War Diary July 1943 (All) PDF

WAR
M.F.M. 11
.0/"P & S/87 (9/42)
I .. t '
OR
Instructions regarding preparation of
War Diaries (which will be kept from first
day of mobilization, creation or embodi-
ment), are contained in F.S. Regs; Vol. I
\
Title pages will be prepared.
INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY
Original, duP,licate and triplicate to be .,
forwarded to 0. ifc 2nd Echelon for disposal.
/ SEA FO'RTH H 1 q-tU-A not required)
Place Date Hour
2 1l 43
Summary of Events and Information
- - Ar1
th,., o
S1CILY. -. tbiek by the T t
a sta,.t rorour btgmonth.
- we-ireto mttaete- -
!sland,1D the .. . ,- -o
on the Southeast . C?r_.
- --With abOtit crrer lim a mown tobe
al'lPact:_twork started on the duties- or pr r
b7' c. VOKm the. n
the w.c.o. s an<" o;R.s wili --
rnw "! told oii so s" rro.the-one!f whc,-
on eyP.ryth1ng from
lPSS eotmtrJ
another perfeet l:lajr, U!nlal 1n pilrts at s tim@ of
B1'1P"f'1ng was t!f4! of th8 w.o.s
1
N.c.o.s O.R.s 'b!1ef'.._..
t . o., L .cot. . . am n.v Tnt orrteM"s. w.c.o. s
y- n - t . m.. pcur1ng over maY,s, f;hotos and
t L?. ea we are tn-1s the -
c nlarm from ftlP. 111"e two
s" 11Xl'RCSE , flat on
,_n a half' moon shap@. tt\e
serub the laMseape. Small
, the es.
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
.,...
<;J:iE
,V!2.Jt-
on
War Diaries (which will be kept .from first
ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. VoL 1
pages will be prepared.
Place Date Hour
on '-
,. .1!.
rmeA.!m!A
( CGDt
1
<! )
3
WAR DIARY
OR
(Erase heading not required) -
M.F.M. 11
40/P & S/87 (lt/42)
Original, duplicate and triplicate to be
forwarded to 0. i / c 2nd Echelon for disposal.
I Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
J
WAR DIARY
M.F.M. 11
40/P & 6/87 (9/42)
OR
Jnstructions regarding preparation of
ment}, are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1
forwarded to 0. i/ c 2nd Echelon for disposal.
Place
do
(Erase heading not required)
Date Hour Summary of Events and Information
3 J 43 e b c g o our !p gone up mean1n "Subs r" 3 titl ;) todily1
eo 1t
1
d but nothing developed and the troops settled down each time to things directly at
baud. Subllllrines are somethint nn to most or us. nveryone settled dmm arter a
cooct mea 1 and lights out at 2300 hrs
4 J
43 The day being very clear and

ohl tor a slight sea breeze to keep
the heat d01111. Throughout the convoy. at 1000 hrs, men sat silent at their ss
tables to attend the last DIVDIE SERVICE held before Battle. In the CIRClSSIA1
H/ClPT. R.C.II. DURNFORD gave the sortiQil
1
fittingly simple and direct. This s no
ordinary Church Parade. Throughout it ran an or spiritual intensity
.lt 1830 hrs two messages were rd over the ship's blower, one was rrom LT.-GBH.
.l.G.L. JlcMUGHTON and. the other from GEtnmA.L B.L. IIDNTGOtlill{Y welcoming us into the
8TH ARMX.
do S J1l 43
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
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;'-.
l, r .,'-
5 f! E A 'P"P E: 1\1 "P
1
)t.
ID.
WAR DIARY
M.F.M. 11
40/P & 6/37 (9/42)
OR
InstructioDB regarding preparation of
Wru- Diaries (which will be kept from first
ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1
q Title pages will be prepared.
Place
do
do
do
6 J ll 43
7 J 1 43 u d on its cour2e along the NORTH AFRICAll coast. In the
arternoo , er convol't as large as ours, on the horizon ahead. We
8 J l 43
passed it r tal its was the same as ours. In tact there ara
2
1
500 s i 1 o er 1.1o1 for this task. This, when 2 yeara ago it was ona1dered
risky o e s le destroyer GIDR!LTAR to ALEXANDRIA.
Apin u BOlTS" caused a little flutter
1
but no thin& ca or it beJODd
some entbu.siastlc depth charging by the escort. 2, The last 2 loadinl practises
were held toda7 The tirst at 1430 brs. All serials titted theuelvas into their
respective crart in tull "going ashor" kit. The second took place at 2230 hra 1n
darkness a would be the actual operation, loaded with hand carts WIT sets and all
other arms. !his practise s sa. wbat slowerebut quite up to schedule.
Below decks at night the ht 1n this latitude 1s extr-ly oppress1
The men find sleeping ditt1cull and those who do not sleep on deck ke up tar laift
t!JM by sleeptnc during the attar noon.
Still tine and clear. This JIOmling at 0700 hrs the COilTOJ came 1n sight
ot CA.PB BOB, TUJUS:U.
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WAR DIARY
M.P'.M. 11
40/P & B/37 (g/42)
OR
InstructiollB regarding preparation of
Wb.r Diaries (which will be kept from first
..!:, -"', Title pages will be prepared.
Place
dos
Date Hour
8 Ju 43
con 'd
!he toregrow1d, as lava rock thrust itself up a 1,000 teet out or the
sea. Beyond itt a high promontory t111.rked the last stand of the Germns in AFRICA,
and where they surrendered uncondit10l4all.y to GBilERlL B.L. Loltking at
the bare hot sand it seemed incredible that two months before it was a raginc battle
tield, and evidence of Germny.s defeat 1n that area.
. On b09.rd the ship the final disposition was nade for tomorrow night's
Operation. Ammunition was issued out and kits packed. In 36 hours we shall have
opened the !ND FRONT.
9 J 43 . o bi < y ir. u. liv c or at least the beginning of the big da:y.
ct171 ie.. t . . o CL .c !i&emod reuarkably- t.ame. In the canteen,
he 1. o ci Jot laces
1
penciln, paper and tins ot
o t Thoro c to o-lar. . cks vera piled on the ha. tchwa7S, aall
d 1n a co vc o t ot, etc.
1 r s uc 1 .. 1t1c1 Lion nd' is cuss ion of
ship, but it \111S entirely confident. 'l'he 11
"not Just another scheme". In the aft(,jrn l ted
to starboard. The sight of it was like a "O
110re than any other part of the Empire, has b c
under fire.
All afternoon our convoy bas be8Il drawing closer to SICILY and a terrtaic
le has spr up t.o -.. tl e saller ships or the conYQ7 about like corks. We are
hop 8 t uieten do n bit before our landing cratt are launched. We would l.1ke
to ti t G not t r Neptune. FortUDatel;,y, it did cal.JI down and at midnicht
t s s . s s ooth eno h f'or our anall L.C.Aa.
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
M,_F.M. 11
40/P & s;:n (9/42>
WAR DIARY
OR
In.struc.tions regarding preparation of
ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. I.
(p Title pages will be prepared.
Original, dlllplicate and triplicate to be
/
Place
1-
,.. e1a
A?ea
r
to ..
Date Hour
A .o. " "" to load by Ol ... r; h1'"9 all cf th
sault_ wavP. W@'r8 afloat, t2-e9 or the hour ns to liNt brs but
du to ttiP .,. s-.. elmf'lt! t!own 1J hour tho'
ca. ,.. s. la""ft! on the rf n.ra, c a) ...
1.':7. t'J!."T!t , .. f!d 0D the 1Art M.,.. 'itle ftaVItl T'IM"ronnel n dla'rr"8 0!"
.c. "1m"" a l tt4 !n bearnvs the le.,!nF l;nd-' tQO
to the r of" o1r propo._. 'beeeh .,. - rn17 1 r ffre
s rHtt tho lAft fl.nk - but tfa!1 qutekl7 w1th 1ltr C Cay. -
':"he town of to our 'Pif"ht nt'l nland w.-!1 to be bF th
1'. eloge to. Tf hotJJ- trvC81"! 1-,.QI m.., rlak v.uD!I sof!!ft up n-o.
the town .r nne4lts.
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
WAR DIARY
M,_F,M,
40/P & S/37 (9/42)
OR
In1>truotions regarding preparation of
ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.
Y.,. Title pages will be prepared.
Original, d11plibate and triplicate to be
forwarded to 0. ijc 2nd Echelon for disposal.
y
Place
lD the 1P{.-ld
.. of
T3PTC'\
Date Hour

,.. .. , .
T'OW8!".
11
.t 2130 hr!tl ttl@ 1!11 movnd
3tt!lt of rnr plMn for an over
... rl..nlrtng movm.-nt to
owing to the of moon, t . v
orehards. sections bae .. ao oP bat all m.n.g., to re ... ch the

Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
M A'P
S e J5. ft1"Pe! N'Dl')(
r{Q. I
WAR DIARY
M,F,l\'L 11
40/P & S/37 (9/42)
OR
In,s.tru.otions regarding prepare.tian of
forwarded to 0. i/c 2nd Echelon for disposal.

Place Date Hour
rn the Pt-l r 10 1ll l 4
( Artta TSPTCI ) ( Co rt
we cellt'1 see the ba!"ra,..e pnt up by our own sb1ps
bneh nerman- bomb_.s.
- B Coy br CI\P't'. IP.s. the OYM"lant1
't'he seonts bmnped " ff!IW but no wes "one to etthM'
sit!.. --. - - - - - - .. . -
- TrooY,s et in on th-.nan1.n1! of the
11 JUl 43 had 2 or 3 sleep
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
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..

r
Instructiollil regarding preparation of
WAR DIARY
OR
/
Place
1
t r
r p
!A the ....
ar. Borth
Date Hour
!DliCl 12 1 43
. _____ __:___ --
In the
bit. A sll well near the "'-
874949 a.ht 217-111 - Bn ll.Q.
eD8JQ' act1Y1ty Etround ISPICA - 1 o ' ' e
aotten tlbea up a bit. All art.ernoon our
and tr1ghtenel\ prisoners, bsrafaet
1
::-.nd cr
ahot.
t 730 I' S
which the BDN!f cl t 1. Oil
aat1Yea stood
s paaGed out
expressed tine

M.F.M. 11
4.0/P & B/37 (9/42)
forwarded to 0. if c 2nd Echelon for disposal.
t
to Appendices and
initials
fOR M f')'P
9 S: C: /"J 'PPr::rJ"PI )(
tv.! I
I
j
ln!iltructions regarding preparation o.f
WAR DIARY
OR
M,.F'.M, ;ll
40/P & S/37 (9/42)
Original, d11plicate and triplicate to be
fO
Place Date Hour
In P1ld 12 1 43
u.-

Remarks, references
Summary of Events and Information to Appendices and
!tfll looktn'-' (\nflf to !l'!" e1 ty to.
sft..-!i we off f'rom a,. Mtilf
111' nn otn' eoy, A COJ'. -... 'mm!Sotr in 'lb
K.O. ws Bn on t.b thtJ eoneMtret"on '!rf'la,
P. t 2'76 -1 short transoort "" h111.
!!!l"v-' orr a mnl on ef thm- .. 1w thfclr
wal1!!1
1
wh-.t we latw hnnJt)' or onr
eoy r,uns Wfllf'P !lltuek lHttw .. en tt1@ walls on t.h-.antt-l"O'W t?ek.
initials
Attm- es thtt vftht(!lM 1bllo-.M us UJ' a f"Mr ht:'ll"rs
1 '!'h., 'nrt moYed lonP' bft m11le trek to e f'!nsty lif w
- 'ftle Bn thrnnvh " eont" noons ('lr "'? h' te f"
91'h!eh wflflll WfJih the e Of
P.tteh mm. rt seemed to work '"to noolr er,.nny, nt.o beets
1lf' to the on our hnds.
.
,I'.,
n " .. "'
.,.-mo.,_, orr thtt rolltd npa mul f! trek
two D7S Uf' the f,_r
A
, f'o
to a n!,.h
!!11P..;e;!e n _
roelc:y mule hot
1nlllr.ht rt"d not to comfort of th

sEE R"PPJ!SN"P I )C.
.
J
IMtruotionB regarding preparation o_f
-rr Title pages will be prepared.
Place Date Hour
WAR DIARY
OR
l
'3t111 '!n onr Tl,r
ennnh-y bf& lq
h"VI!' and t:lf tJS ,._
M,F .. M, '-1.
40/ P & S/ 37 (9/42)
Original, d111.plicate and triplicate to be
forwarded to 0 . if c 2nd Echelon for disposal.
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
M.F.M. 11
, Instructions regarding preparation of
ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. I
WAR DIARY
OR
40/P & S/87 (11/42)

Place Date Hour
Ill the tiel
lorth r
RAGUIA 14 J 1 43
lJl the J.iOl
aua Bortb r
RlGUBA J 43
Another tine hot da7 tree ot an7 j or incident
1
pract1call.7 the only official aetivit7 in the Unit was that or requ1a1t1Ciline pack
f"r011 locals for the rrta1 or aa l1t1on and mortars etc tor the d1t'f10lllt
aountey ahMcl. Laneuaa is alwaTS an ele but eYer"Jtbinl was a1Jipl1t1e4 b7
ClFr. R. PIP or the GRBtfA.DIER Gt.:ARDS attached to this Unit tor such purpose.
C Coy under l&JOR BLliR !41 dispatched to POZZlLO em
the coast at the surrender or the port and took OYJJr control. P'ood hoarcle4 up lq
the GERUANS and I!ALIANS was distributed amongst the starving c1111ans - The Co.r
men enjoyed much h6ap1tal1ty :...nd a walcone n1a 1n tha ocean. They reporte4 back
to4a7 and took up a position in the nn.. area.
The norning *nd ID08t ot the arterDoon were 1e
caae through or a J!OYe tor tonight and preparations were de ccor l y.
At 2I30 hH the Bn. moved orr down an inf'ernal 11
to Appendices and
initials
staina;y,acttnlly a J4Ul.e tNek!to the RA.GUS!\ COMLSA highY The 1ntnt10D was to
11oYe throuch and to tol em U.t1 the retiring enemy until such tiM as we could
bring thalli into battle. As the Bn. moved off the side or the hill to tile
y -' t e _ o t. o: Jt " U l A' .r ont
t .tt a .ro to de 1 'it t t.. . r1 .J ltio Y''
'h t. f - 1 0 t.: s
t u > !
1
' to
om '
I
WAR DIARY
M.l".M, 11
40/P & S/37 (9/42)
OR
:regarding _preparation of
INTELLIGENCE
__ n_o_t_r_e_q_u_rr _e __ dJ---------------------------------------------------.-----------------
Place
:n ._hl":l ""

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Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
po.P. MAf''f'oJ:;F! SE:E
fl'?PI=NDI)(
WAR DIARY
M,F,M, q
40/ P & S/ 87 (9/ 42)
OR
ln,s.truotions regarding prepal'61tion o.f
\ pages will be prepared.
Original, duplicate and . triplicate to be
forwarded to 0. i / c 2nd Echelon for disposal.
Place Date Hour
Tn the! Plc
Are- 1? Jtll ")
.
up lMitore 'f!rst 11 ..n" t'otward at
0400 ..,,_., aonh!nr the "Jhole wa!l c:dleerJ after aacb
w'lth trarf1e. AS th '!nf!ll'!Y tcMl the c1.v!l1.eDS 1-.f'dtat.-17 t..rtto p!ek
UJ' '" bPds nn boxee out oY ba,.raelra1 watwr p.!ls, tll"Y
ean ley on.
'\ ;tHm noon jnst or the nn tctolr- up
on th-. h'tf!'h at 1\t th ta the bill aetu.lly a r18ltntr
whmao ftaftJ' t1rAd ... ,..,.8 wawh"" as wll d'!rty pa,-t-te c::M8 rr
to tht' rat1on Jt01.nt wnd a mNl 1!1atht post tl.ttt". n wft.,l_.
1nto ar .nd ont paeks. ' st" 11 bothM-tnr 110t
ot us but slowly "'r to !t. '!'he now a
of' white dust that has 1ns!de anrl out. f.lf:any have now
b..--n slvared .,. .. now undw eolors. The has set up at"" 1'.0.
nCJ many e.ses of burnt .. to. 11!YttyayonO has sttttlf.!d "01111 to a
r,.. . 1n of th .. Wf!DinR. ".'fl up 11(1 ._.. to move
by transport t 2l0f" hrs SOftlf!t -'lY eaused nt! an hr-m-s at.nd by .- rode
up th.- ro-.d fN y.rds.
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
r 0 A M ft'? 'f.t E F';
SIS E li'PPE.ni'D I)C
rJ!2.t
J
WAR DIARY
M.F.M. 11
-iO/P & S/37 (11/42)
OR
\ s'" Title pages will be prepared.
/
Place Date Hour Swnmary of Events and Information
to Appendices and
initials
In the.field 18 J 1 43
area North
We moved North on the ooad for a rew yards,
lebussed and prepared breakf -, st at 327664 2B -11.
We were helJ up by enemy fire at rd junction 308748.
P IAZZ! AllE I
In the field
area South of
V.A.LGUA.NERA 19 J
Enemy posns were spotted at 310748 305748 and 300744. 1 Bde are up forward
an< ccrta in elements, probably the HASTIHGS I- EDifiAHD REG'J.' are cut off. 4 GERMAN
tanks were found by ob::>erwttion moving to rortd jnnction enemy localities. C Coy sf
reported activity iri sq. 3274 bnt it subsided quickly.
The J:lED AHTY jn position near our II.Q. are firing a
few rounds, it saen1s they fire, stop, :.lfl.ke tea ar ...d fire again- At that ti! is
the procedure tlwy went throneh today.
down was given at 1700 hrs and troops made supper
ready to move off at 1900 hrs. The l and 3 Bdes have had a bit of a struggle today
their first real d3y of action.
A DIVI::>IONA.L "O" Group v.;as attended by the c.o. Lt.-col
HGFFLlEISTER and the I.O., Lieut. J .!Jv. BALDNIU.
Bn. group held around 1800 hrs.
Bn. !lOVed off at 2100 hrs <"".md v1e saw causes of much
fighting during the duy. A fey: sem:t tracked vehicles 1lnd enemy dead lying by- the sid
of the road.
The morning fow1d the Bn still marching along the road
to VALGUARNERA about 0430 hrs we pa.ssed through the town and took: up a postion just
43 NOrth of the town at 346783 268-11 after a short rest we moved off along the road
towards LEON FORTE. As we passed under the bridge at 3<+ i the c.o. ordered A Coy
under CAPT. w. MERRITT to deploy up the high ground on t e ritht of the road and for
the Dn to follor . s tne ord r as being transmitted , Jerry open d up from posiiDns
and 'b-S" with mortars and he vy . G. fire . Some difficulties ere
being encountered by tho signal pl but they were soon put in order. Our veheiles
were out of communication with Bn H.Q. for a while but were soon 1n position.
fO!It MRP"flt::F": SEE
H'PPfrti/'P I X N!! '
WAR DIARY
M.F.M. 11
& B/87 (11/42)
OR
day of mobilization, creation or
\ b Title pages will be prepared.
forwarded to 0. i J c 2nd Echelon for disposal.
/_
Place
In the tie
ar Jorth
LG
Cont d..

