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History |
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Wars & Campaigns |
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►Boer
War
►First
World War
►►Western
Front
►►►Trench
Warfare: 1914-1916
►►►Allied
Offensive: 1916
►►►Allied
Offensives: 1917
►►►German
Offensive: 1918
►►►Advance
to Victory: 1918
►►Siberia
►Second
World War
►►War
Against Japan
►►North
Africa
►►Italian
Campaign
►►►Sicily
►►►Southern
Italy
►►►The
Sangro and Moro
►►►Battles
of the FSSF
►►►Cassino
►►►Liri
Valley
►►►Advance
to Florence
►►►Gothic
Line
►►►Winter
Lines
►►North-West
Europe
►►►Normandy
►►►Southern
France
►►►Channel
Ports
►►►Scheldt
►►►Nijmegen
Salient
►►►Rhineland
►►►Final
Phase
►Korean
War
►Cold
War
►Gulf
War |
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Operations |
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Battle Honours |
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Boer War
First World War
Western Front
Trench Warfare: 1914-1916
Allied Offensive: 1916
|
►Somme, 1916 |
1
Jul-18 Nov 16 |
|
►Albert |
.1-13
Jul 16 |
|
►Bazentin |
.14-17
Jul 16 |
|
►Pozieres |
.23
Jul-3 Sep 16 |
|
►Guillemont |
.3-6
Sep 16 |
|
►Ginchy |
.9
Sep 16 |
|
►Flers-Courcelette |
15-22
Sep 16 |
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►Thiepval |
26-29
Sep 16 |
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►Le Transloy |
.
1-18 Oct 16 |
Allied
Offensives: 1917
|
►Arras 1917 |
8
Apr-4 May 17 |
|
►Vimy, 1917 |
.9-14
Apr 17 |
|
►Arleux |
28-29 Apr 17 |
|
►Scarpe, 1917 |
.3-4
May17 |
|
►Hill 70 |
.15-25
Aug 17 |
|
►Messines, 1917 |
.7-14
Jun 17 |
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►Ypres, 1917 |
..31
Jul-10 Nov 17 |
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►Pilckem |
31
Jul-2 Aug 17 |
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►Langemarck, 1917 |
.16-18
Aug 17 |
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►Menin Road |
.20-25
Sep 17 |
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►Polygon Wood |
26
Sep-3 Oct 17 |
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►Broodseinde |
.4
Oct 17 |
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►Poelcapelle |
.9
Oct 17 |
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►Passchendaele |
.12
Oct 17 |
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►Cambrai, 1917 |
20
Nov-3 Dec 17 |
German Offensive: 1918
|
►Somme, 1918 |
.21
Mar-5 Apr 18 |
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►St. Quentin |
.21-23
Mar 18 |
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►Bapaume, 1918 |
.24-25
Mar 18 |
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►Rosieres |
.26-27
Mar 18 |
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►Avre |
.4
Apr 18 |
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►Lys |
.9-29
Apr 18 |
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►Estaires |
.9-11
Apr 18 |
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►Messines, 1918 |
.10-11
Apr 18 |
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►Bailleul |
.13-15
Apr 18 |
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►Kemmel |
.17-19
Apr 18 |
Advance to Victory: 1918
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►Arras, 1918 |
.26
Aug-3 Sep 18 |
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►Scarpe, 1918 |
26-30 Aug 18. |
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►Drocourt-Queant |
.2-3
Sep 18 |
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►Hindenburg Line |
.12
Sep-9 Oct 18 |
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►Canal du Nord |
.27
Sep-2 Oct 18 |
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►St. Quentin Canal |
.29
Sep-2 Oct 18 |
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►Epehy |
3-5
Oct 18 |
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►Cambrai, 1918 |
.8-9
Oct 18 |
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►Valenciennes |
.1-2
Nov 18 |
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►Sambre |
.4
Nov 18 |
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►Pursuit to Mons |
.28 Sep-11Nov |
Second World War
War Against Japan
South-East Asia
Italian Campaign
Battle of Sicily
Southern
Italy
The Sangro and Moro
Battles of the FSSF
|
►Anzio |
22
Jan-22 May 44 |
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►Rome |
.22
May-4 Jun 44 |
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►Advance
|
.22
May-22 Jun 44 |
|
to the Tiber |
. |
|
►Monte Arrestino |
25
May 44 |
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►Rocca Massima |
27
May 44 |
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►Colle Ferro |
2
Jun 44 |
Cassino
|
►Cassino II |
11-18
May 44 |
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►Gustav Line |
11-18
May 44 |
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►Sant' Angelo in
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13
May 44 |
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Teodice |
. |
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►Pignataro |
14-15 May 44 |
Liri Valley
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►Hitler Line |
18-24 May 44 |
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►Melfa Crossing |
24-25 May 44 |
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►Torrice Crossroads |
30
May 44 |
Advance to Florence
Gothic Line
|
►Gothic Line |
25 Aug-22 Sep 44 |
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►Monteciccardo |
27-28 Aug 44 |
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►Point 204 (Pozzo Alto) |
31 Aug 44 |
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►Borgo Santa Maria |
1 Sep 44 |
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►Tomba di Pesaro |
1-2 Sep 44 |
Winter Lines
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►Rimini Line |
