ljj(j,,,,, ,, --~:?ht;,.,
TRANSCRIPT
- 17? -
operational task of the Canadians in Ita ly. Between 29 Oct 44 and 28 Feb 45 the Canadian gr ound forces in Italy suffered 5,318 casualties, including 61 officers and 826 other r anks killed or died of wounds (see Appx ttB") . Between 1 Dec 44 and ? J an 45 troops operati~g under command.l Cdn Corps too~ 25 enemy officers Md 2 , 080 other ranks prisoners, and during the static period up to 10 Feb~~ a further three officer s and 111 other ranks. (W.Ds . , A. & Q. , H . ~ . 1 Cdn Corps, December 1944 , January 1945 and February 1945 : 1 Cdn Corps Adm Sitreps, 2 Dec 44 to 10 Feb 45)
CONCLUSION
361 , Operation " GOLDFL.:ucE" commenced in effect on 10 Feb, when the first 5 Cdn Armd Div convoys left Riccione , and continued through March into Muy . Movement to the ports of embarkation in Italy was in the case of the wheeled vehicles by roads and the tracked vehicles by r ail . Embarkation commenced in mid- February when 5 Cdn .ttrmd Div began loading at Leghorn . Also shipborne at Leghorn were 1 Cdn Inf' Div commeneing 3 Mar, and l Cdn Armd Bde on ? Mar . H. Q. 1 Odn Cor ps embarked at Napl es on 22 Feb . With the exception of 4 Bn 1 C. B. R. G., which was phased in early, the administrative units began moving l atti r in March . "GOLDFL.AKE" wns completed on 29 May . Considering the size of the f orce involved, and the distances covered, ths move of the Canadian Corps to North- West Europe was carri8d out with a minimum loss of operational time . To give an example only 45 days elapsed between the date on which 1 Cdn Inf Div relinquished its i'inal operational role in Italy and the date on which it c0mraenced operations in Holland . (Report No . 181, Q.2. ci1)
362 . Thus on the eve of its greatest victory the Canadians l eft Eighth Army . For 20 months they had served with it , and had had a considerable share in its many battles . In his farewell message the Suprame Allied Commander Mediterranean wrote :
You have played a distinguished part in our victorios in Italy , where you leave behind a host of fri ends and admirers who will fo l low your future with the liveliest interest .
(Historical Section C.M.H. Q.. Report No . 143 -Canad !~!!TQ2~~~!Qf!~_!!L!.~~!l.L_1_;!:.\!fLi1_::_~~-!~2-1:§; App:x "B"
The cost haa not been small . Behind them they left the 423 ofricers and 5,341 other ranks who would sleep forever in Italian soil .
---------------------------------------~ Due to a possible error in 1 Cdn Corps Adm. Sitrep of 8 Dec
a tota l of 2,060 other r anks is pr~~ably a more correct figure .
~~ After 10 Feb figures for the Canadian prisoner intake ar e not available as 1 Cdn Inf Div adm Sitrep was subaitted to 5 Corps, and copies were not placed on the divisional war diary .
- 178 -
3~. This report was dr afted in part by Maj B.A . Haines and Cap t M. B. Huffman, and completed by Maj D. H. Cunningham .
ljj(J,,,,,_,,_ - -~:?ht;,., j (C . P. Stacey Colonel, ,.,,
~irector B.1.stor cal Section ,
Royal
Appx "A" - 1 to His t orical Section A. H. Q.
