An Illustrious List, Vital for Research.
Remember Their Names
Photo - The Montreal Star (microfiche at University of Western Ontario, London)
Introduction:
The following post appeared on this site a couple of years ago and since that time I have become more familiar with the efforts made by several of the writers listed below, especially those who wrote about their observations of, and experiences with, Canadians in Combined Operations who handled landing crafts during Operation Husky (Sicily, beginning July 10, 1943) and Operation Baytown (Italy, beginning September 3, 1943).
Sholto Watt, Ross Munro and Richard (Dick) Sanburn are three I am most familiar with, and many of their articles will appear under the 'click on Headings' section in right hand margin related such sub-sections as 'articles re Combined Operations' and 'Editor's research'.
Readers who search for news reports or books (written during and after the war) by some of the war correspondents listed below will be amply rewarded.
. . . . . .
The photograph above appeared in The Montreal Star on Monday, July 5, 1943, just a few days before Operation HUSKY commenced, i.e., the Allied invasion of Sicily. It depicts Canadian war correspondents living out-of-doors, perhaps as they accompany Canadian troops during manoeuvres or prepare to find an assigned troop ship, very likely in or near Algiers, North Africa.
The caption above the photo ('Sampler: No Savoy Suites Available Now!') is interesting, in my opinion, because many of the Canadians in Combined Operations - who participated gallantly in the task of transporting troops and all material of war ashore on landing craft during the upcoming invasion - lived in caves near Avola for 3 - 4 weeks and called their accommodation 'The Savoy'.
A caption accompanying the above photo in the Star reads as follows:
London's Savoy is headquarters for the foreign press corps in the United Kingdom. But for Canadian reporters assigned to accompany invasion forces, days of hotel service may be just about over. Digging into his kit for a toothbrush - or a morning seltzer - in the centre of the picture is Sholto Watt, The Star's war correspondent, during extensive manoeuvres with Gen. McNaughton's men.
At left, in stocking hat, is Ross Munro. Still abed, right foreground, is a sleepy fourth-estater identified as Francis H. Fisher, formerly of Montreal, now head of British United Press in Britain. Seated, right rear, are Fred Griffin, Toronto Star; Capt. Kim Beattie, and Bill Stewart, of the Canadian Press.
At left, in stocking hat, is Ross Munro. Still abed, right foreground, is a sleepy fourth-estater identified as Francis H. Fisher, formerly of Montreal, now head of British United Press in Britain. Seated, right rear, are Fred Griffin, Toronto Star; Capt. Kim Beattie, and Bill Stewart, of the Canadian Press.
For those who are attempting to locate more information about Canadians in Combined Ops or other details about the role of Canadians during WW2, I would recommend they remember the names of the Canadian war correspondents and try to locate their news releases. Many newspapers of the era are still available today, often as microfiche, and can be found in libraries, archives, universities, etc.
(Editor: For example, the above photo was found in microfiche copies of The Star in my home city, London, Ontario. I became interested in that newspaper after reading, in a Canadian veteran's memoirs, that someone from The Montreal Star accompanied him on a landing craft from Sicily to Italy in 1943. (As of the date of this post I have not resolved the mystery, though I have more leads).
The following story, which features the names of many correspondents linked to Canadian WW2 stories, appeared in The Toronto Globe and Mail on July 15, 1943:
Photo is of a PDF file displayed on a computer screen. GH
Algiers, July 14 (CP). - Seventeen war correspondents accredited to the Canadian forces are reporting the invasion of Sicily for the Canadian people. Four of them accompanied the original assault force. The rest came to North Africa with reinforcements which arrived just as the invasion started.
The four at the front are Ross Munro of the Canadian Press, Peter Stursberg of the CBC, Bill Wilson of the British United Press, and Lionel Shapiro of the Montreal Gazette. Shapiro was chosen by lot from among Canadian independent war correspondents in Britain.
