Beyond the Consensus 1St Canadian Infantry Division at Agira, Sicily 24-28 July 1943
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Canadian Military History Volume 19 Issue 2 Article 4 2010 Beyond the Consensus 1st Canadian Infantry Division at Agira, Sicily 24-28 July 1943 Grant N. Barry Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh Part of the Military History Commons Recommended Citation Grant N. Barry "Beyond the Consensus 1st Canadian Infantry Division at Agira, Sicily 24-28 July 1943." Canadian Military History 19, 2 (2010) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Canadian Military History by an authorized editor of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. : Beyond the Consensus 1st Canadian Infantry Division at Agira, Sicily 24-28 July 1943 Beyond the Consensus 1st Canadian Infantry Division at Agira, Sicily 24-28 July 1943 Grant N. Barry n the dark of night on 24-25 July 1943 Accordingly, 1 CID was ordered a platoon of Canadian infantry sits Abstract: From 24-28 July 1943, 1st to penetrate the mountainous interior I Canadian Infantry Division attacked quietly on the second of three Axis- Axis forces deeply entrenched on three of central Sicily, pivot east and roll dominated ridges between the Sicilian large ridges that stood between the enemy defences toward the Catania towns of Nissoria and Agira. Engines Sicilian towns of Nissoria and Agira. To Plains. Having already pushed 50 noises break the silence of the night date, historians have suggested that miles inland to Giarratana, on the as three personnel transports roll up 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade (1 CIB) night of 14-15 July 1 CID resumed failed in its attempt to unseat a small the highway between the towns. A German delay force which guarded the its advance. The division moved finger tightens on the trigger of a Bren ridges and Agira. However, the area northwest and dispatched German gun and bullets tear into the vehicles. was actually a formidable defensive units attempting to hold transport Steady fire pours from the bushes position manned by many German and junctions at Grammichele, Piazza and grenades splinter amongst the Italian units that were supported by Armerina and Valguarnera. By the armour and artillery, and continuously enemy soldiers. The night briefly reinforced throughout the battle. By evening of 22 July the Canadians returns to quiet before two more destroying enemy men and equipment consolidated on the lynchpin of Axis transports grind into view and and eroding morale, 1 CIB set the stage defences in Sicily: the Leonforte- again a finger tightens on the trigger for the capture of Agira by 2nd Canadian Assoro massif. The Germans had Infantry Brigade. of a Bren gun. These Axis troops enjoyed the luxury of fighting when were moving west to help stop the and where they decided but now the Canadian advance on Agira. Existing General Guy Simonds’ 1st Canadian enemy “dare not retire by bounds, accounts assert that 2nd Battalion Infantry Division (1 CID) which nor could they risk manoeuvres; 104th Panzer Grenadier Regiment fought through the island’s rugged they were obliged to fight where they held these ridges and defeated 1st interior, unhinging the Axis’ main stood.”3 Canadian Infantry Brigade (1 CIB), line of resistance. Vital to enemy While 1 CID captured Leonforte- yet this incident casts a different light defences, the town of Agira in central Assoro Montgomery conceded that on the situation. The 2nd Battalion Sicily controlled the roads and terrain his army could not immediately actually formed the nucleus of a ahead of 1 CID’s eastward advance. penetrate the Catania Plains lest much larger force composed of many As the campaign began the he incur tremendous casualties. German and Italian units, all of which Canadians formed the inland left flank On 21 July, he ordered his three had to receive desperately needed of General Bernard Montgomery’s British divisions to assume an reinforcements during battle, after 1 British Eighth Army, which attacked aggressive defence while 1 CID CIB hammered their lines in the first northward along the east coast continued “without restraint” toward two days of the Canadian advance. toward the city of Messina, adjacent Adrano, to break the enemy’s lateral On 10 July 1943 the Allies to the straits bearing the same communications south of Mount Etna launched Operation Husky, the name.1 The British raced north to the and hurry the collapse of the entire invasion of Axis-held Sicily. Part Catania Plains, a place historian Carlo front. As a preliminary step, Major- of a grand strategy set at the D’Este contends quickly became “the General Simonds ordered 1 CID to Casablanca Conference in January, most critical objective in Sicily.” A capture Agira.4 the undertaking was designed to breakthrough would leave Axis Meanwhile, Brigadier Roy E. erode German combat strength formations “vulnerable to a double Urquhart’s 231st Malta Brigade (231 and help facilitate a cross-channel envelopment from east and west.”2 MB) moved from Raddusa on 19 invasion of occupied France in 1944. As Germans poured into the region, July to positions three miles south of Included in the operation was Major- British mobility waned. Agira. On 20 July the brigade came Published© Canadian by Scholars Military Commons History @, Laurier,Volume 2010 19, Number 2, Spring 2010, pp.41-54. 