Allies in Italy

[Hobilar]

By 1945 the Allied Armies in Italy consisted of Regiments drawn from:

Brazil
India
Italy
Nepal
New Zealand
Palestine
Poland
South Africa
United Kingdom
United States of America
France
Basuto
Bechuana
Swazi
Seychelles
Rodriquez
Various Caribbean Islands
Cyprus
Greece
Syro-Lebanan
Yugoslavia
Belgium
Goumiers (from North Africa)

The United States had one Division comprised entirely of Negro-Americans, though Clark was rather scathing about their fighting qualities. They also had a Regiment comprised of Japanese-Americans.

The Italians were considered a dour and unhappy lot. General McCreery had to forbid one Italian General from attending his conferences because the Italian Commander depressed the other Commanders so.

The Greeks too came in for some criticism from McCreery as they would dutifully listen in to orders- and then go off an do exactly what they pleased.

Credit must be given to the Staff Officers who had the unenviable task of controlling such a combination of different nationalities and cultures. When you consider that there were among others Sikhs, Japanese-Americans, Gurkhas, Irish, Maoris, and Jews, then surely this must be unique in history in being the only time that so many different cultures and religious persuasions have ever fought so selflessly together in a common cause.

Note: I have not included the Canadians, who had been in Italy earlier in the campaign as I have found no source that will confirm that Canadian front line units were still in Italy in 1945 (the bulk of their forces having gone to the Northern Europe theatre). If anyone has any evidence to the contrary I would be pleased to hear it

[Klaus]

Hi, Hobilar. I've found this. Hope it helps.

In this campaign, which was fought in Sicily from July 10 to August 6, 1943, and in mainland Italy from September 3, 1943, to February 25, 1945, the fighting was particularly bitter. The Germans, taking full advantage of mountain peaks and swiftly running rivers, made Allied advance very difficult and costly. There were 25,264 Canadian casualties in the fighting, including more than 5,900 who were killed.



Royal Canadian Naval Forces
• 80th Canadian LCM Flotilla
• 81st Canadian LCM Flotilla
• 55th Canadian LCA Flotilla
• 61st Canadian LCA Flotilla
Canadian Army Units1

Formations and units are grouped by corps. Designations are those authorized by General Orders at the time (except for certain modifications made for the sake of brevity and consistency, or as concessions to current usage). The complete roll of units is too long to be printed here. Thus headquarters of formations and supporting arms and services, as well as such relatively small units as Field Dressing Stations, are not included; although all made important contributions.

CANADIAN ARMOURED CORPS

1ST ARMOURED BRIGADE
• 11th Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment)
• 12th Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment)
• 14th Armoured Regiment (The Calgary Regiment)

1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
• 1st Armoured Car Regiment (The Royal Canadian Dragoons)

5TH ARMOURED DIVISION
• 3rd Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The Governor General's Horse Guards)
• 5th Armoured Brigade:
_ 2nd Armoured Regiment (Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians))
_ 5th Armoured Regiment (8th Princess Louise's (New Brunswick Hussars)
_ 9th Armoured Regiment (The British Columbia Dragoons)

FIRST CANADIAN ARMY TROOPS:
• "A", "B", and "G" Squadrons, 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment)

ROYAL CANADIAN ARTILLERY

1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
• 1st Field Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA)
• 2nd Field Regiment
• 3rd Field Regiment
• 1st Anti-Tank Regiment
• 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

5TH ARMOURED DIVISION
• 17th Field Regiment
• 8th Field Regiment (Self-Propelled)
• 4th Anti-Tank Regiment
• 5th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment

1ST CORPS TROOPS
• 7th Anti-Tank Regiment
• 1st Survey Regiment

FIRST CANADIAN ARMY TROOPS
• No. 1 Army Group Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA):
_ 11th Army Field Regiment
_ 1st Medium Regiment
_ 2nd Medium Regiment
_ 5th Medium Regiment

CORPS OF ROYAL CANADIAN ENGINEERS

1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
• 2nd Field Park Company
• 1st Field Company
• 3rd Field Company
• 4th Field Company

5TH ARMOURED DIVISION
• 4th Field Park Squadron
• 1st Field Squadron
• 10th Field Squadroned Company

1ST CORPS TROOPS
• 9th Field Park Company
• 12th Field Company
• 13th Field Company
• 14th Field Companyeld Company

G.H.Q. AND L. OF C. TROOPS
• 1st Drilling Company

ROYAL CANADIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS
• 1st Armoured Brigade Signals
• 1st Infantry Divisional Signals
• 5th Armoured Divisional Signals
• 1st Corps Headquarters Signals

CANADIAN INFANTRY CORPS

1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
• The Saskatoon Light Infantry (Machine Gun)
• 1st Infantry Brigade:
_ The Royal Canadian Regiment
_ The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment
_ 48th Highlanders of Canada
• 2nd Infantry Brigade:
_ Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
_ The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
_ The Loyal Edmonton Regiment
• 3rd Infantry Brigade:
_ Royale 22e Regiment
_ The Carleton and York Regiment
_ The West Nova Scotia Regiment