ORDER OF BATTLE l Cdn Corps
Report No . 31
(as at 0800 hrs 15 Dec 44 }
Headquarters lst Canadian Corps
7th Anti- Tank Regiment Roya l Canadian h.rtillery (l ess one bty)
lst Survey Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 657 Air OP Sqn 422 S . L. (Indep) Bty Royal Artillery
l st Field Regiment rtoyal Canadian hrtillery 2nd Field Regimen t Roya l Canadian /,rtillery 3rd Fiel d Regi ment Royal Canadian l~rtillery
lat An ti - Tank Regiment Roya l Canadian Artillery 2nd Li ght Anti-/~iroraft .kegiment Royal Canadian
J rtillery 104th Ba ttery 7tn ~nti-Tank Regiment Royal
Canadian Art ill ory
The Saskatoon Light Infantry (M. G.) 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade
The Royal Canadian Regiment The Has tings & Prince Edward Regiment 48th Highlanders of Canada
2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Princess Pa tric ia ' s Canadian Light Ini'antry The Seaforth Highl ander s of Canada The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
3rd Canadian Infantry Br i gade Royal 22e Regiment The Carle t on & York Regimen t The West Nova Scotia Regiment
- 2 -
5th Canadi an Ar moured Di vi s i on Headquarter s 5th Canadi an J\rmoured Di vi s ion
3rd Canadian llrmoured Reconna i ssance rte gi ment (The Gover n or Gener al's Hor se Guar ds)
5th Canadi an Armoured Brigade 2nd Cana di an Ar mour ed rte gimen t (Lor d S tra the ona ' s
Hor se {Royal Canadi ans ) )
Royal
11th
12 th
5th Canadian Ar moured Regimen t (8th Princes s Louise ' s (New Brunswick ) Hussars ) ;
11B 11 Squadr on 9t h Canadian Ar moured Regiment (Br i tish Col umbi a Dragoons )
5th Canadi an hs sault Troop Canadi an Armoured Cor p s 11 G11 Squadr on 25th Ar moured Deliver y Regi ment (The
El gin Re gi ment )
Canadian Artillery 5th Canadi an Ar moured Divi sion 8t h Fie ld Regiment ( Sel~-propelled ) Royal Canadian
Ar t i ller y 11th Fiel d Regi ment Roya l Cana dian Ar tiller y 17 t h Fi el d Re giment Royal Canadi an J..rtille r y 4th Anti - Tank i~e gimen t Royal Canadian Arti ller y 5t h Li ght Anti-Aircraft Regiment Roya l Canadi an
Ar tillery
Canadian Inrantry Briga de Headquarter s 11th Canadian Inf antry Brigade 11th Canadian Independent Machine Gun Company
(The Princess Louise Fus ilier s ) The Perth Regi ment The Ca pe Bre t on H1 ghl ander s The I r ish rtegimen t of Cana da.
Canadian Infantry Br i ga de Headquar t er s 12 t h Canadian Inf an try Br i gade 12th Canadian Independent Ma.chi ne Gun Company
(The Pr incess Louise Fusil iers) The Lanark & Renfrew Sc otti sh Regiment (1s t Ligh t
Anti - Aircraft ne giment Royal Canadian Artillery ) 4th Princess Loui se Dragoon Guards (4th Canadian
Re c onna i ssance Regi ment ) The Westmins t er Regiment (Mot or)
9th (Britisha Armoured Bri~de (under command 1 Cdn Corps) eadquar t er s 9 h Armotu·ed-13rigaae
4th Quoon t s °'m Hussar s (loss· t wo s 9.ns ) 7 t h Queon t s OllD. Hussar s (Dismount ed } 12 t h loyo.l Lancer s (Prince of Wai es t s ) 27 t h Lancer s
24th Fie l d Regiment {Self- pr opelled ) Royal Artiller y
310 t h Anti - Tank Battery (Self- pr opelled) Royal Artillery
1st Ba ttalion King ' s Royal Rifl e Corps 272l s t Squadr on Royal Air For.ea Regiment
BULOW FORCE (Par t isan s )
(Extr acted fr om Order of Battl e 1 Cdn Corps , 15 Dec 44 (W. D., G. S . H. Q. 1 Cdn Cor ps , December 1944 : Appx 64))
'l Appx 11 ll11 - 2 t o Historical Section
Report No. _Ql_
ORD~ OF BATTLE 1 Cdn Cor ps
(a s at 0800 hrs 6 Feb 45)
Headquarters 1st Canadian Corps
7 th Anti- Tank negiment Royal Canadian hrtillery (less three self-~ropelled batt eri es and two 17 pounder troops)
1st Survey Regiment Royal Ca~Pdian Artill~ry 422nd Search- Light {Independent) Battery Royal
Artillery
1st Canadian Army Group Royal Artill ery 1st Medium Regiment Royal Ca~adian Artillery 2nd Medium Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 5th Medium Regiment Royal Canadian brtillery 3rd Medium Regiment Royal Artillery 56th Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery
Headquarters Royal Artillery Cremona Group 7th Artillery Regiment
Four field batteri es One anti- tank battery Cne light anti - aircraft battery
24th Field Regiment (Self - propelled) Royal Artillery
7th Anti - Tank Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery (one self - propelled battery and one battery (less one troop ) (less guns))
