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Sicily
- July, 1943
The assault on Sicily was to be the prelude to the invasion of mainland
Europe. The invasion was assigned to the Seventh U.S. Army under Lieut.-General
George S. Patton, and the Eighth British Army under General Sir Bernard L.
Montgomery. The Canadians were to be part of the British Army. |
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1st
Canadian Infantry Division on the road during advance on Ispica,
Sicily |
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The 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade,
under the command of Major-General G. G. Simonds, sailed from Great Britain in
late June 1943. En route, 58 Canadians were drowned when enemy submarines sank
three ships of the assault convoy, and 500 vehicles and a number of guns were
lost. Nevertheless, the Canadians arrived late in the night of July 9 to join
the invasion armada of nearly 3,000 Allied ships and landing craft.
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Assault:
July 10, 1943
Just after dawn on July 10, the assault (preceded by airborne landings) went
in. Canadian troops went ashore near Pachino close to the southern tip of Sicily
and formed the left flank of the five British landings that spread over 60
kilometres of shoreline. Three more beachheads were established by the Americans
over another 60 kilometres of the Sicilian coast. In taking Sicily, the Allies
aimed, as well, to trap the German and Italian armies and prevent their retreat
across the Strait of Messina into Italy.
From the Pachino beaches, where resistance from Italian coastal troops was
light, the Canadians pushed forward through choking dust, over tortuous
mine-filled roads. At first all went well, but resistance stiffened as the
Canadians were engaged increasingly by determined German troops who fought tough
delaying actions from the vantage points of towering villages and almost
impregnable hill positions. On July 15, just outside the village of Grammichele,
Canadian troops came under fire from Germans of the Hermann Goering Division.
The village was taken by the men and tanks of the 1st Infantry Brigade and Three
Rivers Regiment.
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A soldier
examines a captured German 28mm sPzB 41 anti-tank gun. July 21, 1943 (Imperial
War Museum) |
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Battles:
Assoro to Agira
Piazza Armerina and Valguarnera fell on successive days, after which the
Canadians were directed against the hill towns of Leonforte and Assoro. Despite
the defensive advantages which mountainous terrain gave to the Germans, after
bitter fighting both places fell to the Canadian assault. Even stiffer fighting
was required as the Germans made a determined stand on the route to Agira. Three
successive attacks were beaten back before a fresh brigade, with overwhelming
artillery and air support, succeeded in dislodging the enemy. On July 28, after
five days of hard fighting at heavy cost, Agira was taken.
Meanwhile, the Americans were clearing the western part of the island and the
British were pressing up the east coast toward Catania. These operations pushed
the Germans into a small area around the base of Mount Etna where Catenanuova
and Regalbuto were captured by the Canadians.
The final Canadian task was to break through the main enemy position and
capture Adrano. Here, they continued to face not only enemy troops, but also the
physical barriers of a rugged, almost trackless country. Mortars, guns,
ammunition, and other supplies had to be transported by mule trains. Undaunted,
the Canadians advanced steadily against the enemy positions, fighting literally
from mountain rock to mountain rock.
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Private
P.T. Leachman with donkey mascot of the Saskatoon Light Infantry, Sicily, 1943 |
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End
of the Campaign: August 1943
With the approaches to Adrano cleared, the way was prepared for the closing
of the Sicilian campaign. The Canadians did not take part in this final phase,
however, as they were withdrawn into reserve on August 7. Eleven days later,
British and American troops entered Messina. Sicily had been conquered in 38
days.
The Sicilian campaign was a success. Although many enemy troops had managed
to retreat across the strait into Italy, the operation had secured a necessary
air base from which to support the liberation of mainland Italy. It also freed
the Mediterranean sea lanes and contributed to the downfall of Mussolini, thus
allowing a war-wearied Italy to sue for peace.
The Canadians had acquitted themselves well in their first campaign. They had
fought through 240 kilometres of mountainous country - farther than any other
formation in the Eighth British Army. During their final two weeks, they had
borne a large share of the fighting on the Allied front. Canadian casualties
throughout the fighting totaled 562 killed, 664 wounded and 84 prisoners of
war.
The invasion of the Italian mainland was to be next great operation.
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