio (1871-1956), who had opposed Italy’s alliance with Nazi Germany and who immediately began secret discussions with the Allies about an armistice.
On July 25, the day after Mussolini’s arrest, the first Italian troops began withdrawing from Sicily. Hitler instructed his forces to make contingency plans for withdrawal but to continue to fight fiercely against the Allied advance. As July turned to August, Patton and Montgomery and their armies battled against determined German troops dug into the mountainous Sicilian terrain. The U.S. and British soldiers pushed back the Axis forces farther and farther until most were trapped in a northeast corner of the island.

On the left are an LCT/landing craft (for) tanks, and troop and supply (cargo) ship.

On the right horizon are two LCMs, i.e., landing craft mechanised, used to carry

troops and supplies (the material of war) to the beach. My father manned LCMs,

as did scores of other members of RCNVR and Combined Operations in WWII.

Photo from St. Nazaire to Singapore: Canadian Amphibious War Vol. 1, pg. 183

9. Title - Allied Troops in Sicily 1943 by British Pathé on YouTube

Time - 06min:13sec. No Audio, but lengthy shot list follows as a guide.

Details, if provided - Sicily - MS. British officers. WS. Square with signpost Centrale Sicula. LS. British Jeep passes burnt out army truck. LS. Truck. WS. Shelling seen from a distance. WS. Countryside plumes of smoke from shelling. LS. Radio operators with headphones. WS. Troopers watching shelling. WS. Tank advancing through open country. LS. British tanks advancing through open country. LS. Truck towing artillery gun VS. Tank advancing. WS. Army Officers seated on the ground. LS. Army Officers seated and examining map board. Milestone "37 Enna (Bivio) Km 9.1." LS. Army truck up and past camera. WS. Soldiers walking past camera. LS. Soldiers with rifles over their shoulders. WS. Donkeys pulling carts loaded with goods. WS. Couple seated on a donkey cart. WS. Street with man herding goats. LS. Herd of goats making their way down a street. MS. British soldier holding a portrait of Benito Mussolini (Il Duce) he draws a line under Mussolini's neck then hitches his thumb over his shoulder. WS. Bomb damaged Railway tracks at "Dittaino" WS. Railway yard. LS. Railway truck damaged in fighting LS. Burnt out railway carriages. MS. Railway carriage pan to soldiers taking an improvised shower. WS. Pan down flow of water from tower to soldiers. MS. Group of soldiers in open air shower. MS. British Officers study a map. LS. Tank officers mount onto tank and climb in. CU Tank officer giving instruction through mouth piece. WS. Burning vehicle in open countryside. CU. Pro Nazi poster in Italian. CU. Finger pointing to Hitler's name on poster. WS. Sicilian street an army Jeep drives through shot. WS. Large crowd listening to the allied proclamation being read out in village square. MS. O/S Official reading out the proclamation. MS. Crowd listening. CU. British soldier. WS. Crowd applauding. WS. British and Italian officers as the proclamation is pinned up. LS. 1st Viscount Field Marshal Montgomery of Alamein arriving by car. Several MS's. Montgomery and High Ranking British officer studying a map. LS. Montgomery and British Officer walk back to his car. MS. Montgomery standing up in open topped car and waving as he leaves. MS. Crowd of Villagers

10. Title - Allied Occupation of Sicily Continues (1943) by British Pathé on YouTube

Time - 04min:27sec.

Details, if provided - Allied armies advance to Francofonte, prisoners are rounded up, Italian citizens gather for rations, action takes place against German paratroopers, pipers march and play, citizens cheer for and welcome invading soldiers, General Montgomery passes through, a company of infantry sets up camp on a Sicilian farm and plays with children, prisoners of war are deposited in Africa and England 

Full Description: SLATE INFORMATION: Occupation of Sicily Continues. Germans from H. Goering Regt. in Britain (prisoners). Italian prisoners in SICILY disembarking in Africa & on London Rly. Station w. Germans. Piper & Scotties in SICILY. British enter FRANCOFONTE. Monty in a Car. SOLDIER W. CHILD... Allied armies advance to Francofonte, prisoners are rounded up, Italian citizens gather for rations, action takes place against German paratroopers, pipers march and play, citizens cheer for and welcome invading soldiers, General Montgomery passes through, a company of infantry sets up camp on a Sicilian farm and plays with children, prisoners of war are deposited in Africa and England.

