Assault on Monte La Difensa

Tom Gilday talks about one of the First Special Service Force's (FSSF) most famous missions, the assault on Monte La Difensa in Italy, south of Cassino.

Tom was born in Montréal in 1910 and enlisted with the Canadian Grenadier Guard Reserve in 1932. He was well known in the sports world at that time, and shortly after he was called to active service in 1939, he was posted as chief instructor for the 1st Canadian Army Winter Training School. Then in 1942, he was assigned to the elite First Special Service Force. With the FSSF, Tom undertook astonishing assaults in Italy at Mont La Difensa and at the Anzio Beachhead. He later commanded the Regina Rifles at the Scheldt, and served as GSOI to Generals Crerar and Simmonds. He always said, If any of the Force were ever in need, we would all do everything we could to help them out. That will never change. I would trust anyone of those men with my life. He won the DSO in Italy, and remained in service in Europe after the end of the war for several months, where he met his much-beloved wife, Euphemia, who also served with distinction. Tom died in June 2001.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Gilday
• First
• Special
• Service
• Force
• FSSF
• Testaments
• Services
• Italy
• Blake
• Heathcote