1943::A Christmas Dinner For Vancouver Islanders On the Front Line

A special Christmas Dinner.

"1943::Canadians finding their way through the heavily bombed streets of Ortona, Italy"

Photo Clip: Illustrated London News (1944)

'The Few' was the name given to the Vancouver Island soldiers by the rest of their battalion. Men from Victoria, Oak Bay and Esquimalt had stuck together and made it through the difficult times. On Christmas Day, their platoon was engaged in a heavy street fight when they received word that a special Christmas dinner was being prepared and would soon be theirs to enjoy.

"1943::Bombed San Thomé Cathedral in Ortona, Italy"

Photo Clip: Illustrated London News (1944)

It was a cold Christmas day in Ortona. The men had endured weeks of non-stop fighting, and their numbers had been sorely depleted. Help was on its way, but heavy snow made their location difficult to reach. They soldiered on with what they had and anxiously awaited their Christmas dinner. It would take a whole day of juggling the front line to feed all the men, but for those who survived, it would be a meal they would never forget.

"1943::The Christmas Dinner in the Old Church"

Source: tbd

With rifles still hot and comrades holding the line, a small squad of soldiers snuck away from the action and stepped into an old church, the only building left standing in the area. A likable Padre greeted them at the door and said grace before seating them at a white-clothed table to enjoy their meal.

"1943::Soldiers enjoying a Christmas dinner on the front line in Ortona, Italy."

Library and Archives Canada, PA-163936) Photo Credit: Lieut. F. G. Whitcombe. Canada. Department of National Defence

A plate of roast pork and potatoes was placed in front of each soldier, along with Christmas pudding and a bottle of beer. The Padre told jokes between bites, and the men joined in to sing Christmas carols to drown out the sound of the battle still raging outside the church walls. When their bellies were full and their hearts filled with cheer, the men thanked the Padre and opened the door to the war outside. They returned to the front to hold the line while their comrades stepped into the old church for the next round of Christmas dinners.

"Men of the Seaforth died that day, some with, some without, their Christmas dinner." - "Cap" Thorsen

"1943::Battle Was Won and Comrades Were Buried"

Photo Clip: Times Colonist (1944)

Victoria, British Columbia

Just days after their Christmas dinner, the Seaforth Highlanders paid tribute to their fallen comrades. The soldiers were buried in a makeshift cemetery shortly after the battle was won by the allied soldiers.

"1943::Boots On For a Month"

Clip: The Province (1944)

Vancouver, British Columbia

The inability of the military to send relief troops to their location caused many soldiers to face some of the worst battle conditions of the war. The battle was won shortly after their Christmas dinner, and by then, additional troops were no longer required.