“The War Diary of Private Edmund Macintosh”
{A short AAR about the 1st Canadian Infantry Corps}
{A short AAR about the 1st Canadian Infantry Corps}
TFH-no mods
Canada 1936
{This first entry covers 33 days. The first bit is a tad dull but the fun begins in Bulgaria and thus my writing should gain some life. Just had to try/do this for some reason.}
EDIT= It turns our there is more to the story so there will be a couple of more entrees.
The First Step - Our initiation into the war.
* We waited till Mussolini stabbed France in the back and on 04 Jun 1940 we sailed from Halifax and sent our small troop transport convoy of two modern destroyers and 6 transports, to land the 50,000 man 1st Canadian Infantry Corps commanded by Lt. General Oulton at the UK port of Lagos along the mid-western coast of Africa, beginning the first stage of our plan to remove Italy from the southern part of the famous dark continent. Our target was the South-African port of Mogadiscio.
* On 13 Jun 1940 the invasion began. The landing was un-opposed. After securing the port, single divisions were immediately ordered west and east to reach the Italian troops stationed in both regions, with another of our units moving north to intercept a lone Italian Mil-unit fleeing a British Inf-Div. coming down from Ethiopia.
* On 07 Jul General Norton leading the 2nd Canadian Inf. Div. started the Battle for Bohotleh, assaulting Italy’s 26a Inf. Div. commanded by General Nicolos. Two days later on the 9th the battle was won with losses of 46 Canadians and 144 Italians.
* 13 July - The Battle for Dolo began. From the province of Belet Uen General T.V Anderson’s 4th Canadian Inf. Div. (my unit) attacked the unfortunate 6a Militia unit led by Italian General Georgis.
* 14 July - General Foster’s 1st Canadian met 26a Inf. in retreat in Hudih and the Italian division suffered another pushback, losing 74 more men. Canada lost 42. After this rout, General’s Foster and Anderson continued their move to the east.
* After four days of heavy fighting on 17 July the battle for Dolo finally ended with a victory for 1st Inf. Div. suffering 242 dead but inflicting greater loss on the Italians losing 618 men.
* Because of the long and slow movement on terrain, it took till the 15th of August for Italy’s South-African holding to fall into Canada’s hand. We captured 9 Provinces total but not one had a valuable resource but at least we had a decent port to continue Canadian operations in the Theater. Speaking of Theater, we created one for the new holding when a 6,000 Port Garrison Division supported by an AA brigade arrived in Mogadiscio for defense duty. Our 1st Canadian Infantry Corps now boarded the transport for a destination not yet know. We knew, that other than one battle, we had not yet been severely tested but at least we experienced what it means to “come under fire.” We would soon find out the importance of this initiation into a greater war.
A Greater Challenge Awaits
* In early September we checked in with our Allies in North Africa and we were surprised that our efforts to quicken the fall of Ethiopia and the South African coast, so far, had bore little effect. Italy had taken 1 province and both armies stood by in holding positions. With further communication impossible now, since we were at sea, we could only hope that soon our effort would pay off and British troops would arrive in the North sooner than expected.
* By September 5th we had reorganized and sailed from Mogadiscio and arrived at El Iskandariya, the third British port in which we have docked for supplies and intelligence gathering. We also had a day of leave and most of us found our way to a dockside joint called the Salty Dog that actually had bitters; an unusual ale that I tried and liked when celebrating the end of my training for professional service in the Royal Canadian Army. Too soon, we would be thinking about our training and not a flip about bitters or bar stools. We were in store for an intense environment, that our first taste of war could never have prepared us.
* As we sailed across the Med we were told we were headed for Albania. We knew, that like Mogadiscio, the small country was occupied by Italian forces. I’m sure I was not the only one that was very grateful to see so many British warships on patrols or on missions. Remember, we had two good destroyers escorting us and no big-gun-platforms or flat-tops of our own to depend on.
* We were in the Southern Adriatic Sea when a prepared message from Fleet Admiral Murray was read to the Corps.
This is the message we all heard on the 9th of September;
Italy has broken out of Albania and has driven the Greeks back off the borders of their homeland. Yugoslavia is not fairing much better and British pilots have given reports of both armies beginning to break up. We are going to invade Tirane and try to stop the loss and make any ground won by the Axis as costly as we can.
If we can land and hold the major Albanian port we will accomplish two things that will make us become a Royal Canadian pain-in-the-ass for Ill dooshbag’s dreams of a new Roman empire. The first will be to deprive the Italians of the largest port in the area and secondly we will be able to split the Italian army in half if we are successful. I know you are fine Canadian men that have received excellent training and in both ways are prepared for our task ahead. I wish you all a safe return from this blasted war. God bless you and keep you in the time ahead.”
* We had little time for chit-chat before our preparations for the landings were underway. Last minute checks and last minute wishes the most numerous.
