Battle for ORTONA
 

The 60th anniversary of this battle comes up this December. For a description of part of the battle go to:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/ronkierstead/

and click on REFLECTIONS

Ortona-A near run Thing
 

Hi Art,
Read the action about the 48th Highlanders you provided.As I recall from reading the action,regimental strengths were really rock bottom at this point in Dec/43.Fearfull of a German paratroop breakthrough,I have it from word of mouth from my dad,a RCASC CMP60 transport driver who had a bren as a weapon,that they were all impressed,including clerks,cooks,and every other type of behind the lines service staff,to form a second defensive line,fortuneately till after the threat was over

oRTONA
 

Gary I believe you are right. I'm in Florida for the winter right now and don't have the figures available, but from memory I believe the battalion strength was less than 500.

Name dropping Snow Bird!!
 

Hey Art,seeing you want to drop hints where YOU are,I'm in beautiful Greenfield Park,south across the bridge from Montreal,an anglo bastion,in the wilderness where it's sunny,1 degree celsius,& the beer(Molson Dry) is cold,awaiting the Grey Cup game at 6:00PM.
Garry-P.S.Have a good warm winter you lucky guy

Re strength at Ortona
 

Gary I was able to come up with this extract from page 408 of Dileas by Kim Beattie;

THE month-and the long pause--was highlighted by a visit to
Torella on November 24th by Defence Minister J. L. Ralston and
Lt.-Gen. H. D. C. Crerar, D.S.O., with their old C.O., Brigadier Eric
Haldenby, M.C., accompanying the party. Brigadier Haldenby had
arrived in Italy to command a new Canadian reinforcement centre, al-
ready being established at Avellino, near Naples.
This inspection on Hell's Kitchen was the first by other than familiar
commanders since their arrival in Italy. The Battalion was only able
to muster 37 officers and 434 other ranks for the parade, an evidence of
their under-strength state which was not commented upon, but which
the Defence Minister could hardly fail to note.
The shortage of trained infantry reinforcements was not yet the
serious problem it became as time passed, but there were already
serious signs of it, though only 1 of 5 Canadian divisions had been in
action, and that for only a little over 4 months. Within a matter of
days, the 48th Highlanders were to experience grim periods when both
their officers and men were overworked and overexposed to hazard
through the need to carry out their role in action while badly under-
strength. This was to occur during their coming fight on the Moro
River, and throughout their battles of Bloody December. It was an
avoidable hardship on fighting men which was only relieved at inter-
vals through their long, uninspiring campaign in Italy.