14-21 Sep 44 |
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►San Martino- |
14-18 Sep 44 |
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San Lorenzo |
. |
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►San Fortunato |
18-20 Sep 44 |
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►Sant' Angelo |
11-15 Sep 44 |
|
in Salute |
. |
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►Bulgaria Village |
13-14 Sep 44 |
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►Pisciatello |
16-19 Sep 44 |
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►Savio Bridgehead |
20-23
Sep 44 |
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►Monte La Pieve |
13-19
Oct 44 |
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►Monte Spaduro |
19-24 Oct 44 |
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►Monte San Bartolo |
11-14
Nov 44 |
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►Lamone Crossing |
2-13
Dec 44 |
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►Capture of Ravenna |
3-4
Dec 44 |
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►Naviglio Canal |
12-15 Dec 44 |
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►Fosso Vecchio |
16-18 Dec 44 |
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►Fosso Munio |
19-21 Dec 44 |
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►Conventello- |
2-6 Jan 45 |
|
Comacchio |
. |
Northwest Europe
Battle of Normandy
|
►Quesnay Road |
10-11 Aug 44 |
|
►St. Lambert-sur- |
19-22 Aug 44 |
Southern France
Channel Ports
The Scheldt
Nijmegen Salient
Rhineland
|
►The
Reichswald |
8-13 Feb 45 |
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►Waal
Flats |
8-15 Feb 45 |
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►Moyland
Wood |
14-21 Feb 45 |
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►Goch-Calcar
Road |
19-21 Feb 45 |
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►The
Hochwald |
26
Feb- |
| . |
4
Mar 45 |
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►Veen |
6-10 Mar 45 |
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►Xanten |
8-9
Mar 45 |
Final Phase
|
►The
Rhine |
23
Mar-1 Apr 45 |
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►Emmerich-Hoch
|
28
Mar-1 Apr 45 |
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Elten |
. |
Korean War
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Domestic Missions |
|
►FLQ
Crisis |
|
International
Missions |
|
►ICCS
Vietnam 1973
►MFO
Sinai 1986- |
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Peacekeeping |
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►UNTEA |
W. N. Guinea 1963-1964 |
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►ONUCA |
C. America
1989-1992 |
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►UNTAC |
Cambodia
1992-1993 |
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►UNMOP |
Prevlaka
1996-2001 |
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|
Exercises |
|
Agira
|
Agira was a
Battle Honour granted to Canadian regiments that fought at that town
during the Battle of Sicily, a phase of the Italian Campaign during
the Second World War.
Background
The fighting at
Leonforte had cost the Canadians 56 dead and 105 wounded, but
moreover cost the Germans a position crucial to their outer
defensive perimiter. The flank of the US 1st Infantry Division was
now secure and they were free to drive north from Enna to Troina.
To the east, the 8th Army was still battering at Catania;
Montgomery's new plans called for an attack on the Etna defences
from the west. Advancing parallel to the US 1st Division, the
Canadians were to strike up the centre of the island, and were given
the British 231st "Malta" Brigade under command. The Canadians were
ordered to advance immediately on Agira, and he passed his orders
down on the afternoon of 22 Jul. The Malta Brigade was ordered to
advance from the south, seizing high ground east of Agira while the
Canadians attacked along six kilometres of highway leading to
Catania. It was assumed the enemy would defend the high ground at
Agira. The presence of German troops at Nissoria, a village located
in low ground along the highway between two low ridges, was not
expected.
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|
Defences
The Germans, an
infantry battalion of the 15th Panzer Grenadier Div., supported by a
few tanks and self-propelled guns, had been surprised by the
"remarkable athletic accomplishments" of the "British" troops who
had appeared "in our backs during the night" at Assoro. They decided
to defend Agira using the reverse slopes of the two ridges at
Nissoria as the first and second lines of defence. Simond's plan to
use aircraft and field and medium artillery to support 1st Bde.'s
move into Agira assumed that a relatively light barrage--lifting 200
metres every two minutes--would be enough to neutralize the enemy
and permit the Canadians to close and destroy.1
The Battle
The Royal Canadian
Regiment advanced with tank support under an artillery barrage as the
battle opened; enemy resistance was fierce however and ten Sherman tanks
of the Three Rivers regiment were knocked out. Reserve companies of the
RCR swung to the right, discovering a deep gully parallel to the road
which they followed to a position past the town of Nissoria, halfway to
Agira itself. Unable to make radio contact with 1st Brigade
headquarters, the battalion was reluctant to continue the advance
without orders.
Out of contact with the
RCR, the 1st Brigade commander ordered a deliberate attack on Nissoria
in the early minutes of 25 Jul. The town was secured by The Hastings and
Prince Edward Regiment, but a second ridge to the east was strongly held
and by early morning, the Hasty P's had suffered 80 casualities - the
highest single day loss of any Canadian unit during the Battle of
Sicily.
