The 60th Anniversary of the Invasion of Sicily

It has been 60 years since the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade sailed from Great Britain to join the British and U.S. armies in the invasion of Sicily.

Canadian troops arrived late July 9 to join nearly 3,000 Allied ships and landing craft, despite the loss of 58 Canadians who drowned when enemy submarines sank three ships of the assault convoy. Just after dawn on July 10, Canadian troops went ashore near Pachino, Sicily to form the left flank of the British landings spreading over 60 kilometres of shoreline.

In only 38 days, Canadians fought through 240 kilometres of mountainous country bearing a large share of the fighting on the Allied front during their final two weeks. In taking Sicily, the Allies also aimed to trap the German and Italian armies and prevent their retreat across the Strait of Messina into Italy.

Five hundred and sixty-two Canadian soldiers perished during the operation that secured a necessary air base from which to support the liberation of mainland Italy, and freed the Mediterranean sea lanes. The operation also proved valuable to the downfall of Mussolini and allowed Italy to negotiate a peace with the allies. Canadian troops marched in exhausting and scorching weather. They fought without respite, and distinguished themselves on many occasions.

The Conquest of Sicily