"Three Months in the Mediterranean" Series Develops
With Significant News Stories and Sharp Photographs...
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...And the occasional informative, though perhaps unsettling, painting.
Learn more about artist Edward Ardizzone at Imperial War Museum
Introduction:
As a way of drawing attention - in the year 2023 - to the upcoming 80th anniversary of (and events related to) the Allied invasions of Sicily and Italy in July and September respectively in 1943, during which four Flotillas of Canadian Landing Crafts were significant participants (i.e., the 55th, 61st, 80th, 81st Flotillas of LCAs and LCMs), I will share many related news clippings and photographs on this site. My main sources will continue to be The Montreal Gazette for 'news of the day' and the Imperial War Museum for photos... and the occasional painting.
Please click here to get a taste of news articles re Allied advances:
Below please find 12 related photographs by Lt. H. A. Mason, Royal Navy Official Photographer, as found at the Imperial War Museum:
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On 21 July 1943, Brigadier-General Rennie's 154th Brigade attack Gerbini airfield, spearheaded by 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The defences they attack include deep wire, machine guns and tanks. After three hours the objective is taken, but casualties are heavy. Meanwhile, on 1st Canadian Division's front throughout the day, the men of Tweedsmuir's force at Assoro beat off German counter-attacks. Ardizzone was present and recorded the events in his diary: 'Go forward and get involved in not too pleasant a battle. The approach to the ridge,'ware mines. Tanks on the road, many dead, wounded under cactus hedge, the burning corpse. Tanks burning and blowing up in an almond orchard.' Several sketches used to produce this work accompany the diary entry (IWM ART LD 7580 [A]).
Extended caption: "The orchard and the surrounding country were the scene of very bitter fighting on the morning of 21st July. Our objective had been taken only to be lost again to a German counter-attack. Casualties were heavy."
In 1943 Ardizzone understood that an invasion of Europe was imminent and, with the help of his friends in the 50th division, landed at Sicily in July of that year. His experience there was very different to that of Egypt, as this drawing demonstrates. He witnessed close-quarter fighting and the bleak aftermath of war. Battle in an Orchard of Almond Trees in Sicily is a rare example of his wartime work which shows corpses. Ardizzone acknowledged that his style was not so suited to scenes of violence and even less so to places that had been deserted of people entirely. He tended to focus on the gentle and more humorous aspects of the subjects in his drawings.
Please click here to view Photographs: Armada to Sicily, July 1943 (1)
© IWM A 17958. Description - Operation Husky: The Sicily Landings 9-10
July 1943: Scene in the early morning as the invasion fleet closed in to land
troops, tanks and guns during the start of the invasion of Sicily.
Photo Credits - Lt. H. A. Mason, Royal Navy, IWM
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© IWM A 17948. Description - Operation Husky: The Sicily Landings 9-10
July 1943: An army anti-aircraft officer pointing to a map with a stick whilst
three other soldiers look on whilst they are at sea on board HMS HILARY
at dawn of the first day of the invasion of Sicily.
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© IWM A 17969. Description - Rear Admiral Sir P. Vian with his Chief of Staff,
Captain Everett, RN, during the Sicily landing operation.
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© IWM A 17945. Description - Operation Husky: The Sicily Landings 9-10
July 1943: A small section of the vast armada of ships which took part in the
invasion of Sicily as photographed from landing ship headquarters HILARY
at dawn of the first day of the invasion of the island.
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© IWM A 17952. Description - Canadian troops who were among the first to land.
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© IWM A 17947. Description - Operation Husky: The Sicily Landings 9-10
July 1943: Staff Officers of Combined Operations having an informal talk
during leisure moments at sea on board HMS HILARY at dawn of
the first day of the invasion of Sicily.
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© IWM A 17966. Description - Operation Husky: The Sicily Landings 9-10
July 1943: Out of the war, a group of prisoners waiting to leave Sicily
during the start of the invasion of the island.
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© IWM A 17951. Description - Canadian troops who were among the first to land.
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© IWM A 17954. Description - Operation Husky: The Sicily Landings 9-10
July 1943: Landing craft going ashore in early morning during the start
of the invasion of Sicily.
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© IWM A 17967. Description - Warships of the Royal Navy
shelling gun emplacements (HMS ORION).
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© IWM A 17950. Description - Over the sea in a Bosun's Chair, just before the
Canadian troops started their landing on the beaches of Sicily, it became
necessary to transfer Major J M Robinson, Canadian Staff Officer, from
HMS HILARY, to the destroyer HMS WHEATLAND, seen underway.
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© IWM A 17953. Description - Captain A. T. Sesia, Historical Officer, and
Major C. W. Gilchrist, PRO, of the 1st Canadian Division,
discussing the attack.
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© IWM Art.IWM ART LD 3385. Description - Image: a track running through
an orchard with a stationary tank on the right. Two bodies lie at the side of the
track and the ground is covered in debris. In the centre of the image is
a group of injured or exhausted soldiers sitting under a tree.
On 21 July 1943, Brigadier-General Rennie's 154th Brigade attack Gerbini airfield, spearheaded by 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. The defences they attack include deep wire, machine guns and tanks. After three hours the objective is taken, but casualties are heavy. Meanwhile, on 1st Canadian Division's front throughout the day, the men of Tweedsmuir's force at Assoro beat off German counter-attacks. Ardizzone was present and recorded the events in his diary: 'Go forward and get involved in not too pleasant a battle. The approach to the ridge,'ware mines. Tanks on the road, many dead, wounded under cactus hedge, the burning corpse. Tanks burning and blowing up in an almond orchard.' Several sketches used to produce this work accompany the diary entry (IWM ART LD 7580 [A]).
Extended caption: "The orchard and the surrounding country were the scene of very bitter fighting on the morning of 21st July. Our objective had been taken only to be lost again to a German counter-attack. Casualties were heavy."
In 1943 Ardizzone understood that an invasion of Europe was imminent and, with the help of his friends in the 50th division, landed at Sicily in July of that year. His experience there was very different to that of Egypt, as this drawing demonstrates. He witnessed close-quarter fighting and the bleak aftermath of war. Battle in an Orchard of Almond Trees in Sicily is a rare example of his wartime work which shows corpses. Ardizzone acknowledged that his style was not so suited to scenes of violence and even less so to places that had been deserted of people entirely. He tended to focus on the gentle and more humorous aspects of the subjects in his drawings.
Please click here to view Photographs: Armada to Sicily, July 1943 (1)
More photographs soon to follow.
Unattributed Photos GH
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