From the Colonel Commandant in Sicily:
On 26 July, the Colonel Commandant, MGen Daniel Benjamin, unveiled a monument to the efforts of the Royal Canadian Engineers during Operation HUSKY. During the night of 21 / 22 July 1943, the 3rd Field Company, in support of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade's attack on the hilltop town of Leonforte, built the first Bailey Bridge of the war under fire and ensured Canadian success in taking the town.
Fittingly, the monument, erected in the town square of Leonforte features a Bailey bridge panel and plaque. The event was highly successful with the Mayor with his city council members including Chief of Police and Chief Carabinieri, an Italian military delegation, the Canadian OP HUSKY 2023 team and marchers, enactors and pipers (cornemusiers\trompettiste) from the Netherlands, and a large crowd from Leonforte. CWO Jones, the CME Branch Chief Warrant Officer, and members of members from 33 CER represented the RCE.
The Colonel Commandant gave the following speech:
Bonsoir à tous et bienvenue à ce dévoilement d’un monument à l’honneur des Ingénieurs Royaux Canadiens.
Good evening to you all and welcome to this unveiling of a monument to the honor of the Royal Canadian Engineers.
Buonasera a tutti e benvenuti a questa inaugurazione di un monumento in onore dei Royal Canadian Engineers.
I am MGen (Ret'd) Daniel Benjamin, Colonel Commandant of the Canadian Military Engineers and I’m very proud to be part of this unveiling with CWO Darrel Jones, our Branch CWO.
The monument in question relates to Operation Husky, the actions of the Allied Forces as they opened a new Front against Hitler Forces in Sicily in July-August 1943. The Canadian effort was led by the 1st Canadian Infantry Division that landed near Pachino on 10 July 1943 and then moved northwest towards Grammichele. Ne rencontrant que peu de résistence, ils ont pu avancer rapidement vers la ville de Leonforte qui fut atteinte par les Seaforth Highlanders du Canada en fin de journée le 20 juillet. The Canadians quickly realised the city was strongly defended by the Germans and that a key bridge leading to it had been demolished.
That night, the Edmonton Regiment, followed closely by the Royal Canadian Engineers, moved forward towards Leonforte under heavy artillery fire. The infantry crossed the ravine near the demolished bridge and continued into the town where house‐to‐house fighting developed. Meanwhile, the 3rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, began building a 40‐foot Bailey bridge across the ravine under continual enemy mortar and machine‐gun fire. Le pont a pu être complété en moins de 5 heures mais les bombardements intenses près des approches ont fait que les véhicules n'ont pu traverser avant 07h00 le lendemain matin.
While the bridge was being built, Major K. J. Southern, the Engineer Company Commander, went forward with two of his men and a few infantry soldiers. They encountered a machine‐gun post, an enemy infantry party and two tanks at the entrance to the town. After a brisk exchange of shots, the tanks stopped their advance and Southern’s party held the Germans at bay until his party was reinforced with an anti‐tank gun. Les Allemands se sont alors repliés rapidement.
With the construction of the bridge at Leonforte on the night of 21 July 1943, the Royal Canadian Engineers hold the distinction of having built the first Bailey bridge under enemy fire during the Second World War. Ils ont aussi reçu 5 des 21 médailles d'honneurs canadiennes pour leurs exploits à cet endroit.
The Bailey Bridge Panel Monument we are about to unveil is a commemoration of such exploits as well as a tribute to the 24 Royal Canadian Engineers who lost their lives as part of Operation Husky in Sicily in July-August 1943. Their names are listed on the bronze plaque mounted in the middle of the panel.
This monument and ceremony could not have taken place without the support of several key personal and agencies. I would therefore like to thank the Mayor of Leonforte, Piero Li Volsi, and his team, for the site, the base and the installation of the monument as well as the ability to hold this ceremony. Steve Gregory and his Op Husky 2023 team for the financial support and overall coordination of this project, especially Doctor Angelo Plumari that supervised the efforts here in Leonforte. The Canadian Military Engineer Branch at large as well as the Canadian Military Engineer Association for their financial and overall support in the making of this monument.
Well done to you all and lest we forget.
Chimo!
Major K.J. Southern and Lieutenant‐ Colonel G. Walsh received the Distinguished Service Order. Lieutenant N.W. Dickson, 1 Platoon Commander, received a Military Cross and Sergeant R. R. McPhee received a Military Medal as the Bridge Commander. In the afternoon of the same day, Sapper L. A. Johnston received a Military Medal for making two trips on his motorcycle through heavy fire to transport his wounded colleagues to the rear area.
