Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the secretary of state for veterans affairs for taking the lead in organizing this, if I may, pilgrimage to Italy to recognize the contribution of the Canadian forces who participated in the Italian campaign.
As has been mentioned, the Canadians landed in Sicily at Pachino Beach on July 10, 1943. After having assisted in the conquering of Sicily, they moved up the Italian peninsula. They were involved in the downfall of the famous Gustav line. On May 11 they commenced the attack on the Gustav line and four days later it collapsed.
They moved on to the Hitler line and on May 23 they breached the line with the loss of 1,000 casualties. This enabled the allied forces to combine with the American forces who had landed at Anzio, just south of Rome prior to that. This campaign for the first time saw a Canadian corps in the field commanded by a Canadian general, in this case, General E.L.M. Burns who later became famous as the commander of the first peacekeeping force recommended by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson.
Moving up the Italian peninsula, the Canadians fought with great determination and great capability. At the Guthic line just south of Rimini on August 25, it took them five days to break through this last foothold before they moved into the plains of Lombardy.
By 1945 the Italian campaign had pinned down 27 German divisions and unquestionably had a great impact on the outcome of the war with D-Day. During the Italian campaign, some 92,757 Canadians served in the Italian campaign. Of those 5,500-plus were killed, 20,000 were wounded and 1,000 were taken prisoner.
Canada won three VCs, Victoria Crosses, the highest commendation during that campaign: Captain Paul Triquet of the Royal 22nd Regiment, Major Mahony of the Westminster Regiment and Private E.A. Smokey Smith of the Seaforth Highlanders.
It is not only appropriate that this return to honour and commemorate the Canadians who participated in the Italian campaign should be done, but it is appropriate that all parties should be represented in it. This is non-political. It is a Canadian venture and I commend the secretary and the members of the party who are going to Italy. It is not only right but fitting that Canadians remember the Italian campaign.