5th Light Anti - Aircraft Regiment Royal Canadian Regiment (one battery)
BULOW FORCE ( Partisans)
Cr emona Combat Group {under connnand 1 Cdn Corps) Headquarters Cremona Combat Group
21st Infantry Re~iment (Cr emona Group ) Mortar Company (3 inch) Anti-tank Company (6 pounder) 1 s t Bat ta 1 ion 2nd Battal i on 3rd Battali on Headquarters 21st Infantry Regiment
22nd Infantry Regiment {Cremona Gr oup) Headquarters 22nd Infantry Regiment Mortar Company (3 inch) Anti - Tank Company (6 pounder) 1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion
1st Canadian Infantry Division Headquarters 1st 'Canadian Infan try Division
1st Canadian hr moured Car Regiment (Royal Canadian Dragoons)
Royal
- 2 -
Canadian Artillery 1st Canadian Infantry Division 1st Fie l d Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 2nd Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 3rd Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 1st Anti - Tank Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 2nd Light Anti -Aircraft Regiment Royal Canadian
Artillery 11th Royal Horse Artiller y 142nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery (Self
propelled) 7th Anti- Tank Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery
(one self-propelled battery, one troop (less guns) and two 17 pounder troops)
310th Battery 60th Anti- Tank Regiment Royal Artillery
5th Light Anti - Air craft Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery (one battery)
The Saskatoon Light Infantry (M.G.)
BULLOW FORCE (Partisans)
1s t Canadi an Infantry Brigade Headquarters 1st Canadian Infantr y Brigade The Royal Canadian Regiment The Has tings & Pr ince Edward Regiment 48th Highlanders of Canada
2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Princess Pa tr icia ' s Canadian Light Infantry The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
3r d Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade Royal 22e Regiment The Carleton & York Regiment The West Nova Scotia Regiment
21st (British) Tank Brigade (under command 1 Cdn Ini' Di v) Headquarters 21st Tank Brigade North Irish Horse 12th Royal Tank Regiment 48th Royal Tank Regiment 272nd Forward Delivory Squadron
2nd (British) Armoured Brigade {under command 1 Cdn Inf Div) Headquarters 2nd Armoured Brigade ~uecnt s Bay (2nd Dragoon Gua rds ) 9th ~u~cn ts Royal La:iicers · 10th Roycl Hussar s {Prince of V/ales t s <n:m} 27th Lancers 278th Forward Delivery Squadron
1st Battalion King ' s Roya I Riffe Corps ) 1st Battalion Buffs (Royal Ee.st Kent Regiment 1st Battalion Th~ Welch Regiment
5th Canadian Armoured Division Headquarters 5th Canadian Armoured Division
3rd Canadian Armoured Re connaissance Regiment (Governor General ' s Horse Guards)
- 3 -
5t h CanadH1n Armoured Brigade
Royal
11th
12th
Headquarters 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade 2nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (Lord Strathcona 1s
Horse (Royal Canadians)} 5th Canadian Armoured Regiment (8th Princess
Louise's (New Brunswick) Hussar s) 9th Canadian Armoured Regiment (British Col umbia
Dragoons) 5th Canadian Assault Troop Canadian Armoured Corps 11 G11 Squadron 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery
Regiment (The Elgin Regiment)
Canadian Artillery 5th Canadian Armoured Division l7th Field Regiment (Self-propelled) Royal Canadian
Artillery 11th Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery 4th Anti - Tank Regiment Royal Canadian Ar tillery 5th Light Anti - Air craft Regiment Royal Canadian
Artillery (less two batteries)
Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade 11th Canadian Independent Machine Gun Company
(The Princess Louise Fusiliers) The Perth Regiment The Cape Br eton Highlanders The Irish Regiment of Canada
Canadian Infantry Brigade Headquarters 12th Canadian Infantry Brigade 12 th Canadian Independent Machine Gun Company
(The Princess Louise Fusiliers) The Lanark & Renfrew Scottish Regiment (1st
Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery)
4th Princess Louis e Dragoon Guards (4th Canadian Rec onnaissanc e Regiment)
The Westminster Regi ment (Motor)
(Extracted from Order of Battle 1 Cdn Corps , - & Feb 45 (W.D., G. S ,, H, Q. 1 Cdn Corps , February 1945 : Appx 16)}
I I
APP END IX "B "-. To Hist Sec A. H. Q.
