The Italian Campaign

Canada Post Corporation's tribute to the Canadian war effort continues with four stamps issued on November 8, 1993 to mark the 50th anniversary of the tide turning in the Allies favour. At the beginning of 1943, nearly a quarter million Canadian soldiers were stationed in Britain; three infantry and two armoured divisions; two tank brigaded; as well as two corps headquarters and army headquarters. But despite the various battles raging, they could claim action only at Hong Kong and Dieppe. Canadians were demanding that the Canadian army be deployed somewhere, and the Mackenzie King government responded by abandoning the concept of maintaining the Canadian army as a unified group. The 1st Canadian Infantry Division was substituted for the 3rd British in Operation Husky - the invasion of Sicily. In late June, Canadians set sail for Sicily and even though three vessels were lost, the landings met little resistance. While the Canadians, as part of Montgomery's British Eight Arm attacked northward on the east, Patton's Fifth U.S. Army went up the west side of the island. Canada's General G.G. Simonds led his troops against German defenses in the mountainous terrain. As a result of this invasion, Mussolini was overthrown on July 25. German soldiers would continue to fight for Italy for more than a year. On December 14, 1943 Captain Paul Triquet of the Royal 22nd Regiment won the first of three Victoria Crosses awarded to Canadian in Italy. Despite the loss of half os his company, Triquet led his remaining men to destroy German positions and hold the village of Casa Berardi until reinforcements arrived the following day. From September 3, 1943 to January 8, 1944, Canadian casualties numbered 3,869, including 879 dead in Italy. But none doubted that Canada was now truly at war. The Italian Campaign shows an infantry assault through a village, while a surfaced U-boat appears on the foreground of the Battle of the Atlantic stamp. The night scene background depicts an Allied convoy under attack as a Canadian corvette has opened fire on the sub. The Bomber Forces stamps illustrates a "bombing up" - the groundcrew loading bombs on a Halifax heavy bomber, while stevedores load supplies for Russia on the Aid to Allies stamp.