BRIEFING NOTE OPERATION HUSKY 2013 October 4 th, 2012

Transcription

1 BRIEFING NOTE OPERATION HUSKY 2013 October 4 th, 2012 Subject: Operation Husky 2013 Aim: This document describes Operation Husky 2013 (OH2013) and the key events and opportunities for the promotion of the selfless contribution of Canadian soldiers in Sicily in Background: On July 10th 1943, Canadian soldiers landed at Pachino, Sicily, marking the beginning of the Sicilian Campaign. While this campaign is little known, Operation Husky represented the first independent role for Canadian soldiers in the Second World War. They fought with courage and knocked the pins out of the German defenses in Sicily. Their success came at a cost; 562 killed and 2310 casualties. The mission of Operation Husky 2013 is to honour the memory of those Canadians who fought and those who fell in Sicily during the summer of 1943 by organizing the return of 562 Canadians to Sicily in The project has one "Main Event" and several supporting activities. These are: 1. An opening event at the beach at Pachino on July 10th 2013 marking the beginning of the campaign. It is expected that 50 Canadians and local dignitaries will attend this event. Canadian and Italian press will be invited. 2. The "Main Event" consisting of a morning ceremony (roll call) on July 30th at the cemetery outside of Agira followed by an evening Pipeband concert by the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada in the main piazza in Agira. This will be a reenactment of their famous concert on that day 70 years before! It is expected that over 500 Canadians will attend this event. 3. Between the 11th and the 28th of July 2013, a small group of Operation Husky2013 participants will retrace the steps of the 1 st Divisions Infantry Regiments and the 1 st Canadian Army Tank Brigade. Each day, a small service will be held to honour the men that fell that day 70 years earlier. 4. An event at the Museo della Sbarco in Catania, on a date to be determined between the 27th and the 29th of July, at which the organizers of Operation Husky will be presenting the museum including an exhibit of Cap Badges and Shoulder Flashes from all of the Regiments of the 1 st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1 st Canadian Army Tank Brigade. Operation Husky

2 5. A small delegation of civilians will also hold a related memorial at the Malta Memorial, a date to be determined between the 11th and the 29th of July, to honour the Airmen and Sailors lost during the Sicilian Campaign. An organizing committee consisting of five sub-committees is managing the project including: Logistics headed by Maj (ret) Pierre-Paul Pharand, Communication, Fundraising headed by Steven MacKinnon, Membership, Sicilian/Maltese Liaison, head by Gaetano Catalano with two supporting teams in Sicily, Canadian Forces Liaison headed by LGen (ret) Michel Maisonneuve. The senior officers of all 1 st Canadian Division and 1 st Canadian Army Tank Brigade Units have been contacted. Significant support from Regimental Associations has been committed with over 300 participants expected from the ranks of former military personnel. Commitments have been secured from the Royal 22e Regiment, Princess Patricia s Canadian Light Infantry, Loyal Edmonton Regiment, 48 th Highlanders, Seaforth Highlanders, Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery and all Armoured Regiments. The Ministers of Defence, Veterans Affairs and Heritage Canada have been informed of the project. Lieutenant-General Devlin, Canadian Army Commander, has been briefed on the project. All leaders have offered their encouragement. Details of the project include: Museo dello Sbarco This 23,000 sq ft museum in Catania dedicated to the allied landings has made a space available for a permanent Canadian display. Dr. Andrew Gregory is working with the DND s Department of History and Heritage to assemble a display of cap badges and shoulder flashes. Dr. Béatrice Richard heading the CMR Club Husky to assist in the plan of the exhibit. A formal unveiling of the display will be undertaken during the project, HCol John Newman of the 48 th is leading a team of Honoraries and museum staff from the 48 th, Hasty P s and Seaforth who will be underwriting the completion of a two-mannequin display. Logistics The Logistics Committee, working with Dr. Lee Windsor of the University of New Brunswick and the famous military historian and author, Mark Zuelhke, are developing a detailed plan and schedule for daily activities. This plan includes: 1. Event planning for all ceremonies 2. Route planning for Marchers Operation Husky

3 3. Transportation 4. Security 5. Medical Assistance 6. Food, lodging and ablations for participants The Logistics Committee is being supported by Club Husky, an activity integrated into the optional after class events at the Royal Military College in Saint-Jean, Quebec. This group of officer cadets will contribute effort to the planning of daily marching schedules and local events. It is expected that a small group of students will be selected from this group to provide on-site logistics support. A marching schedule includes four days of rest over 342K. An average walking distance of 18K is planned and marches will be conducted most days in the early mornings to avoid the Sicilian heat.. Rest days follow long days of marching, the longest of which is 36K. The organizers are contemplating the use of Buses on the longest marches to simulate the historical record which reports the shuttling of forces by truck between locations after the 15 th of July. Organizers have developed local Sicilian teams of event supervisors who are working with the Logistics committee to ensure the effective preparation and management of the events. Sicilian Liaison Twelve (12) Mayors in key towns on the path of the marchers are currently working with the organizers and have offered police support in managing traffic for the march and daily ceremonies. Mayors from both towns, Pachino and Agira, have given verbal approval for the ceremonies. In addition, the Mayor of Agira has offered to provide water and washroom facilities for the event in the main square on the evening of 30 th. The Mayor of Pachino has committed to complete the building of a monument on the beach overlooking the location of the Canadian landing. Plaques provided by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Battlefields Foundation currently located at a temporary site in a town square will be moved to their rightful place after a seven year delay. Travel Preference Vacations a specialist in Italian travel packages located in Montreal have been contracted to support our travel plans. As a result of the large Operation Husky

