Last edition:
Showing posts with label Canadian Navy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canadian Navy. Show all posts
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Friday, April 25, 2025
Sunday, April 15, 1915. Gallipoli.
The ill fated Allied landing began at Gallipoli with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landing at what became known as Anzac Cove while British and French troops landed at Cape Helles.
Ottoman resistance was immediate.
Canadian forces failed to retake St. Julien.
Last edition:
Saturday, April 24, 1915. The beginning of the Armenian Genocide.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Saturday, April 24, 1915. The beginning of the Armenian Genocide.
The Armenian Genocide began with the deportation of Armenian intellectuals from Constantinople.
It's always easiest for the oppressor to remove those whom they'd like to repress. . .
The Germans launched a gas attack on Canadian positions at St. Julien, which allowed them to take the village.
The RMS Lusitania arrived in New York City coincident with the German embassy in Washington D.C. issuing a public warning that the waters around Great Britain being a war zone and that ships flying a British flag would be considered targets.
Last edition:
Thursday, April 22, 1915. Gas!
Labels: 1910s, 1915, Canadian Army, French Army, German Army, technology, Technology is ruining everything, The Second Battle of Ypres, Weapons, World War One
Friday, March 7, 2025
Wednesday, March 7, 1945. The Bridge at Remagen taken.
The United States Army took the bridge over the Rhine at Remagen intact, and by surprise.
The Battle of Remagen commenced.
The failure of the Germans to have destroyed the heavy railroad bridge, last used by U.S. forces in 1918, was a major failure and the bridge's capture a major event in the advance of the U.S. Army into Germany.
Romania declared war on Japan.
The U-1302 was sunk in the St. George's Channel by the Canadian frigates Strathadam and Thefford Mines.
Related thread:
December 13, 1918. Crossing the Rhine
Labels: 1910s, 1918, 1940s, 1945, Army, Canadian Army, Germany, Occupation of Germany 1918-1919, World War Two
Last edition:
Tuesday, March 6, 1945. Soviet murders in Poland and Eagle 7.
Sunday, December 29, 2024
Friday, December 29, 1944. Siege of Budapest.
The Red Army and Romanian Army, the latter now fighting for the Allies, besieged Budapest.
Members of No. 9 Commando following Operation Partridge.
British commandoes raided behind German lines in Italy in Operation Partridge.
The U-322 was sunk by the Canadian corvette Calgary off of Dorset.
Last edition:
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Friday, September 1, 1944. Lone Tree Hill
The First Canadian Army captured Dieppe.
The Red Army took Călărași, Romania and reached the Bulgarian frontier. The Soviet Union asked for permission for the Red Army to enter Bulgarian territory. The Bulgarian prime minister, Ivan Bagrianov, resigned and. Constantine Muraviev took his place.
The Battle of Lone Tree Hill, in Dutch New Guinea, ended in American victory.
The battle had been fought since May 17.
Lone Tree Hill. Not One Tree Hill. The latter was the name of a horrifically bad television series that featured, for some weird reason, basketball as the center of the universe.
The U-247 was sunk in the English Channel by the Canadian Navy.
Native Melanesian of New Caledonia, wearing the uniform of a French sailor, stands guard before French Navy Hq. in Noumea, largest town in New Caledonia.
Arsenic and Old Lace premiered.
Last edition:
Thursday, August 31, 1944. Montgomery promoted. The Red Army in Bucharest. The Mad Gasser in Mattoon, Illinois.
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Friday, June 9, 1944. D+3
Allied (British, Canadian and Polish) and German flotillas fought off the coast of Brittney in what started as a nighttime action. The German effort was to relocate their remaining destroyer fleet to a port with better anti-aircraft protection following the invasion in Normandy. The message was intercepted, and accordingly the flotilla was as well. The Germans lost two destroyers.
The 7th Corps took Azeville. The 5th Corps took Trevieres. The British and Canadians were engaged in heavy fighting around Caen, which the Germans were reinforcing.
Actions resulting in Medals of Honor to two of the airborne, one a glider infantryman and the other a paratrooper, occured.
PFC CHARLES N. DEGLOPPER
Medal of Honor Action: June 9, 1944
On 9 June 1944 DeGlopper was advancing with the forward platoon to secure a bridgehead across the Merderet River at La Fiere, France. Shortly after penetrating the outer line of defense, the platoon was surrounded by German forces. DeGlopper volunteered to support his comrades by fire from his automatic rifle while they attempted a withdrawal. He leveled his heavy weapon against the enemy fire upon them, killing many until he was cut down.
PVT JOE GANDARA
Parachuted into France as part of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment
Medal of Honor Action: June 9, 1944
Gandara distinguished himself during combat operations against an armed enemy in Amfreville, France on June 9, 1944. Gandara’s detachment was pinned under heavy German fire for four hours. Gandara voluntarily advanced alone and destroyed three hostile machine guns before he was fatally wounded.