41 1 Barry - Agira.indd 41 6/14/2010 2:50:12 PM Canadian Military History, Vol. 19 [2010], Iss. 2, Art. 4 Map drawn by Mike Bechthold ©2010 Mike by Map drawn under Simonds’ command and was 22e Régiment dug in to the south.6 back, reorganized, and overpowered ordered to hold until the Canadians Meanwhile, preparations for the the enemy.9 The melee forced the consolidated Leonforte-Assoro main attack continued. postponement of the main advance and reached ground immediately As the crow flies, Agira is eight until 24 July although 231 MB west of Agira. On 20-21 July the miles from Leonforte and it was captured Points 533 and 482 astride Dorsetshire Regiment (Dorsets) estimated that delaying forces the road leading north to Agira.10 The probed 2nd Battalion 34th Italian might resist in between. Experience British patiently laid low and units Infantry Regiment, which guarded showed the enemy preferred to from 3 CIB patrolled to their south. Agira together with elements of defend mountaintop towns, and By late afternoon 23 July the the Hermann Göring Division. “because it was overlooked from the WNSR had destroyed German Southwest, the Devonshire Regiment high ground to west and east” the observation posts and machine gun (Devons) discovered men from 15th small town of Nissoria positioned nests, taking two prisoners from the Regiment 29th Panzer Grenadier en route seemed unsuitable.7 On 22 Hermann Göring Division. Later Division.5 With the terrain well July, Simonds ordered 1 CIB to move the WNSR described suspicious registered by enemy guns and the on Agira with one battalion up and movement to their front, confirmed at town heavily defended, the British the full weight of the Royal Canadian 1923 hours by the Royal 22e Régiment formation needed a firm base for their Artillery (RCA) in support; 231 MB who “reported guns and motorized operation. would attack simultaneously from transport going north” toward the On 21 July, 3rd Canadian Infantry the south.8 highway.11 As 3 CIB monitored the Brigade (3 CIB) arrived to support 231 The 48th Highlanders of movement of Axis troops, 1 CIB MB near the Dittaino River. The next Canada (Highlanders) marched readied to attack Agira from the west. day the West Nova Scotia Regiment north from Assoro on 22-23 July to The RCA, along with British (WNSR) situated itself near the town the intersection of Highways 121 regiments and air support, would of Libertinia. The Carleton and York and 117 east of Leonforte. They neutralize predetermined targets Regiment deployed over territory unknowingly crossed the front of between Nissoria and Agira. Five from a crossing near Raddusa-Agira a German force lying to the south field and two medium regiments Station to an area three miles north of and several hours of intense combat were ready to lay down shells while the dried watercourse and the Royal ensued as the Highlanders pulled a squadron of tanks from 12th https://scholars.wlu.ca/cmh/vol19/iss2/442 2 Barry - Agira.indd 42 6/14/2010 2:50:13 PM : Beyond the Consensus 1st Canadian Infantry Division at Agira, Sicily 24-28 July 1943 Canadian Armoured Regiment (Three diary, was confident in the divisional At 1500 hours on 24 July Rivers) would add mobile firepower. plan: Canadian and British guns targeted The Royal Canadian Army Service the ground between Leonforte and Corps reported that 43 trucks were The feature [Agira] is deemed so Agira. “C” and “D” Companies of driving 25-pounder ammunition important to gain that the Battalion, the RCR marched through Nissoria to the front for nearly 22 hours a which is leading the Brigade will behind a creeping smoke barrage. day, which gives some indication be supported by the complete Battalion headquarters reported of the intensity of the fire support Divisional Artillery, plus ninety little resistance as the Saskatoon planned.12 These preparations have bombers, plus more than a hundred Light Infantry (SLI) “provided some been well documented by historians fighter-bombers in close support. excellent fire support during the but the composition of enemy It is a set piece attack, with a timed move through town.”16 However, at forces has received a less thorough artillery program, report lines, bells, 1615 hours the RCR received a hostile examination. train whistles and all the trimmings.