by Sam McBride

Fifty years ago, in the last week of April 1975, my father Major Leigh Morgan McBride (1917-1995) and about 200 other participants gathered in Sicily and mainland Italy to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Canadians in the Italian Campaign of World War Two.

The group included the three Victoria Cross recipients in the battles, as well as survivors and dignitaries from across Canada. Most would be in their fifties or sixties, but there was also a delegation of 26 young men and women between 18 and 22, nominated from all 10 provinces and two territories by the Royal Canadian Legion and the National Council of Veterans Associations.

One of the invitations my dad Leigh McBride received for an event in conjunction with the 30th anniversary reunion in spring of 1975. He had a keen sense of history, and had a habit of keeping souvenirs for future use. He died in 1995 without ever writing about his memories of the war or this reunion. But as his son looking after family memorabilia, I have been pleased to use the technology of today to share his keepsakes for posterity.

The pilgimage was sponsored by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs and led by Veterans Affairs Minister Dan MacDonald, himself a badly wounded survivor of the campaign, losing an arm and a leg. He said “I think it is essential to involve young people in our Remembrance services”, noting that the debt owed by all Canadians to those who died in defence of our freedom and our way of life must always be remembered.

Below is a list of the youth participants recorded in the Souvenir Album. It would be interesting to hear if any of these people follow the popular Canadians in the Italia Campaign group in Facebook, and what they remember of the experience. They would be about 70 now. It would be even better to hear from veterans of WW2 who were there, which is possible as I hear more and more of folks living past 100.

The photos and information above were sent to hometown newspapers of the men who were photographed in the 30th anniversary reunion. In Leigh’s case, the group of submitted photos was featured in his two hometown newspapers, the Nelson Daily News and Trail Daily Times.
Above: Members of the Youth Delegation gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome at the start of the remembrance experience.

Newfoundland – Jacqueline Ryan, St. Johns; Wayne Payton, Botwood;

PEI – Christine Shepherd, Cardigan; Martin Morrisson, Flat River;

Nova Scotia – Colleen Middleton, L’Ardoise; Anthony Olender, New Glasgow;

New Brunswick – Catherine Gillespie, Dorchester; John Kerrigan, Musquash;

Quebec – Anthony Pollard, Montreal; Rosslyn Whiteside, Montreal; Gerald L’Archer, Quebec City;

Ontario – John Bennett, Port Colbourne; Candice Collins, Rexdale; Denis Chartrand, Kirkland Lake;

Manitoba – Helen Beattie and Cutis Phillips, Winnipeg;

Saskatchewan – Trevor Lowe, Moose Jaw; Lois Barton, Leross;

Alberta – Leonard Lay, Morris; Marion Henry, Sundre;

B.C. – Brian Brimacombe, Oliver; Evelyn Whitfield, Burnaby;

Yukon – Hugh Charlie and Mona Paquet from Whitehorse;

NWT – Helen Wishart and Carol Villeneuve, Inuvik

Leigh at the grave of his brother and fellow Seaforth Highlanders of Canada officer Capt, Kenneth Gilbert McBride (1920-1944) in Coriano Ridge Cemetary. The 1975 event was quite emotional for Leigh, as it was the first time he visited the grave of his brother. They grew up in Nelson, B.C., sons of R.L. and Winnie McBride.