Catenanuova

Although the allied forces were beginning their final phase of pushing the enemy out of Sicily there were still a few, literal, hills to climb over. For the Royal 22e Regiment, The West Nova Scotia Regiment and The Carleton and York Regiment their task was to capture and secure Catenanuova, a small town close to the Dittaino River.

The Royal 22e Regiment secured the heights of Monte Scalpello on the south side of the Dittaino which gave the Canadians full observation of Catenanuova to the north on the other side of the river. On the night of July 29 1943 The West Nova Scotia Regiment along with the Carleton and York Regiment attacked

the town under cover of artillery which marked the start of Operation Hardgate. This operation would include multiple objectives for the Canadians to take in the following days.

Catenanuova was captured with surprising simplicity as the Canadians found that many of the German defenders, members of the 923rd Fortress Battalion, had simply deserted their defensive positions. These actions would result in the termination of the battalion along with ordered Court Martials. The Canadians would successfully defend the recently captured town from multiple German counter attacks.

Sources:

Stacey, C. P., and G. W. L. Nicholson. Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War. Vol. 2. Ottawa: Duhamel, 1966.