Please click here to view Videos: Operation HUSKY, Sicily, July 1943 (Part 2)

No doubt other good videos re the invasion of Sicily exist. Happy hunting, I say.

More details re other topics, e.g., correspondence, the Italian Campaign and D-Day will be shared as soon as possible.

Unattributed Photos GH

Videos: Operation HUSKY, Sicily, July 1943 (Part 2)

Canadians in RCNVR and Combined Operations in Sicily, 1943

YouTube Selection of WWII Videos Grows Every Year

From St. Nazaire to Singapore: Canadian Amphibious War (Vol. 1),

Page 180. Stories by Canadian RCNVR/Combined Ops veterans

Introduction:

In the previous post I shared informative videos from two significant sources, i.e., British Pathé and Associated Press (AP) related to the invasion of Sicily beginning July 10, 1943. The 80th Anniversary of that invasion takes place this year, as does the subsequent Allied invasion of Italy beginning September 3, 1943 at Reggio di Calabria, on the toe of the boot.

Visiting archival resources for videos produced in 1943 by people with 'boots on the ground' is an excellent way to inform oneself of events of the day, and as many readers already know, YouTube provides access to more historic films than one could conceivably 'shake a stick at' in one lifetime.

Below please find a number of items from the aforementioned British Pathé and AP archives and a few other sources related to Operation HUSKY, during which members of four Canadian Landing Craft Flotillas (55th, 61st, 80th and 81st) were very active on the beaches between Noto and Syracuse, (including my father at Avola)

Map - Combined Operations by Clayton Marks of London, Ontario

Please visit Short Story re Invasions of Sicily and Italy by C. Marks

Please visit any or all of the following links to informative videos:

1. Title - Forging Ahead in Sicily (1943) by British Pathé on YouTube

Time - 04min:52sec

Storyline - Editor: The early days of the invasion of Sicily beginning July 10, 1943

Shot List if available - Long shot of the sea off the coast of Sicily. The sea erupts around the allied ships during a raid by enemy aircraft. Various shots of the invading 8th Army starting to move inland from Syracuse. They march along the roadways and question an Italian soldier en route. In Rosolini, another Italian surrenders and the British troops are given wine from an old jug. Evacuees returning to town. Various shots of wrecked Italian equipment which includes Renault tank. Several shots of General Bernard Montgomery observing the advance of his army from a jeep. Convoy of equipment moving along road. Signpost 'Avola'. Several shots of the troops on bren gun carrier, some even ride on donkey carts. Soldier gives a chocolate to a woman holding a child. Various shots of the American airborne troops arriving on donkey cart in Avola. Various shots of the British, American and Canadian troops together. Airfield in North Africa with the glider fleet which played a big part in taking of Sicily. Several shots of gliders being towed until they are airborne. Various shots of support troops arriving at Syracuse with their equipment. They wade ashore from the landing craft. Larger items like Bren guns also come ashore. Various shots of a tank, Bren gun carrier and lorry sending up dust from dusty road as they advance. Various shots of activity in Syracuse the morning after the occupation. Troops and civilians in the streets. Long line of Italian prisoners walking along the road.

2. Title - Campaign in Sicily, a U.S. Army production on YouTube via PublicResourceOrg

Time - 19min:54sec.

Storyline - NA [Editor - good narration and filming from American POV; bombing and take over of the island of Pantelleria in June, 1943; ships assembling in Alexandria in July, prior to invasion of Sicily; 3,000 ships embark; then we see US landings, goals and progress, e.g., from Palermo to Messina; many views as well of British 8th and landing craft so there is some value and balance to the video.]

Shot List if available - NA [Editor - same video via Nuclear Vault also on YouTube; no storyline or shot list provided]

3. Title - Sicily... the End by British Pathé as found on YouTube

Time - 02min:47sec.

Storyline/Shot List - Various shots of the British tanks and armoured vehicles moving through Messina. Large shelter which used to be used by the Sicilians. Various shots of the wrecked harbour of Messina and the damaged oil storage tanks. Long shot across Straits of Messina towards the coast of Italy. Several shots of the American flag being hoisted outside the Municipal Building in Messina, the Royal Navy hoist their flag nearby. Various shots of General Bernard Montgomery going among his troops in Sicily - he hands out tins of cigarettes to them. Long shot across the Straits of Messina. Various shots of shore batteries and ships in the Straits opening fire on the Italian coast.

