Following is a repeat of a recent “Fourth Dimension” article: “1st Canadian Division at the Moro River” by Charmion Chaplin-Thomas of the Maple Leaf.
The article includes reference to the work of Spr M.C McNaughton of 3rd Field Company RCE in preparing the crossing of the Moro River. For this work he was awarded the Military Medal.
Major-General Christopher Vokes, the Commander, 1st Canadian Division for this operation, started his military career as an RCE officer. In December 1939, he was one of the first officers to go overseas. There followed a brilliant and highly decorated record of command of Canadian infantry and armoured formations in Sicily, Italy and Northwest Europe. Late in 1941, he commanded the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry and later the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade in the Sicilian landings in July 1943. Upon promotion to Major-General, he commanded the 1st Canadian Division in Italy. Late in 1944, he took command of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division in Holland and was in command on V-E Day. Shortly thereafter, he took command of the 3rd Canadian Division and commanded the Canadian Army Occupational Force in Northwest Europe.
December 8, 1943
In Italy, the 1st Canadian Division (Major-General Christopher Vokes) is preparing to cross the Moro River in force and make a firm bridgehead. Zero hour is 3:30 p.m., late afternoon at this time of year. At 1st Brigade Headquarters, war artists Charles Comfort, Will Ogilvie and Ken Cottam take a jeep and drive toward the river, cutting through an olive grove until they find a hedgerow where they can hide their vehicle.. They demobilize it carefully, and then set out along the hedge, crawling and creeping to the forward edge of the ridge overlooking the river from the south. The ground is too hard for digging, so they lie as flat as they can in the coarse grass. To their right is the mouth of the river, held by the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment since the morning of December 7. Below lies the Moro River, a muddy stream meandering through shrubs and clumps of willow at the bottom of a valley 200 feet deep and 1 000 yards across. The road to San Leonardo used to cross the river on a concrete bridge, but nothing remains of that but rubble.
At the river’s edge, two Calgary Regiment tanks lie harboured among the willows, and in the distance the artists can see farm buildings, prosperous-looking fields and, far away, the roofs of Ortona clustered around the dome of the cathedral of San Tomasso.