Book: Sicily - Whose Victory?

Sicily - Whose Victory? 

by Martin Blumenson

Another in a long line of Ballantine's Illustrated books

From the memoirs of Canadians in Combined Operations we learn that Operation Husky was the longest operation (beginning July 10, 1943) in which they were involved since the invasion of North Africa the previous year. E.g., my father manned landing crafts in North Africa for about 10 - 11 days but spent about 3 times as long in Sicily aboard LCMs.

Canadian soldiers landed west of Pachino. Navy boys landed British troops

south of Syracuse and near Avola and Noto

My father and scores of other Canadians were present at the initial invasion, getting troops then supplies ashore, and many lived in caves near Avola for a few weeks, taking them into August before they were sent to Malta to regroup for the upcoming invasion of Italy.

This book provides good information about Allied strategy, the Axis situation, the landings at various locations in SE Sicily, how the Allied campaign developed, Mussolini's downfall, action at the Etna line and much more, e.g., re "the slapping incident" involving Gen. George Patton.

"...His slapping of two soldiers whom he suspected of malingering almost destroyed his reputation and his future effectiveness in the war. There were actually two incidents."

Back cover details. 

There is much of great interest in this 160-page paperback (I found my copy at a used-book store in downtown London, Ont.) and, because my father was involved in the initial landings aboard Landing Craft Mechanised (LCMs), I was happy to see good details about the landings and the landing crafts involved, including new models called LCI(L)s, i.e. Landing Craft Infantry (Large).

Of course there are fatter, newer books about Operation Husky but this is a good one to include in one's collection of WW2 books.

More photos from Sicily: Whose Victory by M. Blumenson:

My father mentions seeing LCI(L)s in action, for the first time, in Sicily 

 Canadians in Combined Ops landed British troops and materials of war

near Noto and Avola, lower right side of the island

 Landings at Noto. Canadians manning landing crafts mention seeing a lot

of battered gliders, not many in one piece. Details found in the book

I was happy to locate the grand-daughter of Canadian sailor Joe Watson from Simcoe, Ontario. I sent her copies of photos in my father's possession that included Mr. Watson and she emailed me a copy of the news report below:

Joe Watson and mate Doug Harrison were part of the crew

strafed "with machine gun fire," paragraph 4.

Joe Watson says in paragraph 3 he travelled around Africa to get to Sicily, as did my father. Those who arrived early lived in tents at HMS Saunders, a British camp - depicted in the painting seen below - and training area. 

Please link to Book: The Greatest Raid of All

Unattributed Photos GH