The RCR in the meantime
been withdrawn to avoid subjecting them to Canadian artillery fire. The
48th Highlanders next went into action, ordered to capture the heights
of Monte di Nissoria to the north of the village, clearing the way for
the 2nd Brigade to continue the advance. The lead company made it onto
the objective on the evening of 26 Jul but heavy fire prevented their
reinforcement, and the 48th were forced to withdraw.
Simonds, under
pressure from his corps and army commanders, had little choice but
to press ahead. The 1st U.S. Infantry Div. was meeting fierce
resistance at Nicosia, north of Nissoria, and so a new attack was
planned for July 27. From Nicosia, Highway 120 ran east along the
northern edge of Mount Etna. This offered an opportunity to outflank
the enemy holding up Montgomery's advance. The Canadians and the
newly arrived British 78th Div. were playing a vital supporting role
and an all-out effort was required. Unfortunately, this meant that
Agira would be attacked while the enemy held the northern flank.2
|
On the night of
26 Jul, a platoon of The Edmonton Regiment force marched over
eight miles of rought terrain and managed to cut the road from
Agira to Nicosia. Digging in and holding on, they managed to
ambush several trucks and even knocked out three tanks and a
tank recovery vehicle. Lieutenant John Dougan was awarded the
Military Cross for his leadership (and would later win a bar to
the MC at San Leonardo). A third attempt to take Agira
acknowledged the German's strong defence on a low ridge (code
named "Lion" by the Canadians) to the east of Nissoria. Princess
Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry launched an attack under the
largest artillery barrage fired to date on Sicily, and supported
by two squadrons of Shermans from The Three Rivers Regiment. The
attack was a success, and follow up companies were ordered to
take the "Tiger", a low ridge 1,000 meters further east. This
attack did not go as well, and the rough terrain caused the
soldiers to fall behind the barrage.
Regardless, The
Seaforth Highlanders were committed to attacking "Grizzly", a
third piece of high ground still further east, on the western
edge of Agira itself. "C" Company on the right flank foudn the
enemy still in strength on "Lion" who remained there until
daybreak. On the left, "A" Company reached "Tiger" at first
light and drove the enemy back. |
Award
Citation: Lieutenant John Alpine Dougan
|
|
On 5 August 1943, Spot Height
236, a high feature north of Regalbuto, was the
objective of "D" Company, Edmonton Regiment. The
approaches to it were devoid of cover and the feature
was strongly held by a number of mortar and machine gun
posts. Lieutenant Dougan commanding the forward platoon,
successfully led his platoon forward to within 300 yards
of the objective when it came under heavy machine gun
fire. Lieutenant Dougan was wounded in both arms and
both hands; he could hold his revolver only by gripping
it with both hands.
Under intense pain he led the
platoon across the 300 yard stretch of open ground under
continuous observed fire, led the charge on the
objective and captured it. After directing consolidation
of the platoon objective, this officer was carried out
of action. The gallantry of Lieutenant Dougan merits the
highest praise.3 |
|
For once, the Germans did
not mount a counter-attack; their reserve - an uncommitted battalion of
Panzergrenadier Division 29 came forward to defend "Grizzly" while
Panzergrenadier Regiment 104 reorganized. Monte Fronte, high ground
dominating "Grizzly", was defended by several machine guns and mortars.
The Seaforths left a single platoon at the base of Fronte, while the
rest of their company manoeuvred to the flank, through orchards and
vineyards to a 300-foot cliff. Scaling the cliff, the company was
reinforced and cleared Monte Fronte.
Cemetery Hill, dominating
the northern end of "Grizzly" was then cleared by The Edmonton Regiment
after hard fighting, and the hill was declared secure on the morning of
28 Jul.
Aftermath
Taking no chances,
Simonds arranged for full artillery support to attack Agira. The
Patricias and the sorely tired citizens of the town were spared
further casualties when an artillery observation officer discovered
that the streets to Agira were filled with friendly people anxious
to welcome the Canadians. The barrage was cancelled and the
Patricia's entered the town as liberators. Agira cost the Canadians
438 casualties, the costliest battle of the Sicilian campaign.4
 |
 |
| Sherman Tank
of The Three Rivers Regiment passing through Agira. LAC Photo |
Allied jeeps
on the road to Agira pass by disabled German vehicles. 28 Jul
1943. LAC Photo. |
Battle Honours
The following Canadian
units were awarded the Battle Honour "Agira" for participation in
these actions:
1st Canadian Armoured Brigade
1st Canadian Division
1st Canadian Brigade
-
The Royal Canadian Regiment
-
The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
-
48th Highlanders of Canada
2nd Canadian Brigade
-
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
-
The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
-
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
Notes
-
Copp, Terry. "From Leonforte To Agira" Part 61,
article in Legion Magazine
-
Ibid.
-
Blatherwick, John and Hugh Halliday. Courage &
Service: Second World War Awards to Canadians (Service
Publications, Ottawa, ON) ISBN 1894581229
-
Copp, Ibid.
|
