In early September individual tank troops of the Ontario Regiment were assigned to support several infantry units for the push north of Florence and into Fiesole. The tanks were called upon to destroy enemy machine-gun positions several times, but there was no major fighting. The Germans were
conducting a general, but orderly, withdrawal.

With Florence and the area immediately north under Allied control, the next obstacle was the most northerly major German defensive position, the Gothic Line. The Apennine Mountains, which cut across Italy in a north-west direction, formed the backbone of the Gothic Line. Beyond these mountains were the plains of northern Italy and the Po River. There were five routes through the mountains and each of these
was heavily defended by the Germans.

“B” Squadron led the way for the Ontarios, supporting elements of the 3rd British Infantry Brigade, arriving about 4000 yards south of the Gothic Line on 11 September. On 12 September Troopers Harvey R. Hammond of Boissevain, Manitoba and Ernest J. Melanson were killed in what the war diary described as “a lucky hit by scattered enemy shelling on the front of 1 of B Sqn tanks.”

Harvey Robert Hammond was born in Boissevain, MB on 24 February 1918. He was still living in Boissevain when he joined the reserve battalion of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles in November 1940. Hammond joined the active service force on 20 June 1941 and was assigned to Lord Strathcona’s Horse. His civilian occupation was listed as truck driver while other documents referred to him as a farmer. He
was taken on strength of the Ontario Regiment in July 1944.

Ernest Joseph Melanson was another of many Americans who served in the Ontario Regiment, although he spent most of his life in Canada. He was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on 26 June 1922. His mother died when he was a child and he moved to Nova Scotia to live with his aunt. He joined the army on 10 June 1942. Previous to his enlistment he had worked in a box factory and a cotton mill in Yarmouth, NS. He was originally in the Halifax Rifles, but was taken on strength of the Ontario Regiment on 4 July 1944.

In mid-September the main assault on the Gothic Line began, with the Ontarios supporting two British infantry brigades. The Allied assault went more smoothly than expected as it was found that the Gothic Line was only lightly manned. It went so well that on 17 September “A” and “B” Squadrons were withdrawn to reserve and operated at 72 hours notice for further action. Large numbers of men from each squadron went to Rome for leave. “C” Squadron was assigned to support the 1st British Division in the continued advance.

Progress was slow along the Ontarios’ axis of advance due to extensive demolitions conducted by the retreating Germans. All the bridges had been blown and the roads were littered with boulders that had been blasted from the cliff faces above. The terrain limited movement to the roads. The Royal Engineers worked on repairing the roads but were under constant enemy fire. Number 14 troop from “C” Squadron was assigned to provide protection to the Engineers during this work.Repairs were sufficient by 22 September that the rest of “C” Squadron was able to join 14 Troop and
begin providing fire support to the infantry in the area around Crespino. The advance continued over the next few days, although it was slow due to more demolitions along the route. “C” Squadron engaged and destroyed a number of German self-propelled guns and machine-gun positions that had been harassing the Engineers.

Trooper Mervin Ahrens of Emo, Ontario was killed as the result of a vehicle accident on 24 September. Known as “Slim,” he was returning to the Regiment after being in the hospital. Members of his troop had completed a leave in Rome and persuaded the doctor to release him to return with them. The truck was travelling on a mountainous road when the steering and brakes malfunctioned and the truck rolled down an embankment. Trooper Bruce Lenard Martin of 1 Canadian Assault troop, attached to the Ontario Regiment, was also killed. Several other Ontarios were injured.
Mervin Ahrens was born in Barwick, Ontario on 24 August 1922. He was living there and working as a farmer when he joined the army on 13 October 1942. After completing his training in Canada he arrived in England in May 1943 and was assigned to Lord Strathcona’s Horse in June. Ahrens served with LdSH in the early part of the Italian Campaign and was wounded in May 1944. After he recovered from his
wounds he was taken on strength of the Ontario Regiment on 2 July 1944.

September ended with members of “A” and “B” Squadrons taking leaves in Rome and Florence. “C” Squadron continued supporting British and Indian infantry in the advance north.

Rod Henderson

Rod Henderson is the Regimental Historian of the Ontario Regiment. He served as a Sergeant in the Regiment and is the author of “Fidelis Et Paratus: The History of The Ontario Regiment RCAC”.