Date Hour
ul 43
Lt. Harley set ur his 3" mortar ;:;t 35"4815' sheet 268-1. Bn. H.Q. set up at 352813.
A Coy P.n:i D Coy on tho forward slc.1pe were heay1l:y mortared. A Co7 withdrew in quick
order to a point more secure to the compaey. Our Supp. lliTY and 3" mortar, under
the guidance or Lieut. D.Ii. HARLEY and J:D. ImlliR opened up or . n os
Tho around Bn. wa.fci furiously for a time but s . o t by so
or Bn. H.tJ. Our water supply is rwming short ::tnd a recce sent t o loo fo
"!'ell. Or..e W:'tS four.d in the dB.i.C.. ground in .front or our H . ,.
It se611S the C.O. ,. Lt.-col. B.lf. lWFFMEIST.&R a
trep had been fOl' 1m nnu he the order to t:-.ik8 the atgh ground wl:ere W8 nOW
are. Luckily for us he Wi'.is rieht and so saved mny lives of' the Bn.
c ' I .(.; 0 1 !

Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
el
J

"FO" JVl A"P 'REF! SE:
. C.H.
t
wounded.
s
r
t t 1
art
0

3 .\abulancea were brouht up the line to nca te our
P.P.C.L.I. went throueh ua tbls eYen'*& Bn. o- group hel4 at 2000 hrs.
R"PPI:.NPI.X f'/2 I
WAR DIARY
OR
M.F.M. 11
4.0/P_&S/37 (9/.2) Instructions regarding preparation of
Place Date Hour
4.
erateru that wero t :tun d.
In t h ~
ana SOO''IH or
UOJIJOR'IZ 21. J' 43
'n1e llulldoser war:ted rer up tbo road
1
tilling in the
'
to Appendices and
initials
l
FOA MR"P -p.e'F: SEE
r::1 if' p E:rv 'D 1 rtf':! l
M,.F.M, 11
WAR DIARY
OR
40/P & S/37 (9/42)
Original, dllplicate a.nd triplicate to be
\ V Title pages will be prepared.
/
Place Date Hour
Yr" ;..n.-. fi ;r ,!
"'T n,
T .. r:
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
'hr.> t'':""n hv ""'"1'\:"' f-r.:r"". :"'-. t .h
,..;;t.,..)V .";!!"' ;;r,T"I"' - ,,_
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.... ... A.t 111 .... t'!'(')"" 1
\ft,.+;h ))y t'""'"'';.yorl ,.. t'f",.
""'t-.,.... r.r-. r,-rrr""""' .1 ... llT" ..... l"' n.: . - ;.., r.-,;11N' 1-;!j .. i'i;' f!"!l'.;;.
.-. 1tt/"''),f-;. t'"' n.0.
-WI .f; .. -
coy: Ac."t'IONS
E R-"PPt:NDt>'
'f'\}t.E. ,.,
'T";p "" .::;'"..,. rl1"..,nt"'l7 UT" nf"':V - J. - ""f't t:.oT'C".., lro
""I'\'," ..,,..-r,..
f'T':W" .p ... ,....., ... ,....('\ T>.;.l. .... r-f" .... .. ..
t-., ,...,...-.,... . .... .;+;
(" :...1r" "' t 1 1'7 ., t7 ... s. l.'!I,..,..P ...

t. \
+:..._, i.:;;,...,..,., ...,,.,.."",. ... 1"ro ?-:!"'\ t",.,..., C'IJ,._ f'I'!I1Yl r.,..tv
o.,.,... '''rl';;; r-f r. _', A.ft.t"T' th,. h,...,; "'t
... r,, ..._'''!' -.,.;. ,..,. ...,,.T'+:;.;,l)V r..--"'. ;!"
'J'..T. , . r.rt.'
.. r. ..

r.,
.. f!.f". ... n"Jv ftr'lfi -.ft,..,.
r"""" "l'!"' ':o """"v .,..,,.v
::"'l" ":l"J .... -:-,.,. ,.,....T'" I"!T'",..."'"'"'<' t, efiT''r"'f "" r("!
th,. :;th,.t-.
"""'f" .,..lr;'1 '-)qf'""!' ....,f r .... ... t
'1'1'1-' :"!"' !'11!\l'l fr-..-.J11"!r '!:'l)no t'1 .. .. , ""<''W

.. s
.h1.11 ., ... n .. 1.1 1 t. ;t ;<!
Jr;tr.> ..... r;m r"'!!l '":o (! 1 nf'
hnt t""Y nr.: L'"l:i rr.1e r. t; r:0n
nnn lv1"'1r ont rn r...,.. ....... c:,,.._,:"'''fl r
!:'!f "-1}1 c;f,-' ""':::Or COn!!,... ]""''"'T1t r": r ."":s.
J
WAR DIARY
M.F.M. 11
& S/87 (i/4.2)
OR
ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. l
Place
1n the t1el4
area SOU'lH
Date Hour
LlEOD'OilB 21 .ru 4:5
nn wna UJ" enzi.y, at hre tor m. !'w
went into Lmt:l'OHTE in snp::jort or the F.DYt-4 Rm-r, B Ooy nnd A. Ooy.
ill,. T. J .u. GOWAN took onr the post A.D.'I1T'J.'M!'l' ot Ute
Bn The !3D. ,;cnt on 1.5 at 1030 11ru. Bree.kte.st wua IIIIL4e an4
tlrl9ryorte Anj oyed n r:ood neal. 13 pl'ieonere were broup.,ht the a ... \bJ.
mornir!8 by rm h.Dil"l detnotLr!lent nr.d one of our own men. 'l'!'leJ ,-vore senrohe4 an een\
to Bde immodia.tely. 2 wnundod CiF.RV ... ol'derliea "V:erf'1 brouettt into the R..A.P.
OAJ>T. :.JAO:i).)r:.B.D fixed th=. as best he oould.. They were sent dol'! \he line
later ln tho day.
.. .
n t ... ; J . a .
An "C" wns held at 1100 .hre at Bn
TunkS are m.oYi:ng u:p the road now to support the
0 .
1700 an r r1
a4v esoort -.nb1q lo tae l'Oa4 to ou.r aU cla7
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
0
r
FO t;l ..., A"f' 'P. E f' EE
ft'PPf!:N'D'::K' t\1 e a
WAR DIARY
M.F.l\4. 11
40/P & 8/87 (ll/42)
OR
Place Date Hour
ID the
ana SOUTH
LEONJO ft I) J
A'U 1eoo hls thr: enemy hftrbour and m!lfiel4 wen
revorted. under d1 reo' All rf':r.iCB had a 3'-''PI*3r at 18,0 hl-8. I is qui
a treat wneJt tc. P' ' aJ.u in 1 4Ry. t\re beOO!nlas
eaeh !\fty wo note.
19 00 hrs t .1! S}tt}N.t;N s wm1 t t1o:m the roe d to th ftU
l Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
to ratuel And P'J.t on fresh tion. we kJ1ow vf, dire"lt }li ts un '
lVs - a P."OOd kill. lJ.ua n.:>t nome of the !mnll t,ank tf\ttle )\
that 'took p1Rcn FORTH ,, the town t..."'dr; nrtemoon.
::0.0}.(\!:J t.lrea out at 2100 hJ"'I an4
aettlftt! to sl.nep. Double santrloa being '{)altod in sll :rens.
Aaot!ler early rlse. l!ver:/Or:e up for 'l'O at 0,500
.a 11ade indep&Ddw:tJ.lo by at 0630 hrs. Ti1e J.U>rnlDIJ QeD.t
by 'INH-t[>OnS "n Ung letters r-.u-J.d l 1 tl .v .. r 1 o o 1
word .._. in tPat "!. e laa4 24 hours rest 1.n t
lt
D.!&.
he l4
,, \JOUnded n nd
'Che "ttlns
0 'lhe 1 Bde .o Vle
house below ASS01t0 on the 14e or
a soo4 night& sleep. Double enU'lee
WAR DIARY
MJ.I'.M. 11
o;P & s;s7 (11/4.2)
OR
ment); are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1
g., \ Title pages will be prepared.
Place Date Hour
lJl t1el4
ana ASSOBD a, l
}'ll"ffp:trt)(\.
at.tlak to
:hu. up early at 0.500 aud fi:ttr l; hotaw Zl'L'.Al':D 10
No nowa ae y-et how l Me are out 1n their
'me J.o. L.t.-ool. (rent to 3de at
o8u0 t..r& for a OonfctrtmGih ;fa will r,et tf1e ploture or vlhnt 1B 011 \!1)011 b18
ret,.>rn. plar.ae h""'" {',On& c.ftr thir .t10rnJ..ng !'\f)tJ.dirn is 'b4thtn4
us
1
firillg on o.n .r.4 HC1R'" tttld N.C!l;:)!UA.
':t, J .uan f .rn a.nd olaard.ng ur, today
1
a well
rest it ia.
<ir .. e tl'Uokll W!\S unloaded t4Jday and eent out to
f!R'her corn ror t>e potnlaticm or ;\L; ORa - o:-1l';;..rs took evt?:rytb!ns t'he7
had.
our Tcmn in Pte. FI91'fl'n, 0.
aotecl aa GDOfirt to n r.:-.1dmrc nt1o tiJld 4 ,jobe to do. the nl&ht
tl.G., 0Al'7 . :.(. MA.CDVl \LD waH onlle4 to g:l ... MdiOt\l nid ror the IliOthertte
l-.ports sa} " al.l ftl'e doo.nc :1"
Jartt .
un4 ia nov tc.m111ar.f.z1ng hU10tlt
ACik Ack) shot down t'Ul J-:11; 109 tllls
e reatful da7 nothing out or the o:rdin&li'J'
we.& caught up on. t!ttU oal>re4
1
ouan&lty returns mde
DIARY writ'kn ap as mu.tl <'A pou1ble.
{:ob as I .c.
e 4 L ....... A. 'J
:'l'1G nn 110
y. L-fuoh uu .. ..
uy to date t'lnd the WAll
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials

F" 0 R M A'? 'Po &: F; S f;.E.
A'P'PEN'D I 'I( tJ g.'
..
WAR DIARY
M.F.M. 11
4,0/f & S/37 (11/42)
OR
3--.7
Place
In the t1
. U'tMl ASSOJlO
:;ant d
:r:: 1 the ftel4
Date
;,rn.t ASaORO 2'
Hour
8 GQHBY A 1 ire W!l5 c f G
e.nd direct hit made our hoo?1 tal 8.H'..S.
11
cau:.i!lt; h fu\'f ClUL;.nl tiClo
Me p. i 1. ;Jtttrol .LB. tidt to -pah'ol t
let-tt f.la. nk of tl'l& Arty RNfll tJ em rr-n a J" ruidinc t'Ol'C8t B
auppl1ud r,)G:Mtek 6 :ror :rrnm rea oeo!i1..iSe t :oit a::ea j_e in t.h.e
loo.ill.tJ aro,t:ld 3lo1ql.\'3 1!lotne .uewv. (!Oo<l t.o heir, o i".e 1!1
to:r'(wd. to t;.,.;tLe:J. rr., fro"". his on.t IlllOplE; t
new c."O.r1ln in. thl.R t.ot:or.::otr '7C' hopt.. To l: :A a.n another
1-est.

to Appendices and
initials
FOR M fi'P 1< EF! ?E.E
fi'P'PEN'DIX N
. '
'

.,
Place
... a. ..
Aft&
.....
Date Hour
WAR DIARY
OR
M.P.M. 11
4.0/f_&S/87 (lt/42)
.,
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
In,s.tructions r,ega.rding preparation of
ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. VoL 1.
WAR DIARY
M,.F .. M, ;1.1
& 8/37 (9/42)
Original, d\'lplicate and triplicate to be

Place
In the field
area NISSO
Date Hour
27 ul4
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
VIe wallced through NI:..:;SOHIA just before do.wn to a point a mile cor AC.TION5
rrom town on the EAS';L' side near the t>.P.C.L.!. forv,.rard troops. There we !'!ln. into well R'PPr:.rvvY: "'rz
concealed eneruy lr..c:. posns. Our oolumn stopped and due in. At daylir;ht the enemy sent
over a fm"i heavies into our fort J' . OYS. Our ARTY moved u, at daylip,ht and
took an o.I'. Oit the hich ro mct Around us are :D1any
A/'rK Chms
88 h-11 suushcd up by our s:rn:r T 11 ; _ ui; . only ni"t(:.!r they put 2 of our tanks out ot
action and caused a 3rd to tip inLo tha di toh. A IV 'rAtTK is laying
over to our let't.. -D1e turr<3t blown rig:i1t off and all the rubber l.n1rnt off the traoks
and bogies. Th.a up forwnrd some well concealed spots for and it is ' /
mighty to loaa:e.
moved up at daylir,ht mid on the high ground ,.,...

on the rtr-,.ht hand o.f tne road 1n a {-;rove - Area - (
A CoY has battled their way f'orward during the last hours ofr darknel':s and ran into
:.1.1MJm 'l' m; M.G. :fire, kept our rn6n down and we oould not dir.able them. Location
of .D. OJ:i ro r R.EGT. at 2250 ltrs last nieht reported at 362942.. Prisoners are being
bro gh'l:; in a!td theY say tha are retraatine TO AGIHA.
A COY u:p ahead is out of vrlrele,'1u co;rur.uni oation and runners are being t baok
constantly with messages. finally into NI8SOlli.t\ this illoming at
0800 hrs. A report oame in f r<)m BDE saying AOIM was to be attacked by airoraft at
1200 hro. '"'{e ure to 3tay put on rapo1,t line TIGFR. 3 enemy tanks up e.re
giving a lot of trouble to our tioopa. CJUlT. G.N. liONEY is tuking up 3 A/'!K. guns to
r :
MFJ'P: 'REF
try and looate and knook out. 'Je ure to consolidate in present position e.t A'PPeND><
and then move forward on orders. 'R1e 4.2'' mortars and our own 3n mortara are set up
arou.nd ready to shoot .. No ciVilian trafti'c is a.llowed in built up areas at
anytime. At 0920 hrs after a quiok oup of tea for same of us--we moved off rro.m 4059
(8h.269-IV) to c.o. LT.-COL. B.M. HOmOOSTER has gone up to see the
pioture first hand with the forward troops. Some,personnelinaluding m.H.Q, moved
forward on vehicles anP, SHERfliANS. Along the road is evidence of the heavy fighting
that has taken plaoe in the last 16 hours. Many GERMAN vehioles, and complete equip-
ment is lying all along the road side ..; rations unopened - ammunition and rifles.
They m\l.St have lett in a sud.den rush dropping everything at onoe - espeoially near
418957, 411959.418960. At hrs we debussed in dead ground on road and took up
poa1 tions 1n area A. tine panorama is before us or ensmy held oountry.
\ ' H
"""\ 0"' '
In,st.rlmtion.s :rega.r,ding prepamt.ion o.f
Place Date Hour
WAR DIARY
OR
0
p t ~
ta7 la belns la14 .,_ on Ota tonad
1.558 u..
M . ..F.. }dt .1.1.
40/ f ~ 8/ 87 (9/42)
Original, d11plicate and triplicate to be
forwarded to 0. i j c 2nd Echelon for diSl:Josal.
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
CoY RC:.710rV'D,
SEE ft 'PP=f\/DI'I<
t V ~ ' I
-,
'
WAR DIARY
M,Ji',M, 11
40/ f' & S/37 (9/42)
OR
Instructions regarding prepam-tian of
L Title pages will be prepared.
forwarded to 0. i / c 2nd Echelon for disl)Q.sal.
17
Place Date Hour
Ill .. ft.e14
27
oeDttcl
4,
At I.Goo t..r3. ,l.,K. . t!;.1 lt:::t foZ'*l"d to
to t.he 1 q1 fl'ot.i r J.Etelr.,.o to
th(; ana eoft

t!ln ?tortl. . o " !G}O hrn. t'tc .o:r tt .. H :r;. -ft
t.o h1 .. :h groilll..l . ' it? m:o:L! th!')n n.t't!lr ao:xaollde.f:io.::.
1
t'.:t o23l n'nS Woult
tae on- t . "' , ;\l.!:\'L!IJAll 3 rcypc:te1 in a.-
439954. nt':' . .mr. lata Wle C01'D uJ.rived a.t ul tnrtmaaly
i'l1gg1ng Ie ,:>o :u-rt. the \1h6r.t:.r :st."\t"'.;<.,d .l:: . ' c 11;r--o11e onmmltr
in nr:.n > '
: .. l"opo.rt ii.'to tbla x. ;.. that BDI: lla.ct been
back of the ri"W.d on tlta of tbJ tO'-'I!l !. r.;c! '..lildGr IW'OR II.P.
I 0 Jl
I 'VJ
1:1 o . . . .. y v.oc
. a tt.. oh. disoantort to nr. . 'tY
. they wore h.Ge.v117 I.X)rtared r_, t_ ,
ot tbe obj c:.t:. -
1
c CW\l. t! or; l'UJ)t;>rted. .:..t.U:.'Or.'ror. JHlt in e..tt.twk em l.rt
areoto:r t<r.1!'trdR ct 2.100 57:..:\:or.ms kccyl"l S011'f!!l o! Jlld.ll
road. D Ooy are Plling out o:r vt!lluy to E'.lld to dlg in. At 2050 ha a
hetlv,' A t v C li4:t.I O.f.l tho to r 21.00 lll"B
the ser.trloa puat&- i.t\l oaqgl:t ill
cnar os 1 O&Mtl ties oo0Uft'84. y 1. ... lJ1
toc1Q' or eJ.).olta OOJ'D u a ad by 1u41v14ual persona, all llhiah. Will lie
f1011llle4 at a later date .cacl attaohad to th1u DIARY.
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
FOR MRP 'REF
5 E E A 'P"PJaN'O' X
tJ'k'
In,s,t:nwtions prPparatio;. of
War Diaries (which will be kept, from first
ment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. l.
J-1
Place Date Hour
(f
WAR DIA.RY
OR
M,.F,M, J_l
40/;F S/37 (9/42)
Original, du.plicate and triplicate to be
forwarded to 0. i/c 2nd Echelon for di sal.
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
FoR
Ft?'PEIIIPt)( J
WAR DIARY
M,F.,M, 11
40/l' ..& S/37 (9/42)
OR
Ins.tructions regarding preparation of
1. '( Title pages will be prepared.
Original, duplicate and triplicate t o be

