December 1943
Italy

Private R.W. Hansen of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment watches warily down a street of San Leonardo Di Ortona covered by German fire.


PRIVATE R.W. HANSEN OF THE LOYAL EDDYS

Sherman tanks

September 1943
Italy

Sherman tanks of the 12th Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment) are inspected at Lucera in southern Italy in September 1943. In December they would back up the infantry of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment and The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada at Ortona.

By this stage of the war Canadian armoured units were equipped with the American designed Sherman tank. It was not universally loved by the troops. Its high profile made a splendid target for anti-tank gunners, and it was relatively undergunned and underarmoured against the leading German tanks. A serious defect was a tendency for the fuel tank to go up in flames after the tank was hit by enemy fire. Some troops derisively referred to the tank as the &quot;Ronson&quot;, from the advertising slogan of a popular brand of cigarette lighters: &quot;lights every time&quot;.  The Germans called them &quot;TOMMY COOKERS&quot; as they had a tendency to burn and cook their Canadian crews inside.  I believe they eventually converted to Diesel and changed their ammo storage inside to increase safety.  I spoke with one old veteran who served with the British Columbia Dragoons tank brigade in Italy.  He described salvaging parts from burnt out tanks and having to remove their burnt crews, he said they came apart like cooked chickens.  A grim reality that ww2 tank crews on both sides seemed to accept and live with.

SHERMANS OF THE Three Rivers Regiment

Private D.B. MacDonald, The Royal Regiment of Canada, Bren Gunner, France 1944