The Germans killed 99 civilians in Tulle in reprisal for attacks by the French Resistance.
German POW's in England.
French refugees of uncertain status brought to the UK for questioning, June 9, 1944.
The Fifth Army took Tarquinia and Viterbo.
Regrouping, partially in contemplation of Operation Dragoon, commenced for Allied forces in Italy.
A new Italian government was formed.
The Soviets launched a massive assault on the Finnish front, but did not achieve a first day breaktrough.
The Matsukaze was sunk by the USS Swordfish and the Tanikaze by the USS Harder.
Last Prior edition:
Thursday, June 8, 1944. D+2
Thursday, June 6, 2024
Tuesday, June 6, 1944. Operation Overlord
Today In Wyoming's History: June 6: 1944
June 6
1944 Allied forces land in Normandy, in an event remembered as "D-Day", although that term actually refers to the day on which any major operation commences. This is not, of course, a Wyoming event, but at least in my youth I knew more than one Wyoming native who had participated in it. Later, I had a junior high teacher whose first husband had died in it. A law school colleague of mine had a father who was a paratrooper in it. And at least one well known Wyoming political figure, Teno Roncolio, participated in it. From the prospective of the Western Allies, it might be the single most significant single day of the campaign in Europe.
All the photos above are courtesy of the United States Army.
Airborne troops landed on French soil just minutes after midnight, with famously widely scattered results in the American sectors. The British landed troops of the SAS deep in France in Operation Houndstooth, something that's often overlooked.
Stanley Hollis would win the Victoria Cross for his actions on this day:
In Normandy on 6th June, 1944, during the assault on the beaches and the Mont Fleury Battery, C.S.M. Hollis's Company Commander noticed that two of the pill-boxes had been by-passed, and went with C.S.M. Hollis to see that they were clear. When they were 20 yards from the pillbox, a machine-gun opened fire from the slit and C.S.M. Hollis instantly rushed straight at the pillbox, firing his Sten gun. He jumped on top of the pillbox, re-charged his magazine, threw a grenade in through the door and fired his Sten gun into it, killing two Germans and making the remainder prisoner. He then cleared several Germans from a neighbouring trench. By his action, he undoubtedly saved his Company from being fired on heavily from the rear and enabled them to open the main beach exit.Later the same day, in the village of Crepon, the Company encountered a field gun and crew armed with Spandaus at 100 yards range. C.S.M. Hollis was put in command of a party to cover an attack on the gun, but the movement was held up. Seeing this, C.S.M. Hollis pushed right forward to engage the gun with a P.I.A.T. from a house at 50 yards range. He was observed by a sniper who fired and grazed his right cheek, and at the same moment the gun swung round and fired at point-blank range into the house. To avoid the fallen masonry C.S.M. Hollis moved his party to an alternative position. Two of the enemy gun crew had by this time been killed, and the gun was destroyed shortly afterwards. He later found that two of his men had stayed behind in the house and immediately volunteered to get them out. In full view of the enemy who were continually firing at him, he went forward alone using a Bren gun to distract their attention from the other men. Under cover of his diversion, the two men were able to get back.Wherever fighting was heaviest, C.S.M. Hollis appeared and in the course of a magnificent day's work, he displayed the utmost gallantry and on two separate occasions his courage and initiative prevented the enemy from holding up the advance at critical stages. It was largely through his heroism and resource that the Company's objectives were gained and casualties were not heavier, and by his own bravery he saved the lives of many of his men.
Jimmie W. Monteith won a posthumous Medal of Honor.
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty on 6 June 1944, while serving with 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in action near Colleville-sur-Mer, France. First Lieutenant Monteith landed with the initial assault waves on the coast of France under heavy enemy fire. Without regard to his own personal safety he continually moved up and down the beach reorganizing men for further assault. He then led the assault over a narrow protective ledge and across the flat, exposed terrain to the comparative safety of a cliff. Retracing his steps across the field to the beach, he moved over to where two tanks were buttoned up and blind under violent enemy artillery and machinegun fire. Completely exposed to the intense fire, First Lieutenant Monteith led the tanks on foot through a minefield and into firing positions. Under his direction several enemy positions were destroyed. He then rejoined his company and under his leadership his men captured an advantageous position on the hill. Supervising the defense of his newly won position against repeated vicious counterattacks, he continued to ignore his own personal safety, repeatedly crossing the 200 or 300 yards of open terrain under heavy fire to strengthen links in his defensive chain. When the enemy succeeded in completely surrounding First Lieutenant Monteith and his unit and while leading the fight out of the situation, First Lieutenant Monteith was killed by enemy fire. The courage, gallantry, and intrepid leadership displayed by First Lieutenant Monteith is worthy of emulation.
