Theme Collections
Cape Breton Highlanders
Photos and Photo Postcards - Second World War - Italy - 1943-1945
Photos
On October 23, 1943, after two years of training in the U.K., the Cape Breton Highlanders boarded the American troop ship S.S. Monterey in Liverpool, England. They joined a convoy and headed to the Mediterranean. Off the coast of Africa, the convoy was attacked by German torpedo bombers that severely damaged another troop ship in the convoy, the Santa Elena, which later sank. The Cape Breton Highlanders assisted in rescuing passengers from the Sant Elena. After a short stop in the port of Phillipeville, Algeria, the S.S. Monterey proceeded to Italy and docked in the bomb damaged port of Naples on November 10, 1943. Naples had been liberated by the Allies the month before and had suffered considerable damage from Allied bombings.
This section contains three photos pertaining to the Cape Breton Highlanders in Naples on November 10, 1943.
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Cape Breton Highlanders Arrive in Italy
Naples, Italy
November 10, 1943
The Cape Breton Highlanders Pipe Band plays as the battalion disembarks from the American troop ship S.S. Monterey. It was taken in the port of Naples, Italy on November 10, 1943.
The piper in the fron row on the far right is John J. MacMillan from Reserve Mines, NS. Next to him in the front row is John Angus MacDonnell from Inverness, NS. The man standing in the bottom left hand corner of the photo appears to be a Cape Breton Highlander officer. The man in the bottom right hand corner is an American military policeman.
Photographer: Frank Royal (1909-1975)
Ref. Number: 0-2 (1-1.2)
Image Information: Received as electronic file
Source: Library and Archives Canada PA-114562
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Cape Breton Highlanders Arrive in Italy
Naples, Italy
November 10, 1943
The Cape Breton Highlanders Pipe Band plays as the battalion disembarks from the American troop ship S.S. Monterey. It was taken in the port of Naples, Italy on November 10, 1943. The pipers in the front row, left to right from behind, are John J. MacMillan from Reserve Mines, NS, John Angus MacDonnell from Inverness, NS, and Pipe Major Bill Gillis, also from Inverness. Coming down the gangplank are Claude Denny followed by Sid Tobin.
Photographer: Frank Royal (1909-1975)
Ref. Number: 0-2 (3-7.2)
Image Information: Scan of photo
Source: Library and Archives Canada PA-163399
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Cape Breton Highlanders Arrive in Italy
Naples, Italy
November 10, 1943
Soldiers from the Cape Breton Highlanders march away from the bomb damaged port of Naples after disembarking from the American troop ship S.S. Monterey. The officer leading is unidentified. Behind him is CQMS Stanley "Stookes" MacDonald from New Waterford, NS, followed by Gus "Gopher Gus" MacLean from Florence, NS. Gus MacLean was later killed in action in Delfzijl, Holland on May 1, 1945. Leading the column on the right is Cyril Smith from Glace Bay, NS.
Photographer: Frank Royal (1909-1975)
Ref. Number: 0-2 (3-7.2)
Image Information: Scan of photo
Source: Library and Archives Canada PA-176592