As I write this post, I am in the air between Montreal and Rome. As I travel, I am grateful to Peter and Jennifer Madsen of Oyama Zipline for staging yet another successful Wounded Warriors Day in their park. Thanks to them and the more than $5,500 raised, more kids of those veterans and first … Continue reading The Battle of Ortona
Author: Garry
The Battle for the Moro River
By late 1943, the Allies' Italian campaign was progressing from its initial landings in Sicily. This campaign was never intended to win the war. As I have discussed in previous posts, the Allies real strategic objective in Italy was to remove Italian troops from the war, to reduce the strength of the German Army and … Continue reading The Battle for the Moro River
Allied Landings in Italy
The Allies had originally planned to cross from the island of Sicily into the "arch" area (Taranto) of the Italian mainland, envisioning a limited invasion of the Italian "boot". Anticipating a strong defence by both German and Italian forces, they would advance up the Adriatic Coast. The success of Op Husky as anticipated led to … Continue reading Allied Landings in Italy
Operation HUSKY
Before I get into a discussion of the campaign to liberate Sicily, I would like to welcome back a couple of my Corporate Sponsors. Back again this year are Oyama Zipline and Adventure Park (check out the post of 24 February - there will be more about them in a future post about Wounded Warriors … Continue reading Operation HUSKY
Breaking News – The Okanagan Chain Gang Rides Again
On my first Battlefield Bike Ride with Wounded Warriors Canada in 2019, four of us from Lake Country, BC got together to form the Okanagan Chain Gang. Together, we raised over $25,000 for the work that WWC does for our veterans and first responders suffering with mental disorders as a result of their work to … Continue reading Breaking News – The Okanagan Chain Gang Rides Again
Deception in the Mediterranean
Following the defeat of the German Afrika Corps the leading Allied powers looked ahead to the invasion of occupied Europe and the final defeat of Nazi Germany. At the Casablanca Conference in January 1943, the decision was made that the move would be against Italy. It was hoped that an Allied invasion of Italy would deliver three objectives: First, to remove … Continue reading Deception in the Mediterranean
Thank you to Oyama Zipline Adventure Park
On 10 February 2023, at the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce's Annual Awards of Excellence night, I had the privilege of presenting Jennifer and Peter Madsen of Oyama Zipline Adventure Park with the Wounded Warriors Canada Mental Health Leadership Award for their ongoing efforts to raise funds for and bring awareness to the mental health struggles of … Continue reading Thank you to Oyama Zipline Adventure Park
Canada and the Italian Campaign – A Brief Synopsis
Often overshadowed by Operation Overlord, the Normandy invasion and the operation to liberate the Netherlands, the liberation of Italy was Canada's longest military campaign during World War 2. In my posts leading up to BBR23 - Ortona 80, I will explore the Canadian involvement in the Italian Campaign from the landing of Allied Forces in … Continue reading Canada and the Italian Campaign – A Brief Synopsis
BBR20/21.1 – The Liberation of the Netherlands
In 2019, I completed my first Battlefield Bike Ride (BBR) with Wounded Warriors Canada (WWC). This was BBR19 - Operation Overlord. During the ride we travelled from Dieppe, France to Juno Beach in Normandy. This was the Canadian beach for Operation Overlord, better known as D-Day. We arrived on Juno Beach on 6 June 2019, … Continue reading BBR20/21.1 – The Liberation of the Netherlands
Post BBR22 – Menin Gate, Ypres
As the day after the final ride of BBR22 dawns and a mad panic to find the right bus or train to get home begins. I was lucky that I had other plans - my panic to get to the airport would have to wait. I was on my way to Ypres (Ieper if you … Continue reading Post BBR22 – Menin Gate, Ypres
BBR23 - 80RTONA 