- 177 -

operational task of the Canadians in Italy. Between 29 Oct 44and 28 Feb 45 the Canadian ground forces in Italy suffored5,318 casualties, including 61 officers and 826 other rankskilled or died of wounds (see Appx "Btl). Between 1 Dec 44and 7 Jan 45 troops operati~g under command.1 Cdn Corps took25 enemy officers Qud 2,080 other ranks pr~soners, and duringthe static period up to 10 FebK~ a further three officers and111 other ranks. (W.Ds., A. & Q., H.Q. 1 Cdn Corps, December1944, January 1945 and February 1945: 1 Cdn Corps Adm Sitreps,2 Dec 44 to 10 Feb 45)

CONCLUSION

361. Operation "GOLDFLAKE" commenced in effect on10 Feb, when the first 5 Cdn Armd Div convoys left Riccione,and continued through March into May. Movement to the portsof embarkation in Italy was in the case of the wheeled vehiclesby roads and the tracked vehicles by rail. Embarkationcommenced in mid-F3br1lary when 5 Cdn Armd Div bogan loading atLeghorn. Also shipborne at Leghorn were 1 Cdn Inf Div commenc­ing 3 Mar, and 1 Cdn Armd Bdo on 7 Mar. H.Q. 1 Cdn Corpsembarked at Naples on 22 Feb. With the exception of 4 Bn1 C.B.R.G., which was phased in early, the administrative unitsbegan movine; later in MarCh. ttGOLDFLAKE" was completed on29 May. Oons1.dering the size of the force involved, and thedistancBs covered, the move of the Canadian Oorps to North-WestEurope was carri~d out with fl minimum loss of operational time.To give an eXfiDlple only 45 days elapsed between the date onwhich 1 Cdn Inf Div rolinquished its final operational role inItaly and the date on which it commenced operations in Holland.(Report No. 181, £E Q!1)

362. Thus on the eve of its greatest victory theCanadians left Eighth Army. For 20 months they had served withit, and had had a considerable share in its many battles. Inhis farewell message the Supreme Allied Commander Mediterraneanwrote:

You have played a dis tin uished part in ourvictories in Italy, where you leave behind ahost of friends and admirers who will follow yourfuture with the liveliest interest.

(Historical Section C.M.H.Q. Report No. 143 ­Q£Qadfr~~TQg~E~1!Qg~_!g_It~!~~_~_~~g_~~~_g~_!~£-12;Appx B'

The cost had not been small. Behind them they left the 423officers and 5,341 other ranks who would sleep forever inItnlian soil.

---------------------------------------------~ Due to a possible error in 1 Cdn Corps Adm Sitrep of 8 Dec

a total of 2,060 othBr rnr~s is pr;~ably a more correctfigure.

~~ After 10 Feb figures for the Canadian prisoner inteke arenot available as 1 Cdn Inf Div adm Sitrep was submittedto 5 Corps, and copies were not placed on the divisionalwar diary.

- 178 -

3~. This report was drafted in part by Maj X.A.Haines and Capt M.B. Huffman, and completed by Maj D.H.Cunningham.

,

I/I$~ , /JI:.-~ (C.P. Stacey "'Colonel, 7a' Director Ristor cal Section.

Royal

Appx "A" - 1to Historical Section A.H.Q.

Heport No.~

ORDER OF SATTLE1 Cdn Corps

(as at 0800 hrs 15 Dac 44)

Headquarters 1st Canadian Corps

7th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Canadian hrtillery(leas ona bty)

1st Survey Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery657 Air OP Sqn422 S.L. (Indep) Bty Royal hrtillery

1st Canadian Army Group Royal hrtil1ery1st Medium Regiment Royal Canadian hrtillery2nd Medium Regiment Royal Canadian hrtillery5th Medium Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery3rd Medium Regiment Royal Artillery61st Heavy Regiment Royal Artillory (two btys)

21st (British) Tank Brigade (under command 1 Cdn Corps)Headquarters 21st Tank BrigadeNorth Irish Horse145th Regiment Royal hrmoured Corps272 Forward Delivery Squadron

