Tug of War team

1941
England

Tug of War Team
Sports was a routine part of training in Britain, helping the troops to remain in peak physical condition, while introducing some welcome variety and competition into their lives. The Regimental tug of war teamed gained the Canadian Army championship.  What is interesting is the apparent age of these men.  Some of these men would have been prewar reservists but they certainly don't look like the modern version of heroic warriors seen in modern American movie depictions of ww2 soldiers.

LOYAL EDMONTON REGIMENT TUG OF WAR TEAM

Canadian soldiers have always been noted for their individualism and willingness to improvise. In Ortona they literally rewrote the book on fighting in built-up areas. In the long years of arduous preparation in England they had mastered the British army textbook method: enter on the ground floor, clear every room to the top, and then move into the next building and repeat the process. The deadly reality of Ortona was that the German defenders had the advantage as they could shower grenades on the Canadians from the floors above. Following the British method meant returning to the street to gain access to the next building. Ortona was a typical European town with each building attached to the next. The Canadians quickly modified this method. They entered the first building at street level if necessary. Once they secured that building, they used a Beehive shaped charge to punch a hole in the wall from an upper story, ideally the top one, creating access to the adjacent building. This became known as "mouse-holing". The Canadian soldiers could then enter the next building and lob grenades at the Germans below them as they fought their way down to street level. They attempted to take both sides of the street simultaneously until the entire block would be in Canadian hands, all without exposure to the enemy fire raking the street

CANADIANS FIGHTING AT ORTONA

Thompson gun in air raid

1941
England

Thompson gun in air raid
This photo with the Thompson pointed in the air is stated to be taken during an actual air raid. The model is the original &quot;civilian&quot; version, bought in quantity by the military because they were readily available &quot;off the shelf&quot;. By the time the troops reached Italy they were using the military model Thompson with a stick magazine, and a forestock instead of the forward pistol grip. A Mark III Lee-Enfield rifle can be seen behing the &quot;tommygun&quot;.  The chance of hitting anything within 100 yards would be very slight, but just the act of firing at low flying German fighters would be a reassuring act...The .303 in the background would have a better chance of hitting something as long as the man led the target.