Robert Levesque
1st Platoon - H.Q. Company - Royal 22nd Regiment
The banks of the St. Lawrence river hold both a great natural beauty and a long history of settlement. Robert Levesque was one of many French Canadians to call the land along this mighty river his home, growing up in the small town of Mont-Joli. He lived a pretty normal life for a boy at the time, remaining in his beloved hometown, where he worked as a truck driver and served as a member of the active militia with the St. Laurent Fusiliers. His dreams and aspirations went far beyond this normal life and he hoped to one day pursue higher education. But he decided his dreams would have to wait, as 1939 saw another war break out in Europe. The patriotic 20-year-old signed up that October, only two months after the outbreak of war. In December, he would bid farewell to his loving mother, Rosena, and prepared to make the journey to England.
The voyage over the great Atlantic was without incident and Robert and his new comrades in the 22nd Regiment would settle into a routine of constant training. He would qualify as a signalman and was subsequently attached to 1st Platoon of Headquarters Company. This was an accomplishment he could be most proud of, but it didn’t mean he was done with training and drill. On the contrary, it was just getting started and he and the men would log many long hours marching and participating in mock combat scenarios. This continuous drilling carried on all the way into 1942. An exercise that May saw Robert lose his bayonet. Though it was clearly not on purpose, the military nonetheless launched a formal investigation, Robert had this to say:
" I lost my bayonet on the exercise TIGER. The last time I have noticed that my bayonet was still in its scabbard which was sewn on my small pack, was on the night of the 28/29 May 42. That was just before the departure of the Regiment for the long march we did during that night. In the concentration area near ST-MICHAEL I for the first time noticed the loss of my bayonet, when I took off my pack and equipment. I immediately reported the fact to Col. Dufour in charge of my platoon. I suppose that the loss occurred during one of the 10 minute halts when I lied down to rest." (Excerpt from his file from the Library and Archives of Canada).
As truthful as his statement was, the military did not take pity, and he had to pay for the cost of the bayonet. By this point, the men were all growing tired of drilling, many had signed up in 1939 and it was now 1942, when would they finally get to deploy? That very question was answered in 1943 when the men of the 22nd were moved with the entire 1st Canadian division to Africa to prepare for landings in Italy (1). The often rainy and cold weather of England was soon replaced by the very hot weather of the Mediterranean. The boys adjusted to this change as best they could and made preparations for the battle to come. That July of 1943 saw them land in Sicily with the rest of the Allied forces, where they would see their first combat (1). If there was any excitement about it, it would soon be replaced by exhaustion, as the men lugged up the mountainous terrain of Sicily, doing battle with both German and Italian forces (1). Roberts role as a signalman saw him up at the front with the rest of the men, ensuring communication with H.Q.. Without his work, there would be a general confusion in the line as orders struggled to reach their intended recipients, so it was critical he did his job. The campaign in Sicily would finally end in an Allied victory and the men prepared to hit the Italian mainland itself (1). The landings again went well and soon the Italian government capitulated, throwing out Mussolini (1). If the lads thought this meant an open road to Rome, they were sadly mistaken.
The Germans swept over Italy and prepared to fight tooth and nail for every inch of it (1). The march through hill country continued and casualties grew, but the worst of the Italian campaign still laid ahead for the 22nd Regiment. December of 1943 saw the Canadians approach the bank of the Moro River, on the opposing side sat the elite men of the "1st German Parachute Division" who were intent on holding the Canadians back (1). But the 1st Canadian Division was able to cross the river and soon found themselves facing the Germans who established fortifications outside the town of Ortona, which would be nicknamed the "Gully" (2). The fighting was some of the most bitter of the war as Canadian troops attempted to break through the German defenses (1). The Canadians were driven back on multiple occasions, but the 22nd Regiment finally managed to gain a foothold (2). The combat intensified as the Germans tried to hold and Robert no doubt saw many friends die as he continued carrying out his duties. The determination of the Canadians would finally see the Germans driven into Ortona itself (1). But to their dismay, the Germans fortified themselves in the town and set up an even stronger defense (2).
Robert and the men were forced to fight the Germans house to house through the rubble of the once beautiful town (2). Behind every corner lied a machine gun, sniper, or booby trap and many Canadians became casualties (2). The weather also had begun to turn for the worse as winter set in and brought with it the cold and snow. The fighting continued and soon Robert found it was Christmas. He spent that Christmas of 1943 with the rest of the 22nd in the battle-scarred town. This was the 5th Christmas Robert had been away from home, he was now 24, and wondered if he would ever make it out of these forsaken hills. There was still a glimmer of hope, if he made it through, he could look forward to pursuing higher education and put this war behind him. The 26th saw him on the move again, holidays didn't mean an end to fighting, and he and his comrades continued to push through the debris filled streets of the town. It was making out to be a normal day of combat when he was suddenly hit. There was nothing any of his comrades could do for him, Robert drew his last breath the day after Christmas in the cold ruins of Ortona. Two days later, Ortona officially fell to the Canadians (2). His mother, Rosena, was stricken with grief when she received the letter that told her of her sons death. Robert was laid to rest in the Moro River Cemetery, where he will forever remain a brave 24-year-old, who was taken far too soon from the world.