Place
In the fP!ld
of AGIRl
STCTLY
In the f1eld
.. FEI I
Date Hour
.. \
., J1l 43
---
OUr cay st ormo th "StaM To". At ') hrs ARTY from
np on aet,_v! ty in -,ort" through that PPCLT Rl'n'l"
!ri &Gml th!s morning, they had a bit of with eone
v..G.posts and -
at 0700 hr! and b is being made by
the men. The truek has had to make frequent trips to onr area beeause of the
l111ek of wr>lls c.o. went to a eonrerenee at BDE H.Q.
th., .. fornoon. The J ,c&PT 1!f. RARRIS has b een forward all m9rn1ng obsPrvlng
11111 movfl'!!lent and NOR!Im&Sr or tom&, while J)ersonnel or the nrr are obser-
v1ng all moVP-mll'lit to the '!'TOR'M bt our posns. &round !200 hrs .11\lmt' Ul' w1 th
A -rP.W shots;d1rf:'eted against the ARTY tn dead v,rounc.'l to our rear,b ut
luekJ.lT no oamage oeeured.
TITTS- lFT"'mNOOlf TT RllJOil)l
Dttrt.ng- the-afternoon BN-ff.Q. up to"the "base or ORTULr-ftitttre and
we!'1121 1n posn -b y- supper time. S P 11rte3 WtDre run out. to all CO'!S- '-!4 J.A JI)'!"H.Q.
Th,e clerks BN hop g to get a bit or administration .Ork done.
Thf!i RITN( t >stoppf!d a bOat T900 hr and clothes areo now being driet! oat.Fomoles
nightfall and every oae settled by 2!00 hrs. JmT.:11Y mortarr1re
again11t thP r6ad wml'l' 9t lGTRl,'but 1 t stopJ'ed as darknP.ss ilr.
- ThJ:s- morn11'lg at o6oo-
The SIGl'flL -pL. refJ()rted-this orn
been cut md used-as a--handle-toFa w 11
38 all 30 of them riding horses ,n
advanee of the lead ing COY S

Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
In,atruciiions regarding preparation of
War Diaries- (which will be kept from first
./
Place __ Date Hour
.. ---
30 Jal 4
WAR DIARY
OR
SUIIrinary of Events and Inforniation
c11lt1 .. al"e l>e!Jq- performed ant!
&t!430 tn-t a r.port ene 111 that was atn
afWotmtt tho -e,-tn- &Ltnb hanttll;- n b...,.,
th t wen ,_a wt'l-elen set.
usual.
to slettr by 2100
M.,F.M, 11 ..
1
.
40/ f _& S/37 (9/ 42)
', )
Original, d1aplicate and triplicate to be
forwarded to 0 . i j c 2nd Echelon for disposal.
thet tiD !D-
WI!S -aM the
. t the LD.C.
Remarks, references
to Appendices and
initials
lls'f OF' 'I\IAR _
_ _ J __ 1 \J l"f \ <1.4:'3_ _
_TE" T . __ _ _ _ _ __ .

'\
,
....
A Companl
R. P. Sell-Irving
CPpt . D. C. Parker
Li eu 'L. HGrling
: 10u l; , Taaffe
,
'<-
n. Conp[;n 'r
Lt. Col. D. M. Hoffmeister
2 1/0 Major 'J. D.
Forin
Adj.
Capt. J. H. Cowna
1.0. Lieut. ,J. J . Conway "
....
;" N: . !l' . U. Bonnell
.Pa y
Capt. C. "t!'e Williamson"
M A
Cap t . J.'J . \ .1
it; . K
Padr e If/Copt , :R.C.H. DUl'ntord
B ,Company '
Capt. W. O . Harris
Lieut. Perritt
J..1eut. 'Gray.

'.J
J J" .' .
or ;; ,,-,,.1.1'
L,leut. MdOlcuii
Lieut.
Comp,anl
<"
Capt. L. kalkln'
Lieut. A.
Lieut. S.O.
, .
"
Capt . D. W. Bla.okburn.
CU])'t . C. N. Money - .A.liei.
L i e u t. D. H8.1'lley - mortars
....

<
.\
J .
. I
cap t. 'Z. i". Thomas
Lieut. H. A.
Lieu t. ]lcBride
.'
. ..
/
5
Last Order
No. 38'
24 .Tun 43
T.RE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
Part II Orders. Issued by
CANADIAN SECTION, 2nd ECHELON
This Order
No. 39
17 Ju1 43
, NORTH AFRICA

"!" OFFICERS
1. COURSES
(a) Having attended Course 801 Scr llR from 21 Mar 43 to 15 Apr 43
qualified as shovv.n
Lieut. D.E. Cameron "Q"
Lieut. J.C.I':I. Scott tlQ1"
(b) Having attended CT.lliQ Course 801 Ser 111.1 from 21 Mar 43 to 15.Apr 43
qualified flQII ,
L1eut. D ,8. Harley.
OTHER RANKS
2. STRENGTH INCREASE
(a) T.O . S. from 1 C.I.R.U. w.e.f. 21 J'lID 43. Auth - 2Ech/15 dated
24 J'lID 43
K52874 Pte. McGee, A.L.
(b) T.O,S. from 1 C.I.R.U. w.e.f. 23 Jun 43. Auth - 2Ech/15 dated
24 Jun 43.
K53089 Pte. Holson, C.R. . Clerk Gp nCII
3. STRENGTH DECREASE
(a)."6.0.8. as a deserter w.e.f. 20 J1L.'"1 43 having been declared il1eg-
a lly absent by a ct Inq from 0800 hrs 29 May 4 J. Deficienc ies in
kit to the value of
K52289 Pte. Nevin, H.A.
Cb) S.O.S. to 1 C.I.R.U. w.e.f. 22 Jun 43. Auth - EA7/4000 dated
21 Jun 43
K53043 Pte. Lfos1ey, R.G.
"
4. HOSPITAL
(a) Dis from hasp shown w. e f. eta te shown . I '
K53476 Pte. Andrews, IlI.R. Drymen Mil <Hasp
5". APPOINTI,1ENTS
(a) Appt1d A/L/Cpl. w.e.f,. 6 JW1. 43
K52995 Pte. G.L.
"C If SPECJA,L INCREl!.'lENT
NIL
"D" BEAR PARTY
. .
' NIL
(A.E. Stephenson) Lieut.,
for Officer ift'c
19 Jun 43
/wp Canadian Section, G .H.Q., 2nd Echelon,
, North Africa
-- ..... -,-:
Last Order
No. 40
19 Ju1 43
THE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS OF CANADA
Part II Orders Issued by .
CANADIAN SECTION.l. G .H.Q., 2nd ECHELON
NORTh AFRICA
This Order
l,Jo. 41
21 Jul 43

OFFICERS
1 . STRENGTH DECHEASE
(a) S,O,S. to X-3 List Seaforth of C w.e,f. 13
Hosp. Auth - Daily Casualty List Ser No.
Capt. S.W. Thomson (vroUIldcd)
Ju1 43 on adm to 98 Gen
2 page 1 dated 18 Jul 43
. 2. ATTACHED
(a) Att f.a.p. LL:; c tJ? C -(;BD) fr:);:}1 24 >:a : .. t'o 31
Capt . W .G. Harris
(b) Att f.a.p. nom R.C.A.S.C. X-4 List (ED) w.e.f. 22 Hay 43. Auth
CMHQ 6/Cdn Admin/1 (ADAG) (A) dated 18 Hay 43
Lieut. C.G. Sharpe R.C.A.S,C,
3. APPOINT1:JENTS
(a) To be 2nd in w.e,f. 21 Jun 43. Auth - Overseas R.O. 3572
dated 25 Jun 43
Major J.D. Forin
4. HOSPITAL
(a) Admto 98 Gen Hosp w.e.f. 13 Jul 43
Capt. S.W. Thomson (wolUlded)
RANKS
STRENGTH DECREASE
(a)S . O.S . to X3 List Seaforth of C vI.e.f. 13 Ju143 on adm to hosp
shown. Auth - Daily Casualty List Ser No.4 page 1 dated 1B Ju1 43
K53287 Pte. Forsyth, D.W. (wounded) 98 Gen Hasp
M103571 Pte. Gillespie, G.W. (wounded) 98 Gen Hosp
K42417 Pte. Hm11, J.T. (w01.mded) 70 Gen Hosp
K532l1 Pte. ICing, A.E (wounded) 98 Gen Hosp
(b) S .O.S. to X3 List Seaforth of C w.e"f. 13 Ju1 43 on adm to hosp
shawn. Auth - Daily Casualty List Sere Ho. 5 pagG 2 dated 19 Jul 43
H53106 Pte,. Parr, R (wounded) 96 Gen Hosp
6
l
HOSPITAL
(a) Adm to hosp shovm \7 .e.f. date shovm
K53287 Pte . Forsyth, D. ",7 . 98 Gen Rosp
1-,1103571 Pte . Gillespi e , G:;i . ( fOunded ) 98 Gen Hasp
KL; 2417 Pte . J . T . COll..'1.ded ) 70 Gen Hosp
K5321l Pte . King, A.E . (wounded ) 98 Gen Hasp
I'f 53106 Pt e . Pa rr , R. ( ,mmde-c:1. ) 96 Gen Hosp
13 Ju1 43
13 Ju1 43
13 Jul 43

7 .. ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE
(a) Amd't. Part II Order No. 38 para lOeb) of 24 Jun 43 insofar as it
/ wp
refers to the u/n is amended to read "Still A.F.L. 0800 hrs 19 Jun
43 (21st day)
. K52289 Pte. NGvin, H.A.
li e n .SPECIAL
NIL
If REAR PARTY
i lL
(A . K . 'S tephenson Lieut. ,
f , or Officer i/c
Canadian Section, G.H.Q., 2nd Echelon
NORTH ,a.FRICA
THE BATTLE OF "GRIZZLY HILL"
The Battalion will capture the report line GRIZZLY.
Right: "A" Coy.,objective the square topped feature overlooking AGIRA
ON RIGHT OF ROAD.
Left:"D" Coy.objective the wooded hill beyond and overlooking the
territory on left of main road.
Baker and Charlie Coys.in support,will follow "A" and tiD" Coys.
respectively,a good tactical bound behlnd.
Div.Arty.in support will fire concentrations laid down. F.O.O.S will
move with each forward COY,to provide fire support by observation.
MMG's will cover advance from present localities.
One troop Tanks will support advance on each flank,moving close behind
forward Coys. ZERO l400hrs.
"A" Coy.crossed the start line at 1400hrs.,picking up Lt.Harling!:l
forward patrol and the F.D.D.'s carrier on the way over.
The advance progressed rapidly"ith seven Pl. right forward,eight Pl.
left forward,Coy.H.Q.in centre followed by Pl.in reserve.
The Tanks behind the Coy.were heard firing to begin with, but this
died dovm and they disappeared.
First contact occured in the vehicle park beside the main road.
The enemy withdrew after firing a few rounds,before the Coy.attack
plan was completed.
The original formation was quickly regained,and the Coy.made good the
featuee opposing the objective. Further advance down the forward slope
quickly brought eight Pl. under fire from ridge of GRIZZLY FBATURE.
Terraced orchard and vineyard,travassed by several sunken tracks,
produced excellent coverand allowed immediate and rapid progress.
Eight Pl. committed to fire support, infiltrated to base of hill
and were able to engage the enemy's attention most satisfactorily.
Cpl.Terry,with Privates Webster,Montgomery,and reached
the tbp and took over a HM', MG., they held this position until forced
back by counter attack,when they took two prisoners and threw the Hun
Gun over the cliff.
In the meantime a right flanking movement was under way. Seven Pl.
with the D.C.followed by Pl.and Coy.HQ,worked round to the right,
Southern end,of the feature in excellent cover.
The South end proved to be narrow and so steep that it was not covered
fire at all. Elements of the coy.quicklj carried the top,and the
advance into the enemy's rear and flank began.
Tactical surprise hadvbeen achieved,and a fiem footing was estab-
lished on the Southern end of the Plateau.
Thirteen prisoners were ropnded up, too young to kill,and theybshowed
gratifying terror of their own Mortar bombs.
The Plateau was traversed diagonally by a rocky iidge terminating at i%
its North West end on a Casa with the usual out buildimgs.
South of the ridge, the plateau sloped gently to the South,covered with
Dlive trees,but no underbrush.
North of the ridge the ground was open meadow with heavy cover at the
extreme North edge. The enemy quickly forsook his ridge positions and
took up a line covering all the open ground to,the North with some
elements further forward.
Eight Pl.quickly joined the Coy.,and together with WiNe Pl.gained the
Notth West of the rocky ridge.
Seven Pl.in reserve,and Coy,HQ took up positions in the IDlive grove
South of the ridge. Having been continually engaged in hard fighting fm
for twenty four hours the Coy.was getting thin on the ground and very
tired,consol1dation up this weakness and it wascdecided to
combine eight and nine platoons under Lt.Harling.to hold the Casa.
Lt.Robinson.O.C.seven Pl.had been wounded,and Pl.
had be :;;n killed in the previ0us night's action.
The combined force under Twenty one.
Seven Pl. remained in reserve under the wing of Coy. HQ. Before the
positions were properly occupied,first wireless contact was established
the Bn.and the Adj.reported that Mortar fire was to be brought
aown on North end of the feature as soon as troops had been withdrawn
slightly South for the Mortar fire,the Div.Arty.opened a concentration
on the hill, this lasted for thirty minutes and provided quite an
experience though no casualties.
As soon as the Arty.concentration lifted,positions were taken un,under
interm1ttant enemy Mortar fire.
H.E.shells thought to have been Tank fire,were identified as Hun rifle
grenades. These were a psychological nuisance untilfound to be .
comparatively harmless. With eight and concentrated at the Cas a
the O.C.took Cpl.Terry.roud the right flank to prevent any enEmy
counter attack round South East end of rocky ridge. Unfortunately
Terry.was shot by a sniper as soon as the rmdge was passed,&nd he died '
two hours later under morphia.
the only RXXHKXtyX fatal casualty of the action, died
fulfilling the finest traditions of his regiment and Coy.,a job was
to be done,he did it. ,;
Except for constant Mortar fire,things qUltened down as dusk fell.
Sentries were posted and all possible men told off to sleep.
Darkness brought much needed access to the exposed drinking water well
The Radio had lasted long to ask for food and water,and kDthen
petered out completely.
Midnight brought a show of the expected counter attack. An incr ease
of Mortar fire preceded by heavy MG fire and a few grenades.
The Company's limited supply of ammuninion permitted only restricted
defensive fire, but the Hun quickly shut up and went to bed.
At five in the morning the real counter attack came in,the advancing
infantry were supported by very heavy machine gun and rifle
grenade fire.
The fortitude and fire discipline of Lt.Harling's force were too much
for the Hun. The 36 Mills bout proved most effective.
The Huns yelled as they came in and screamed as they went out.
The melody was provided by the strains of,"Ukla Luka lllka" from Lt.
Harling.at the top of his lungs and the rhythm by bursting grenades.
At 0545hrs.Lt.McLean.arrived on the Southern end with 14 Pl.of "c" Coy.
The first reinforceme ts he was immediately ordered to round the left
edge and exploit the counter attack of eight and nine Pls.which was Xr
already under way.
By 0600hrs. the hill was in our habds Further reinforcements
soon arrived and were told off to consoliuation tasks.
"A" Coy.settled down to count the loot, tune in the BEC on the Hun
radio,and sleep.
Appendix to Seaf we, July, 194,
The battle of GRIZZLY HILL. The bn will captu.re i the report Une GRIZZLY.
Right A coy obj the equare-topped feature overlooking AGIRA. on right of main
road. Lett D (,) ooy obj. the wooded hill beyond and overlooking the territory
on the lert. of main road. ' B and 0 coye in support will follow A and B coya
a good tactical bound behind. Div arty in eupport will fire con-
centrations laid down. PDOs will move with each fwd coy to provide fire support
and observation. MMGs will cover advance trom present localitiea. One tp tank.
will aupport advance on each flank, moving cloee behind fwd coys. Zero 1400
hra. ,
A coy crossed the start l 'ine at 1400 hre picking up Lt. Harling's fwd patrol
and the carrier on the way over. The advance progressed rapidly with 7 pl
right fwd, 8 pl lett fwd, Ooy FQ in oentre followed by Wire (T) pl in reserve. '
The tanks behind the coy were heard firing to begin with, but thie died down
and they First contact occurred in the veh beside the main rd.
The enemy withdrew after firing a few rounds beafer the coy attack plan was
completed. The original formation waB quickly regained and the coy made good
the feature ' opposing the obj. Further advance down the fwd .elope quickly brought
8 pl under fire trom ridge of GRIZZLY feature. Terraced orchard and vine,ard
traversed by several sunken tracka produc.d excellent cover and allowed immediate
and sapid progreas. 8 pl committed to fir;e support infiltrated quickly to base .
of hill and were able to enagege the enemy's attention moat sathfactorlly. Opl
Terry, with ptes Webster, Montgomery and Nixon actually reached the top and took
over a heavy MG; they held thie position until forced back by counterattack When
they took two prisoners and threw the hun gun over the cliff. In . the meantime
the right flanking mov_ent was under way; 7 pl with the 00, followed by Wire
pl and OIQ worked round to the right southern end fof the feature in excellent
cover. The south end proved to be narrow and so steep that it was not covered
by fire at all. Ilements of the ooy quickly carried the top and the advance
into the enemy' a r ear and flank began. Tactical surpri8e had be,en achieved and
a firm footing was established on the southern end of the plateau. 1, PW were
rounded up, too , young to kill, and they smwed gratifying terror of their own
uiortar bombs. The plateau was travened diaginally bya rocky ridge terminating
at ita northwest end on a .oasa, with the ueual outbuildings. South of the ridge
the plateausloped aently to the BOuthward with olive treesbut no underbrush.
North of the ridge the ground wae open meadow with heavy cover at the ext.,.e
north edge. The en_y quickly foreook his ridge position and took up a line
covering aU the opert ground to the north with aome elements further fwd. 8 pl
quickly joined the coy and together with Wire pl gained the NW ends and ends of
the rocky ridge. 7 Pl in reserve and coy HQ Wook up positions in the olive
groye south of the ridge. Having been continually engaged in hard fighting for
24 hra the coy was getting thin on the ground, and very tired. Oonsolidation '
ahowed up this weakne88 and it was decided to combine 8 and 9 pls under Lt.
Harling to mld theoasa. Lt Robinson i/c 7 pl had been wounded and Lt Wilaon
i/c Wire pl had been killed in the previous night's aotion. The combined force
under Lt. HarUng numbered 21. 7 pl r_ained in reserve under the wing of coy
Before the poaitions ,were properly occupied the first wirele .. contact was
establhhed with the bn, and the adjt. reported that mortar fire was to be
brought down on the north end of the feature as 100nnas the troops had been
withdrawn slightly BOuth for the mortar f'tre. The div arty opened a concen-
tration on the hill; this lasted for thirty minutes, and provided quite an ex-
perience, tmugh no cae. As soon as the arty conc lifted poaitions wer e taken
up under intermittent hevy enC!llly mortar fire. HE shells tmught ot have blten
to Seaf July, 194,
tank fire were iKdentified as HUn rifle grenades, and these were a psychologioal
nuisanoe until found to be comparatively harmless. With 8 and Wire pls concen-
trated at the .asa the olc took cpl Terry around the right flank to prevent any,
enemy count erattack around the southeast end of the rocky ri'ge. 'Un'ortunately
Opl Terry was shot by a sniper as soon a,s the ridge was passed. He di,ed t"", MS
later under morphia. Ipl Terry, t'he only fatal cae of the action died fulfilling
the finest traditions of hiB regiment and coy -- a job ,to be done and he did it.
Except for constant mortar fire things qUietened down as dusk fell. Sentries
were posted and all possible men told off to sleep. Dark.nlUls brought much needed
sccess to IIDIO. __ the exposed drinking water well; the radio lasted long
enough to ask for food and water, and then petered out completely. Midnight
brought a show of the counterattack, an increase of mortar fire, preceded by IMG
fire and a few grenades. rhe coys lim1ted supply of ammo only restricted
defensive fire, but the Han quickly shue up and went at bed. At 0500 in tae
morning the real cia camein; advancing infantry were supported by very' heavy
MG and rifle and grenade fire; the fortitude and fire discipline'of Lt Harling's
force wae too much for the HUn. The,6 mills G proved most effective; the Huns
yelled as they came in and screamed as they went out. The melody was provided
by the strains of Okla Luka lurk a (?) from Lt. Harling at the top of hie lungs
and the rhythm by bursting grenades. At 545hrs it McLean arrived on the southern
end with 14 pI of 0 Ooy, the first reinfB to come. He was immediately ordered
to round the left edge and exploit the cia of 8 and 9 pls ( few mhBing)
,
XAXI
APPENDIX
"Bn CQMPANY.
WAR DIARY
"B" Company,commanded by Capt.F.Middleton.landed on Sicily as
reserve Coy.for the Bn.on July 10.
The landing was unopposed and there were no
.... -
The Coy. moved immediately to the Bn.R.V.and then proceeded
forward Coy. of Bn.to the objective.
It was on this objective that tile Coy.first came under enemy fire,
no casualties.
On night of "DIt plus 1 the Coy.moved off with Bn.,the following
days were spent moving forward on and after a long march finally
took up position near PIA6Z0 on July 18.
The Bn.moved off tbe following morning and when "An and IIC
n
Coys.
came under enemy f:..re,"B" COY.WaS ordered to make encircling movement,
however no contact vias made with enemy .ang remainder of daybwas spent
in rest.
JULY 19.
Moved off at 2l00hBs.and proceeded forward till 0500hrs.
JULY 20.