Of the 13 other correspondents, one is accredited to Allied headquarters, five are accredited to air force headquarters and seven others are awaiting their chance to move up toward the front. All but two are from Canada. Bill Stewart of Riviere-du-Loup, Que., is at Allied headquarters for the Canadian Press.
Others on the Scene
Accredited to air force headquarters are Andrew Cowan of the CBC, formerly of Calgary; Bob Vermillion, recently attached to the B.U.P. by the United Press of America; Ralph Allen of the Toronto Globe and Mail; J.A.M. Cook of Sifton newspapers, and Louis V. Hunter, Canadian Press.
Maurice Desjardins of Montreal, fourth Canadian Press man in the area, covers French-language newspapers on events of special interest to them.
The other Canadian war correspondents on the scene are Jim Chambers, recently attached to the B.U.P. of Canada by B.U.P. of Britain; Sholto Watt, Montreal Star; Fred Griffin, Toronto Star; Major Bert Wemp, Toronto Telegram; Dick Sanburn, Southam newspapers, and Wallace Reyburn, Montreal Standard.
Technicians Assist.
The CBC has two technicians assisting Cowan - Alex McDonald of Kingston, Ont., and Paul Johnston of Edmonton.
A number of Canadian Army public relations officers now are in the Mediterranean theatre to assist the war correspondents in their work. Lt.-Col. C.S. Wallace of Toronto is in charge of all arrangements at this end. Major Royd Beamish, formerly of the Globe and Mail, commands No. 1 Canadian Public Relations Detachment.
After creating this post I found the same story in the July 15, 1943 edition of The Winnipeg Tribune, while searching for a related item. I add it below, as it mentions the writer, Louis V. Hunter, one of the 17 correspondent listed above. He went on to write a few articles that touch on activities of Canadians in Combined Operations. "They're around here somewhere," I say.
As well, coincidentally, I joined an online site an hour ago (!) called "Canadians in the Italian Campaign in World War II" (via Facebook) and a member posted a photograph and news story (13 hours ago) that mentions his uncle, Private Frederick Baldwin, The Royal Canadian Regiment. The news story was written by Major Bert Wemp of the Toronto Telegram, mentioned in Hunter's report.
These reports confirm that there is much to be learned by tracking down articles and books written by our correspondents.
Wemp's news report follows below as found at "Canadians in the Italian Campaign in World War II" in a post provided by Private Frederick Baldwin's nephew Rick Baldwin:
Please link to War Correspondents: Alan Moorehead
The CBC has two technicians assisting Cowan - Alex McDonald of Kingston, Ont., and Paul Johnston of Edmonton.
A number of Canadian Army public relations officers now are in the Mediterranean theatre to assist the war correspondents in their work. Lt.-Col. C.S. Wallace of Toronto is in charge of all arrangements at this end. Major Royd Beamish, formerly of the Globe and Mail, commands No. 1 Canadian Public Relations Detachment.
After creating this post I found the same story in the July 15, 1943 edition of The Winnipeg Tribune, while searching for a related item. I add it below, as it mentions the writer, Louis V. Hunter, one of the 17 correspondent listed above. He went on to write a few articles that touch on activities of Canadians in Combined Operations. "They're around here somewhere," I say.
As well, coincidentally, I joined an online site an hour ago (!) called "Canadians in the Italian Campaign in World War II" (via Facebook) and a member posted a photograph and news story (13 hours ago) that mentions his uncle, Private Frederick Baldwin, The Royal Canadian Regiment. The news story was written by Major Bert Wemp of the Toronto Telegram, mentioned in Hunter's report.
These reports confirm that there is much to be learned by tracking down articles and books written by our correspondents.
Wemp's news report follows below as found at "Canadians in the Italian Campaign in World War II" in a post provided by Private Frederick Baldwin's nephew Rick Baldwin:
FYI for research purposes, many years' worth of The Toronto Telegram can be found on microfiche at A.B. Weldon Library at the University of Western Ontario (UWO). Call UWO for hours of operation.
Unaccredited Photos GH
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