By 2Lt Hrayr Karageozian, Public Affairs Officer in training, 1st Canadian Division
1st Canadian Division members will depart Kingston on July 6, 2018, for Italy, as part of Operation HUSKY 2018, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Sicily.
This summer marks the 75th anniversary of the Allied Italian Campaign, which began with Operation HUSKY on July 10, 1943. Operation HUSKY was the codename for the Allied invasion of the Italian island of Sicily. It was one of the largest seaborne operations in military history with 3000 Allied ships and landing craft. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade joined the British Eighth Army in the campaign.
Canadian and British troops came ashore near Pachino on the southern tip of Sicily on July 10, 1943 while Americans covered another 60 kilometres of the Sicilian coast. The fighting lasted over four weeks, until August 17, 1943 and the Canadians battled through 240 kilometres of mountainous Sicilian terrain.
The 38 days of combat came at a great cost with over 2310 Canadian casualties including 562 fatalities, out of the total number of 26 000 Canadian soldiers who participated in the Operation. 58 Canadians drowned when three ships carrying Canadian troops from Great Britain were sunk by enemy submarines.
Following Op HUSKY, the 1st Canadian Corps was activated in January 1944 and 5th Canadian Armoured Division, 21st British Tank Brigade and 1st Canadian Special Forces Battalion joined for a total of 90 000 soldiers to continue the Italian Campaign.
Operation HUSKY 2018 is a commemorative walk in Sicily organized by Honorary Colonel Stephen Gregory, from 2nd Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery, a reserve unit located in Montreal. Members from 1st Canadian Division HQ, on behalf of the units who fought as part of the Division, from Royal Canadian Regiment and from 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada, will be part of the contingent and will commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of Canadian soldiers who fought to ensure the freedom Canadians enjoy today. The walk will start on July 10 in Pachino and will finish on July 31 in Catania, including a total distance covered by the marchers of 300 km.
Canadian Armed Forces participants will march in combat uniform, they will march through the towns and villages of Sicily. A daily ceremony will take place in each of the 20 towns or villages where the participants will march through, a wreath will be laid for the Canadians, Italians, and Germans who died in the war 75 years ago. Major-General Dany Fortin, Commander of the 1st Canadian Division and the divisional sergeant-major, Chief Warrant Officer Steve Merry, will join the contingent for the last portion of the walk including the closing ceremony.
Follow the updates of the walk at: https://www.facebook.com/1stCanadianDivision
