Embarking on a Historical Odyssey: V for Victory
80 years ago today marked the penultimate Christmas of World War 2
Writing the first post for V for Victory on this damp and overcast Christmas morning may strike an unusual chord, but that's precisely the intention. As we stand on the brink of the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings, a momentous chapter in history unfolds before us. Thousands sacrificed their lives during this pivotal event in an unwavering pursuit to bring an end to the war in Europe.
By the end of 1943, the tide was turning against Hitler’s army. In the east, the Soviets army had held the tide of the German army, and began to push them back towards Berlin. The allies had routed Erwin Rommel in North Africa, and to the north, they had gained a foothold in Italy, via the island of Sicily. The allied invasion force consisted of the British 8th Army, commanded by General Bernard Montgomery, and the U.S. 7th Army, commanded by General George Patton.
By the 17th of December 1943, the Allied advance reached the Gustav Line, which ran from the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, across Italy to the Adriatic Sea, on Italy’s eastern coastline. Meeting the Allies at the Gustav Line was the 10th and 14th Army, with Field Marshal Albert Kesselring in overall command of German forces in Italy.
On this day, the Canadian 1st Infantry fought fiercely for the town of Ortona. Located on a high ridge overlooking the Adriatic Sea, Ortona was an important tactical juncture. Leading the Canadian contingent was Major-General G.G. Simonds. Born in in Sussex, England, Simonds commissioned in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA) in 1925. Seven years later, Simonds attended the Gunnery Staff Course in the United Kingdom.
It was (Ortona) the first great battle in the streets of an inhabited centre, and we learned a lot from it. Winston Churchill.
How and who we choose to remember those who gave so much differs. However, it’s easy to overlook the commitment of the civilian men and women working tirelessly to keep the country running, from the Home Guard, to the Bevin Boys, to the women, like my grandmother, who worked in one of the many armaments factories.
I can only imagine members of the Home Guard conducting defensive duties around strategic points of interest, on the Christmas Day, 80 years ago. That’s exactly what mother’s father did, and his father, when they patrolled the local reservoir. The chances of German Parachute drop deep into South Yorkshire countryside to poison Elsecar Reservoir were slim. The ability for my grandfather to defend the reservoir, armed only with a Lee Enfield rifle were even slimmer. Nonetheless, citizens believed in what they were doing, they knew their duty, and they fulfilled them to the best of their ability.
Located a couple of miles to the south west of Elsecar Resevoir, lies the Sheffield suburb of Chapeltown. It was there, at the Newtown Chambers factory were Churchill Tanks were built. According to my grandmother, the Luftwaffe didn’t drop one bomb on the factory. Arguably, there’s a poignant war story tied to every corner of Britain, just as there is with Normandy.
Hundreds of books, papers and documentaries dissect the Second World War, and I often wonder what the outcome would have been without the ingenuity of Alan Turing, Barnes Wallis, R.J. Mitchell and Geoffrey de Havilland.
Of course, whether it be on home soil, in Italy, or in the Pacific, 80 years ago today, there would have been thousands of troops all thinking about loved ones at home. Sailors, soldiers, and airman wrote of the struggles, the long days, the uncertainty, and of the mourning of friends and colleagues.
In addition to the letters, many families also received remittence from their loved one serving overseas. There are millions of stories that will never be told, just as there are many letters tucked away in attics, from Seattle to Sunderland.
I’ll never get to meet the brave men of the 2nd Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who landed in Normandy by Horsa glider in the early hours of 6 June 1944, to secure road bridges across the River Orne and the Caen Canal.
As a former radio operator, I would loved to have had a cup of tea with D Company’s radio man, Corporal Tappendan. With both bridges secure, Tappendan hopelessly to transmit the success code.
For a solid hour I lay on that road.I finally got so frustrated that I said, ‘Hello Four Dog, Hello Four Dog, Ham and Jam, Ham and Bloody Jam, why don’t you answer me?’ Corporal Tappendan - Light Infantry
Such is my intrigue into the tenacity of the Horse Glider operations, I was tempted to call this publication Ham and Jam - those with a love for all things food would have been hugely disappointed to be reading about World War 2.
As we wrap up this inaugural post of "V for Victory," I'm filled with both anticipation and reverence for the historical odyssey we are about to embark upon together. The echoes of World War II resonate through time, and our collective journey promises to unveil the profound stories, untold heroism, and pivotal moments that shaped an era. With each newsletter, we'll unravel the tapestry of those war years, where courage met adversity, and triumph emerged from the crucible of history.
Thank you for joining this expedition into the past. Here's to a shared exploration of the extraordinary, as we honour the indomitable spirit of those who secured victory in the face of monumental challenges. Subscribe, stay tuned, and let the legacy of "V for Victory" unfold.