Agira was a Battle Honour granted to Canadian regiments that fought at that town during the Battle of Sicily, a phase of the Italian Campaign during the Second World War.

The fighting at Leonforte had cost the Canadians 56 dead and 105 wounded, but moreover cost the Germans a position crucial to their outer defensive perimiter. The flank of the US 1st Infantry Division was now secure and they were free to drive north from Enna to Troina.

To the east, the 8th Army was still battering at Catania; Montgomery's new plans called for an attack on the Etna defences from the west. Advancing parallel to the US 1st Division, the Canadians were to strike up the centre of the island, and were given the British 231st "Malta" Brigade under command. The Canadians were ordered to advance immediately on Agira, and he passed his orders down on the afternoon of 22 Jul. The Malta Brigade was ordered to advance from the south, seizing high ground east of Agira while the Canadians attacked along six kilometres of highway leading to Catania. It was assumed the enemy would defend the high ground at Agira. The presence of German troops at Nissoria, a village located in low ground along the highway between two low ridges, was not expected.

The Germans, an infantry battalion of the 15th Panzer Grenadier Div., supported by a few tanks and self-propelled guns, had been surprised by the "remarkable athletic accomplishments" of the "British" troops who had appeared "in our backs during the night" at Assoro. They decided to defend Agira using the reverse slopes of the two ridges at Nissoria as the first and second lines of defence. Simond's plan to use aircraft and field and medium artillery to support 1st Bde.'s move into Agira assumed that a relatively light barrage--lifting 200 metres every two minutes--would be enough to neutralize the enemy and permit the Canadians to close and destroy.¹

The Royal Canadian Regiment advanced with tank support under an artillery barrage as the battle opened; enemy resistance was fierce however and ten Sherman tanks of the Three Rivers regiment were knocked out. Reserve companies of the RCR swung to the right, discovering a deep gully parallel to the road which they followed to a position past the town of Nissoria, halfway to Agira itself. Unable to make radio contact with 1st Brigade headquarters, the battalion was reluctant to continue the advance without orders.

Out of contact with the RCR, the 1st Brigade commander ordered a deliberate attack on Nissoria in the early minutes of 25 Jul. The town was secured by The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, but a second ridge to the east was strongly held and by early morning, the Hasty P's had suffered 80 casualities - the highest single day loss of any Canadian unit during the Battle of Sicily.

The RCR in the meantime been withdrawn to avoid subjecting them to Canadian artillery fire. The 48th Highlanders next went into action, ordered to capture the heights of Monte di Nissoria to the north of the village, clearing the way for the 2nd Brigade to continue the advance. The lead company made it onto the objective on the evening of 26 Jul but heavy fire prevented their reinforcement, and the 48th were forced to withdraw.

Simonds, under pressure from his corps and army commanders, had little choice but to press ahead. The 1st U.S. Infantry Div. was meeting fierce resistance at Nicosia, north of Nissoria, and so a new attack was planned for July 27. From Nicosia, Highway 120 ran east along the northern edge of Mount Etna. This offered an opportunity to outflank the enemy holding up Montgomery's advance. The Canadians and the newly arrived British 78th Div. were playing a vital supporting role and an all-out effort was required. Unfortunately, this meant that Agira would be attacked while the enemy held the northern flank.²

On the night of 26 Jul, a platoon of The Edmonton Regiment force marched over eight miles of rought terrain and managed to cut the road from Agira to Nicosia. Digging in and holding on, they managed to ambush several trucks and even knocked out three tanks and a tank recovery vehicle. Lieutenant John Dougan was awarded the Military Cross for his leadership (and would later win a bar to the MC at San Leonardo). A third attempt to take Agira acknowledged the German's strong defence on a low ridge (code named "Lion" by the Canadians) to the east of Nissoria. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry launched an attack under the largest artillery barrage fired to date on Sicily, and supported by two squadrons of Shermans from The Three Rivers Regiment. The attack was a success, and follow up companies were ordered to take the "Tiger", a low ridge 1,000 meters further east. This attack did not go as well, and the rough terrain caused the soldiers to fall behind the barrage. Regardless, The Seaforth Highlanders were committed to attacking "Grizzly", a third piece of high ground still further east, on the western edge of Agira itself. "C" Company on the right flank foudn the enemy still in strength on "Lion" who remained there until daybreak. On the left, "A" Company reached "Tiger" at first light and drove the enemy back.

Award Citation: Lieutenant John Alpine Dougan On 5 August 1943, Spot Height 236, a high feature north of Regalbuto, was the objective of "D" Company, Edmonton Regiment. The approaches to it were devoid of cover and the feature was strongly held by a number of mortar and machine gun posts. Lieutenant Dougan commanding the forward platoon, successfully led his platoon forward to within 300 yards of the objective when it came under heavy machine gun fire. Lieutenant Dougan was wounded in both arms and both hands; he could hold his revolver only by gripping it with both hands. Under intense pain he led the platoon across the 300 yard stretch of open ground under continuous observed fire, led the charge on the objective and captured it. After directing consolidation of the platoon objective, this officer was carried out of action. The gallantry of Lieutenant Dougan merits the highest praise.3

For once, the Germans did not mount a counter-attack; their reserve - an uncommitted battalion of Panzergrenadier Division 29 came forward to defend "Grizzly" while Panzergrenadier Regiment 104 reorganized. Monte Fronte, high ground dominating "Grizzly", was defended by several machine guns and mortars. The Seaforths left a single platoon at the base of Fronte, while the rest of their company manoeuvred to the flank, through orchards and vineyards to a 300-foot cliff. Scaling the cliff, the company was reinforced and cleared Monte Fronte.

Cemetery Hill, dominating the northern end of "Grizzly" was then cleared by The Edmonton Regiment after hard fighting, and the hill was declared secure on the morning of 28 Jul.

Taking no chances, Simonds arranged for full artillery support to attack Agira. The Patricias and the sorely tired citizens of the town were spared further casualties when an artillery observation officer discovered that the streets to Agira were filled with friendly people anxious to welcome the Canadians. The barrage was cancelled and the Patricia's entered the town as liberators. Agira cost the Canadians 438 casualties, the costliest battle of the Sicilian campaign.⁴

Sherman Tank of The Three Rivers Regiment passing through Agira. LAC Photo	On the road to Agira, Allied jeeps driving by torched German vehicles, around July 28th, 1943. LAC Photo.

The following Canadian units were awarded the Battle Honour "Assoro" for participation in these actions:

1st Canadian Armoured Brigade

• 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Three Rivers Regiment)

1st Canadian Division

• The Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG)

• The Saskatoon Light Infantry (MG)

1st Canadian Brigade

• The Royal Canadian Regiment

• The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment

• 48th Highlanders of Canada

2nd Canadian Brigade

• Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

• The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada

• The Loyal Edmonton Regiment

Notes

1. Copp, Terry. "From Leonforte To Agira" Part 61, article in Legion Magazine

2. Ibid.

3. Blatherwick, John and Hugh Halliday. Courage & Service: Second World War Awards to Canadians (Service Publications, Ottawa, ON) ISBN 1894581229

4. Copp, Ibid.