1st Canadian Infantry DivisionHeadquarters 1st Canadian Infantry Division

1st Canadian Armoured Car Regiment (Royal CanadianDragoons)

12th Royal Tank Regiment9th Canadian Armoured Regiment (British Columbia

Dragoons) (less one sqn)

Canadian Artillery 1st Canadian Infantry Division

The Saskatoon Light Infantry (M.G.)1st Canadian Infantry Brigade

The Royal Canadian RegimentThe Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment48th Highlanders of Canada

2nd Canadian Infantry BrigadePrincess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryThe Seaforth Highlanders of CanadaThe Loyal Edmonton Regiment

3rd Canadian Infantry BrigadeRoyal 22e RegimentThe Carleton & York RegimentThe West Nova Scotia Regiment

- 2 -

5th Canadian Armoured DivisionHeadquarters 5th Canadian J,rmoured Division

3rd Canadian ~mourBd Reconnaissance Regiment(The Governor General's Horse Guards)

5th Canadian Armoured Brigade2nd Canadian hrmoured heglment (Lord Strathcona's

Horse (aoyal Canadians))5th Canadian Armourad aegiment (8th Princass

Louise's (New Brunswick) Huss8rs)~"all Squadron 9th Cnnadian Armoured Regiment

(British Columbia Dragoons)5th Canadian hss8ult Troop Canadian hrmoured Corps"G" Squadron 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The

Elgin Regiment)

Royal

11th

12th

9th

Canadian Artillery 5th Canadian Armoured Division

24th Field aegimant (Self-propellad) RoyalArtillary .

310th Anti-Tank Battery (Self-propelled) RoyalArtillery

1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps2721st Squadron Royal Air Foree Regiment

BULOW FORCE (Partisans)

(Extraoted from Order of Battle 1 Cdn0.5. H.Q. 1 Cdn Corps, Deoember 1944:

Corps I 15 DecAppx 64))

44 (W.O.,

J. Appx "A"-2to Historical Section

Report No.~

(as

ORDER OF BATTIE1 Cdn Corps

at 0800 hrs 6 Feb 45)

Headquarters 1st Canadian Corps

7th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Canadian Artillary(less three self-~ropelledbatteries and two17 pounder troops)

1st Survey Regiment Royal Ca~pdian Artill.ry422nd Search-Light (Independent) Battery Royal

Artillery

1st Canadian Army Group naysl hrtl11ery1st Medium fiegiment Royal Ca~adian Artillery2nd Medium Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery5th Medium neglment Royal Canadian hrtl11ery3rd Medium Regiment Royal Artillery56th Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery

Headquarters Royal Artillery Cremona Group7th Artillery Regiment

Four field batteriesOne anti-tank batteryCne l1ght anti-aircraft battary

24th Field Regiment (Self-propelled) RoyalArtillery

7th Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery(one self-propelled better¥ and one battery(less one troop) (less guns)

5th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal CanadianRegiment (one battery)

BULOW FORCE (Partisans)

Cremona Combat Group (under command 1 Cdo Corps)Headquarters Cremona Combat Group

21st Infantr He Iment (Cremona GrOllMortar Company 3 inchAnti-tank Company (6 pounder)1st Battal10n2nd Ba ttal10n3rd Bs ttellonHeadquarters 21st Infantry Regiment

22nd Infantry Regiment (Cremona Group)Headquarters 22nd Infantry RegimentMortar Company (3 inch)Anti-Tank Company (6 pounder)1st Battal10n2nd Ba ttal10n3rd Ba ttal10n

1st Canadian Infantry DivisionHeadquar ters Is t 'Canadian lnran try Divis i on

1st Canadian hrmoured Car Regiment (RoyalCanadian Dragoons)

Royal

- 2 -

Canadian Artillery 1st Canadian Infantry Division

BULLOW FORCE (Partisans)

1st Canadian Infantry BrigadeHeadquarters 1st Canadian Infantry BrigadeThe Royal Canadian RegimentThe Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment48th Highlanders of Canada

2nd Canadian Infantry BrigadeHeadquarters 2nd Canadian Infantry BrigadePrincess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryThe Seaforth Highlanders of CanadaThe Loyal Edmonton Regiment

