Short Story re Sicily, "Four Canadian Flotillas, 1943"

1943: Detour Around Africa En Route to Sicily and Italy

"On board HMS Keren, Orient Line, of the Fast Convoy"

"On board S.S. Silver Walnut, around Africa to Port Said"

The Expedition of 1943 by David J. Lewis, 
RCNVR, Combined Operations

Canada had four flotillas active during this year. The 55th in the S.S. Otranto and the 61st in S.S. Strathaver in LCAs (Landing Craft Assault). The 80th and 81st were LCMs (Landing Craft Mechanized) - the 80th were born in Mr. Higgins' Diesel Powered Mark IIIs and the 81st in the old British Mark I Petrol LCMs.

Sailing from the Clyde these flotillas all made the trip down and 'round the Cape of Good Hope. There was still little hope for a successful west-east passage through Bomb Alley between Sicily and Tunisia though the situation was to change radically in the course of the year.

Gathering occurred in Port Said and again in the summer capital of Egypt, the Harbour of Alexandria. A huge convoy set off to the west and later altered course northwards to land on the eastern and southern coast of Sicily. The initial attack by water was effected without difficulties. However, airborne attack was seriously defective, costly, and wasteful of life.

What was notable was the careful preparation of maps issued at the Coxswain level with three dimensional views. In summer, in light conditions in the Mediterranean, the attainment of accurate landing was possible.

Above photo/attribution as in St. Nazaire to Singapore, Vol. 1, pg. 178

The unloading process was commenced with Canadian LCAs and LCMs. The latter would go on for a month in comparison with the quick in and out of the assault craft and their landing ship carriers. Bombing, however, was now coming from close Axis bases and with little apparent defence. Distant Allied support was rare at first. Dive bombing was tried but the anti-aircraft power of the Allies seemed to force the attacking planes to higher and less accurate levels for bombing, but a lot of shipping was still lost.

Remarkable skill and initiative developed amongst the landing crews who began their marine stevedoring job in July and were not withdrawn until well into August. There was a week of refitting, embittered by strikes of the Maltese dockyard workers and little relief from biological pests.

The LCM Flotillas divided. The 80th landed on the mainland and opened a ferry service from Messina on Sicily to Reggio di Calabria. After a month of severe campaigning they returned via Algiers to the UK.

For their part the 81st, after a period in Malta, left aboard the two aircraft carriers, HMS Formidable and HMS Illustrious to return to the UK via Gibraltar and subsequently to overseas leave in Canada.

The year's achievement can be divided into parts:

     Getting around Africa
     Mustering in Egypt
     The conquest of Sicily
     The invasion of mainland Italy, Italian capitulation
     The extension of the Beachhead up the Italian boot

As mainland ports became available, the job of Combined Operations craft was done for the moment. Crews were given leave and prepared for another major reshuffle.

Above photo as in St. Nazaire to Singapore, Vol. 1, pg. 175

Photo Credit - DJL., David J. Lewis

This short story is found on page 142 of St. Nazaire to Singapore: The Canadian Amphibious War, 1941 - 1945, Volume 1.

As well, please link to Short Story re Sicily, "An Officer's Reminiscences"

Unattributed Photos by GH