MONTECASSINO AND THE LIRI VALLEY: The Canadians in the battle for Rome.
KINGSMILL BRIDGE
On May 11th 1944, 1st Canadian Armored Brigade supported 8th Indian division at the Gari River. The Calgary tank regiment secured a tenuous bridgehead by crossing the river on a Canadian-designed and built bailey bridge secured to the base of a Sherman Tank. Driving the tank into the river provided a solid foundation to support the bridge. This innovative design was later named after its inventor, Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineer Capt. Tony Kingsmill.
HITLER LINE & LIRI VALLEY
Despite heavy casualties, the attack broke the Gustav line. The brave Canadians now faced the formidable HITLER LINE. It bristled with Pillboxes "Panzerturms" (tank turrets mounted on concrete emplacements), and sprawling networks of barbed wire and minefields.The Canadians took huge casualties until they were able to dash through the narrow gap on the left flank that allowed the 5th Armoured Division to bust through and capture Pontecorvo, the linchpin of the Hitler Line. Despite a massive artillery barrage the Loyal Edmonton, Seaforth Highlanders and PPCLI regiments were shredded while the supporting North Irish Horse regiment proved easy prey for the Panzerturms. Within hours 2nd bde lost 162 men killed, 306 wounded and 75 taken prisoners on the left flank 3rd brigade's Carleton and Your regiment pierced the line. The Van Doos and RCR's with Three Rivers regiment tanks dashed through the narrow gap and soon widened it sufficiently to allow the 5th armoured division to bust through with its tank regiment. With the Hitler line (soon renamed by the Germans Von Senger Line) breeched on 23rd May 1944, the advance to Rome started.
MELFA RIVER CROSSING AND THE VICTORIA CROSS
The Germans almost succeeded in establishing a new defencive line behind the MELFA River but a hasty dush by the Lord Strathconas' Horse and Westminster Infantry Regiment commanded by Commander Major John Keefer Mahony managed to get accross. The Battle raged for two days before the Germans Withdrew. Mahony was awarded a VICTORIA CROSS for unceasing gallantry during the action that costed his regiment 100 casualties, 20 being fatal. German resistance continued until the 5th Division seized the village of Ceprano.
OPENING THE ROAD TO ROME
At theis point, the Germans were in full retreat after the 5th Division capture of CEPRANO on May 27th 1944 but the cost for the CANADIANS was again high with 800 dead, 2,500 wounded, 4,000 sick and 400 evacuated for battle exhaustion.
On 31st May 1944 the Canadians of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment liberated my hometown FROSINONE opening the road to ROME.