4. Title - Invasion of Sicily - First Pictures, 1943 by British Pathé as found at YouTube

Time - 08min:11sec

Storyline/Shot List - 8. Long shot of line of troopships in convoy line astern. Various shots (on one of the ships) of the officers checking the course and the men doing various things, some sewing, playing cards or cleaning guns. Several nice views of the convoy at sea. Various shots of a religious service being taken on deck of one of the ships. General Simmonds, Commander of the First Canadian Division, is among congregation. Long shot of an aircraft carrier of the convoy. Various shots of the convoy of troopships and naval craft at sea. The wind slowly starts to blow until the sea gets fairly choppy, but the ships keep going forward. Commentary says: "We recall now the words spoken over the B.B.C. by Commander Anthony Kimmins in his vivid broadcast". Kimmins' voice (natural sound) saying how terrified they were for the future of the whole operation when the storm started - totally unexpected in Mediterranean at this time of year. Luckily, weather improved and operation continued.
Sun on the horizon. Several shots of the night barrage from the naval ships. Various shots of the 8th Army making their landing at dawn. They wade waist high through the water onto the beach from the landing craft. Various shots of the troops still unloading. Landing craft head towards beaches. Various shots of the navy starting to shoot again. The enemy guns send high columns of water around ships. Column of smoke shows only casualty and shipping loss in this operation. Red Cross ship. Many landing craft streaming towards beaches - shot from coast. Shots of the troops hitting the beaches with their equipment. American, Canadian and British troops just pouring ashore. Various shots of the tanks, lorries, jeeps, Bren gun carriers, even bicycles coming ashore. Various shots of the Italian troops who have surrendered - they are loaded onto the landing craft to be taken back to troopships. They smile and wave into camera and pose with allied troops.

Photograph NA4072. Men of 2nd Seaforth Highlanders embarking onto

landing craft at Sousse en route for Sicily, 5 July 1943. Photo by Sgt. Stubbs,

No. 2 Army Film and Photographic Unit and Imperial War Museum (IWM).

Please click here to view more photographs re Operation HUSKY from the Imperial War Museum.

Back to the video links:

5. Title - Sicily - Nearing the End, 1943 by British Pathé as found on YouTube

Time - 07min:08sec.

Storyline/Shot List - 8Various shots of Spitfires taking off from Malta. Air to air shots of formation of Spitfires patrolling the skies over invasion fleet. Various shots of RAF (Royal Air Force) Squadron coming ashore in Sicily. RAF trucks and equipment arriving ashore by sea - they release a barrage balloon for protection. A good shot at Comiso airfield of a RAF Spitfire taxiing past German Stukas. Various shots of the wrecked hangars and planes at the airport. Close up shot of map of Sicily. Allied convoy anchored off Syracuse. Close up shot of a sign 'Siracusa'. General Bernard Montgomery driving through Syracuse. Several shots of Monty standing in his car to observe the distant bombing taking place at Augusta across the large bay. Various shots of the British troops on trucks and tanks moving through Francofonte, the towns people give them oranges and other gifts. On the road out of Francofonte the British troops run into some sniper fire and have to take cover and return the fire. Italians surrender waving white flag. A Scottish piper leading a line of British troops along the dry dusty road. Several shots of the large canvas water storage tanks being filled with water near the beach. Various shots of food being handed out to civilians by the allied troops. Several shots of endless line of Italian prisoners. Sequence showing German and Italian prisoners boarding a ship for England and arriving at British ports and stations. At one station they are given a bun and a sandwich. Flashback to Benito Mussolini walking past some of his troops. Flashback to Italian King Victor Emmanuel taking salute. Library sequence showing Mussolini in various uniforms and on various occasions. One shot of him with Adolf Hitler standing in open car.

6. Title - Sicily News, 1943 by British Pathé as found on YouTube

Time - 03min:29sec.

