Happy Rome Liberation Day

[Mac308]

74 years ago today, Allied forces led by the Canadian/US joint First Special Service Force entered the City of Rome, making it the first European capital to be liberated from Nazi occupation.

Unfortunately this historic event, and many other actions in Italy, are overshadowed by events in northern France two days later.....

Take a few moments to remember the soldiers often referred to as the "D-Day Dodgers"

 

[Sharps '74]

Strome Galloway wrote a book about his service with the "D-Day Dodgers'. There was a song by that name. He was Commandant of CFB Churchill when I was stationed there.

 

[AP]

Strome Galloway wrote a book about his service with the "D-Day Dodgers'. There was a song by that name. He was Commandant of CFB Churchill when I was stationed there.

Galloway wrote several books mostly about himself. My father landed as a Pl Comdr (and briefly a/coy comdr) at Pachino, Sicily with the RCR and later served as RQ (also working with Galloway) until the unit left Italy. My father was the OIC who took elements of RCR on to France, Holland and Belgium during Operation Goldflake - he ended the war as part of occupational forces in Wilhelmshaven and Bremerhaven.

Oddly enough we were also in Churchill

I am not sure if you saw the Esprit de Corps issue in which they announced Strome’s death? The cover photo of Strome was one my father had taken of him when they both went to Rome - my father took him to the Opera to see Aida . Strome made rude remarks about ‘the fat lady’ singing!