Enemy si:ghted and "B" Coy.ordered to dig in on face of hill,Coy.
subjected to fire from Mortar and 88MM.,cusualties,2killed,2wounded.
Remained there for day and moved off at night to"ards LEON FORTE.
JULY 21.
Occupied hill facing LEON FORTE and laid smoke and g4ve covering fire
to cover withdrawal of "D" Coy.from outskirts of town.
At 1500hrs."B" Coy.snet out patrol of 22 men to draw enemy fire while
remainder of En.assaulted town, patrol came under heavy cross fire and
were pinned down till dusk when they wi thdr.ew under Arty.and MG barrage.
this patrol were 4killed,3wounded., the patrol returned
on morming of July 22 carryingntheir wounded.
At 1500hrs. (2IJuly) the remainder of IlB"Coy.was forml-:!d up for assault
on town, but came undGr intense fire and the assault was postponed.
Casualties 2 killed,9 wounded, (2 died of wounds later)
In evening "B"Coy.plus some volunteeres from other Coys.was sent out onp
patrol under Maj.Bell.lrving.
The Coy.had difficulty locating their recce.party and finally re-formed
' with two platoons and pushed on towards town,#ll platoon was seperated
from remainder and attempted to proceed alone, they ran into heavy
from four lIiiMG's and finally returned on morning of July 22 after
suffering Casualties of 2 ki11ed,2 wounded,and 1 missing
. In the meantime remainder of patrol attempted to encircle town, but ran
into some enemy Tanks and Transport and were pinned down till morning.
Started to move back just before dawn and took five prisoners on way.
Ran into one enemy platoon, but finally returned to En.at 1700hrs.on
July 22.
JULY 23 & 24
Held position for counter attack.
JULY 24
Moved into ASSORO for 48hrs.rest.
JULY 26
Received re-inforcements ahd moved off with Bn.at 1900hrs.passed through
NISSORIA and pushed on.
JULY 27
Kept moving and finally took up position on hill with itA" Coy.Casualties
1 killed. OrQered to clean out enemy from next hill in afternoon, but
found no enemy there.
At 1800hrs."B" Coy.rushed up on ctirriers to support "A" Coy.on hill vvest
of AGIRAfcame under heavy fire in orchard. Casualties 4 wounded.
Pinned dOVim by mortar fire uin evening and h&d difficulty crossing the
country.
JULY 28
Joined nArt Coy. on hill Cind went into rest

/ 1
Apeendix to Seatorth War Diary, July, 194,. (Company Narratives)
J
B COlo B Coy, commanded by Capt. F. Middleton, landed on Sicily as reserve
company ot the battalion on July 10th, the landing was unopposed and
there were no casualties. The Coy to the battalion
RV and then prooeeded as lett torward coy ot bn to the objective. It
was on this object've that the coy tirst caJIle under heavy tire} no cae-
ualties. On the night ot D + 1 the coy moved ott with the bni the toll-ov-
ing days were spent moving forward on toot, and atter a long march tin-
ally took up a position near PIAZZA ARMERINA on July 18th. The bn
moved ott the , tollowing morning, -and when A and 0 coys came under enemy
tire, B coy was ordered to make encircling movement; however, no con-
tact wae made with the enemy, and the remainder ot the day was
inreet.
Jul 19 Moved oft at 2100 hrs; proceeded torward until 0500 hrs.
Jul 20 Enemy sighted and B coy ordered to dig in on tace ot hill. Ooy sub-
jected to tire ot mortar and 88 mm. Oasulaties, 2 killed, 2 \lC)unded.
RemUned there tor day and moved ott at night towards LeOntorte.
Jul 21 Occupied hill tacing LEONFORTE and laid amoke and gave covering fire
to cover withdrawal ot D Ooy trom outskirts ot town. At 1500 hra. the
coy sent out patrol. ot 22 men to draw enemy tire whUe remainder ot bn
assault.d the town. Patrol caJlle under heavy cross tire and were pinned
down till dusk. when they under an artillery and MG barrage.
Castor this patrol were 4 killed and, \lC)unded. The patrol returned
on the morning of July 22nd, carrying their \lC)unded. At 1500 hrs 21
July the remainder ot B coy was tormed up tor aaaault on town, but caJIle
under intense tire and the assault was postponed. Oas 2 killed , 9
\lC)unded. 2 died ot wunds later. In the evening B coy, plus some vol-
unteers trom other coys, was sent out on patrol under Major Bell-Irving.
The coy had ditficulty locatin their recce party arid tinally reformed
with 2 pls and pushed on towards the town. No 11 Pl was separated trom
the remainder and attempted to proceed alone. They ran into heavy fire
trom 4 MMGs and tinally retu,rned on the morning ot July 22 after suffer-
ing cas of 2 killed, 2 \lC)unded and 1 mieeing. In the meantime the re-
mainder of the patrol had attempted to enciDcle the town but ran into
some enemy tanks, tpt and were pinned down till morning. Started to move
back just betore dawn and took 5 prisoners on the way. Ran into 1 enemy
pl but finally returned to Bn at 1700 hrs on July 22.
Jul 2, Held positon fbr counter attack
24 Moved into tor 48 hrs reet.
Jul 26 Received reints and moved oft with bn at 1900 hrS} p,aaaed through
NI,SSORIA AN:D PUSHED ON.
Jul 27 Kept moving and tinally took up sposition with A coy. Oas 1 killed.
ordered to clean out enemy trom next hill in afternoon, but found no
enemy there. At 1800 hrs"'B coy rushed up on carriers to support A .coy
on hill weet ot AGIRA. OaJlle under heavy fire in orchard. Oaa 4 \lC)unded.
Pinned down by mortar fire in evening and had difticulty crossing the
country.
Jul 28 Joined A coy on hill and went into rest. (NS Some of these dates are
ecrewy)
...
AUG.4 & 5
tlB" Coy now under commc,nd of Capt.W.Harris.moved off with Bn.on
tr&nsport,on debus s ing they moved bc;hind "C" Coy. towards objective
which was in the hilly country just north of SALSO Eiver.
The Coy.Came under fire during the night, but by dai';'ll had reii:e:hed U
objective,they were however ordered back and after withdrawing spent
remainder of morning ,':ind afternoon in rest.
At l880hrs.
II
B" Coy. were ordered to capture hill just east of TORINA
RIVER,this assault was carried out successfully with the loss of 1
killed and 1 wounded.
AUG.6
tiE" Coy. was kept in reserve '" hile "A" & "CfT Coys. took f l nal obj e ctive.
The Coy. then j,' i thdrew -!I'l i th the Bn. for 5 days rest.
SUPPORT COY.
While on the high seas speculation wascrife wmthin the Coy.as to our
destination,this was not made knovm to us until we were approx.2 weeks
out at sea.
From then on while on board ship the troops were briefed in every
possible way as to the landing beach itself,also positions,estimated xX
strength of the enemy,also g8neral plan of attack s iving us information
re.our own forces.
The initial landing of the Coy. was very difficult owing to a sandbar
which was at our particular beach, the L.C.I.could not get in close 2
enough to a quick landing,the result being that the men had to
swim ashore with the aid of a rope which was stretched from the L.C.I.
to shore.
Great difficulty wa s further entailed in trying to unload 31!Mortars
and Bombs,the unloading was finally completed and with the aid of
hand carts and mules which were requisitioned, the Coy.moved up to Bde.
Vehicle
'r HE MORTAR PLATOON did not come into '_e n actual engagement with the enem
UIiltil 'he reached LEON FORTE, \l-here they engaged the enemy, using smoke ill
and H.E.with good effect l{nocking out one O.P.and 2 MG posts.
During this engagement one man was killed due to machine gun fire.
That same night the Mortar platoon using six guns put up a heavy
barrage on the town using dOU bombs H.E.and smoke and causing very heav
amage tOJthe enemy and having a devestating effect on their moral.
From there on the Mortar Platoon had very little to do due to the fact
that their Mortar range in comparison to the Germans was quite a
handicap.
THE ANTI PLATOON under similar conditions as the Mortar Platoon
were landed on the beach and rendzvoued at area COUGAR.
They followed Bn.from area COUGAR to PIl...xZO AmmRIA where were
joined by their light scale.
From there they continued along the axis of advdnce being used mainly a
as protection for gun and trlilck were put out of cmmmission
on a hill midway betweem VOLQUENIRA and LEON FORTE.
From there 5 guns were moved up to LEON FORTE where under fire
they had theirvfirst casualty.
They continued their advance to behind the forward Coy.
yds.on the outskirts of AGIRA the Bn.was consolidated on a hill,
was here that Sgt.Sweeney.at a r ange of 1700 yds.fired 6 rounds HE
at a machine gun post which was in a cave,and was later credited with
knocking out the post.
The next day Sgt.Ley.fired one A.P.at a building occupied by the Germab
having a direct hit and causing this particular group of enemy to
retire.
The guns as a whole were able to engage enemy targets from this hill
with quite good results.
Sgt.S3ith.was wounded at this same area by enemy Mortar fire,also Pte.
Tupper.,their Platoon commander wax Capt.Money.was taken prisoner a few
days later having advanced too far on his MIC into enemy territory.
J
Appendix to Seaf WD. July. 194, (Ooy narratives - 2)
Aug 4 B coy, now under command of Oapt. W. Harrie. moved off with bn on tpt.
5 On deb.aeing they moved behind 0 coy towards objective, which waa in the
hilly country just north of SALSO R. The coy came under fire during the
night, but by dawn had reached the obj. They were, however, ordered back
and after withdrawing spent the remainder of the morning and aft. in rest.
At 1800 hrs B opy was ordered to capture hill just east of TORINA R. This
assault was oarried out successfully with the 1088 of 1 killed an 1
Aug 6 B coy was kept in reserve while A and 0 coys took final obj. The coy then
Withdrew with the bn for 5 days rest.
Supp Ooy
While on the highseas speoulation was rife within the coy as to our
destination. This was not made known to us until we were appx. 2 weeks
out at From then on, while on board ship the troops were' br1e'led 'n
every possible way as to the landing beash itself; aleo pos.it'ions and
est strength of the enemy; also general plan of attack, giving us int'm re
our own forces. The initial landing of the coy was very difficult owning
to a sandbar which was at our particular beach. THe LOI could not get. in
close enough to ensure a quick landing, the result being that the men had
to swim ashore with the aid of a rope which wae stretched from the LOI to
shore. Great difficulty was further entailed in trying to unload ,. Ms
and bombs. The unloading was finally completed and with the aid of hand
trucks (') and mules whi:ch were requisitioned the coy moved up to bde. to
the bde veh pk. The Mor PI did not come into an aotual engagement with
the enemy until they mached LEONFORTE, -nere they engaged the enemy using
smoke and HE with good effect knocking out one OP add MG poets. Dur-
this engagement 1 man was killed due to MG fire. That same night the Mor
Pl using 6 guns put up , heavy barrage on the town, using 800 bombl HE &
Sand oausing very heavy damage to the enemy, and having a devastating
effect on their morale. From there on the Mor PI had very little to do
due to the fact that their mor range in comparison to the German's was quite
a handidap.
The A/tk pl, under similar considtions to the Mor PL, were landed on the
beach and RV'd at area COUGAR. They followed bn from area COUGAR to PIAZZA
ARMERINA, where the,. were joined by their light scale. From there the,y
continued along the axis of advance, being used mainly as protection for
BHQ. .1 gun and were put out of commission on a hill midway between
VALQUmfIRA and LEONFORTE. From there 5 guns weme moved up to LOON where
under mor fire they had their first cas. They continued their advance to
AGIRA behind the fwd coy. 2000 yds on the outskirts 0 f AGIRA the bn wae
consolidated on a hill. It was here that SGT Sweeney at a range of 1700
yds fired 6 rounds HE at a KG post which was in a oave, and was later credited
with knooking out the post. The next day Sgt. Ley fired one AP at a bldg
occupied by the Germans, haying a direct hit, causing this partioular group
of enemy to retire. The guns as a whole were able to enage enemy targets
from this hill with quite good resulte. Sgt. Smith was at this eame
area by ebemy mOr fire; also pte. Tupper. The Pl Oomd, Oapt Money was taken
prisoner a few days later, having advanced too far on his m/c into enemy
territory.
Pion PL. 'men landed with each of 2 leading - A and 0 - and cleared
the beacl) for them. 'm'n aleo landed with eaoh of Band D ooys. Pte Parr
PIONEER PLATOON
Three men landed vdth each of the two leading Cays. "An & "c" and
cleared the beach for them,3 men also landed with each of liB" & "D"
Coys.