Storyline/Shot List - Various shots of General Dwight Eisenhower and Lord Gort outside the headquarters in Malta where final plans were completed for invasion of Sicily. Air to air shot of RAF (Royal Air Force) Baltimore bombers flying out towards Sicily and over mount Etna. As soon as they get over Milazzo they release their bombs. Various shots of British artillery in action firing on Catania. Newsreel cameraman is seen at work. Smoke rising over Catania. Various shots of the Canadians advancing and moving through village of Leonforte. In another village a proclamation of occupation by the British is read out to the inhabitants. General Bernard Montgomery talking with Major General Simmonds over a map. Infantry advancing through the bushes. Civilians who tried to organise themselves to fight the allies were easily rounded up and disarmed near Vizzini. Several shots of lines of prisoners being marched in, some start to run. Various shots of the allied troops moving through Militello, they are greeted by the people. Several shots of meeting between General George Patton, General Montgomery and General Lord Harold Alexander.

Caption: One of the most-bombed ports in Sicily is Messina, the city just across

the straits from the Southern tip of Italy, whose hills are seen in the background.

Photo Credit - The San Bernardino Sun, issued July 11, 1943

Please click here to view newspaper stories about Sicily from various newspapers found on microfilm, online.

Back to the video links:

7. Title - The Invasion of Sicily, 1943 by British Pathé as found on YouTube

Time - 08min:42sec.

Storyline/Shot List - Several high ranking American officers, General Eisenhower amongst them, standing, looking on. Various shots of troopships of the Allied forces in Mediterranean getting ready for invasion of Sicily. Several shots of the ships at sea. Voiceover explains roles of different armies in the invasion. Various shots of the troops, vehicles and supplies landing at Sicily - fire heard. General Patton landing in Sicily with a cigar in his mouth. More shots of the troops and equipment landing, some civilians seen waving. Various shots of the American troops, tanks, lorries and other vehicles moving through the streets of a Sicilian town. Several shots of the bomb damage in the town. Troops searching buildings for snipers. Civilians surround American troops and greet them with smiles. Surrendered Italian troops rounded at the town square. More shots of the allied troops moving through several coastal town and countryside on their way to Messina. Engineers clearing roads of mines. Several shots of the allied aircraft on airfield. Fuel supplies arrive and they are off. Several shots of the planes in the air. Long line of dead enemy soldiers lying scattered on the road. Vehicles, tanks, artillery abandoned on roads. Several shots of allied artillery in action. Troops are seen advancing through countryside.

8. Title - Near Catania Sicily 1943 - On Sleeve as Catamga 1943* by British Pathé, on YouTube

Time - 02min:54sec. No Audio, but good quality shots with shot list below to help viewers

Storyline/Shot List - Allied supply with trucks lined up on deck. WS. Supply ship dock doors lowering. WS. Trucks leaving ship pan to dockside WS. From inside supply ship as trucks drive off WS. Crew leaning over deck rail pan down to see trucks leaving. WS. Across port showing landing craft and supply ships. MS. Pontoon decking. WS. Port packed with supply ships. WS. pan across port packed with Military equipment. WS. Pan to see supplies being loaded onto ships. MS. Munitions cases. WS. British troops with supply ships and landing craft behind. WS. Ammunition cases stacked on dockside ships behind. WS. Dockside. LS. Truck leaving landing craft. LS. Jeep pulling trailers behind. MS. Truck being loaded with supplies. WS. Sicilian countryside towards Mount Etna hazy in the distance. LS. Very hazy Mount Etna.

*'Catamga' (i.e., Catania, but quickly scribbled) was likely written on a tag atop a film canister, and someone thought they should add it to the title! "Maybe that's how it's actally spelld," he thought.

9. Title - Highlights of 1943 by British Pathé 

Time - 09min:10sec

Storyline - Review of the main events of the year 1943.

Shot List if available - (a short description is provided re each month of the year) E.g., July. Several shots of the Allied fleet during invasion of Sicily - sea battle. Barges filled with troops embarking to Sicily. Montage of shots of Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini who has lost his power. August. Various shots of the formations of planes flying over sea accompanying ships convoy. Convoys are much safer when crossing the Atlantic due to severe Nazi U-boats losses. Several shots of the allied aircraft raids of occupied territories in Western Europe - including Berlin.

If readers find other detailed, informative videos related to Operation HUSKY, please let me know. I will be very happy to add suitable suggestions to the above or future entry.

GH email - <gordh7700@gmail.com>

Please click here to view Videos: Operation HUSKY, Sicily, July 1943 (Part 1)

Unattributed Photos GH