Article: Amphibious Landings Deemed a "Secret Weapon"

  The "Most Hazardous and Difficult (Operation) of the War"

Anzio: "Most Successful (Allied) Amphibious Operation"? 

Allied "amphibious" training exercise at HMS Quebec, No. 1 Combined Operations

training centre on Loch Fyne, near Inveraray Scotland, circa 1942.

Photo Credit - Imperial War Museum (IWM)

Introduction:

While looking through WW2 issues of The Winnipeg Tribune recently I found an article by a U.S. writer that was short and sweet. I consider it a very rare item and hope to find more like it.

As one can see below, it is not a very lengthy newspaper column but it touches on the importance of "amphibious landings" in a way that has 'Canadians in Combined Operations' written all over it.

For example, not only does it mention the importance of amphibious warfare, along with particular pros and cons associated with landings, it mentions the Dieppe Raid, and the invasions of "North Africa, Sicily, the toe of Italy, Salerno and now south of Rome." In other words, the writer mentions all the operations (except for "south of Rome") that involved the Canadian members of Combined Ops who are the chief interest of this online site. (!)

While conducting small bits of research via old newspapers over the last few years I have become familiar with many illustrious war correspondents, and Wes Gallagher is certainly a member of that group.

Gallagher's article follows: 

SHORT AND SWEET, I SAY!

I do not disagree with Gallagher's opinion concerning the Dieppe raid, i.e., that it was 'possibly' not "an outstanding success," but I do think - and readers are welcome to chime in here - that the Anzio landing was not necessarily "the most successful amphibious operation ever carried out by the Allies."

Related to the number of casualties, or the ease of the landing, perhaps Anzio ranks highly, but in terms of the end result, the prizes won, and what could be accomplished next in the Mediterranean theatre, I think four earlier major landings (Torch, Husky, Baytown, Avalanche; all mentioned in the next paragraph below) are definitely in the running for "most successful operation."

But that's just my opinion as well, so we will move on quickly:

Troops (U.S.) and ammunition being brought ashore from (LCA 428) on Arzeu

beach, Algeria, North Africa, Operation 'Torch', Nov. 1942. Photo - IWM

Canadian sailor Doug Harrison (RCNVR, Comb. Ops), front and centre

My father, Doug Harrison (above), would have called the landings in North Africa very successful, I'm sure, because of calm seas and water only up to his knees. On another day he landed in plain sight of an outdoor cafe in Arzeu. "Good reconn," he said. And when a sniper opened up on his landing craft he hid behind a dozer blade.

His only big complaint concerned his opening work schedule. He worked four days straight doing 'ship to shore' - unloading troops and all materials of war - without a break for food or sleep. His only sustenance was grapefruit juice which he stole from the Americans. He likely would have traded North Africa for Anzio but he was on Vancouver Island in January 1944. "It was like heaven there," he said.

More details can be found at Memoirs re Combined Ops, by Doug Harrison.

Gallagher continues:

The last paragraph succinctly lays out one of the chief goals of Combined Operations Command, i.e., to develop a spirit of co-operation and co-ordination amongst the three branches of the armed forces. Not easily done as a study of some of the early raids and invasions will reveal. But by June 1944, Allied joint planning was somewhat smoother - e.g., with greater co-operation between branches of the armed forces - than during the early years of the war.

American troops landing on the beach at Arzeu, near Oran, from a landing craft

assault (LCA 426), some of them are carrying boxes of supplies. Photo - IWM

D. Harrison, far left, with anti-broaching line. Second line being delivered.

For more information and photographs related to training exercises and amphibious landings related to some of the operations mentioned in Gallagher's article, please visit A - Z Directory. Start Here. and peruse items (links) listed under such sub-headings as Articles, Editor's Research, and Photographs.

To read more news items from The Winnipeg Tribune that were published on the same day as Wes Gallagher's fine article, please link to Editor's Research: Canadians in Combined Ops Return Home. 

Unattributed Photos GH