Pte. Parr. with IlDTl Coy.was wounded in the landing the Platoon conmander
Lt.Budd.was the U.L.O.thE remainder of the platoon,5 men landed at
the truck carrying their stores-was lost due to
in the landing.
The men with the Coys. acted riflemen and blew up enemy stores,guns,
ammo,etc.for the first three days,when they returned to B.H.Q.
The remainder under Lt.Budd.moved up in a captured Italiam trmck and
rejoined the Platoon outside PIAZZO ARMSRIA,which had been taken by a
night patrol,50o/0 of which were Pioneer Platoon personnel.
From then on in the Platoon moved with B.H.Q.protection.
At LEON FORTE the platoon commander Lt.Budd.was killed.
From AGIRA on the platoon travelled with the leading Coy.as mine
clearers and Tank hunters, and also We!lt into action as inf2ntry th
"c., Coy. returning later to B.H.Q.as protection again.
PLATOON was used mainly to transport troops up to the front
when the necessity for speed and (iuick transportation of infantry was
needed,they were also used as ammunition carriers for the Coys.and in
some cases to take up rations and water to forwarCl Coys.
Their flrst engagement with the enemy was on the hill outside LEON FORTE
,vHERE UoING DISM:OUNTED action they engaged the enemy with 9 Bren guns
and small arms fire.
This hill was brought under very heavy lilort&r fire from the enemy <ind
the Platoon suffered 7 casualties,the platoon officer was one of them.
As a result of this engagement 2 of the wounded later died.
This vias the same hill where the ivlortar Flatoon had. their first engage-
ment,and first casualty.
Pr ,vious to this the Platoon commander Lt.Hall.was -I'Vounded and had gone
down the line,which leaves the platoon with no officers,as it stands at t
the present moment.
Carrier sections were also used as aa.v&nce guards for the forwarri
while travelling along roads.
The Platoon,;unfortunately could not be used in theitl true role, a.s it is
o.efini harrier coumtry and would have been suicidal to try and use
them on cross country work.
The Coy.as a whole have shown gceat results from their previous three
years training,Etnd the courage and spirit of the men has been magnificmBt
throughout the entire carnpaign,and they are at the present mOl!tent as is
the rest of the En.enjoying a Viell earned rest in a rest area.
ncn CO.MPANY.
10 July !Tcn Coy.assault scale entered their L.C.fils at Midnight,leaving
the HMT CIBCASSIA at 0030hrs.in a very rough sea.
They landed a t 0245hrs. -Zero hour, but sligntly off the marl{ from SUGAR
AliBER to the left.
ShO,1 l,,;_n dng in a ;:, ft. runnel 00 yarcis from shore.
#15 PIEi.toon ',VCiS fir ;'.1. upon by a. single Mortar which creatl,=d 5 casualties
all but one walking "ounded.
Each Platoon carried out the normal bangalore and wire drill,15 Platoon
crossing by rabbit netting. -
The Coy. proceedlOJd -West E.l.long the sandhills i:...nd vihe.-yards, as left forwarc
Coy. Vui th "A" Coy. on the right, very li ttle tion met, 16 ]Jrisoners
.vere taken by the time the Coy. reached PANTANO LONG1-i.RINI.
Here contact was made with the S.S.Bde.
The Coy then proceeded on to "COUGl,RlI the s;cond objective,rising grounQ
N.W.of PAN.LONGARINI,this was reached in the early afternoon.
All platoons at once dug in,by 1800hrs.the LOB's appeared just as the
enemy opened up with his :'Jl ortar but with little succes s.
At 21JOhrs.the Coy.moved off across to the display of
A.A.fire from the beach could be seenbehind us.
After a difficult night of marching across country the Coy.reached its
objective BADGER by dawn of 11 July where it again dug in,two prisoners
being taken here.
IlJULY.43.
In the the Coy. received orders to move by truck to the coast t
town of POZZALO to take over occupation duties.
The people were found to be; starving,German just left.
A search was made for food,arms,and instillation::3,etc.
Much booty was found as well as 250 prisoners plus 10 officers,they were
housed in the Tovm Hall.
snipers gave some trouble.
Appendix to Seaf W, July, 194, (Ooy narratives - ')
with 0 coy was wounded in the landing. The pl comd, Lt. Budd, was the
UW. The remainder of the pl, 5 men, landed at 0800 hrs and the truck
carrying their stores was lost due to submersion in the landing. The men
with the coys acted as riflemen and blew up enemy stores, guns, ammo. etc.,
for the first , daye when they returned to BEQ. The remainder under Lt.
Budd moved up in a captured Italian truck and rejoined the pl outside
PIAAZA ARMERINA, had been taken by a night patrol, 50 % of which
were pion pl persallel. P'rom then on, the pl moved with BHQ, doing BHQ
protection. At LEONFCRTE the Pl comd, Lt. was killed. P'rom AGIRA
on the pl travlled with the leading coy as mine clelll"ers, tank huntere,
and also went into action as info with 0 coy, returning later to BEQ as
protection again.
The Oarrier pl. This was used mainly to transport troops up to the
front, when epped wae essential. They were also used as ammo carriers for
the coys, and in some cases to take up rations and to coys. Their
first engagement with tabe enemy on the hill outside LEONFORTE where
using dismounted action they engaged the enemy with 9 brens and SA fire.
This hill was brought under very heavy mor fire from the enemy, and the
pI suffered 7 cas; the pI offr was one of them. As a 'result of this en-
gagement 2 of the wounded. later died. Thla wae the eame hill where the
mor pl had their first eng and first cas. Previous to this the pl comd.,
Lt. Hall, was wounded and had to go down line which left the pl. with
o Ooy
no offra, as it stands at the present moment. Oarrier secs were also used
as advanced gds for the fwd coys while travelling along roads. The pl un-
fortunately oould not be ' used in their true role, as it is definitely (not?)
carrier country, and &ave Qeen suicidal to try to UBe them on cross-
country work. The coy ae a whole has shown great rNults for their previous
three years training. and the courage and spirit of the men has been mag-
'nificent throughout the entire campaign. and they are at the present moment
as is the rest fo the bn ' enjoying a well-earned rest in the srea.
Jul 10 0 coy assault scale entered their LOAs at midnight leaving the HMT
OIROASSIA AT hrs in a very rough sea. They landed at 0245 brs, zero
br, but slightly off the mark from SUGAR AMBER to the lett. Webshod landing
in .a , f't runnel 50 yd. from smre. No 15 PL was fired upon by a single
mortar which created 5 cae, all but 1 walk wounded. Each pl carried out the
nonnal bangalore and wire drill, 15 PL crossing by rabbit netting. The
, coy proceeded west along the sand hills and vineyards as left fwd coy
A coy on the right. Very little opposition met; 16 PW taken by the time
the coy reached PANTINO LONGARINI; here contact was made with. the SS bde.
The coy them proceeded to COUGAR, the second objective, rising ground NW
of PANT LONG; thh was reached in the early afternoon. All pls .at once
dug'in; by 1800 hrs the WBB appeared, just as the enemy opened up with hie
mortar, but with little success. At 2100 Ms the coy moved off across to
the NW and great display of ac ac fire from the beach could be seen behind
us. After a difficult night of marching across country the coy reached ita
obj BAlDER by dawn of 11 July, where it again dug in" two PW being taken
here.
Jul 11 In the afternoon the ooy received orders to move by truck to the coast
tolCl of POZZALO to take over occupation, duties. The people were found . to be
starving, Genaan ac ac had just left; a search was made for food, arms and
equipment, radio installations; much booty was found ae well as 250 PW , plus
I'C n /j'lY
.:LJUi,Y.
The Grb.nary WDS broken into toda.y c:..nd distributed to tu' Civil
Bread and were at once started.
'Ihe loca.l Postmaster and a Priest proved ::;ome con:5ider, ble hGlj).
The Facist .iayor and cur!)oration the redily need food.
General Peacee the Corps COlll.lllclnder flrriv8d na seemed ',,, eli. olec.:;ed ',',i t-h
made.
13 JUl ,Y.
boon t.fter dawn fficmy 11eople v,ere out i.:..nd ,.ere forBed into 'lue,;ues ; sking
for bakery was re-opened and further mHde to
bread. A new chosun.
All prisoner:.; ti:;.,Ken for a si'vim,L,nd later on taken ct'''lJ.y by L.C.I.
l<j, JULY.
Li:;ft <it midnight cd1d arrived xmlxxxxixRllI. with the En.which 1;;as N
of MODICA. Capt.Pb.rkl:;r was It;:ft at Cirea as i/c of the Coys.L.O.B.' s
15 JULY.
The Coy. as c.tdvc.nce guard to the Bn.ma.rcheQ aCltOS::I country till ;=liCKed uJ:
b the tl'<;n::; Dart short of Ci'lIHA.iONTE.
It) .TULY. .
He:.:;t dey, tf!oving b transport in the evelling.
17 JULY.
Coy as Cidvance guard thruugh hour halt t;.en "An COy'.&!:o
u.-iv,_,nce Coy.,first real "ith enelllY fire.
13 JULY
Continued adv, .. Ilce,})Cltrol ;jent out Cit night under ':;gt.Mottl.lJOthing to XIf
re:)ort.
1;3 JULY.
At night "ClI Coy gUL.rdl tv (.>Ut!:'H\.irt.s of Lj,ON FORTE.
Hell broke loose at first light,"C" COY.bS advance Coy.took the brunt ora
the fire f-com tOVin. Some occurcd in our oU'lm Arty. b;..;,rrCJ.ge.
Tho. t night :)3. trol filtered b2_ck to Coy. lieployed on high ground S. of tov\m.
Volunteers fori,led of attacKing force on to\',-n at night.
JULY.
Hest doyon high ground of to-,;n ..
JULY.
.. 14 Platoon to Bde. D.S defence plv. toon, SEi..me resting.
22 JULY.
Coy.moved off in the morning to AbSOHO took up ;osi tion on hill [dong
;:ide "A" Coy. .
26 JULY.
Coy.rested,reinforcements (5) arrived.
;.,4 JULY.
; 14 Platoon rejoined Bn.moved off to this
throughout night.
t'5 JULY.
Coy. rinned at dtivm by enemy fire . '16 Platoon did right flc,ihking
movement hnd drove out crews of three H.G.posts. It> Pl<:'ltoon :,ent forv.i-Ird
PlAT Lo attack ttlnk, but tank retreated.
Coy. contimued in rear Bn. H. Coy. did R. fL_.nking movement to hilly
fee. tures overlooking AGlRA. f'15 Plc.toan acted (,:l.S covering Pl. 011 If:ft
fli:.nk of Coy. rIB Plc,toon 011 high ground ::,hort of GRIZL-LY. IVl Pl&toon
to work (_!round to right and storm position.
;':6 JULY.
ILl Platoon despite rough going succeeded in Lheir obj active
just at dawn,bringing relief to "A" of Coy. joined .Pl.
und on
JULY. Rested.)
G8" ,rt l
;:.,9" "
"
31
"
II
)
/
Appendix to Seaf W, July, (Ooy narratives -4)
10 o:ff'rs, and these were houaed in the town hall. Snipers gave some
trouble.
Jul 12 The granary was broken into today, and grain distributed to the civil-
ians; bread and maccaroni queues were at once started. The local postmaster
and a priest proved some coneiderable the fasicst and corpora-
tion had fled; the civilians really need food. General p.ftpCe, the corps
commander, arrived and seemed well pleased with the arrangements made.
Soon after dawn, many people were out and formed into queues asking
for bread; the bakery was reopened, and fUrther arrangement was made to
distribute bread. A new mayor was chosen; all prisoners taken for a swim,
and later on were taken away by LOI.
Jul 14 Left RZZAW at midnight, and arrived with the bn, which was north of
MODIOA. Oapt Parker was left at area i/c coys W8s.
Jul 15 The coy as advanced guard to the bn marohed across country till picsed
up by the transport ahort ofOhiramonte
Jul
Jul
16 day, moving bn trpt in the evening.
17 Coy ae advanced guard through V ALGUARNmU ; 2 hr halt, then A coy as
Jul 18
Jul 19
Jul 20
Jul 21
22 Jul
2, Jul
Jul 24
advanced coy, first real contact with enemy fire.
Oontinued advance; patrol sent out at night under Sgt. Mottl; n.t'Fpt.
t
At night 0 coy advanced guard to outskirts of L&:INP'ORTS. Hell broke lCl)8e
at first light. 0 cot, as advanced coy, took the brunt of the fire from
the town. Some cas i.n. our own artillery barrage. That night patrol
fil tered back to coy deployed on high ground south of town. Volunteers
formed an attacking force on town that night.
Rest day on high ground south of town.
No 14 Pl to Bde as defence pl; same resting.
Ooy moved off in the morning to ASOORO; took up position on hill alongside
A ooy.
Ooy rel!'ted; reinfs, 5 in number, arrived.
No 14 PI rejoined bn.
throughout the night.
Moved off to NISBORIA thie eveing. Ooy marched
Jul 25 Ooy pinned down at dawn by enemy fire. No I 1, PI did right flanking
movement and drove out cren of three Mg poats. No 15 Pl sent foward PlAT
fie attaCk tank, but. tank retreated. Ooy continued in reall or bn La:ter
coy did right flanking movement to hilly featurEs overlooking AGIRA. No.
15 PL acted as covering pi on the left flank of 0 coy. No 1, Pion the high
short of GRIZZLY. 14 pl to lC)rk round to right and storm position.
Ju126 14 pi, despite rough going, succeeded in scaling their obj just at dawn.
bringing relief' to A coy. The remainder of coy joined 14 Pl . and consolidated
on GRIZZLY.
Jul 27 Rested, and so also 28, 29. and ,1. All on GRIZZLY
. ,..-
/
/
.. ,- .. -
, J
., COHPAJIT .
rsJULY.
'o" rhe Granary was broken. into today and grain distributed to the Civilians
/Bread and Macaroni queques were at once started.
, f The local Postmaster and a Priest proved some considerable help.
I Tlie Facist :jayor and corporation hadfled, the civilians really need food.
/
' General the Corps Commander arrived ."nd seemed ",veIl pleased with
arrangements made .
13 JULY.
Soon after dal'ffi many people were out and'iere formed into queques c:..sking
for bread, the bakery was re-opened and further arrangements made to
distribute bread. A new Mayor was chosen.
All prisoners taken for a $\vim,and later on were taken away by L.C.I.
14 JULY
. Left POZZALO at midnight and arrived xmlXiKXXXYRN with the En.which was N
of MODICA. Capt.Parker was left at area as ijc of the Coys.L.O.B.'s
15 JULY. . .
The Coy. as advance guard to the Bn.marched country till picked u;
. b" the transport short of
16 JULY.
Rest day,moving b : transport in the eve:ming.
17 JULY.
Coy as advance guard through VALGUARIfERA; 2 hour halt then "A" Coy.as
advance Coy.,first_real contact \lith enemy fire.
18 JU:'Y
Continued advance,patrol sent out at night under Sgt.Mottl.nothing to XE
report. r
19 JULY. I
At night "C" Coy.advance guard! to outsldrts of LbON FORTE. *
Hell broke loose at first light,"C" Coy.as advance Coy.took the brunt oft
.the fire from town. Some casualties occured in our own Arty.barrage.
That night patrol, filtered back to Coy.deployed on high grou .. YJ.d S.of to':n.
Volunteer s fOLJ8
r
t. :of attacking force on tovm at night.
20 JULY. \
Rest dayon high ground South of town.
21 JULY.
#14 Platoon to Bde .a.s defence ple.toon, same resting.
22 JULY.
Coy.moved off in the morning to ASSORO took up position on hill along
side "A" Coy.
23 JULY.
Coy.rested,reinforcementS (5) arrived.
24 JULY.
Platoon rejoined En.moved
throughout night.
25 JU:SY.
off to NISoORIA this evening,Coy.marched
I
Coy. pinned dOVvn at dawn by enemy fire. Platoon did right flabking
movement and drove out crews of three M.G.posts. 15 Platoon sent
PIAT to attack tank,but tank retreated.
Coy.contimued in rear Bn.H.Q.later Coy.did R.flcmking movement to hill!
features overlooking AGIB.A. #15 Platoon acted a's covering Pl.on left
flank of Coy. #15 Platoon on high ground short of GRIZZLY. PIc.. toor:
to vmrk around to right and storm position.
26 JULY.
7114 Platoon despite rough going succeeded in scaling
just at dawn,bringing relief to "An Coy.remainder of
and consolidated on GRIZZLY.
ii Re!ted
O
j
) On GRIZZLYo
31" "
their objective
Coy. joined 14 Pl.
,
/
I
I
/
I '
l.
I
Melhu1sh Correspondence (Seq. beginning 15 March 4,)
17 March 4,:
6 April 4,
25 April 4,
29 April 4,
16 May 4,
2 June 4,
n.d.
29 July 4,
,1 July 4,
(Viei t to Lewes) "I wst to Anne of Cleves house, which was filled
with antiques and old English oddities, etc 1 had tea and scones
at the Bull House, an old shop of 1768 vintage,"
"
Divisional inspection on. General said"'Thank you very much" to
several privatee who saluted during the scheme we had this after-
noon."
Letter to John McLean at 1 OIRU took one month to travel the 50 miles
from the field unit. Reports ",000 Anglo-Canadian babies in Sussex
alone. 12 girl., in Brighton married per dis, they do ny."
"How did I spend my birthday? Got at 0720 brs ,had a platoon boot
inspection, got ticked off for one of my men having a dirty rifle, lay
in the sun and dozed after lunch, went to I'l show, met Don Colquhoun
and Budd and we went to the Pelham Olub for a couple of hours where
we played billiards of a sort, drank brown ales and light ales and dark
ales, met some jolly English officers and finally found ourselves in
their mess. Ate and sang and drank and told stories until 12,0 and
finally beetled home.
1I
Ohruchill has lifted ban on church bells
Mertions Eastbourne and my arrival at bn, with John stone Orou?
A Sunday, and records night pranks which lost me my tooth which places
this at Inverarry. "Robbie McD was picked up, bed and flea bag complete,
and rushed outside into the darkness of the night. Someone lit thunder-
flashes and tossed them her and tossed ths th,ere. Dickie Wilson,
feeling Robbie was missing some of this' fUn, obligingly slipped out to
blow him up. Jim Budd tipped up some other jokers I bed to a 89 deg.
angle, while Johm McLean calmly produced a whacking loaf of bread plu8
cream cheeee aad carved slices off with a horrible looking commando
knife of sorte. By this time a window had gown and people came
streaking acrose from all directions to have a lookOsee. Bordon Oam-
eron found hie complete kit, bed. etc. beneath a tree somewhere in thJ
ddstanoe, while Les Pronger played sleepy poseum with smoke pouring from
under his bed from ye thundeflashee."
Nr G1lI.8gow? Mention evening in town with John and me pub crawl walk
home to the racetrack?
On board? "Th'e men are really amazing They beef' about the moet tri-
vial matters, such as breakfaet being 5 minutes late, b,.t when conditione
are frightful and "everyone hilS been having a poor time they show the most
amazing spirit and morale. For instance, the other day one scheme we
were up all night and then around in the pouring rain for 6 houre!
What do these boye do but organize Iln impromptu etreet show, dancing and
singing and laughing amid it aU .... "We had quite a bit of entertain-
.ent laet night a big e1ng-song around the piano in the officers lounge
an acoordion with the men later orm, the radio for a while, and bridge
and pokeBr and cheu." Quotes me on IILife' e a checkerboard of nights
and days/ Where Fate, with men for pieces plays."
"the average rental for most Sicilian bouees (?) lC)uld be about 12.50 per
month' on Oanadian levels "
In hospital- with sprained ankle. "Paul, get used to long, tough, food ..
leu marches and learn to dig !lit trencges."
Miscellaneoue.,. from OMlQ Report No. 126.
A. F. H. II. Ei aen}'x) wer
18 Army Group. (Force 141)
Eastern Task Foroe. Montgomery (Forec 545)
West ern Task Foroe. Patton (Force
.o.eoo ooo
1 Oan Div replaces Brit Div.
o 0 0 0 DO 00
1 Odn Army Tk Bde turn in Ram II s for Shermans
DOOOO_ O O
Discussion of withdrawal of 2 pdre in favour of 6 pdre 2 pdr ammo would
still be available from Middle east p19
OG ooo.
Oan tps put u/c British 'fGrmations by use of Visiting Forces Act Odn commander
retains right of reference to Odn government.

Major-General Salmon killed in air orash 0900 brs 29 Apr 43 nr Barnstaple, Devonshire
- ........... 0 0
Olearly Monty' s decision to fight main battle on the Catania plain ,"This is the
8th Army way 0 f fightinf and it will either be done that way or they w111 get
somebody else to do it.

Lieut.-General Sir Oliver Leese, G.O.C. 30 Corps.
. . . . . . . . . .
Lt.-col. Gilbride notes special needs for K1SKY. Waterproofing Shermans; conformity
to Br. equipment.; 4 X 4 for crossing sandbars, cutting out water trailers
and using watertrucks instead , No shipping from UK until D + 42. Immensely compli-
oated arrangements to make sure right stores, right men, on right vehicles were on
appropriate oonvoys.

