|
The temporary burial ground at Ravenna, Italy taken by Robert Mieklejohn
|
INDEPTH: ORTONA
Italian Campaign
CBC News Online | November 8, 2004
The Memory Project
The Dominion Institute, the CBC and The Globe and Mail are co-sponsors of the Italian Campaign Memory Project. The Dominion Institute invited people to send in artifacts on the campaign. Then a panel of distinguished Canadians chose the best of the 1,700 that were sent in.
The Meiklejohn Diary
Dr. Robert Meiklejohn kept a diary while working as a doctor during the Italian Campaign.
In December of 1944, he was at the Canadian Casualty Clearing Station in Ravenna and took a photograph of the temporary burial grounds for Canadians troops.
His diary entry that goes along with the photo reads, in part:
"The casualties from the Ravenna Marsh area were severe and although they were brought back to us quickly we lost what to us seemed a lot. Many were so badly shocked that they couldn't be properly resuscitated; others were just too badly injured – usually with multiple wounds. One very young lad, who was only seventeen, kept insisting he was fine. He had no pain and didn't realize how badly he was wounded. He died as a nursing sister held him."
George Broomhall letters
Courtesy Anne Wardrop
Captain George Edgar Broomhall served in Sicily and Italy with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals. These are a few letters from George to his daughter Anne in Canada.
Anne was five when George went overseas. George wrote her letters that he illustrated along the margins.
We now found that the town was very small, with very narrow streets that wound up and down hill over very rough cobble stones. We were surprised to find, too, that the goats lived right in the houses with the people – not a very nice sort of thing, do you think?
There's a very old church in the town, built nearly a thousand years ago and a very funny old priest in a funny black cap and none too clean cassock showed us all the treasures in the church. There is some very beautiful carving and inlay work which you wouldn't expect to find in a place so remote. The biggest attraction in the town, however, was the costumes worn by the women of the town.
You see, many, many years ago the Greeks conquered Italy, and lived here for quite a number of years before they were sent packing back to their own country. But they didn't all go home then, some of them had settled in this little valley hidden away back in the mountains, and the people who are living there now are all descendents of those early Greeks. They don't look like Italians even, and on Sunday all the women dress up in their costumes that have been worn for ages. They are very bright colors, with a wide red shawl with fancy border, and the married women wear bright red or brown skirts while the unmarried ones wear green skirts and they have a very fancy head dress all covered with colored embroidery and silver thread. They are very lovely things and I'm going back this next Saturday which is a special holiday or fiesta with them and they'll all be out dressed in their "best" and I'm going to try and get one to bring home to you. They also wear very fancy belts and I'll try and get one of those too.
It's very interesting to get away back in … out of the way places, don't you think? Of course, the people here don't see much of the outside world, and none of them own motor cars – in fact, the only way they can get about is to either walk or ride a mule, and the little boys were very interested in our Jeep and had soon climbed all over it and wanted to go for a ride. So you see, the kids here aren't very different from some I know back in Toronto who were always asking to be taken for a ride, too! I've just received about a dozen grand letters from your schoolmates, and it certainly gave us great pleasure to get them too.
Of course I won't be able to answer them all, so will you just please say "thank you" to all the kiddies who wrote those letters, and also thank your teachers for letting them do it? You might just tell them, too, that we've got the Germans on the run now, and we're going to keep them running until they turn right home. Then we're going to fix it so they won't be able to start fighting ever again! Well, my dear, it's now my bed time again, so, as they say here in Italy – "Buona Notte" which means "good night." I hope you all enjoy your holiday this year, but I'm sure that you will, and maybe next year I shall be home again to go with you and you can then show me what a good swimmer you are now and row me all around the lake like you used to do, eh? My very best love to Mummy, Freddie and to you, of course. Do take good care of Mummy for me, and see that she gets plenty of rest this summer.
Your affectionate
Daddy.
Laurie Sherman letter
Courtesy Susan Cantile
"Laurie" Sherman, a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, was killed at Monte Cassino on May 23, 1944. This letter dated May 18 talks of Laurie's desire to get back to civilian life. It was received six days after he died.
Howdy Folks!
All's well – how's the gang at home? By golly I'd love to be there. It is a feeling of satisfaction to be with as fine a regiment and as famous an army as I am. The 8th I think again will do the touch. Did you receive my pamphlet on the Regiment's history drawn up by Padre Baily? Your parcel of fruit cakes (2) and chocolate came last week Mother in dandy shape. Thanks a lot again. I've had lots of mail, now up to May 7. I must have received a good 50 letters in [the] past month. I've been writing about twice a week. I'm awfully thankful to know you are all well and fine. I wish you Godspeed in your travels Dad. If we all go thru life as well and honorably as you we shall have been a success. And Mother dear have a lovely birthday and have a restful summer. You deserve it. A quiet little cottage by the lake appeals to me now – ha ha. How did Bart make out? I guess now Bud and Joan will be there for another year.
David Wake painting
Evan Wake served in a tank regiment that landed in Sicily in July of 1943. He was involved in the battles for Ortona and Cassino. The sketch was drawn in 1943 to reflect the Italian scenery near Campobasso. Evan's tank convoy was delayed while the road ahead as cleared for mines. He sent the sketch to his wife and on the back are written the words "Save this. Evan".
Japanese propaganda poster
In 1943, in Sicily, Ian Mair found this propaganda poster depicting a triumphant Japan. The poster was distributed by the Partito Nazionale Fascista.
^TOP
|
|
 |
 MENU |
|
|
| EXTERNAL LINKS: |
|
|
| MORE: |
|
|
|
CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. Links will open in new window.
