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LOOKING BACK

Ortona Leaves Proud Yet Painful Memories

"He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, will stand a tip-toe when this day is named."
King Henry V
William Shakespeare

At war's end Canada's soldiers came home to a country which honoured them, assisted their return to civilian life, and guaranteed lifetime treatment for injuries suffered through wartime service.

By today's standards, there was an obvious inattention to the mental scarring of combat duty. Afflictions like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder were not understood. Except in extreme cases of emotional disability, the men and women who had fought for Canada were expected to "get on" with their lives, coping with painful memories as best they could.

Annual re-unions and veterans' associations offered fellowship where both the good and the bad side of wartime experiences could be shared with others who had gone through the same thing.

Yet with the pain was pride - pride in a hard job well done. And the men who had fought at Ortona had a special pride. In any war there are certain battles which attain symbolic status. In the First World War Canada's soldiers revered the memory of Vimy Ridge - though other battles were bloodier, or accomplished more towards destroying the German army. The veterans of Ortona could look on a unique street battle where a bunch of young Canucks had slugged it out with a skilled and determined enemy - and won.

As time went on some of the Canadians who had fought through Ortona began to return there, visiting indivudally, or on reunion tours. Finally, at Christmas 1998, some returned for a novel event - survivors from both sides of the fight got together for a reconciliation dinner. Former Canadian infantry and Germany paratroopers sat down to share a meal, and their experiences.

"Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat, if met where any bar is,
Or help to half a crown."

The Man He Killed
Thomas Hardy

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Local notice
1994
Ortona, Italy

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Onetime adversaries
1998
Ortona, Italy

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A souvenir returns home
1998
Ortona, Italy

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The fallen
1998
Ortona, Italy

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Ortona statue
20 August 2004
Ortona, Italy

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Recollecting
2001
Edmonton, Alberta