The story of the Canadians in Ortona was my first major war story, and it came about because of the fantastic photos and film footage I discovered during my research. It's never fun researching war stories, but war, unfortunately, has everything to do with our human story. There's no getting away from it. However, it was incredible to learn that these men, mostly from British Columbia, enjoyed a Christmas dinner amidst heavy battle, but it was bittersweet to learn that some who dined didn't survive.

"16th Century::Madonna of Constantinople" Art Clip: Alamy (click on image for link)

Some interesting trivia... it was later discovered that behind a grate in the old chapel where the soldiers dined in 1943, hung a 16th-century Byzantine-style fresco of the Madonna and Child, known as the Madonna of Constantinople. As the story goes, the Virgin Mary and Child appeared to a Muslim Turk, who became so overwhelmed with emotion that he converted to Christianity soon afterwards. It was, perhaps, a fitting piece of artwork to accompany a Christmas meal in the middle of a Christmas battle in a small chapel named after the Madonna...the only building left standing.

"1944::War Diary of an 18-Year-Old Nazi Paratrooper" Clip: The Windsor Star (1944) Windsor, Ontario

The following clip was also one of the most interesting (and heartbreaking) finds. Although it was not part of the Christmas dinner story, I felt it was worth sharing anyway:

Thanks for following along!

🚂Papertown Conductor