* We had not sailed far, before we could hear what sounded like distant thunder. As we neared our destination, the sound of war intensified to port and so did my fear. About an hour after we passed ,what we were told, was the boot of Italy, soon after, to our bow, we could see a very welcome sight sitting large in the water. At the position from where we would make our assault, sat the British carrier Ark Royal. Some of her planes were in the air and others looked to be refueling or rearming. We were also bolstered by the sight of 2 battleships and several other warships, too far away to name. Even the destroyers nearby were reassuring. There had to be more than a dozen in the area and that made our two all the more acceptable. One thing I saw troubled me; a small Greek port had no Greek ships in sight. But, there were no signs of enemy ships on the sea near us, not with all the fire-power on their doorstep.
* We began the invasion on the 9th. I found out later that it actually began earlier, since 1 squadron of the 1st RCAF tactical bomber wing had been based in Athens and Commander Mackay-McEwan’s planes were harassing enemy troops in Rreshen for a few days. We won three consecutive skirmishes and finally gained the Albanian capitol on the 12th of September at 16:00 hours. We were immediately counter-attacked but the battle was over before it began. After the attack, we were formed-up on the south side of the damaged city and it was then we heard news that made us all feel a little better; supply convoys were already underway. Apparently our British allies had a good grip on the Mediterranean sea. We soon learned, that until our arrival, that both Yugoslavia and Greece had lost ground two provinces deep along their borders.
* The next morning on the 13th (would this be unlucky for us?) my division the 4th, led an attack into the province of Korce; we were supported by the 1st Div. Our confidant General T.V. Anderson was in command. By morning on the 14th the battle was over. We had won losing 34 men, of which I did not know any of them. The Italians had 102 men killed during the overnight fight. We heard later that the Greeks defeated another Italian division to the east of the city in Gostivar with attack-support from our 6th Inf.-div. Until that news I hadn’t thought about our allies here. The allies lost 56 and the enemy 259.
* On the 15th the Italians to our north launched a desperate counterattack with 12,000 troops against our heavily defended positions in and around Tirane. The 4th did not see any of this fighting. After last night’s battle, we were resting in the shade of some bombed out buildings, trying to get some sleep. Reports soon came to us that Greek and Yugoslavian units, taking advantage of our strong foothold, were pushing north and re-entering Yugoslavia, while other Greek divisions were forming a line to our south in an effort to contain the Italians and not let them any further inside Greece.
* The following day in the early morning hours of the 16th we saw our bombers making runs to the north. Several hours later the sound of fire lessened and the Italian attack ended with 785 men dead while we only lost 92. I did know one chap this time but not very well. Still he was a nice guy. People always said I was a nice guy. I wonder if I will make it through this madness? I can think of no better word for I have witnessed about war.
* While we rest and hold our ground, during the days of the 17th and 18th our few planes seem to be everywhere in the sky. Here and there an Italian bomber will come over the city but our boys are soon on them. I’m not sure but I think our bombers are having an easier time of it.
* On the 19th I heard for the first time, that at least some of the missions we saw heading south out of the city, were targeting the port the Italians had taken from the Greeks. It was said that our bombers had done serious damage to the port facilities in Kerkyra and even caused a few vessels to flee in darkness. Late in the evening, we received some very unwelcome news; Bulgaria had joined the Axis! Germany and Italy were blowing the world up and now these guys also want to get in on the fun? Sergeant Davis didn’t say anything to us but the look on his face told the story. We all knew what he was thinking anyway, we knew how close Bulgaria is to our current defenses. It probably will not be long till we see some of them. From Yugoslavian reports, we’ve already heard German tanks are on the move south but are still north of Split. Once these two armies show, things are going to get very nasty.
* As if in anticipation of the Axis relief on the way, the Italians struck our defenses again. Three days later on the 22nd of September, we forced them back with over 1200 dead. 279 of our lads perished this time and unfortunately I did know a few of them. We had all been through boot together. I can’t think about it now.
* Air Commander Brooke’s fighters are sure doing a great job. Our skies are still free of enemy planes. Thank God for the light-weights! Speaking of planes, the rest of 1st RCAF tactical bomber wing arrived today at the airbase. Commander Bishop is leading this larger group and Commander Mackay-McEwan’s men and planes are headed for much needed rest and repair.
* On the 25th, at almost midnight, General Norton and 2nd Canadian Inf.-Div. was ordered into Durres on the SW side of the city. By 06:00 the Italians had to withdraw after minimal losses. 25 or ours, 69 of theirs. An hour later my division was ordered-out to occupy the previously won Korce. The Greeks had turned things around a bit and were now beginning to push on the Italians in the south. We were to block any movement north. It was bad enough they might be getting some few supplies from Kerkyra but no way was General Oulton going to let their supply-lines reach the Italians now cut off in the north.
* Commander Bishop got right down to business and kept the attack on Kerkyra very hot. A Greek fisherman got word to us that the naval-base is almost destroyed and 2 submarines are severely damaged. To our amazement he said he knew for certain that the Italian battleship Littorio, the heavy-cruiser Muzio Attendolo with some escorting DDs had entered the port yesterday. I bet I know what Bishop’s boys strike next!
* Each day the bombing runs head south and on the 27th we heard they had some company, when a Yugoslavian Naval bomber joined our Tacs. The port is now burnt toast. The Subs and the DDs are shot to pieces and the 2 capitols have taken damage.