3rd Canadian Infantry Brl~de

Headquarters 3rd Canadian Infantry BrigadeRoyal 22. RegimentThe Carleton & York RegimentThe West Nova Scotia Regiment

21st (British) Tank Bri~de (under command 1 Cdn Inf Div)Headquarters 21st Tank BrigadeNorth Irish Horse12th Royal Tank Regiment48th Royal Tank Regiment272nd Forward Delivory Squadron

2nd (British) Armoured Bri~de (under command 1 Cdn Tnf Div)Headquarters 2nd Armoured BrigadeO,uoo,,' s Bay (2nd Dragoon Guards)9th 'lu_cn'fs Royal Laiicers -lOth Roycl Hussars (Prince or Wales'z ~m)27th Lancers278th Forward Delivery Squadron

ls t Ba ttalion1st Battalionls t Ba ttalion

King's Royar Rifle Corps )Buffa {Royal East Kent RegimentThfl Welch Regimen t

5th Canadian Armoured DivisionHeadquarters 5th Canadian Armoured Division

3rd Canadian Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment(Governor Generalis Horse Guards)

'.

Royal

- :5 -

(Extracted from Order of Battle 1 Cdn Corps,-& Feb 45 (W.D.,G.S., H.Q. 1 Cdn Corps, February 1945: Appx 16»

Canadian Infantry Brigade

5th Canadibn Armoured Brl@QdeHeadquarters 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade2nd Canadian Armoured Re61ment {Lord Strathcona IS

Horse (Royal Canadians»5th Canadian Armoured Regiment (8th Princess

Louise's (New Brunswick) Hussars)9th Canadian Armourad Regimant (British Columbia

Dragoons)5th Canadian Assault Troop Canadian Armoured Corps"Gil Squadron 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery

Regiment (The Elgin Regiment)

Canadian Artillery 5th Canadian Armoured Division

12th

11th

APPENDIX "B",To Hist Sec A.H.Q.

Report No.~

CASUALTY STATISTICS"

COMPILED FROM WAR SERVICE RECOHDS. D. V. A., "CASUl,LTY STI.TISTICS"THE CI.lJPAIGN IN ITI,LY"

Table 1.

Casualties Canadian Component 1,1.1 for period 29 Oct 44 - 27 Feb 45

,

FORhU.TION OR UNIT KILLED" WOUNDED PR IS ONERS"

pffr OR Offr OR I Offr OR

,

I,29 Oct - 30 Nov 44 6 29 20 • 403 - 4

1 - 21 Dec 44 32 -L6 108 1,713 13,

199I,

22 - 31 Dec 44 4 '72 26 395 , - 491 - 6 Jan 45 11 81 22 429 - 12

7 Jan - 27 Feb 45 8 128 30 959 I 2 47

Total 61 826 206 3 899 15 311

: Table 2.Casualties Headquarters and units 1 Cdn Armd Bde 29 oct 44-27 Feb45

1

,29 Oct ... 30 Nov 44 2 4 4 38 - 1

1 - 21 Dec 44 - - - 25 - -22: w 31,Doo 44 - 1 'I 7 - -1 - 6 Jan 45 '- - 3 5 - -

7 Jan .. 27 Feb 45 - 1 I, 37 I - -Total 2 6 9 112 - 1,

Table 3.Casualties Canadian Component Eighth Army for period

29 Oct 44 to 27 Feb 45Ki<

:l9 oct- 30...Nov 44 4 25 I 16 365 I - 31 - 21 Dec 44 32 516 108 1,688 I 13 199

I22 - ~l-Dec 44 4 71 25 388 , - 491 - 6 Jan 45 III 81 19 424 I - 12

.' 7 Jan - 27 Feb 45 8 127 29 922 i 2 47

Total 59 820,

197 3,787 I 15 311}I,

II: KILLED inoludes "Died of Wounds"FRISON&RS includes wounded prisoners

lUI. Includes as well oasualties of base units and "Canloen"personnel.

APPENDIX IICI~

REPORl' NO. 31

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