A Oan Section G.H.Q. 1st Echelon authorized at General Alexander'e HQ. Also a
separate Can Section G. H.Q. 2nd

"To conform with establishments, the Oanadian Infantry bns were mobilized
to the former W.E. of 4 Rifle Ooys rather than Reinfs to be held lion the basis
of two months at intense rates.
II
-'96 offre and Ors Nos 1 and 2 Bns,
oaRD - Infantry; Nos. and 4 - all arms. No.4 Bn 117 offrs and 1'38 ORs to be
brought along on (folloW"-up) convoy. (These proved useful unloading munitions,
tations, stores, on beaohee and later available as ready reinfs.) Not enough OR
relnfs from reinf unite in UK -- so drawn from other Oanadian field formations
2,3,4,5 divsj Lorne Scots Trg Bn, etc. p40.
CMlQ Reort No. 126 (2)
5 and 15 Gen Hesps allocated 2 Canadian Field Surgical Unita Est initial cae-
ualties as D - 1000 I 0.. 1 - 600; 0..2 ... 500, etc. p 41.
Arrangsnents aleo for 1 Can Debtal COl; A Canadian Graves Reg1etr at ion Unit; 1 and
2 Can Line of Communications Provost Section; Det 1st Can Army Base Poet Office.
No.1 Canadian public Relatione Detacl'Jnent. Historical Recorder; War Artist. TlC>
compl et e Bde Worksmps
0 0.0
TMOs taken because stene not used in the Middle East. Inf 2pdr rejllaced by 6 pdrs
p 4, Saek LIe received new weapons, 4.2 Mortars and oerlikons. New type o>f res-
piator issued an'd new mark of anti-gas ointment PlAT
ooo
Ex-cavalr'y offr and muleteers attached to Div and 100 sets of pack tiadlery. -
dOOO.OO O
E.F.I. stores proved on full scale for ,0 days incl beer and spirits.
45,000 mosquito net a provided; special camouflauge paint; rope eo 1 ed ahoes; tinted eye
shields and glasses; wading stretchers for motorcycles; Everest carriers; fly swatters
flit guns.
0.00 00
Importanoe 0 f the D.U oK W.8 though not eap to 2 CIB

0
General Simmonds told "thia was to be the beat found Expedition which ever left the
Unit ed Kingdom." p45
0 ' .
Ratione: (Chocolate) Ration -
48 hr Mess Tin Ration
COMPO Pack ( 14 men)
Tommy Cookers (1 per Meee Tin
Ration)
. Self-Heating Soup
NO Bread
1 per man
1 per man
For all tps and Ps W until D + 24
1 per man
one gallon of water per man per day all purposea. s+;aerllization tablets iesued
. . . . . . .
Oivil Affairs, to look after "the early resumption in the territory of law and
order and the normal life of the cibilian population"
. . . . . . . . .
Intelligence: Tremendous detail avaiable on Sicily. Inter Servioe Infbrmatlon
Series issued special report as supplement to the velume "Resources" I in 41
closely printed pages listed 21717 springs to be foun' in the along with
ilffin on location, their yeild per second, etc. p52. History politics, geog,
topog, economic s. etc. Political apathy 0 f Sicilians; 40 per cent illiterate.
"Almoet the whole island is occupied by mountains and hille, which fall either
dir ectly to the sea or to restricted coastal plaine or terraces. only substantial
piece of low ground is south of Mt Etna lower courses ot: R. Simeto, R. Dittaino,
R. Cornalunga Catanian plain.
,
C.M.H.Q.. Report No. 126
Enemy Dispositionsl
Military force of island coneiderably increased during last 2 months preceding
invasion. Italian tps, Sixth Army Command, est'd at 229,000 X1I and XVI Army
Corps . making up 4 field and 2 coastal dive. Eastern part of ieland had 4
Livorno Div, 54 Napoli Div, 206 and Coastal dive. 4 Livorno div in Oaltagirone
area. GermanI Hennan Goering Div to be conoentrated in Sic11y by June. Later
learned that 15 Panzer Grenadier Div aleo on leland.
BeachelU
Beach No. 57, BARK WEST extending along the eouthweetern side of the Pachino
Peninsula. Divided into ROGm and SUGAR; fUrther divided into RED, AMBER, and
aREEN seotions. Total length of beach yards; width 86 to 145 feet 4 MT
exits. Limestone ridge behind beach; salt -lakee" or marshes not known what
state these would be in in the summer. p 56 Sanbars.
Expected immed. oppositions (Security lost D - 1)
Air and submarine attacks on convoys; arty fire from '8 to 12 as LOe approached
beaohes, plus MG firej sandbar s and underwater mines; wire entanglements on beache.,
perhaps mines and booby traps, fire from MG poste and plllbozesa "Heavy casualt1e.
were to be if enemy put everything into their defence." p58. Lee.e
quote.: Italians not strong on cia roles; may fight stubbornly in defence; but "The
great point about the Italian is that he do ee not hang on and fight, once the
leading troops have by-passed him, as ie the custom with the Germans -- a cuatom
that makes the German such a difficult eustomer to mop up." p58. Most diffioult
challenge would come from o/a by German battle group assisted by tanks. Expect 80me
hostile air activity over beaches for first few days.
Intentions
originally just to "seize and hold Sicily"; but (Leese) "The objeot now is to
dominate .... s soon as possible and to get a footing in the South of the mainland of
Mesaina Straits (10 June
Our Own Tps:
,0 Oorpss 1 Can Inf Div; 51st (Highland Div); Inf Bde. Role of ,a Corps
pr<imarlly to aee1st Corps. Leese, to Sinumde-- "The Allied plan after landing,
therefore, is fbr the Americans to form a firm base on the West covering the aero-
dromes, and for Corps to drive on relentlessly in order to seize SmACUSE,
AUGUSTA and CATANIA with the possible delay. From these bases the Eight Army
will strike with its right in order to secure croasings over the Itraits. The
general conception is tl'n..ls to hold on the left and strike on the right. By this
means we shal11d ' out off and isolate the enemy still holding out around PALERMO and
in the West of the Island.
1I
p61. If things tough on the Oatania front, Gen
Simonds to limit himself aroun' RAGUSA.
Navya Force MV- u/c Rear Admiral Sir Philip Vian, 1.B.E., D.S.O. Naval Support
gp kno wn as Force "KII (4 cru1eer s, 6 destroyera) based on Malta to auiat escorting
'to southeastern beaches. Further gun support from 2 monitors, 5 gunboats, 9 landing
craft; &Un (large). 6 l.nding oraft tank (rocket) and 8 landing craft; flak. Each
task force had alSo 4 submarines at its disposal. In all lOme 2600 assault craft,
tpts, and naval veuela sued. 750 tpts. Force "V" had 80-84 tps. General RV
1I0uth of Malta 1200hrs, D-1. Landing to be". silent one until the enemy made
it noisy " Fighter cover from PANTELLARIA and MALTA. p64.
Cover planss Orete for 24 July; Peloponnese for 26 July; Corsica and Sardinia
for July.
Sicily section, miac",llaneoue: from Loyal Edmonton- War Diary, Voke's battle-creed:
good scalping division. On the eve of our baptism of fire, for which we have all
t-rained so hard and so long, I wish to issu,e the creed which will govern all of
us throughout this campaign. end any subsequent one. firstly, we are free men,
fighting for a just cause; therefore, we are invincible. Secondly, we will seek
out and destory the enemy whereever he may be found. Thirdly, we must be hard and
ruthless; we must never relax or relent until the victory is ours. Fourthly, we
must never ask for quarter; therefore it will be our prerogative to grant it. Fifthly,
only cowards Burrender. I am presenting each unit of the Brigade herewith a copy
of the second brigade pennant, to be kno\'41. as the George Baker. We will carry them
with us through Italy and Germany. Finally, good luck, and good scalping to you
one and all. Signed, o. Vokee, Brig. Dated July, 1943.
From Appendix to Seaforth WD. Letter from O.J. Egan, Oapt. No.1 Oan. FDS, ROAMO,
dated 28th July, 1943. To B.M. Hoffmeister, SH of o. Sir: It is with def'lp
r"'gret'that 1 write this letter. Unfortunately it brings bad news. Art French died
this afternoon, and was burried this evening. He was with' for just about a week,
and although everything in the power of oursurgeons and staff was done he just dick1t
make the grade. Hie body is burried About 150 yards south of the school in VALGUAR-
,NERAj He is not alone in this small cemetery, there being five other Seaforthe
there as well; they are Opl. King, ROO, Pte Obrien, Pte Morrison, wa, Pte Warnica,
and Pte. Doyle. Quite a 'number of Seaforlhs passed through our hands, but except
fot those mentioned above, all have been evacuated from here to OOS and other for-
mations. Bill i'-Ierritt was one of the last to go and was in quite good spirits, in
fact a lot, better than when he came in. Well Sir, I thalllk you again for the assoc-
iation I had with the regiemtn, and wish to say in clsoing that if there is any
formation 1 Can give you concerning, members of the battalion: who have passed through
our hands 1 will be only too glad to do so. Wishing you and all under your
the best of luck, I remain, sir, you onetime ,dental officer, Jack Egan.
From Seaforth's WD, 1 July to July Quotation from the Red Patch, Divisiobal
publication, Vol. 1, No.1, Sicily, dated 29 July, On its masthead there is .
this quotation: "The English are good, and the Canadians are good -- but the boys
with thA Red Patches - they are devils". Attributed to veteran German Sgt. Agira.
Issue contains war-correspondent dispatches to Canada re: storming of Agira. The
Montreal Gazette W-C says, MThis battle waa the most glittering victory the Can-
adians in the Sicilian camgaigno It was here that the Germand elected to halt a
long 'retreat from the south coast and to turn and fight in carefully prppared positions.
The enemy bolstered the 'alient withttoopa rushed from t,he Italian mainlalhd dur.ing
the last eight days, but they callapaed completely under the merciless bombardment
of our artillery and air support, followed hy' infantry charges."
In issue No. &ted July the Montreal Gazette corres. says: "Figures are not
yet complete, but during the last eight days the Oanadians have killed approx. 900
Nazie, taken 550 PW, and wounded many more Germand. M
Appendices to Seafroth WD July GERMAN ARMY ORGANIZATION. The German Infantry
Regiment is the same as a British Brigade. German infantry battalions consist of
BHQ, info coys, and 1 Jl.fG coy. -Rifle coy consists of approx. tq 220 men. 4
info platoons and 1 A/tk pl. Each of these info ph. cons4:iets of 4 info sections
of about 40 men in total. Pl. Pl comd., Pl sgt., bugler, medical orderly, ord-
erly with bike, mortar section. Inf. sec. consists 0 f, 1 cpl and 9 men. 208KK1
General description of Pachino-Ispica rd. This road is unmettalled, approx. 5 m.
wide. There stone walls al'img most of its length, not higher than 1 m. Oer-
tain proprietors have used carefully planted prickly pears , 1 to 2 m. in he;ght in-
stead of walls to pravent trespassers. The surrounding countl"y is cultivated almost
entirely with vineyards in the Pacrino area, while towards :rspica cereals, olives,
.
and e?lmonds aT e pr adominant.
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Miscellaneous notes for collation of 2 OIB Ws
PPOLl: July, 4,
PPOLI troopship was HMT LLANGIBBY OASTLE
, July Noted weather is perfect, and eome concel'flOver cases of sunburn: cases
of sunburn requiring medical aid will be classed as SIWs and the necessary
action aken.
4 July All ranks change over to KDs
9 July Diary quotes order of the day from Brig Ohris Vokesl "Actions apeak louder
than worda. Go in and get the baa1iarda
ll
Diarht adda: ',The 1fI'Drds wer:e typical
of our Brig and a roaring cheer greeted them
ll

