Remembering the Italian Campaign

This week marks the 78th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Sicily and the beginning of the Italian Campaign on 9 July 1943. The Royal Canadian Engineers supported every battle from start to finish. The gallantry and sacrifice of our officers and men was far from insignificant. Man-for-man, only the infantry suffered more than the Sappers. In Sicily, the RCE received more gallantry awards than any other corps or regiment.

The Italian Campaign has often been referred to as the "Engineers' War". The German Army's greatest allies were the mountains, valleys and rivers their engineers fortified and developed into a series of obstacle belts that would challenge even modern armies. The CMEA has chronicled many of the battles and added personal stories about the bravery and sacrifice of our Corps. There is more to be told. Take some time to look at any of the following to gain an engineer perspective of that Campaign from start to finish.

 

 

 

Courage and Sacrifice in Italy

Sapper Bravery in Sicily   Bravoure des Sapeurs en Sicile
Gallantry on the Moro - 8 December 1943   Vaillance sur le Moro le 8 décembre 1943
Sapper Gallantry in the Liri Valley – May 1944   Les sapeurs sur la ligne Hitler – mai 1944
Tributes to the Fallen Sappers of the Liri Valley   Hommages aux sapeurs tués pendant la campagne de la vallée de Liri
Engineer Gallantry on the Gothic Line   Vaillance des sapeurs sur la ligne gothique
Gallantry with Porterforce – 31 October and 1 November 1944   Vaillance du groupement Porterforce – le 31 octobre et le 1er novembre 1944

 

 

1st Cdn Corps Patch
Canadian Army Italian Campaign