The voyage over the great Atlantic was without incident and Robert and his new comrades in the 22nd Regiment would settle into a routine of constant training. He would qualify as a signalman and was subsequently attached to 1st Platoon of Headquarters Company. This was an accomplishment he could be most proud of, but it didn’t mean he was done with training and drill. On the contrary, it was just getting started and he and the men would log many long hours marching and participating in mock combat scenarios. This continuous drilling carried on all the way into 1942. An exercise that May saw Robert lose his bayonet. Though it was clearly not on purpose, the military nonetheless launched a formal investigation, Robert had this to say:
" I lost my bayonet on the exercise TIGER. The last time I have noticed that my bayonet was still in its scabbard which was sewn on my small pack, was on the night of the 28/29 May 42. That was just before the departure of the Regiment for the long march we did during that night. In the concentration area near ST-MICHAEL I for the first time noticed the loss of my bayonet, when I took off my pack and equipment. I immediately reported the fact to Col. Dufour in charge of my platoon. I suppose that the loss occurred during one of the 10 minute halts when I lied down to rest." (Excerpt from his file from the Library and Archives of Canada).
As truthful as his statement was, the military did not take pity, and he had to pay for the cost of the bayonet. By this point, the men were all growing tired of drilling, many had signed up in 1939 and it was now 1942, when would they finally get to deploy? That very question was answered in 1943 when the men of the 22nd were moved with the entire 1st Canadian division to Africa to prepare for landings in Italy (1). The often rainy and cold weather of England was soon replaced by the very hot weather of the Mediterranean. The boys adjusted to this change as best they could and made preparations for the battle to come. That July of 1943 saw them land in Sicily with the rest of the Allied forces, where they would see their first combat (1). If there was any excitement about it, it would soon be replaced by exhaustion, as the men lugged up the mountainous terrain of Sicily, doing battle with both German and Italian forces (1). Roberts role as a signalman saw him up at the front with the rest of the men, ensuring communication with H.Q.. Without his work, there would be a general confusion in the line as orders struggled to reach their intended recipients, so it was critical he did his job. The campaign in Sicily would finally end in an Allied victory and the men prepared to hit the Italian mainland itself (1). The landings again went well and soon the Italian government capitulated, throwing out Mussolini (1). If the lads thought this meant an open road to Rome, they were sadly mistaken.
The Germans swept over Italy and prepared to fight tooth and nail for every inch of it (1). The march through hill country continued and casualties grew, but the worst of the Italian campaign still laid ahead for the 22nd Regiment. December of 1943 saw the Canadians approach the bank of the Moro River, on the opposing side sat the elite men of the "1st German Parachute Division" who were intent on holding the Canadians back (1). But the 1st Canadian Division was able to cross the river and soon found themselves facing the Germans who established fortifications outside the town of Ortona, which would be nicknamed the "Gully" (2). The fighting was some of the most bitter of the war as Canadian troops attempted to break through the German defenses (1). The Canadians were driven back on multiple occasions, but the 22nd Regiment finally managed to gain a foothold (2). The combat intensified as the Germans tried to hold and Robert no doubt saw many friends die as he continued carrying out his duties. The determination of the Canadians would finally see the Germans driven into Ortona itself (1). But to their dismay, the Germans fortified themselves in the town and set up an even stronger defense (2).
Robert and the men were forced to fight the Germans house to house through the rubble of the once beautiful town (2). Behind every corner lied a machine gun, sniper, or booby trap and many Canadians became casualties (2). The weather also had begun to turn for the worse as winter set in and brought with it the cold and snow. The fighting continued and soon Robert found it was Christmas. He spent that Christmas of 1943 with the rest of the 22nd in the battle-scarred town. This was the 5th Christmas Robert had been away from home, he was now 24, and wondered if he would ever make it out of these forsaken hills. There was still a glimmer of hope, if he made it through, he could look forward to pursuing higher education and put this war behind him. The 26th saw him on the move again, holidays didn't mean an end to fighting, and he and his comrades continued to push through the debris filled streets of the town. It was making out to be a normal day of combat when he was suddenly hit. There was nothing any of his comrades could do for him, Robert drew his last breath the day after Christmas in the cold ruins of Ortona. Two days later, Ortona officially fell to the Canadians (2). His mother, Rosena, was stricken with grief when she received the letter that told her of her sons death. Robert was laid to rest in the Moro River Cemetery, where he will forever remain a brave 24-year-old, who was taken far too soon from the world.
Lest We Forget
Sources:
(1) Veterans Affairs Canada. “Canada Remembers the Italian Campaign.” History - The Italian Campaign - The Second World War - History - Remembrance - Veterans Affairs Canada, Veteran Affairs Canada, 14 Feb. 2019, www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/italian-campaign/history/pish.
(2) “Battle of Ortona.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 7 Feb. 2006, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-ortona.
(1) Veterans Affairs Canada. “Canada Remembers the Italian Campaign.” History - The Italian Campaign - The Second World War - History - Remembrance - Veterans Affairs Canada, Veteran Affairs Canada, 14 Feb. 2019, www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/italian-campaign/history/pish.
(2) “Battle of Ortona.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 7 Feb. 2006, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-ortona.