Photographs: Invasion of Sicily, July and August, 1943 (3)

The Allied Forces in Sicily are Full of Muscle and Might

Charles J. Dawson, British Photographer is One to Watch

"Highly mobile! Made in Canada!" A Canadian-built Sexton 25-pounder

self-propelled gun negotiates a hairpin bend on a mountain road near Mondaino

during the advance through the Gothic Line, Italy, 6 September 1944.

Imperial War Museum, NA 18392 @ Canadians in Italian Campaign

Introduction:

While sharing news clippings from The (Montreal) Gazette in several earlier entries, e.g., Research: Three Months in the Mediterranean, 1943 (Part 25), I at times made liberal use of excellent photographs from the Imperial War Museum (IWM, U.K.), Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and several other sources. Many photos from Sicily and Italy (1943 - 1944), like the one above, can be found at a website entitled Canadians in the Italian Campaign, 1943 - 1945 created by Harold A. Skaarup. Please visit his extensive site.

The top photo is one I found on Mr. Skaarup's site. I used it in an earlier entry and at the time I did I also grew curious about the photographer (listed back at its original source, i.e., IWM), Charles James Dawson, from the No. 2 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit. As some readers may already know, when the original source is the IWM then a full body of extensive work during WWII of many photographers, including Mr. Dawson, can easily be traced.

Below, readers while find two dozen photographs taken by Charles Dawson related to the time my father (Doug Harrison, Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and Combined Operations, 1941 - 1945) was travelling toward Sicily and the launch of Operation HUSKY (beginning July 10, 1943), and then transporting all materials of war via landing crafts to GEORGE Sector at Fontane Bianche, on the east coast of the island for the first of his three months of service (to Monty's Eighth and the Canadian Army) in the Mediterranean.  

GEORGE Sector is between Syracuse and Avola, Sicily. The 80th and 81st

Canadian Flotillas of Landing Craft toiled faithfully, and Monty took note : )

The 24 photos barely scratch the surface of Dawson's own work/service (I took note!) but links will be provided for interested readers to find more. (And 'happy hunting,' I say).

Questions and comments can be addressed to gordh7700@gmail.com

"ON BOARD AN AFRICAN BOUND SHIP IN CONVOY"

I chose to share a few photos from under the above heading because Canadians in Combined Ops sailed in a convoy to the shores of North Africa (re Operation TORCH) in early November, 1942. He and mates initially sailed in convoy around Africa during the summer of 1943 to get to Sicily but the ship he was on (SS Silver Walnut) kept falling behind. My father's experiences may have been similar in some ways to those depicted in the following few shots re another convoy. Click here to see the first two photos in situ, i.e., amongst the first 30 photos out of a total of 1068 taken by C. Dawson at various locations during WWII.

Food for the voyage. Sacks of potatoes being hoisted to a store

above the galley. Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum (IWM)

These details are found on the back of NA 3419. Note the date, i.e., photo

snapped sometime between May 20th and June 5th, 1943. Was the convoy or its

supplies related to Operation HUSKY (invasion of Sicily, July 1943)? IWM

Third Officer S. Sutherland, of the Shetlands, who is responsible for the care

and maintenance of the life-boats and other life-saving appliances, packing

emergency rations into life-boats. IWM

Phew ... that's a bit cooler! Fireman A. Walter of Surbiton comes

on deck for a cooler. IWM

NA 3469: Merchant seamens' sleeping quarters. Top Bunk: George Harrison

of Jarrow, Co. Durham and  lower bunk: Joe Appleby of North Shields. IWM

Photos from "THE CAMPAIGN IN SICILY 1943"

Planning and Preparations January - July 1943: View of the dockside of

Sousse Harbour, Tunisia. Landing craft are loaded with vehicles and equipped in 

preparation for the invasion. Photo from June 29, 1943 (HUSKY 11 days hence) 

Photos from "SICILIAN INVASION PREPARATIONS July 6 1943"

A tricky business outside the harbour men, transfer from the L.C.I. (landing

craft infantry) to the ship. It looks easy, but try it when there is a 'swell' on. IWM

Photos from "INVASION OF SICILY"

A group of Italian prisoners on one of the beaches. July 21, 1943. IWM

Original wartime caption: Young prisoners of the German Air Force wait on

the beach for removal to a ship. July 21 1943. IWM

NA 4470. American troops passing through Avola with a captured pony

and cart towing an Italian gun. IWM

NA 4472. July 12/13, 1942, Avola. British soldiers driving through Avola

in an Italian vehicle which they have captured. IWM

Italians wounded walking in a dock area of Syracuse. 

Photo by Sgt. Dawson, July 13, 1943

British troops passing bombed buildings as they march away from the dock.

(I assume "from the dock" in Syracuse) July 12/13, 1943 IWM

Abandoned enemy vehicles are to be seen at short intervals along the Sicilian

roads. Roughly half of them have suffered at the hand of Allied bombers and

fighters. The rest were destroyed by the enemy when they found that their

vehicles could not keep up the pace of their retreating comrades. Picture

shows an Italian mobile ANSALDO 90/55 gun, Model 51. Built 1942 on a

Breda chassis, near S. Michele, 10 mi. NW of Caltagirone.

Photo from "THE BRITISH ARMY IN SICILY"

Yugoslav Pioneer Troops are clearing away bomb debris from civilian buildings

in the town of Caltagirone. These Yugoslav men were captured in the Balkans and

sent to Sicily as forced labour on fortifications. When they refused to work for the

Italians they were placed into a concentration camp from which they were liberated

by the Canadians. They are now applying to the British authorities to be taken into

the Allied forces. July 20/21, 1943. IWM

Photos from "GEN. MONTGOMERY G.O.C. BRITISH TROOPS IN SICILY VISiTS 1ST CANADIAN ARMY TANK BRIGADE"

General Montgomery meets Canadian officers. July 25, 1943. IWM

Standing in his car General Montgomery addresses officers and men of the

11th Canadian Tank Regiment (Ontario Regiment). July 25, 1943. IWM

General Montgomery visiting forward positions of most advanced troops

and meeting officers holding these positions, 23 July 1943.  Library and

Archives Photo, MIKAN No. 3225683. Found at aforementioned source.

Photo from "BRITISH TROOPS ENTER ADRANO"

Troops of the 5th Northamptons entering the town.

August 7, 1943. IWM

Photo from "BRITISH NIGHT BARRAGE OUTSIDE MALETTO"

Effective night shots of British Medium guns of the 212 Coy 64th Regiment,

R.A. of 78th Division in action against the retreating enemy - the target being the

outskirts of Maletto, N. of Bronte, Sicily. August 11, 1943. IWM

Photos from "BRITISH AND AMERICAN TROOPS MEET AT RANDAZZO"

British R.E.s prodding for, and clearing, mines on the road to Randazzo.

August 12, 1943. IWM

An A.F.P.U. sergeant (Army Film and Photo Unit - Sgt. Dawson!?)

receives a glass of wine, and plenty of smiles, from the civilians of

Randazzo. Aug. 12, 1943. IWM

Cheers, I say!

Another entry related to photographs taken during the Allied invasion of Sicily (beginning July 10, 1943) will soon follow.

Please click here to view Photographs: Invasion of Sicily, July 1943 (2)

Unattributed Photos GH