Ortona Circle is dedicated to the Canadian participation in the Battle of Ortona.
Built in 1940 as one of many training establishments for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), Camp Picton’s 700 acres became home for numerous young Commonwealth airmen undergoing bombing and gunnery training. After the Second World War, the site was used as a storage and equipment maintenance centre for the Royal Canadian Air Force before being taken over by the Royal Canadian Artillery School (anti-aircraft). With the addition of a Permanent Married Quarters (PMQ) area in the 1950’s, the base was expanded and in the early 60’s became the Home Station for the Canadian Guards regiment. The Base was closed in 1969 and the airfield was eventually transformed into an industrial site. The PMQ area was sold to individual homeowners with many of the roads retaining their original military name.
The Battle of Ortona (20-28 December 1943) was an extremely fierce battle fought between German Fallschirmjäger (paratroops) from the German 1st Parachute Division and assaulting Canadian forces from the Canadian 1st Infantry Division. It was the culmination of the fighting on the Adriatic front in Italy during “Bloody December”. The battle, dubbed “Little Stalingrad” for the deadliness of its close-quarters combat, took place in the small Adriatic Sea town of Ortona, about halfway down the Italian coast. The initial Canadian attack on the town was made on December 20 by Canadian 2nd Brigade’s Loyal Edmonton Regiment with elements of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada under command. Meanwhile elements of the division’s 3rd Brigade launched a northerly attack to the west of the town in attempt to outflank and cut off the town’s rear communications but made slow progress because of the difficult terrain and the skillful and determined German defence. The Germans also concealed various machine guns and anti-tank emplacements throughout the town, making movement by armour and infantry increasingly difficult. The house to house fighting was vicious and the Canadians made use of a new tactic: “mouse-holing”. On December 26, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and the Three Rivers Regiment joined the battle. After eight days of fierce fighting, the depleted German troops withdrew from the town.
