Operation Baytown

Early in the morning on the third of September 1943, Canadian soldiers embarked on landing craft to cross the short distance of the Messina Strait and land on mainland Italy. The weather was ideal for a nighttime amphibious assault, calm waters and the moonlight gave the ability for the Canadians to see terrain outlines in the distance. At 0330 hours a tremendous pre-invasion barrage opened fire from Sicily and from the accompanying warships, all watched by allied aircraft overhead.

The intelligence about there being little in the way of resistance was correct. The initial landing force of The West Nova Scotia Regiment and The Carleton and York Regiment landed with no enemy opposition, allowing both Regiments a quick thrust to their objectives beyond the beaches of Reggio Calabria.

The Carleton and York Regiment noted in their war diary after the invasion, “Total number of prisoners taken during day was approximately 630 area of REGGIO. No Germans contacted. Eighteen heavy guns captured. No casualties”. The information provided to the Canadians from local civilians was that the 29th Panzer Division had moved out of the Reggio area where the Candians now were, two days earlier. The beachhead was secure and the fight for the rest of Italy had begun.

Sources:

https://map.project44.ca, The Carleton and York Regiment war diary, September 3 1943.

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