5TH ARMOURED DIVISION
• 11th Infantry Brigade:
• 11th Independent Machine Gun Company (The Princess Louise Fusiliers)
• The Perth Regiment
• The Cape Breton Highlanders
• The Irish Regiment of Canada
12th Infantry Brigade:
• 12th Independent Machine Gun Company (The Princess Louise Fusiliers)
• 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
• The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment2
• The Westminster Regiment (Motor)

1ST CORPS TROOPS
• 1st Corps Defence Company3

FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE
• 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion

ROYAL CANADIAN ARMY SERVICE CORPS
• 1st Armoured Brigade Company
• 1st Infantry Divisional Troops Company
• 1st Infantry Brigade Company
• 2nd Infantry Brigade Company
• 3rd Infantry Brigade Company
• 5th Armoured Divisional Troops Company
• 5th Armoured Divisional Transport Company
• 5th Armoured Brigade Company
• 11th Infantry Brigade Company
• 12th Infantry Brigade Company
• No. 31 Corps Troops Company
• No. 32 Corps Troops Company
• 1st Corps Transport Company
• No. 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy
• No. 1 Headquarters Corps Car Company
• No. 41 Army Transport Company

ROYAL CANADIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

1ST ARMOURED BRIGADE
• No. 2 Light Field Ambulance

1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
• No. 4 Field Ambulance
• No. 5 Field Ambulance
• No. 9 Field Ambulance

5TH ARMOURED DIVISION
• No. 7 Light Field Ambulance
• No. 8 Light Field Ambulance
• No. 24 Field Ambulance

1ST CORPS TROOPS
• No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station
• No. 5 Casualty Clearing Station

G.H.Q. and L. Of C. Troops
• No. 1 General Hospital
• No. 3 General Hospital
• No. 5 General Hospital
• No. 14 General Hospital
• No. 15 General Hospital
• No. 28 General Hospital
• No. 1 Convalescent Depot

CANADIAN DENTAL CORPS
• No. 1 Dental Company
• No. 3 Dental Company
• No. 8 Dental Company
• No. 11 Base Dental Company

ROYAL CANADIAN ORDNANCE CORPS
• No. 201 Infantry Ordnance Sub-Park
• No. 205 Armoured Ordnance Sub-Park
• No. 1 Corps and Army Troops Sub-Park

ROYAL CANADIAN ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
• 1st Armoured Brigade Workshop
• No. 1 Army Tank Troops Workshop
• 1st Infantry Brigade Workshop
• 2nd Infantry Brigade Workshop
• 3rd Infantry Brigade Workshop
• 5th Armoured Brigade Workshop
• 11th Infantry Brigade Workshop
• 12th Infantry Brigade Workshop
• No. 1 Infantry Troops Workshop
• No. 5 Armoured Troops Workshop
• 1st Corps Troops Workshop
• No. 1 Recovery Company

CANADIAN PROVOST CORPS
• No. 1 Provost Company (RCMP)
• No. 3 Provost Company
• No. 5 Provost Company
• No. 1 L. Of C.. Provost Company
• No. 35 Traffic Control Company4

MISCELLANEOUS
• Canadian Section G.H.Q. 1st Echelon A.A.I.
• Canadian Section G.H.Q. 2nd Echelon A.A.I.
• No. 1 Base Reinforcement Group:
_ No. 1 Base Reinforcement Depot
_ No. 2 Base Reinforcement Depot

1As of August 19, 1944, except for 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion which had left Italy to fight in Southern France.
2Before 13 July 1944, the 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment R.C.A. (1st Corps Troops).
3Provided by The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment), which also furnished platoons for defence and/or employment duties at divisional and brigade headquarters.
4Formed on 15 june 1944 from the 35th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery R.C.A. (1st L.A.A. Regt.).
(From the Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume II, "The Canadians in Italy, 1943-1945" by Lt.-Col. G.W.L. Nicholson, Ottawa, Queen's Printer, 1956.)

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE SQUADRONS

No. 331 Wing
• No. 420 (Bomber) Squadron
• No. 424 (Bomber) Squadron
• No. 425 (Bomber) Squadron

No. 244 Wing
• No. 417 (Fighter) Squadron

Source: http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub...econdwar/Italy

[Hobilar]

Originally Posted by Hobilar

When you consider that there were among others Sikhs, Japanese-Americans, Gurkhas, Irish, Maoris, and Jews, then surely this must be unique in history in being the only time that so many different cultures and religious persuasions have ever fought so selflessly together in a common cause.

Thanks, That rather clarifies the matter. From your link I learnt that the Canadians left Italy in February 1945 (My list of nationalities was compliled from the order of Battle in April 1945)

Also, further reading would suggest that, far from being totally 'unique', there were almost as many different nationalities participating in the Burma Campaign between 1944-1945. Perhaps at some stage I will get around to compiling a list for that theatre too.

[Klaus]

Sorry, I didn't know your list was from April. But as you said: it is clarified now anyway. Keep up the good work!