10 July Notea bn u/c of Lt-col R.A. Lindaay. Serials stoods by in their mesadecks
at 2,45 hrs, 9 July, and at approx 0100 hrs first flighta were 10weNd to commence
the rough 7 mUe trip to, SUGAR GREEN bt?ach. The landing was made with Band D
coya in the aasault. Oomplete aurpriae was effected. A certain amount of MG
firing on fixed linea and also some heavy wire. Serials made up from BHQ, A and
o coya followed the assaulting tpa and came under heavy fire from coastal btty8
which weNt sU ecned at 0445 hr s by Navy guna. Due to the tleavy awells eome ser-
ials became acattered and a certain amount of confusion resulted, as timing was
put out, and some landed at wrong placea; however the bn was BOon able to rearg
and pushed fwd from the initial beachhead position to oocupv the ground planned
as the first phase of the invadon. At approx 1000 hra the first phaae was com-
pleted and the bn coneloldated with the coys .. king up the positona previouely
alloted 1n the planning.
12 July The PfaLl entered MODIOI, at least a patrol did, and oame back with the
DiY comand and Div HQ of the 54th NAPOLI DIV.
14 July Near RAGUSAI today wa. marked by a v:hit by Gen BL Montgomery: a parade
which included SH of 0, engineers, imd other elementa of the bde gp waa
formed up to await his arrival. The car bearing MONTY drove up and on hi I!I)rder
the complete parade, doubled forward and gathered around the vehicle. He talked'.'
to the tps in a personal and informal manner welcoming them to the 8th Army,
praiaing the Oanadian. fighting traditiona and commenting on the excellent health
and spirits ot: the men. Wien he mentioned 'that he had met us before, all remembered
the great excer-eiee TIGER in England and cries of TIGER WENT Up.
19 July Diarist 8ports that after pauing VALGUARNERA about 1000 brs
to a point about, mUes beyond the town, we were once more held up aa the Seaf
had contacted the enemy but were pinned to the ground by mortaring and shelling.
PPOLI were ordered to attack and occupy the high ground in the vicinity of ... ,58,
Sheet 268. By 2000 hrs all eitjs taken with the support of MGs and tks.
20 July Early attar firat light the bde puw.,.i W8a continued and the Edmon Reg.
and SlbfO passed through us in that order; as we moved behind the Seaf the two
leading bns came under mortar and arty fire. PfOLI withdwn to previoua night'a
positions and ordered to attack mount ROSSIi square Sheet 268. This attack
went in and was succeasful. Diarist notesl The regiment's first contact with
the German.
2, July At the close of the battle foe LEONFORTE, diarist reportsl cost to bn
of 64 killed and wounded
We have been at sea for a good many days now.
,
The sea is flat calm and a heavenly blue. The sun is
lovely, so hot that it must be taken in very small doses
until the browning process is complete.
Just got started, when they began throwing
depth charges around - far too interesting for letter
writing. It's next day now, still hot, calm and peaceful.
The trip has been entirely unmolested so far,
a tremendous manifestation of British sea power. The
occasional display of depth charge explosions seems to
be just a show of spirit on the part of our escort.
Of course there has been a good deal to do during the
trip - enough to keep me busy without overworking. I
have only read one book, borrowed from Bert.
The food has been extremely good, with no
ration restrictions at all. I expect I have put on a
good deal of fat. I know others have. Anyway I'm fit
as a fiddle.
Unfortunately the bar was closed when we
sailed, so we are getting a little tired of orange
squash and ginger ale. It offends my independence
more than my head, and that not overmuch.
We are now ready' for the next exercise,
it,'s hard to realize yet that it's anything else.
D
-2-
strange maps are in our cases, romantic names trying
our efforts at pronunciation. The orders are complete,
and slowly and surely every man is digesting them.
Morale is staggeringly high, every man raring to go.
Our comparative morale must be one of our greatest
weapons.
Yesterday we received a message of welcome and
encouragement from our famous new Commander-in-Chief.
He is a very great soldier.
In a few days' time, very early in the morning,
the world will rock with the news we have waited for so
long. "They asked for it and now they shall get it."
I can only thank God that I have been given
the tr'emendous honour of being there, one soldier in
the greatest crusade ever known in history.
It is a very great adventure and we are the Regiment to
do it justice.
Unfortunately censorship requirements still
make letter writing extremely difficult. Perhaps when
our general locality is known to everyone, I will be
able to give you more interesting descriptions of the
country, people, and our life. Any ship is super secret,
so letters are bound to be poor.
I'm going to stop now for a bit as I'm practically
)
-3-
melting. I'll go on after lunch
Next evening. Too damn many interruptions .
I'm just having the time of my life, everything is
terrific, more fun than a barrel of monkeys
There is no twilight here. The sun went
down half an hour ago (it's only quarter to ten) and it's
practically too dark to see alr-eady. The lovely evening
breeze is a welcome change from the perpetual mugginess.
11m afraid it's just a pure I simply can't
write a damn thing. Everything I do and think is taboo.
In two or three days' time I will be able (between other
things) to write and tell you something of what it is like.
There should be plenty to write about without the necessity
of touching on any security subjects.
Later: Afraid I have been pretty well on the
hop since leaving off and without any chance to write
letters.
It is now my last night in bed for a while.
Everything is packed, rarin' to go Doug Strain
has just come in. It's pretty late and we must go to
sleep. It's very hot, I'm lying on top of my bed with
just jockey shorts and a wrist-watch on. The heat
doesn't seem to bother me, but I expect it will take a
little while to get used to doing hard physical exercise
J
I
j
-4-
in this temperature.
o ~ o r r o w I must study hard to memorize the
last little details Gosh it's marvellous, I wouldn't
miss this party for anything in the world.
July 17.
A week at war now
On Friday, a week ago yesterday, the convoys
formed up for the run in. The day was brilliantly clear,
but for the first time on the trip, blowing hard and very
rough.
The greatest fleet of ships the world has ever
seen was spread out to the horizon all around us. The
scene was indescribably magnificent. Tiny little R.N.
motor launches fought their way through huge waves, be-
tween stately battleships and luxury liners. Every type
of ship and craft was laid out in display, all heading
the same way. I was very thrilled.
Preparations for landing were completed fairly
early in the day, topped off with the waterproofing of
all our documents and maps etc. The spirit of the Regiment
was terrific. I tried to get in a bit of sleep, but
eventually found enough to do without that.
As darkness fell we began to close the coast,
-5-
and the sea slackened off. It was a brilliant night, with
bright moon up till midnight.
Twenty miles or so off the coast a few aircraft
flares were dropped over us and A.A. tracer went up from
various directions to meet the visitors. A little later
the glow of a coast searchlight could be seen on the horizon.
No one could understand why such a mighty fleet
steaming on its course all day was not met with every attack
in the power of the enemy to deliver against us.
The moon had gone down and it was very dark when
we manned our craft, waiting for the order to lower away.
Visibly, the dim figures crouched in rows in
each craft were very grim reality. In spirit we all re-
sembled a football team gOing on the field to win the
biggest game of the season.
We reached our anchorage position and s t o p p e ~
Our months of preparation were complete. The command
came "Lower away."
The sea was still fairly rough but we slip
silently over each wave in turn. Dim outlines of other
craft could be seen ahead and astern of us.
The glow from a burning aerodrome inland
silhouetted the dim outline of the coast more and more
clearly as we approached. A searchlight suddenly stabbed'
-6-
the darkness towards ~ s paused and spluttered out. It
really was all very exciting. A few odd things went
over us into the sea, causing no inconvenience to anyone.
Suddenly a stream of red dots issuing from a
pill-box on our left announced the beaching of the first
wave. No great amount of firing developed and a few
minutes later we got Jim Blair's success signal and went
in to land.
A grate, a bump, and down went the door. I was
in the water, wading ashore. About fifteen yards, not
very deep, and there it was. Sicily, the land of the Wops
and the Hun. I could hardly believe it.
A lovely sandy beach was borde['ed with a barbed
wire fence even less formidable than ours in England.
We hacked a few holes in the wire and pushed inland to
-join the leading companies, through neat rows of low
bushes which daylight showed to be grapevines.
The country we had all memorized from maps and
photographs was quite easily recognizable, but the atmos-
phere and tropical trees made it all very strange.
The causeway we expected to fight hard for was
undefended when we actually got there. The Wop machine-
guns were in position and loaded. Stacks of grenades
were laid out round each post. Signs of most hasty de-
parture were evident eve['ywhere.
J
,
-7-
The few peasants on hand were terrified to
begin with, but very soon got over the shock.
The first fifty or so Wop prisoners were
rounded up and they seemed quite resigned to anything in
store for them.
Daylight showed us well established with very,
very few casualties and everyone in grand form.
The advance continued according to plan, and
we found ourselves in a vineyard on a hill overlooking
the beach area.;
Towards evening an ineffectual counter-attack
put in its appearance and smartened up our digging en-
thusiasm a bit with mortar fire. Our guns soon put a
stop to it
. Looking back on it, it would seem that either
we achieved complete surprise (almost or
the Germans didn't want to help, and the Wops didn't
want to (or couldn't) do the job without help.
We moved by night to a high position further
inland and daylight . Sunday found us there, well established
in Sicily.
Since then our advance inland has been very
rapid. Fighting on our part has been really a series
of delaying actions, no really pitched battles. Some of
the gentry pick up courage after dark and do a bit of
-8-
snip,ing a t us.
We passed through deserted Ispica in the moon-
light. The first southern tovm I had ever seen. It is
all very beautiful but too hot and dry to be perfect.
The people are indescribably poor. They have no clothes,
no shoes, and haven't eaten for days. The Hun has used
up everything for the armw.
We had a spirited little scrap in Modica, which
was apparently glad to see us when we got in to it. The
, people all cheer and clap and make a great fuss. I think
it is partly relief at losing the Germans, but chiefly an
eagerness to cadge cigarettes and a sound instinct as to
the side on which their bread is buttered.
We didn't stay in Modica, but again dug into a
little farm in the mountains. I got a little riding on
a beautiful charger "borrowed" from an Iteye cavalry
officer. We have collected quite a string of
and mules from the countryside, but as our own vehicles
arrive we gradually become more independent and too fast
for ho rses.
Ragusa is quite a fascinating place. I went
in to try and scrounge some troop trUCks, but they had
done a pretty fair job of demobilizing them. Bill Bury
was ensconced in a huge ornate office of the Prefect of
Gendarmerie, beneath the ever present ugly mug of
Benito Mussolini.
-9-
A more tangible force began to materialize
to the north so our advance quickened as we went to meet
it. Several small battles have been fought since Ragusa,
but the Canadians have not ycet fought any great victories,
contrary to reports of Canadian press news etc.
I took out my first night patrol night before
last, to see if the next town was defended or abandoned.
We found the Huns had just left, but we had fun anyway.
Several of the population turned out at three in the
morning to first stare and then to welcome us. We blew up
a tank in the middle of the main street, which sort of woke
them up. We must have been anything but reassuring, with
blackened faces and guns.
One little guy like Harpo Marx simply screamed
with delight, yelled IINoo York- Noo York
ll
then leapt on
my neck crying "Kiss me - kis.s me. II
A battle is now going on in front of us and we
are in reserve waiting to go through. Some ruddy great
guns in the field next to me make concentration difficult.
It is all tremendous fun, just like the big
schemes in England, but with a lot of added interest and
excitement. The heat really doesn't bother me much, and
I am fit as a fiddle. A few were rather overcome with
heat at first, but all are quickly getting into shape.
I have had a lot of bites, I they are ants, but
-10-
the.f seem to have stopped now.
Fruit is pleY.!-tiful and very welcome. The orchard
I am in now has big ripe purple figs in it. Oranges are
plentiful in the town stores but we haven't seen any growing
yet. I got one big lemon off a tree.
I must go now and have a shave, in case we have
to go suddenly. Sleeping and feeding times are all very
uncertain, but seem to work very well.
Aug. 3.
Another respite of unknown duration. Should be
time fo r a word or two before anything breaks. Still no
mail in from you or anyone else, though a few airmail
letters have now arrived from England. I expect to wallow
in a wacking big mail one of these days.
We have had enough rest now and are all impatient
to get on with it. First rest after action is a Heaven
sent blessing, but we are all rested now, and in good
shape for the next encounter. I expect from now on things
will move at a rather slower tempo than formerly, as the
large armies begin to close in to more restricted space
for the final kill.
Old Etna continues to smoke imperturbably above
us, a reminder that greater things than puny man inhabit
-11-
the Universe. When perched on a hill beyond range of the
receding battle, one gets an increased sense of the
futility of war. Day and night we watch people throwing
things at each other with loud bangs. It all seems very
Silly.
I'm Sitting at a table with Bert, at B.H.Q. below
our hill waiting for news or move orders. We are in the
shadow of an almond orchard, which provides some respite
from the glaring sun. As a matter of fact the intense
heat has never really bothered me and I have not succumbed
at all to any of the common diseases of the place. It
seems to agree with me. Just below our hill is a large
well with one of the common stone washing troughs beside
it. It is perfectly delightful to wallow in. Not at all
a bad substitute for a bath. Clean white bath tub, soft
bed and clean white linen sheets, Jeese what a thought.
This really is a filthy country. The American Army
pamphlet says that insanitary conditions are one of the
greatest defenses against an invader. It should not
unduly bother us as we need have little truck with the
natives and can keep pretty well out of the towns as a
rule.
The country is really very picturesque and the
colouring on the mountains, particularly at dawn and
-12-
sunset, is simply an artist's dream. I wish I had
brought out a decent handbook on Sicily, but it's too
late to do anything about it now.
Aug. 15.
11m lying on my camp bed (recently caught up
to me) under my mosquito net tent. Necessary to keep
off the flies. It's half past two. P.M. Damn hot. We
are resting in a charming little valley, shaded by orange
and fig ~ r e e s ~ with quite a decent little stream at the
bottom. We have cleaned out a concrete reservoir about
twent.y-five feet square, which is now full of water
and an excellent swimi'ning pool. It is a Garden of Eden,
Peace after the Storm.
The storm incidentally, was quite a good show,
and we feel very proud to have earned our place in the
fighting Eighth ~ r m y Our men have put up a magnificent
show. I won't bore you with any details, as no doubt
Canadian papers will eventually provide one version or ~
other Next time we go in we'll be battle tried
veterans, even more of a menace to the Huns.
Aug. 21.
We are holding the Annual Div. Sports during
this rest period. I have been pretty busy as Secretary
-13-
of the Div. Sports Committee, also organizing the Bde.
and Unit Sports. It is so hot out here that we have
to do it all in the early morning and just before dark.
I drove in to Catania the other day and got R
Morrison to fix a tooth for me. I actually slept in a
house and enjoyed the luxuries of a bathroom. It was
quite a wonderful relaxation after so long in the hillS,
to see even a bleak deserted town again. As a matter
of fact it is quite a beautiful town and should soon
pick up again. The little country towns are all simply
foul. We went for a swim near the town and it. was simply
lovely. A perfect beach and perfect sea. The troops also
went, direct from here to a different place. But their
swim was somewhat marred by stinging jelly fish.
Monty visited the brigade yesterday and gave
the Canadians a tremendous ovation. Apparently we have
done quite well.
Aug. 23.
Don Clarke blew in for a short time last night
with Andy Mac on a flying visit from England. Hence this
opportunity for a fast letter to you.
I'll try to send you a snap of me in tropical
kit if I can get one. As a matter of fact you may run
into a newspaper clipping from Canada, as the press
-14-
photographers :have been busy as bees since the fighting
stopped.
Yesterday I gave Andy Mac a huge Nazi flag which
we had picked up on our last He seemed very
tickled with it. He spoke of Ian's tour of duty with him
with pleasure, apparently he did well.
A bit of a social is suddenly making its
appearance. Most welcome. Last night some of us went
in to an aerodrome to play a few rounds of soft ball and
drinks with pilots of a Canadian fighter squadron. They
are. coming here for a return encounter on Friday. Un-
fortunately the only road out is a mountain mule track
which shakes you to pieces.
Four battalions of the Regiment are now in the
island and we are to have an historical get together
on wednesday night. It will be a terrific occasion,
undoubtedly wet. You may easily hear
played by the massed pipes and drums over the B.B.C.
sometime. (You could probably hear it without the radio).
Life here is pursuing a even tempo as
we gradually prepare for whatever is to come. I am kept
pretty busy on various sports commdttees as well as
running the Company. The awful heat and flies make it
very difficult to work between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
,..
I
-15-
Though early mornings and evenings are lovely. I'm
sweating like a pig now, keeping my hands off the
letter.
Our irrigation ditch swimming pool is a tre-
mendous Godsend and I manage to jump into it half a
dozen times a day. I'll go now, cool off, and come back
to it. It's been 105/110 in the shade all week.
Had a swim, it was lovely.
I was glad to have yout" news of Rog. pal'ticula l'ly\
\
of his engagement. Pam seemed a very sweet girl.
I wish you would let me have Corney's address ~
if you know it.
I
I sort of feel he might be in the Med. i
would love to run into him if possible.
~ /
I bought a hundred egg plants the other day for
2 lira each (total 10/) which keeps the company in break-
fast for several d ~ s They're very good.
Another interruption. Syd Thompson just blew
in, so another swim, a drinK and much pow wow. Syd was
wounded early in the show and has just come out of
hospital. ~ i l l Hyndman and Jim Baldwin also came back
today, together with new reinforcements. Hear from them
that Corney, Doug Maitland, Tom Ladner, etc. are in
Augusta. It's a long way but I'll certainly try to
make it. I'll send word down anyway, so will probably
get together somehow.
Eighth Army.
from the Army Commander.
To be read out to all troops.
1. The Armies landed in 0icily on Italian soil on
10th July, magnificently supported by the Royal Navy the Allied
Air and are, today, in possession of the whole island
except for the north east corner where the army is now hemmed in.
2. I want to tell all of you, of the &ighth Army that
this has been a very fine performance. On your behalf I have ex-
pressed .to the Commander 'of the Seventh .American Army on our left the
congratulations of the Eighth Army for the way the American troops
have captured & cleaned up more than half the island in record time.
V;e are proud to fight beside our Americah Allies.
3. The beginning has been very good, thanks to your splendid
fightin
b
qualities to the haEd work and devotion to duy of all
these who worK in the posts, on the roads, and in rear areas. We must
not forget to thamks to liThe Lord Mighty ill Btlttle
rt
for giving
us suoh a good beginning towards the attainment of our object.
4. now let us get on with the job.'ibgether With our .Al11eric8lll
Allies we have knocked Iaussolini off his perch. rye will now drive the
Germans out of Sioily
.5. lllto battle with stout hearts. Good luck to you all.
J
D..trnford's Diary
July 5th. We reheareed our landing, so far as we could, by going over the
exact proc edures which would be followed on the day of the attack.
We would all be assembled below deck in the section of the ship
appointed to us. We would be fUlly dressed with small pack, digger,
ammunition, rifle, tin hat, gaewcape, and in many cases mortar and
machine gun parts, etc, etc. The officers carried a revolver, map-
case, binoculars, and compaee, l among other things.
All the air of impending battle was OurB when, under cover of
darlmess - the ship's lights all out except for the occasional blue
lights in the gangway - we 'fI'Ould wait for the order to move. The
"blower", as we called the broadcaster, would give order s fir st to
this section and then to that, until every section had received ita
instructions. "Attention, pleae! Attention, please!" sounded in the
stilly drakness, "Number 8 section will prooeed from their places
to number station on the starboard side of the ship forward NOW."
The pause before the order "NOwt' was deliberate, and emphasized the barked
out order t l O ~ in a manner none of us could ever forget. It BOunded
like theppause of the auotioneer as, having slowly pronounced the
words "Going, going 0" he pauses with his hammer poised for a blow
before he finally bringeilown with great vehElllence to the accompaniment
of the last l1IOr'd
Il
Gone" 0 These inlltrcutionl!l were repeated slowly and
with great exactnellso Then the section eo addreeaed would proceed
very slowly in all but total darkness in one single line, each man
holding on to the webbing or equipment of the man in front of him so
as to avoid losing his way, and up the gangway they would go along
the dim corridors, up again to decks still higher till finally they
reaohed ~ h e promenade or boat deck. Stumbling over the high sills of
the ship s doorways, they l)uld issue out into the open air and the
moonUgh!. Out of the oppressively hot atmorphere of their close com-
partment below where little if any ventilation seemed to exist .nd into
the cool night air. Silently, for the whole ship wae bound in silence,
they\>uld creep forward till the leader had found hie boat station and
then, one by one, each man would file past him into the landing craft
ae it swung from its davits at the side of the ship. Here they'l)uld
kneel on one knee with their rifles vertical in their hands until the
craft had its full complement aboard in three rows -- the officer abeing
the last to enter as he was to 'be the first out on landing. There waa
always a slight hesitancy about taking the step from the ship into the
swinging Landing Oraft, for the gap between revealed a long. long drop
"into t 'he watery depths below.
Thus they would kneel or half-squat in tightly packed linee until
the rehearsal was complete and every aection had found I similar positions.
In this ,was these boys \>uld aeon be lowered with other LO s swinging ,
below them from the Promenade Deok into the sea and away to a mstlle
amre. The intense silence and the darkness gave the' whole procedure
a weir d and ghlo st ly atno spher e. 0
H, P. BELL
G,,;. pt. ,r. j;.
o f C.,
I C ci n. :; 1 v ,
:'.{ irn,
, .. Ut: . 1, 1013.
arG havinS u !' ,'}st .:.. t !norr.cnt, eft"l"
, '
,':>
..,... -
pturins: ".(-"11'8 und all of us ul"'( -: tD i'(;t r.. fm'i 10 tte1'S w1"1 tten
er:.J t'( 't eq:llpped t;.o :le:x.t S:10,'I. K:1ow1ng how r.1LlOn you nre
in the affairs of the bn., I am to try to give yau a
b;'101' reSWTLe of our activi ties since We lundoacl.
'l'he 1anJing, as you t no,'" was a comple te surpri sa aud.
c.:1 tLou.rh during the .:.:ft&rnoon b,,":foI"G, n gale hIC''!;'; up, '.vhicb looked ("S
ttwUt!l the mi[!i1t heve tD 1.e' lJy midn1ght of the
July tho wind dr-ODDed und t :.o '; 1'3 were lOEltied into
t 8. t t!1C davit hCl4d:s, and Q'" :" ') ;: .flotallas to proceed
to tl1,e bf18Chcs. '.rtlerc was 0 CC:" i , , . I or by the rJu.vy and
COYI:l. >;lora lClnded 01:1 tile ,he oJ_position \H.\fi
by i'irst tbe tlJ. ;',:<0. ;- ' : ,)1' .'; some cJist&noe
lnln!1c1 find were for the .e io.:: only two men !,1110d
on lLi nd ing, one ot vi'hom VJUS ; lunt,e:c, fO.l.'"'-j\jrly Orderly room
::;.,,:t. T:e vws sbot through the h03d 5;10 died instan'tly. I r.ir;ht o.dd
th,'!' t hn vw s imJ'iel'iiu t81y end 1 tal i::m mu.ch1ne Gunners killed.
Ou::: n'9xt ohjective wt.:s the h1f,h grO\ ..md to tho North, which G(HninHted.
tho (;f::uoho s, the se::l approucllO s to ti,o be&elles. gnincd this
on of D' dny and sent back about IbO ItaliDn prisoners.
Tt10y d 1 dn t t put up much of fa tie;h t [mG our main ennoyuncc \'las
very accurate but a and we a few
1. tif.:s ..
, The followinc d0.y '.:c S t;; :;:1 and tho Dtlvi.:l.IlCO
;:.';l. By this time v , ;i.:olc2;:, h: ,: i.., ., :cm to urrivo in
<;,l.lL.Yjti.ty &nc.i tho bef-lClleS beflind ":.. 0 J.' our
liCht BonIn arrived and 'l;-,rld t;.nti-tank
fUr. s we felt Ul.ore uble to cope wi th t f'.i':' :-;i tua tio:1.
You will notico on the ffifiP of that there is one
rOGd running completely r,:>u;lCl the Island neur the und
about six main roads running .to the c:c.ntrc of tti.0 Island und culminating
like tl18 spGb;s of' a '1111ee1 at two main tovms, tGgirone i.: T! cj
trw s.outh coast the' groano 'lu.lckly r150S .,y f. tl;PPCS arlO turr&ces
8.n<i b(,COl7'l:-S mountainous, r!.;.ost of the hills Vi..:J. in heit:::llt up to
ZOOO ",nd the <':Id cL' clil1e; 1lount to
trl8 north-f.."Lst. All the princ1j)<;1 t:) \\i'lC : l. L t on hill-tops :'ind
(.Ire v>':'ritntle fortres:::es - had a real fight our
8.dvr-n0.0 i'iould rlEi'Ve boen much slOViCl', ,lnc :L,,' C :, i-I n. tht:t v,'e tH.\VO iriet
The (,crmBn it become so, end T1oLtdn.{ .L , ;;". Lien e. set plf:ce
supportud by artIllery hus any effect in tiiElodf1ng him.
( '
, "
"'In t'i1(;) e.,;,rly h\:l froJ:i. ;.,Cti. by Cl
moni tor fi.ring 1000 lb. shells but us we proceeded inland wu \mre soon
Oll t of ri':! nee and depended on our own d1 vi 61 ontll artillery 'wfLi oh ware
joininf us in numbers.
C,ro lUi d
le,,! by
A
',.0 continuod our t:dvunce and took up posi tiona on high
overlooking the tov.n of 5yd 'l'holilpson \'1as h::' t In the
Gi. sni ;v::r on triO npproach T!H.:.rcrl to !'(':It.iture. (ias Coy .. -
as AClv. gd. to tl1e on.) .
Moulcs WCE qu1ckly tekon, a shot bnd we
by march route :qr.:Cusu. \':nS a. much lr:rgnr
town cn:el16d morching on c tcrr1hly dusty roud in heat over 100
0
,
up B long tortuous winding route unu I for one will never rorget it.
',.
--------