* On the 28th the heavy cruiser is in flames but bad news is on the way. German tanks and motorized units are in Travnik; Yugoslavian units are dropping back along their entire line. Also today, a weak Italian attack came against our resting boys in Durres but was quickly thrown back. But, just as the battle had ended, for the first time, one of our divisions was bombed. Where were these guys coming from now? Two more wings of the 1st RCAF Fighter group was called in from Quebec and on the 30th his planes were over our heads.
* The 1st of October brought very good news for us all. Greek intelligence informed us the Italians in the north were out of supply and breaking and that they and the Yugoslavians were now pushing them back to the sea. In the end, 20,000 Italian troops had no where to turn and were forced to surrender. Neither of their Axis-buddies had reached them in time. However, the German forces were not far off. Reports came in from the field, German tanks had reached as far south as Sarajevo. If we were going to finish off the Italians around Albania, we didn’t have much time left to get the job done.
* Our destruction of the port and infrastructure of Kerkyra was proving decisive. Had we had not done so, the remaining Italian forces may have held out till the arrival of the Germans, Bulgarians or both. The Greeks recognized the peril we all faced and Greek General Demestichas attacked Kerkyra from the south while other Greek divisions held firm along the line and in the east. We began our own attacks south again to bottle-up the enemy and end this adventure.
* On the 02 Oct. my unit, the 4th attacked once more into Korce and found a half-strength Alpini unit resting there. Norton’s 2nd Canada boys struck Vlore; he found what was once 2 strong Italian infantry divisions reduced to shambles; I think these were some of the units that our Tacs had been targeting for days. Both of these battles were re-enforced by the Italian commander. On Oct. 3rd Vlore fell again to Canada; losses were 100 men on each side. A few hours later we won Korce again. We lost 51 men versus 152 enemy dead. I lost one of my best friends. Jimmy Kirkland was killed by an Italian mortar-shell. There will never be another Jimbo Kirkland. Even though I should be happy about having the Italians on the run, I am sad as hell, how will I tell his parents or his sister what happened here? Enough of that.
* New Air Commander Cuffe sent more fighters over us. I wish to hell he would have done so yesterday. It seems the change of command was not a smooth one and I may a lost a friend because of it.
* The 6th of October brought another pointless counterattack against our resting unit. We slaughtered them. What’s the point? These guys were surrounded and beaten and they still could not see it! No sooner than I thought this, another attack came and ended the same way. There was probably another hundred men lost on both sides and for no change, well, except for leading to their total destruction; something that I now looked forward to with relish.
* We didn’t know it at the time but the final fight for Italian survival in this region began today on October 7th and was centered on the province of Ioannina. Canadian General Norton led the attack with 2nd Canadian.
* On the 9th another battle for Korce ended. 204 lost Canadians versus 299 enemy dead. The province of Korce was nothing but one endless battle and it restarted the next day, the 10th. The Italians were trying to reach the Germans. This time my 4th was in reserve. It was the first time we were not in the lead.
* On the 11th, 2 fresh Greek divisions arrived to assist Norton’s attack on Ioannina. Again Korce was well defended. 55 more men added to our dead and again the Italians lost nearly three times our number at 159.
* The 12th. We again renewed the attack into Korce and no surprise here, once again the 4th was back in front. I wondered if our ol’ general T.V. Anderson was bucking for promotion. The next day the Germans were entering Niksic and Gako. They were not far off now.
* On the 13th we won yet another battle in Korce. We must have fought for that ground a dozen times. What the hell does Korce even mean?
* The end battle for Ioannina still raged and another Greek division arrived to make and end of it. Air Commander Cuffe continued to make it hard for Italian planes. Their planes must be stationed in Bulgaria now as they have appeared more frequently the last week.
* October 14th, the final stinking battle for Korce ended. We lost 42 and over 200 Italians were added to the lists of the dead. We lost a few good men again and I can’t say anything now. I’m not dead but I feel dead.
*** At last!!!. On the 15th of October, Ioannina fell and the remaining enemy surrendered. The 1st Canadian Infantry Corps commanded by Lt. General Oulton fighting along-side Greek and Yugoslavian forces had cleared Albania, Greece and southern Yugoslavia of Italian fighting forces.
* Once we were able to rest, we learned that the army we had destroyed in 33 days of fighting was from Gruppo di’Armata Ovest. The Italian high-command lost I Corpo, IV Corpo and XIII Corpo and the 6a Armata commander Major General Bastico. The Italians are now deprived of nearly 72,000 men.
Today, we are back in Tirane and we know the Germans are closing in. Bulgaria is likely coming soon. Hungary and Romania might show. What will we do now? Will we try to hold out and hope for some allied landings to help us save Greece? Will we hold Tirane as long as we can before sailing off, just to delay the inevitable? We sure could some American boots on the ground here but they have not even joined the Allies yet, despite everyone knowing they are already in the damn war.
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In essence, I think I have finally learned to play this game at its deepest level. My 1st Corp has made two landings since and for some reason, 
