Canadians in Italy

[Alfreda]

I am looking for any information on the 1st Canadian Infantry in Italy during WW2.
My father was a member of the Hasty P‘s and landed in Sicily.
The Germans used to call them the Red Patch Devils, presumably because they were unstopable.
I feel they were the forgotten ones, as well as the forgotten front as much has been written about D-Day and Normandy.
Dad was at Ortona as well as Montecassino.
If anyone knows where I can find information, please post.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Farley Mowat was in the Hasty P‘s and wrote several books on his time in Italy, including the regimental history called THE REGIMENT.

There is also a book about the regimental sergeant major, Angus Duffy, though for the life of me I can‘t remember the title. It was very good as well.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Mark Zuehlke wrote a book on Ortona.

Here is a review:

http://www.journal.dnd.ca/vol1/no1_e/bookrev_e/book5_e.htm

 

[bev]

Hi my fathers cousin was also in the Red Patch Devils and ws killed in a river in Ortona  Italy we don't know where he is burried . His name was George Downes  Merritton

 

[Michael OLeary]

Bev, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database is here: http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx

Searching on the names DOWNES for the Canadian Army in the Second World War shows that a George Robert Downes, serving with the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards is buried in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery.

http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2204288

Name:  DOWNES, GEORGE ROBERT
Initials: G R
Nationality: Canadian
Rank: Trooper
Regiment: 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, R.C.A.C.
Unit Text: 4th Recce. Regt.
Age: 25
Date of Death: 04/11/1943
Service No: B/58656
Additional information: Son of Robert George and Jean Downes; husband of Helen Marion Downes, of Thorold, Ontario.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. F. 7.
Cemetery: MORO RIVER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

Cemetery details: http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=2018200&mode=1

Two other DOWNES are also listed, a second in the same cemetery and one curied in Sicily.