Repor t No ._a
CASUALTY STli. TISTICS 1i
COMPILED FROM WAR SERVICE RECORDS , D. V. A . , "CASUALTY ST/,.TISTICS " THE Cl1.MPAIGN IN IT11.LY11
Tabl e 1 .
Casualties Canadian Component li.l~l for period 29 Oct 44 - 27 Feb 45
FORMATION OR UNIT KILLEDx WOUNDED PR IS ONERSj[
Of fr OR Of fr OR I Of fr i OR
'
I I
29 Oc t - 30 Nov 44 6 29 20 ; 403 - 4 l - 21 Dec 44 32 -L6 108 1 ,713 1 3
l 1 99 i '
22 - 31 Dec 44 4 •7 2 26 395 ' - 49 l .. 6 Jan 45 11 81 22 429 - 12
7 Jan - 27 Feb 45 8 128 3 () 959 I 2 47 ' I
To t a l 61 826 206 3 , 899 15 311
Table 2 . Casualties Headquarters and un i ts 1 Cdn Armd Bde 29 Oc t 44- 27 Feb45
29 Oc t ... 30 Nov 44 2 I 4 4 38 ... l ... 21 Dec 44 - - - 25 ..
22' ... 3l: D0 0 44 - 1 ·1 7 I -1 ·- 6 Jan 45 ·- - 3 5 -
7 Jan ... 27 Feb 45 - 1 ] 37 I -Tot al 2 j 6 9 112 1 -I
Table 3. ·-" Casua l ties Canadian Component Eighth Army for period
29 Oct 44 to 2? Feb 45JEX
~ Oo t - 30.~Nov 44 4 25 16 l .. 21 Dec 44 32 516 108
22 ... Sl- Deo 44 4 71 25 l - 6 Jan 45 l ]. 81 19
7 Jan ... 27 Feb 45 8 127 29
Tota l 59 820 197
Jl KILLED i ncludes 11 Die c1 of Wounds" PRISONE~S ·i ncl udes wounded prisoners
365 1, 688
388 424 922
I 3 , 787
-13 ... 2
15
IUl Include s as wel l oasual t i es of base units and 11 Canloan" pers onnel.
l .. ... -.., l
3 199
49 12 47
31@
MONTECCHIO•
BOLOGNA•
•FLORENCE I •~ .i ,,
CE--R SE
~= 1.,_~ ....
INl-BOL0~
APPENDIX 11011
REPORr NO. 31
0
- •
ENEMY TPS AMBUSHED
MAP I
ADVANCE TO THE LAMONE I CO N INF DIV - ·5 CON ARM D DIV
2-5 DECEMBER. 1944
M ILES' W WW W 3 2 I 1
MILES
CANADIAN UNITS------ -----···---... ~ BRITISH UNITS ________________ - - ~
HISTO~IAL SECTION, G.S.
..
ADVANCE FROM THE LAMONE TO THE NAVIGLIO,AND THE NAVIGLIO BRIDGEHEADS
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ADVANCE TO THE SENIO IST CANADIAN CORPS
16-Z4 DEC 44 ICXX> zooo
I I YARDS
HISTORICAL SECTION, G.S.
PORTERFORCE ADVANCE TO THE F. UNITI
28 OCT-28 NOV. 1944 I 0
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i 1
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ADVANCE ro··~~~THE REN 5 CON ARMD DIV
2-6 JANUARY 1945 0
CANADIAN UNITS ___ ______________ ·: BRITISH UNITS _____ ___ _________ _ - - - ~ ····\
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MAP 6
22 DEC 44- 5 JAN '45 ~.~-Polit<!> 1000 500 0
YAROSI M • M w wl
CANADIAN UNITS ...... .--.... ~ BRITISH UNITS.~- -----+.
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HISTORICAL SECTION, G.S.
MAP I.ADVANCE TO THE: LAMONE. 2.ADVANCE f'ROM THE: LAMONE: TO THE:
NAVIGLIO,AND THE: ~AVICLIO BRIDGEHEADS. 3. ADVANCE: TO THE: SEN 10. 4. POri>TE:RfOl?CE ze OCT- ze NOV.
S. ADVANCE TO THE RENO.
6, GRANAROLO SALJE~T MAP 3 7. CENERAL MAP (SHOWING OPS
RIGHT FLANKING fMNS). FUSIGNANO ~~
MASSA S~~~
MAP 2
LOM BARDA ~~</~ ~iv·~~~
MAP 6
roversora