1935 - Canadian Grenadier Guards Ski Team - Original framed photo of the Hill 70 Trophy Ski Team Winners from 1935 (Including Lieutenant -Colonel Thomas Pope Gilday, DSO)

Photograph

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Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

1935 - Canadian Grenadier Guards Ski Team - Original framed photo of the "Hill 70" Trophy Ski Team Winners from 1935 (Including Lieutenant -Colonel Thomas Pope Gilday, DSO)

Description

Canadian Grenadier Guards Ski Team - Original framed photo of the "Hill 70" Trophy Ski Team Winners from 1935 (Including Lieutenant -Colonel Thomas Pope Gilday, DSO) C.G.G. Ski Patrol Winners of Converse Trophy & Plaque 193 Front to Rear: Lieut. Thomas Pope Gilday, No. 1 Coy. Lieut. L. W. Luke, Depot Gdsm. R. Shearer, No. 1 Coy. Lieut. J. G. Stewart, No.4 Coy. Lt. Gilday's expertise led him to be posted as a Capt. to*p be the Chief Instructor at Canada's' first Winter Warfare School in Ottawa This led himin turn to be posted to the then top secret First Special Service Force, a unique unit comprised of a mixture of Canadian and US personnel fully Inegrated within its combat elements. They were initially formed as a winter warfare specialist unit to be dropped behind enemy lines in Norway to take out the German heavy water facilities there. Norwegian underground attacks made the planned raid superfluous. The unit was to be then disbanded, but they were so highly trained, they were retained. The FSSF was eventually assigned to the Italian theater to the 5th. US Army under General Mark Clark. Gilday, promoted to Major, commanded the 1st. BN. of the 3rd. Regiment. The unit fought with distinction. So much so that German intelligence thought them to be a full corps of 2 divisions, and nicknamed them the "Black Devils". In fact, their field strength never exceeded the equivalent of a British/Canadian infantry brigade or an American infantry Regiment. At the Anzio beachhead they occupied and successfully defended a full third of the entire allied parameter. Gilday was promoted to LCol.. and awarded the DSO for his actions at Anzio. He later briefly commanded the Regina Riles in NW Europe. He also earned a MiD. Another CGG Gdsm. was pronted and posted to FSSF as a 2Lt. where he was KIA in Southern France, the furthest afield burial for a CGG soldier. .His name was P.G. Laporte

Created By

Bertille L. Hurel

Create Date

July 6, 2022

Updated By

R. John Dolbec C/Sgt. (ret.)

Update Date

August 8, 2025