Video: Exercise Pirate - Rehearsal for Invasion

Rehearsal for Invasion with Landing Craft Flotillas

Troops coming ashore from Landing ships, during Operation Fabius, an invasion

exercise in Britain, 5 May 1944. Photo credit - The Observation Post

Introduction: One can find a wealth of excellent quality documentaries (approx. 10 min. length, free for the viewing) at Histomil Historica (along with very good quality photographs) that were produced as Canadian Army Newsreels by the Canadian Army Film Unit at Merton Park Studios (South Wimbledon, London).

Though the film unit's chief subject is the Canadian Army, other branches of the Canadian Armed Forces are seen participating in various aspects of World War II. I will provide links to just a few of the films produced at Merton Park, ones which draw some attention to Canadians in Combined Operations and their work on landing crafts of various kinds in different parts of the war theatre.

This film shows a short, rare and informative clip of Canadians on landing crafts during the Messina crossing to Italy, Sept. 3, 1943 and more.

Link to Canadian Army Newsreel No. 19 - Exercise Pirate - Rehearsal for Invasion

Synopsis, in part:

Exercise Pirate - A rehearsal for invasion. Men load tanks onboard landing craft. Sequence on landing craft flotilla at sea, approaching beach; men landing.

Italian Interlude - Divisional sports meet in Potenza, Italy. 880 yard dash is completed by D.R. Cameron and L.W. Brook; Artillery and Canadian Infantry Brigade in tug-of-war; obstacle race; Peter Stursberg is shown speaking into a microphone. Army vehicles have trouble with deep mud during heavy rains. At a supply dump, men of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps handle cans of gasoline and other supplies. 

More Canadian Army Newsreels at Histomil Historica

Please link to Video: CWACs, Seaforth Highlanders, Messina Crossing, 1943