4 numbers expected, costs for a week in Sicily, flight, hotel, bus, several meals and some tours may be as low as or lower than $2,500 per person from Montreal, prices for other cities may vary. Air France/ KLM have signed on as a principal carrier and a key sponsor. The Gregg Centre at the University of New Brunswick will produce a new 80 page booklet on Operation Husky. Funding of $62,000 has been secured from Veterans Affairs Canada for the production of print and web-based educational materials. This group is also expected to produce a small guide of the events in English and in French to be distributed to all marchers and participants. Mark Zuelhke, a Canadian military Historian will be in the march and will be recording his experience in a new book. Communications To date, all Regiments have been solicited for involvement by mail and . The Regimental Associations of the RCR, 48th, Hasty P's, PPCLI, Seaforth, R22R and the 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (Three Rivers Regiment) have all expressed interest and the frequency of our communication is increasing. The Canadian Ambassador in Rome has been made aware of the project and the military attaché is assessing opportunities for involvement. The Communications committee is readying the launch of their communications plan. This will include, print, television, radio and web strategies for July 10 th, The communications during 2012 will focus on July 10 th, July 30 th and the October fundraising events across Canada as well as November 11 th. In addition: Preference Vacations will be promoting the event along with the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Montreal to the Italian and Sicilian communities. A website, Youtube Channel and Linkedin Group have been established to support online communications. To date more than a dozen videos have been uploaded in support of the event and these videos have received over 8,500 views. TLN Network has agreed to produce one or more PSAs about the Canadians in Sicily. Discussions are underway with Frantic Films in order to produce a documentary of the experience. The CBC has expressed interest in the project and is investigating various levels of involvement. The National Post has offered free coverage of fundraising events. Operation Husky

5 Frantic Films is preparing a proposal to the CBC for the development of a one-hour documentary. American officers and men stationed in Sicily will be invited to Enna to participate in ceremonies. Public relations consultants have been engaged in Toronto and Vancouver to ensure coverage of the fundraising events as November 11 th approaches in Collaboration with Potential Partners The Gregg Centre has approached it s History Teachers Tour in-order to explore the possible integration of a Sicily portion into it s 2013 schedule. The Staff College is also being approached to determine the feasibility of integration into the OH 2013 schedule of activities. Fundraising No funding support is being sought by OH2013 organizers from Regiments. Partial funding for the preparation of documentation and educational materials has been secured through Veterans Affairs. A OH 2013 budget has been prepared requiring $400,000 in funding for volunteers, the management of on-site logistics, sponsorships and promotion. $200,000 of these funds is being allocated to support the co-funding of a 100 man Honour Guard from the 1 st Canadian Infantry Division. These funds will be generated from Canada Company sponsored fundraising events including three Sicilian Wine Tastings and Auctions held across Canada in October and November A large Public Concert is being planned for April 2013 to shore-up funding shortfalls. To date, TD Bank, Air France, Xerox and National Public Relations are major sponsors for the three events. Canada Company will solicit member support for additional funding needs. Operation Husky

6 International Impact The commemoration of Operation Husky will provide an international platform for the promotion of Canada s significant role in the liberation of Italy. Important international media coverage of this event is expected at the ceremonies in Pachino, July 10 th and at Agira on July 30 th, 2013 and at other venues during the event, notably from the CBC, BBC and RAI. As at this time, the organizers have already received coverage in La Sicilia, the major Sicilian newspaper. Addition information can be found for reference at: Who is Steve Gregory In 2006, after a dinner with an original 39er, a Bombardier named Charles Hunter of the 2nd Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery (2RCA), Steve s son Erik undertook a grade school history project featuring the 2RCA s support of the Hasty P s assault on Assoro in Sicily during the summer of Through his involvement in the development of this project and a subsequent trip to the Canadian War Cemetery at Agira, Steve came to believe that Canadians must hear the story of the soldiers who fought and those who fell in Sicily. In 2006 he founded Operation Husky 2013 and began shaping and promoting its events. In 2007 he co-founded a charity, the 3rd Battery of Montreal Artillery as a way of giving back to the 2RCA. In 2008, he became the President of Canada Company, Quebec Chapter and has assisted in raising over $1.4 M since then for the families of our troops. In October 2010, he was the recipient of the Colonel Commandant s Commendation for his assistance in the acquisition of five Irish 25 Pounders now used for ceremonial purposes in Canada and overseas. On May 23rd, 2012 Steve was presented with Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Steve Gregory is the President of IsaiX, a firm specializing in organizational development for fortune 500 companies. He lives in Montreal with his wife Dina and their two children, Christiana and Erik. Operation Husky