Adolf Hitler was awoken at the Berghof around noon. Noon?
He showed no signs of distress.
Churchill announced the invasion to the House of Commons, stating:
Reports are coming in in rapid succession. So far the Commanders who are engaged report that everything is proceeding according to plan. And what a plan! This vast operation is undoubtedly the most complicated and difficult that has ever occurred ... Nothing that equipment, science or forethought could do has been neglected, and the whole process of opening this great new front will be pursued with the utmost resolution both by the commanders and by the United States and British Governments whom they serve.
Roosevelt announced the invasion by radio that evening, in the form of a prayer.
Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.
The British and Canadians, making use of specialized armor nicknamed "funnies", advanced considerably further inland than the Americans by the end of the day, but the Germans did not succeed in pushing anyone back into the sea.
D-Day recalled on some other blogs that feature on this site:
Flyover Country: D-Day begins on the Platte ("The man who won the war")
Uncle Mike's: June 6, 1944: D-Day
World War II Today:
World War II Today:
PT Boat Red: The PTs on D-Day, June 6, 1944
City Father: D Day + 80
Operation Overlord was legitimately such a major event in World War Two that it has long overshadowed, at least in the Western World, other events in the war that happened on the same day, but things did happen. Recall that Rome had been taken just the day prior.
In Italy, the French Expeditionary Corps took Tivoli.
The Soviet First Jassy–Kishinev offensive, with the objective of taking Romania, came to an unsuccessful end.
Operation Rösselsprung concluded, having temporary disrupted Yugoslav partisan activity.
This would have been a regular Tuesday work day in the States. The news must have been extremely distracting.
Last prior edition:
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Sunday, May 7, 1944. Hitting Berlin, Assaulting Sapun.
The 8th Air Force conducted a 1,500 plane raid on Berlin. The 15th Air Force and Bomber Command attacked railway sites in Bucharest. The 9th Air Force attacked the railway yards at Mezieres-Charleville with B-26s and P-38s.
The 46th Infantry Division occupied Cape Hopkins Airfield on the Bismark Archipelago. The Japanese offered no resistance.
The Red Army carried out an assault on Sapun Mountain May 7, 1944 in the Battle of Sevastopol.
Polish Gen. Anders visited the 15th Vilnius Rifle Battalion "Wilków" and attended Mass with them.
The RCN Valleyfield was sunk by the U-548 off of Cape Rice. 129 out of 167 crewmembers died in the attack.
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"Georgetown, D.C. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, rested and tanned after a four week vacation at Shangri-La, returned to the White House. The President rested a month in the 23,000 estate. His residence was a guarded secret until he was safe back in Washington. It was a fishing and bathing vacation with the nearest telephone five in good health and good spirits, all traces of his bronchitis from which he suffered during the winter months having disappeared, May 7th, 1944. Shown: U.S. Marine standing guard at Shangri-La, Maryland."
The Marine guard is wearing an early pattern field jacket and carrying a M50 Reising submachinegun.
Sarah Sundin, on her entry Today in World War II History—May 7, 1944 notes that another D-Day exercise, Exercise Pigeon, commenced.
A B-25 crashed in bad weather and one mile north of West Chester, Pennsylvania, killing all seven on board.
Last prior edition:
Saturday, May 6, 1944. Shelling Sevastapol.
Monday, April 29, 2024
Saturday, April 29, 1944. More friendly fire, Raid on Truk, More German strikes in the Channel.
Just a few days after U.S. ships shelled US Army troops at Slapton Sands in Operation Tiger in a friendly fire incident, the PT-346 was sunk, killing nine sailors and wounding nine, by Marine Corps Corsairs.
Lieutenant James Burk ordered medic John Frkovich to take his Burk's life jacket so he could survive and treat the wounded. Wilbur Larsen, USNR, received the Navy Marine Corps medal for saving wounded non-swimmer Forrest May's life.
Japanese torpedo bomber making a run on the Yorktown in a counter to the attack on Truk.
An American air raid on Truk destroyed most of the island's Japanese aircraft.
On New Guinea, the captured Japanese airfields at Hollandia and Aitape become operational for Allied aircraft.
The HMCS Athabaskan was sunk in the English Channel by the T24, once again showing active Kriegsmarine activity in the Channel. The T24 picked up 83 men as prisoners, 44 were rescued by the Allies, and 123 went down with the ship.
The I-183 was sunk off the Bungo Strait by the USS Pogy.
The U-421 was sunk at Toulon in an American air raid.
Stars and Stripes, April 29, 1944.
While I can't post it due to an active copyright, The Saturday Evening Post came out with a classic illustration called "Arm Chair General" by Norman Rockwell.
Last prior edition:
Friday, April 28, 1944. Day Two of Execise Tiger.
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