I

1
\
"
-
- 2 -
1 t:;:I.rlk: ;/os[;ibly tcis wus t:'I(; IT'.t.H'ch I:,.: hnvG eVfJr dorlf1 tij1U tho
')!Orc fnlling by the Ri(!c of :tt:"\ 1',")::;0 !'J'orn Qr.d
There was no sr:riO',.l.f. !10'lleVOr linG ","0 into
[.'. nree. ebovc t:1C t:w;n U;I.J :'::'s supply lwu
(vm lOGt 400 of 0:11' vehiclns as 3 Qf our ;',.'1'.
s;lips \':crr: torpedoed in convoy) ,'Jer'.) soorce, the e,,:ncl'ul
8. hc.lt f'or 24 hours, t,) tho 1 ... c:;. brunch to up.
I l:liCltt Soy thht th0 h':..s Or.':.:tl:'lised
OT1d b;:s UF to kSf::P l1.:? Our' advnnc8, most or Wllich b:::,.s bGCll
tho axis of ona mOin road.
Vo;e 1Tinv
F
rj tr:rOIl .. -ll ",:V:LlSa .. - 0 :e'ortr8SS
cOl ... l.1 :"'.";," hr:Jld us up .for ('\f"d ti :',,)::; to de.fend 1 t. uur
;r,QVO(l us Velv. euard to tt':'3 :,:(;,f,j. Ct:;j ,{.GY .. unocr CUl1t. ,.lll
j,rri t t ".as Coy. ;,ft:,i' i:1C t[',l'Hlf,h t:jQ town. 1:1 the
ei.',l'ly '1::e found the main our aXis, CJ,'.-t't.0.I"ed
1;1 t,,':o and wore lorcntJ to le:ivc ",h.C old.'riel's, :3.1.).
i uns, etc., behinc. \'!lli.le oS.sq:;:',:l'b Lot busy th(:)
r'o; .. ,('!s. ,bout un bou:: :utcr bcran TO :'iovn (with .;.j,,'Coy. stili.
lc;.:l: i:w) d:)wn two !liCh i'C'u tux"jS G.!l,{l tfle C. b. begun to 1'eel e
'01 t lA("ry G,bout the 'wilole pic t.u.r(' and ori:orcd Cuy. to m:we to,
Pl'occc(i Llong, tile l1ic::h ridtG to ttw ri;" "t of Vie - uslfig the
ro;;.c G. ::, U genen.l exis only. j'. Goytr:. It;3.dinC platoon had reucl'ied
tho rl,:;p0 when the whole bn. uncer in tC:lse enemy mort(.lr <-.nd
:!,t.cbiw; Cu,n fire, Co'y. beinc ,1nY1r::d on t!',e f")l'ward of tho
... 1'1111. Tho c.o. quickly t.he Cays. on ttLC rov:,:rse
slope of' thfJ nne tl10 til. dUI" J.!'1 :';::](1 !lr'';;larC(j to dislodGo the
nnc:1";Y ;:;;" soon f!S our supportin!"-" u:-ri"i.-sd. In tho mi'r.nti;r.o '.H3
X
tOOk .?-. mortaring 1\ . amongst
them l'.ric ECQ:e, WHO sufi (':!'C!d c.. Di'.,(; lCT 'ii1()und, liapt.
tl'ie "inc} h)t. : '; . Mc}Jr1{ie Lnd L/Gpl. .:,.tory H.n. (nm,,;! killed) ,
did c. !::u;)erb job in tree:. tine t he c, ot'tc::::. exposing thellisclvcs
to direct i'ire in moving f'r.:n:l section to :;-cction. r.-rcDJ'iue WuS
v!Quncied 1,1 threcplD.ccs ana be(ly t ur;-lOd by un ' lncenui6ry
bulle t . ;0 rem'lined in this pos i ,t i,:E"! ciuri t lUl t dey und by ev':.mtng
thG rJrlCr.:;y l'f7tirod end by n reo;;' CI1fJmy tin ,5, some prisonors taken
thf.<t we had finnily bumncc the C;('ri:mns and that the ;:w,rty
Viotlld no 10lV,Tcr be the :,'iecc of (;:J:e -.3 b .1i.. Co':!_ l!3.d 10
wo: .. 1.rll;ed, f:Vuo"w.ted, all told, fro;;)' this
Our next ()O .lecti vn \\'f.l.S tile town of :;nnE.:. DLlt
as the ,',j'liGl'icans. 'were movine .)n OllI' left f'lai' .. k in strEnlctll our
phm wce to by-puss Enna on tile [Eld nuke for Leon tiLe
of viOuld rooke un tenr.:.ble. ']:J11 s, in f< ... c t, ht.J)pulled
and \';'[lS captured by a ?-i.C.l). (::10 six men, 0Ut we hoc a
grin; time a t Leon Forte boi'ol'e Vie \'mre through with it.
Up to now our had shown the
ch:;f,3n ce s wero concentrn ted 8.stri de r:w.i n roads oiJ.d ollr
tro:1S ;.) Ol't f:nd SUj)I,ortl 'lg. arJ:1S c(jmio't move fur off roads in I;I .. is
rocky country (it is to whioh Dnd
t:::::ow tracks on the slwrp racIal they are iil::;,voa
frcF.: :.:'ouci.s) the enemy mln protty \,nll fitLl.i't) tnll tour mlvu:-lcc
will '1,,,/:, t: ' 0 rouds as an " .. xis flu.:11:i:lf: Drc vcry
(J1 1'1' 1. ,J \j 1 t
AS we u'or.C:.':}C; ':"',',):1 ,'ortG we t'ou;Hl till:; rOil,J,
cn:.t,r,'}" cJ a,' <;in in two plt;'0(lf:, C.:'!d '" i;:": \';0 :;('J0!'}1;eo L:. crt:) \,o'!'e
tG j'1mvc bn. t:c.;v. Cli..) 1'0 tilOUt su:}port.
))uri:",I' 'Ui.O nirht hOVicvc:r we ;'"H.;, '1;1 tllout l,lcl,>.'nt c.:;.i'iU
C '..l.n ci:., !' "li:ajor" Jim ;;.c\"l:;illy tr.e to\'m !J,t,
bci'a.:'c (;cin;,:r fil'cd on. ;,t dc',;n h.)1.::cv("l' L:l(j \;"('!:lY OPt'!1AC up wi th
:i:.C;.S 1'.r'O.11 v:::,riou5 pOEit1onE:i in t, tor,r, ::J.'.(; 'lYl the; yjr;rrs to th.e
:r-ir:l1"c, "ma it ':':[:;.8 "'1p.:x<rent t>c t'\':'J. " i"; iJ'ld in st:-0.:'1;:rtb, ,) (,oy.
l,l;l,>,;r' : . '. :.i:tlOrr.;;,S V;.iS to tile to tt:c
ri{llt L,4'C it soon LeC<lf::e f1viue ,lL t,:;(' :'::_,z,\ t;'i5S tuo st.if'r arid D
Coy. r .. <"l:::; ':;='. Vl.'ic[.tcd wi th ty CU::;UUl. tics,
t;'WF'i v. Frencil, i';ito t.l'V:!"'-;(ll'U.G of wounds.
H-""
(
I'
- 3 ...
,./'
Blair G.ctUt111;t 11:J in tI .. \-} tOr } wi ttl part
.. Coy. durir.g the day <.1nd to :i.'C j()in the bn. wi th few
tho ollowinc day.
Durin;; tl1(; t: ... :Jr1{!,. dccicied to
ifl:;unt ,Jiecc attack SU,tJ.;)O,t'V\1 :,y ',;.;.-: of the Div ..... :rtlllery
t) tc,.\C pL:,co ttU.t CV("ninc end C. O. ilUd jUi:; t issuod. the ordors
f:)T' ct'Lack wilen tracedy .,'iv,; burst in the centre
) oi' :In. Ii . ",. Lill1nt.; D. L. ..... . ,.':'Il, Instc::.l.tlj,
ll'ioT't("lly ','!ollncllnV Liuu.t. j'. l.. i,'. )(i trw death of ODO 01'
OUI' :-iltr:;,o,l Cpl. i.A . )t.
1". ", .1. ;-" ;<; T-ritt ',;;115 severely in '(;; .G )0,7" .. :: d LiGut. J.'J.Ui.

I
iii the hrm, end. many othn1' rc.il;(t: ';,(,1';) &uti \'IQt1UOO<l. This
e. tal'l'ible blow 'tio the 1m. ::.n.Li dO c:)uliJ. hiucil.y cra(lp it Pct first,
or' l'cQl is; tr .. c enerTI'li ty of our 1,)55. .It ';' 011 perhvpf3 tLw t wo
h(:,(; 11 ttl") time to grieve or tLink s.bou't 'J,JI' - t.ilut Leon
YillS Ett[tc!(ed by a combined 01: '..1:2: heg-t. &nd
ours01vos uader a b&rru; e by the and close
by our morte.r platoon une:.el' Ll(:ut ii.::::..rLey, ttnd medium lIlt,chino
r:U!lS. ;.fte.r' 8 still' fitht' fell ttlC uay, althollh
snlpsl's still activ(;:, c'l':d \"C i:,'Jved for'ward ;:{;uin, licking our
lost 3 officers kll18d 11 officors wounded Dnd
2D 0/;6 !:ll1od [,nd UbDut 100 WOUYl()cd. i,'he 0;1. (Ll.d very good work in
tl1i S 1jC tl':m anti v;ereconr;re. tul(:1 tod oy the
At this tirr;c tile broiJder ;)icture \H1S
",8 TtlC i\merice.ns beeu J'cLll'orced and were
thOllt serioJ.s opposi tion, l1c...d tuken J)alcrmo and \\ere
1i:ovlllP: cast uDtride t:le CQUf::t r:)iHi in the dirGctlon of Messina.
contl'olled ali roc-.ds south to and including the town, -.:.nna.
'l';'iO cori1S .tight 'for C8tenia [Lad sr;ttled for" thE) moment into u
co to und our plnn was to move from Leon E'n!' to };. t.:. to the ::;tns
triLI,rh) takinG ti10 toyms ASGoro, en route to
::\o[:uH,u to 1;:!hicll was knOlFlTl to bo <'in i3nell!Y supply 'l'he 1st Bde.
$uccecc}'':ld in t2.1\ine: but tDGrt- [. E:cvcrc at and
tnovcd t11rO\1{:11 thoro 011 July 01'1 the mornine ot 2?tll
.Jul y our te n . hel d the tOl'wer(l Dr ':. l1YJ!3 of.
boyond _ ":e were 1 m:; c hine Gunned here
l::1 ut ;:Jrcf;3ed for'.;Hu-d 011 a two Coy .. f::cont an(i ., under Btll
Irvine succeeded in routing two tn:.l<.S cor.sJlidutlng a featuro
stout 1000 X in front on the l(;ft of. tho roc!j. .:....icut. I.lurriott
\':ilson ,'iSS killed here by ili;.C. fire tr.:.e - ,v...:.J.... shot x:t f '
I the coma. through the 1.1OSO t:,' l th t,. .('11'1e. t his '.v ill. c
j:iOre tnk inF IJ. severe mortaring c.no up wi th. 1 t.
The e.c. Gent two Coys. forward left , 1) coy. to secure
tl;.E! ri(iC9;;: domino ting Agira. 'i'his Gtt'.lck by, two troops
I of C<,nr::d1;;.,n .:::,t.i.e.i.:'me.n tanks, ono troo;:-J 00VC1.tr. (" V1E; edv[l.11ce fr:':>I;} hull
(},O\,;l1 ;)o:-::l';,ions
J
the otht'"3l" movinr A unci D Coy.
f:lltCCeeacd in to'lH:rds t:, .. t'ln i:/.:1d En. find '
the otri0r up in sU,(Jpo:.:.'t. ''[rle heIGht on rigllt f,'.clng
A Coy. WUA very steep and had to ba scaled under direct M.G. fire.
\ r .I's. Coy. did a rr.ur;nificcnt job duo their drive
dcterlTJinc.U.on succee(;ed in gGtti t:L' c; on the 1'euturc with
one pL. to'm, und in spite of repec:tr-d count<'!l' ottLloks trle
'liCht t:-IOY to be d1slodC<:<, t;.nd \';,len rei: rorced in the r:lornLlg
J \ .. __.tj:te ...
' .... C.l.G.;.,.J.ll" . .J.. ",1 ..... l ..... ,;.., .. 1.l .. " ,X 'J . w,,'. " J. ut, ... Vj'j" .... 0J.J.Y or
\ A CTY. c':ist,incuislled r.1r:tself in uetlol1 L,y et.l\j<.:.ckl::1t:' tln !.::.C. 34 1
\','iltrl :ic;ction VJith trle bayonet, CD,t.Lu'in{O tile crew and turnine tho'
'{';un en("Jmy. ;--;8 hue since been klilvd. This
uetioa 1.u).:1n.:;-: plG.ce &t close c;.u.".:.r''tcrs e!wt)lea. us to get our own
tlnd took taste or of Ol:l' r.: :)!,'tnl'infd3 OU t of OUl." r;lOuths.
not only 1':..l.<lCC bu.t tl)c whole 0:1' j, Coy_ lila;: :sterlh:.g Job und
tbo :;;uccces of tt.e Bn. here 1:!I't81y G'.w .0 Ycsterduy
tOY-An h;y the ',(;/!<". hrl"'Jt::lL::n\;,.::l' in
on Qnr Inft flunk. tIere in [' no :,; (> :-: f I :; i ,le a
numLor of' our l[-ids were !:illed " j,t . H.l\ . P. L/Gpl.
Gtorry or the medical sect1
:gt. our
; , ) icd before \'Jus
t.. " .. .. ; \. I. : I
-- ......-- '
/'
/
!
I
'l'hut bri!1,-S I;'O prntty well up to elate, Ian,
excopt for spots of loco.l colour I v;il1 try ona. fill in as beDt
I c[,n now.
Our .,') Lie v; 111 rotrc:..;.t in the
in .At-ire; tonifht - ti. very qlctUJ'r.
'
sqU0 i ; racordine is mode
i:-,hich \':ill be flown to .',leicrs (4"lC1 on tho B.B.C. later. i,e
,1r:rllirr:d to the i !:..nd tnt";ir equ1:>ment, and I tim
sure It 18 the flrst t.ir,,! tne )l.Jycd arou:l.d
The of ,:icily tl:J0 tOi'i[lS, .is
npr.111n(" and stench of (ien,; 1::;'((i cxc:rement, fiurr;un r.nd
ani;:-:Gl, t; trw stro8ts h: in6ef.:cri baolc. ",0 lii..V8 to bu.ry l,::..lrCo
n.ur!b:'l' of the Cerrn[Jn oeuli \,ell hS 01. ov,n c.tnd in thi:::; he,-;.'!;, it is
unp10csant work hS you c&n imGgino. Padre 1s doing
work in buryin,r.: our own boys r.nd nrc being
kept EO tilct before lone, t ... e n:'GVC!3 cOl;.4'Tlissiun will 0e e.blc to erect
0. peI"f:,;.'rlOnt for deud.
A Vlord al)out our services. t,tlve
d::ma and tlle sur" ie(.;:l tcums <ind e;qerts
o:;c'r"Etc v,'ell forward ::;0 that O,lr wou have Cl first-rate chance of
recovcrin(". There is c. certLiin t 0 (' malnrifJ and
c1y!_-ent;-ry in the bn. but 'Wt) G.r{_ tQkinC quinine or mepucl'1nc tUIJlets
four :;j !nos Il week and so for 1 t riGS not SEJl'iOUD proportions.
0:( t:1C dysentery is ;)rub:J.tly CClUE.cd b:; {,reen frul t. 'I'lie
1:10.:0 c, tound s wi th apple s, PH 8.1' !'" plums, sor:i<'3 Ol'<.:.ngos anu lemons end
Dut none of the fruit is of very (:'ood quality. '}e.tcr is a
Ct)'lt,t'l1t problem hnd is cl1r8f
i
.l.ll:.,: ctlcck()D. t nd ;:lUSt be cb.lorinated
Dc,f:)!"e Insocts ore 31::10 1'".u:L::;;: arc all covered
wi -crJ. s:.l[;picious looking l.J1 tE." S <-'.;1(1 k(Jcp v;undt2I'ing if we arc tetting
.. t 'i,uy". 80 for the bn. is pure. lending "";'E; were told
tile vineY8rds e.'l(j the c101'ie8 or wine.
that is bunk or ;J,:::rtt;\ps th.9 eot tri.e top aI' the
v'> t : ee r n,::;, ti vc vino 1 VCJ.'Y I'OIA;/j"j I'.> tuff indoec t!lld only t.ile
V' , I":, lwrdy \vill touch 1 t.
I h:JVf' jUEt :,bOl.l.t enoaC;h, I think,
Ian. ',;8 .. all, Bert, Loue: . , in Good shapo .so c.l'e
the Bofore I close i. au t the bn. officers as
they 8 tC:ll1d in Coys. now. 8in()c .'.:. "i-l'<tin'}; deu til, I am bucl: Ul
,d jt.
I hov(" I'o!:id thit: over to the :.,OUC
and if 1rou t.hi nk 1 t hc:. "'ny "'''''"''tr,: v,'.', 1 " .0 )., , ..
OJ _... .n;. _ - L.o ".; ","i'": i. lm6 you it, to
other'n in \'"ancouver. you ml,n:,h
1
t '"v it " t
. e 10 01 ' he papers,
dc1ctinc the personal parts;
r hope you ore all in
", .)lcc.,s() r,1R to ..... ". '(',"'OUA ').l.,0 .. ' l' 1
'"' s,.. ... J _.. n 0 0 80S.
be t00 10nl.', tile b .
- - 4. n. COIil0S !lorr:e

be 5 t of rH'.Hil t h a.ad
.9 all hope It hon't
the lads sel1d
AftoctiOJ!e. tely.
c .
.. -
.
i
:;
. ,
' .
. '
,
c. 3". ,Egan, Capt .. ,
No. 1.
"ti' D C'
J... u. ,
R.' A. 11. C.
Lt.-Col. B. ' M. Hoffmeister,
Seaforth ' Highlanders '01 Canada.

Sir:
--_,,28th July, 1943.
--
,/ \
( Ir; I
. I J

It is with deep regret that I ' write this letter.
Unfor:tunately it brings bad news. 'Art French died this
afternoon and 'Was buried this evening. Pe was with us
. .
for just about a week and although everything in the,
power of our surgeons 'and staff was done, he just 1 t
make the grade. His body is 'buried about 150 yards south
of the schopl in Valguarnera.
He is not alone in this small there being
five,other Seaforths there as well." They are Cpl. King
R.D.B., Pte Obrien, Pte. Morrison W.S., Pte. Warnica and
Pte. Doyle.
Qui te a number of Seaforths passed thr
1
," our hands
.
but except for:. 'those mentioned above have all be(; n evac'-
uated ' from here to C.C.S. and other formations. Bill
Merri tt Vias' one of the last to go and was in qui t 'e good
spirits., In .. fact a lot 'better than' when he ,Ca!:lS in.
Well, sir, I thank you again for the association
I had with your regiment and wish to say in closing that
if there is any information I can give you concerning
members of the battalion that pass thru' our hands I will
only be too glad to do so.
, Wishing you and all under your cOIl1.'1land the best of
luck, I remain, sir, your onetime de,ntal officer
, ,
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WAR

1'l !-'h3 ...,.._'I" -.;m

moved up at daylir,ht mid on the high ground ,.,...

th(; ana eoft

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