Lest we forget

10 July 1943 the invasion of Sicily.

[Jon Skagfeld]

Art:

Significant date for me...my birthday!

How many years?

Extract from "Journey to Battle" 1st Bn 48thHighlanders of Canada web site. (still under constuction)

The Assault convoys in the meantime joined a vast Armada of 2760 ships forming up south of the Island of Malta. Ships had come from Britain, the U.S.A. and various ports in North Africa. The landing zones covered a distance of 69 miles from the British divisions on the east side to the American divisions on the west side. 400 transport aircraft and 137 gliders carried the British and American Airborne divisions from Kairouan Tunisia to their drop zones.

The 1st Canadian Division was assigned to land at Roger Beach with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment and The Royal Canadian Regiment leading with the 48th Highlanders following.

Anchors of the Canadian Flotila were let go about midnight of the 9/10 July. The British submarine Unrivaled was waiting at sea to mark the position for the Command ship Hilary about seven miles off shore, the troopers moved in to about four miles off shore. The 48th were called to their emergency stations at 2353 hrs. The Commando units were loaded into their assault boats ready to go and the Warships began their Fire Tasks. At 0110hrs the Commando LCAs were lowered into a rough sea and off they went. "A" Coy of the Hasty Ps were next and they were away from the Derbyshire before word of a postponment reached the ship. They ended up three miles west of their intended position.
Problems arose with the loading of The R.C.R. the seas were too rough for the assault boats and LCTs had to be brought in to take them off. The first wave moved off at 0400, 2-1/2 hours behind schedule.

"0430 hours: Action at last! The watched and debated LCI, which had been hovering around for two hours but refusing to come within hailing range, suddenly headed purposefully toward the Derbyshire. Her skipper had either received orders to start taking off the 48th Highlanders, or the coming of daylight had convinced him he could delay no longer. With hoarse bellowings, and much trouble getting a line fast, the two craft were finally brought close. Colonel Johnston ordered the first scramble net heaved over on the LCI's next roll-the moment its low rails were close enough. It was a good heave by the crew, and he was first down, with steadying hands on the top of the net, but not at the bottom where it mattered. Leaping to those steel decks in steel-heeled and steel-toed boots was not a feat for the timid, but the lithe Colonel went down in a scrambling slide, and a l0 foot jump. As he steadied the net below for Lt. Johnny Clarkson, who followed him down, he heard a voice casually suggesting: "Shall we go to my cabin, Colonel?" It was the Skipper of the LCI. They shook hands a bit stiffly. With commendable patience after the strain and irritations of the night, the Colonel understood that the amenities of the sea and the Silent Service were going to be observed at all cost. He went along with it. It was an odd meeting-at-sea of sailor and soldier. "Can I offer you a drink of Scotch, Colonel?" The Skipper asked The C.O. knew by the clanging and shouts on deck, that the Battalion was now coming down the nets in a swarm, with enough men below to hold the nets tight to the rail for others, so he accepted the invitation." (Dileas by Kim Beattie)
The LCI struck an unmarked sandbar before getting to shore and the men had to be off loaded into DUKWs and ferried ashore. Once ashore they got into a hassle with the Beachmaster who they promptly told to go to Hell. The 48th were fed up with the series of SNAFUs they had been put through and just wanted to get off the beach.
Extract from "Journey to Battle" 1st Bn 48thHighlanders of Canada web site. (still under constuction)