WAR DIARY
OR
INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY
THE LOYAL EDMONTON REGIMENT
Instructions regarding preparation of War Diaries (which will be kept from first day of mobilization, creation or embodiment), are contained in F.S. Regs. Vol. 1.
Original, duplicate and triplicate to be forwarded to O. i/c 2nd Echelong for disposal.
Place
Date
Hour
Summary of Events and Information
Remarks, references to Appendices and initials
Ortona, ITALY. 1 Jan 44
To start the New Year, the officers of the Regiment were invited to an "at home" at Bn Hq, P.P.C.L.I., returning to our own "open house" at Bn Hq, Officers Mess, situated on Corso Umberto Esplanade, overlooking the Port of Ortona and the blue Adriatic waters. In contrast to Xmas, all ranks were able to relax in surroundings rendered comfortable by their efforts, to thoroughly enjoy a first class dinner served in traditional style...The 3 Cdn Inf Bde are still in positions 5 Km NW of the city and the 1 Cdn Inf Bde are on their left, linking up with the 8th Indian Div to the westward.
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Ortona, ITALY. 3 Jan 44
An inspection of all billets by the Officer Commanding, Lt Col J.C. Jefferson DSO ED, Capt T.H. Grainger, Medical Officer, and Sanitary personnel found the Regiment to be in clean, sanitary and adequate buildings, all the buildings of course showing some signs of the recent grim battle...
Ortona, ITALY. 4 Jan 44
Engineers have now cleared the heavily mined areas of the Port, also the beaches between the shattered breakwater and the mole. Navy and Army personnel are working on the beach to enable LCA, LCM and LCT, carrying supplies, to extend their route from S. VITO. The enemy continues to harass the area, spasmodically, by the use of his Arty...
Ortona, ITALY. 5 Jan 44
Lieut Gen H.D.G. Crear CB DSO, Comd 1 Cdn Corps, accompanied by the Bde Comdr, Brig B.M. Hoffmeister DSO, visited the Regiment spending an hour enspecting the weapon training in progress...
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Ortona, ITALY. 8 Jan 44
The general situation on the Div front remains unchanged. Forward troops are consolidated astride the main coast road 5 km NW of ORTONA where active patrolling continues. Our Arty flying O.P.s have taken advantage of the good visibility to indicate targets. They are now using the hard sandy beach of the Port to take off and to land. DUKWS are now using the harbour. Lieuts. C.S. Glew and D.R. Ramsey of the Regina Rifles have reported for duty.
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Ortona, ITALY. 11 Jan 44
Elementary training in weapons, fieldcraft and tactics continued today. 'C' Coy visited 'C' Sqdn, 12 CTR, half in the morning and the remainder in the afternoon...Leave has now been authorized, two officers at a time may have 5 days leave to Bari, two officers and 4 other ranks are permitted 48 hrs in S. Vito where a rest camp has been opened. Lieut. R.L. Arthurs and 22 OR's arrived as reinforcements...
Ortona, ITALY. 12 Jan 44
Intensive training continued with the exception of breaks to attend a picture put on by the Auxiliary Services...
Ortona, ITALY. 13 Jan 44
Cleanliness was the order today. The Mobile Baths were available as the men were bathing, their blankets were disinfected...
Ortona, ITALY. 14 Jan 44
Weapon training continues to receive considerable attention. All rifles have been zeroed and work on the Bren guns has commenced...
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Ortona, ITALY. 16 Jan 44
There was a Church Parade this morning with quite a good turn out of the Regiment. The Service was held in the Vittoria Teatro...
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Ortona, ITALY. 18 Jan 44
'O' Group at 0700 hrs. Scouts went forward to liaise with the PPCLI and the Irish Rifle Regiment of Canada behind which to Bn is taking up position. At 0900 hrs Major E.W. Day ED and Lieut W.S.L. Oakley went forward to recce a Bn area. Meeting of Coy Comds was held at MR 320183 where Bn Hq had been established at 0930 hrs. The Coys are at MR's 323182, 319187, 318175 and 315180. Scouts have made contact with the PPCLI and the Seaforth H of C. 'O' Gp at Bde Hq at 1900 hrs.
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