Surprise Attack
Heroes Remember
Surprise Attack
Transcript
Description
Mr. Gilday talks about one of the FSSF's most famous missions, the assault on Monte La Difensa in Italy, south of Cassino.
Tom Gilday
In Ottawa he ended up volunteering for parachuting and hazardous duties. He then was part of a group that became the first Special Force; half Canadian and half American. He was then appointed as Battalion Commander. His crew fought and took over many mountain ranges that the Germans were protecting. They attacked at night and painted their faces black, they were known to the Germans as the ‘Devil's Brigade'. After being on the line for eight months during the Italian Campaign it was decided he would run a Recruit Training School. He then opened and ran the first Canadian Army Leave Transit Camp in Oyster Work. The camp was later moved to a larger camp in Nijmegen. In 1945 Mr Gilday was appointed General Staff Officer and placed in charge of the city of Amsterdam. He stayed there for six months and then returned home.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 02:31
- Person Interviewed:
- Tom Gilday
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- Second World War
- Location/Theatre:
- Italy
- Battle/Campaign:
- Italian
- Branch:
- Army
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