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"NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING, NOT EVEN A MOUSE ..."

A Novel Christmas, And Novel Tactics

The fighting at Ortona went on through Christmas Day itself. Even in the height of front line combat, commanders attempted to give their troops a semblance of holiday observance.

The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada brought their troops back one company at a time to be served their Christmas dinner in the ruins of a church. They were given a couple of bottles of beer each. An officer played carols on the church organ.

The Loyal Edmonton Regiment fed their troops in small groups close to the front lines, sending forward hot food - and bottles of beer.

By then a new combat technique was being used to keep off the deadly streets wherever possible, moving through blocks of adjoining homes by a technique termed "mouseholing." Troops inside a cleared house would place a demolition charge against the common wall shared with adjoining premises still occupied by German paratroopers. The charge would blast a hole through to the next building. Grenades would be thrown, or submachinegun bullets sprayed, through the hole to clear any enemy left after the blast. Then Canadian soldiers would pass through the opening, and proceed warily to clear each room in the house.

All the while, both sides hammered their opponents with mortar and artillery fire. Anti-tank weapons blasted the buildings. Canadian tanks directed fire against an elusive enemy.

Building by building, the Germans were gradually ousted from Ortona.

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Mail call
December, 1943
Ortona, Italy

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Army Christmas card
December, 1943
Italy

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Field kitchen
1943
Italy

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Command dinner
19 August 2004
Ortona, Italy

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Mouseholing
1966
Ortona, Italy

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Captain W.G. Longhurst
1943
Ortona, Italy