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To: pgkdan

My father fought in Italy with the 5th Canadian Armoured Division at Ortona, then in the breakthrough of the Gustav Linie just south of Cassino, the Hitler lines all the way to Rome. HIs unit spent the rest of 44’ on the Adriatic coast fighting near Rimmini and places further north. They were shipped to France in January 45’ and were deployed in Holland until VE Day. I remember him saying that the fighting in Italy was hellish, with the mountainous terrain giving the Germans the ability to dig in and force the Allies to fight ridge by ridge. His unit started out as a machine gun (Bren) company and was converted to mortars to deal with the terrain. The courageous achievements of Private Crawford and others like him are truly remarkable given the obstacles they faced.


17 posted on 09/29/2016 1:26:38 PM PDT by littleharbour
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To: littleharbour
My dad was at Cassino also. 195 artillery. There during the bombing of a monastery. Met a Gurkha unit. One of the most unassuming but fierce fighters he ever met.

Said the legend that they never draw their knives without drawing blood is true.

21 posted on 09/29/2016 1:39:06 PM PDT by mware (RETIRED)
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To: littleharbour

So was mine. He never talked about Italy , very reluctantly about Holland and only if you asked . He turned twenty 10 days after he got home. Perth Regiment of Canada.


27 posted on 09/29/2016 2:00:01 PM PDT by Snowyman
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