Spr Joseph A Daigle, 1st Fd Coy

Sapper Joseph Daigle's Headstone, Agira Canadian War Cemetery
Sapper Joseph Daigle's Temporary Grave Marker, Agira Canadian War Cemetery
Background 

Joseph Ambroise Daigle was born in Rogersville, New Brunswick in 1911, the oldest of six children of Hugh and Mary Daigle, two girls and four boys. Joseph had only an elementary school education, leaving school early to work with his father.

Joseph was living in Geraldton, Ontario when he travelled to Winnipeg where he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers on 24 February 1940.  His personnel records record that he was earning $35 per week at the time. He passed the qualification test for Pioneer ‘C’ on 18 March. The Class ‘C’ classification was given to recruits based on their civilian trade skills and experience without having to take formal training.  This helped the unit fill its establishment with the requisite number of tradesmen and offered the soldier a slight raise in pay.

Having completed his basic training in Winnipeg, he was Joseph was taken on strength of the A5 Canadian Engineer Training Centre in Petawawa, Ontario on 22 March for sapper training. On 24 July 1940, he embarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia destined for Liverpool, England. He landed on 2 August and after three days at the Engineer Holding Unit at Guillemont Barracks, Cove in Hampshire, was posted to the 3rd Field Company, at that time quartered in Talavera Barracks , near Aldershot.

The 3rd Field Company, along with the other units of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division, spent most of 1940 and the beginning of 1941 balancing the need to fortify and defend Britain against invasion against training for war. For the Engineers more than the other arms – infantry, armour and artillery, this was a challenge. As a group, they lagged in developing the individual and collective warfighting skills they would need because the lack of suitable infrastructure to support a growing Army in Britain meant combat engineer training efforts were diverted toward construction tasks. Sappers with trade qualifications built accommodations while others tackled the backbreaking construction of field fortifications – tunnels, trenches, bulwarks, tank traps, and more – all tasks better completed using machines. There was also a paucity of experience among most officers and NCOs. As they received very abbreviated engineer training, normally in British Army Schools with similar shortcomings, they no sooner learned something than they had to pass it quickly on to others without time to truly master their new skills.

While it is not clear in his personnel record, it appears Joseph had a serious accident of some sort in September 1941. He was admitted to Number 5 General Hospital and stayed until being released to Number 1 Convalescence Depot on 20 March 1942.  On 8 October, after a short period attached to the Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Centre, was posted to the 1st Field Company. 

Meanwhile, the pattern of providing labour for construction work, interspersed with short episodes of engineer training continued through until the end of 1942. In December the focus of the 1st Division’s training started to take on a different flavour and the RCE started to become more intimately involved. It was now obvious that the Allies were preparing to take the fight to the enemy. That month, a small party from the unit visited the Combined Operations Training Centre near Inveraray in Scotland to prepare for exercises that would start in January. 

The next six months included amphibious operations, mountain warfare and individual fighting skills. The unit developed a closer affiliation with the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade (1 CIB) they would support in any upcoming engagements. No one knew where or when they were going, but they knew they would be among the first in Europe and would be landing by sea. The training was rigorous and covered combined operations, mountain warfare, bridging, mine and booby trap clearance, small arms, route repair and construction, field craft and small arms practice, mostly in the South of England. There was even some rudimentary German language training. During this time, Joseph married Doris Joyce Evelyn Westfold on 26 January 1943.

The company was back in Scotland in June 1943 and had just completed three weeks of mountain warfare when they took part in a large amphibious landing exercise on the west coast of Scotland. They were issued tropical clothing and started to waterproof their vehicles. By this time, the whole division was on edge with tensions rising and rumours spreading about where and when they would see action. Would it be Greece? Crete? Sicily? No sooner was the exercise completed than they were issued tropical clothing and loaded onto ships for a week-long amphibious landing exercise and carried out an assault landing from landing craft.

The upcoming operation, code-named Operation HUSKY, and although the troops were unaware of the details, they were re-embarked and confined on the same ships when the exercise ended. The total strength of Canadian units embarked for Operation HUSKY was over 26,000 officers and men with tanks, guns and enough supplies to sustain three weeks of fighting.

The total strength of Canadian units that would embark on Operation HUSKY was over 26,000 officers and men with tanks, guns, and enough supplies to sustain three weeks of fighting. The main invasion force would sail in two convoys with the combat units divided between the "Fast Assault Convoy" carrying the landing force and the "Slow Assault Convoy" carrying the follow-on troops. The Slow Assault Convoy sailed first in two groups on 19 and 24 June 1943 carrying troops, equipment and supplies not needed for the initial assault. Taking different sea routes for reasons and security and safety, the two slow convoys would meet near Algiers and late and meet the Fast Assault Convoy off Malta on D minus 1. The ‘Fast Assault Convoy’ sailed down the River Clyde on 28 June 1943 and started its long journey to the Mediterranean. 

The 1st Field Company landed in the assault wave alone with the 3rd Field Company, as planned on 10 July at Pachino. Luckily, the beaches weren’t very well defended and were easily captured by the Allied forces. The greatest challenge of the landing came from conducting earthworks to allow the mass of vehicles to exit the beaches. The Company cleared multiple small minefields in the surrounding area. An excerpt from the war diary on the night of July 10th, 1943, “The unit was treated to one of the most amazing demonstrations of Ack Ack fire as evening drew on and attempts were made to bomb vessels on the beach.” This went on for another day and the company took on tasks aimed at repairing of the nearby airfield. By 12 July, all three Field Companies were advancing into the hills with their affiliated brigades. It was the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade who first met with German troops at Grammichele on 15 July. Alone the battle was fierce, the Sappers were fortunate in not taking any casualties. They in fact spent "a hectic evening slugging dirt into a huge road crater".

The rest of the advance was slow due to German cratered roads, blown bridges, obstacles, mines, and booby traps. The 2nd Brigade took the lead on 15 July, and the 3rd Brigade took the lead from them on 17 July. Meanwhile, Joseph and his fellow sappers were following behind the leading troops continually improving the way ahead. On 19 July, General Simmons ordered that the 1st Brigade move on Assoro, while the 2nd Brigade moved on Leonforte. The tasks given to the two Canadian brigades were not easy. To reach their mountain objectives – Leonforte at 2000 feet and Assoro at 3000 feet, the brigades had to cross the Dittaino valley hundreds of feet below exposed to constant German fire and observation from the high ground between the towns.

The Dittaino river bed, far below, was dry. Both brigades crossed early on 20 July despite German efforts to slow their advance. The 1st Brigade crossed in the vicinity of Dittaino Station three miles south of Assoro. As they moved into a narrow valley, a supporting squadron of the Three Rivers Regiment ran into a minefield and nine tanks were put out of action. Continuous enemy artillery fire held the crews inside for five hours. German mortars shelled the advance from the hills on either side. Lieutenant Ken Heron, commanding the sappers at the front of the advance, did not hesitate to start clearing the field to stop any further casualties. He led his platoon under fire and spent two hours clearing lanes so the stranded tanks could move. It was said that this was one of the most courageous mine-clearing operations of the entire Italian Campaign. Lieutenant Heron was awarded a Military Cross. The cost was high – Sapper Charlie Collins was killed and Joseph was among the several wounded.  Two days later, Joseph died from the wounds he received.

Sapper Joseph Ambroise Daigle is buried in the Agira Canadian War Cemetery with his comrades.