Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Mackenzie and the 48th Highlanders of Canada
A Study in Battalion Command and Officer Progression
TYLER WENTZELL
Abstract: Lieutenant-Colonel Donald Mackenzie was the commanding officer of the 48th Highlanders of Canada from June 1944 until his death in April 1945. He had been a lieutenant in the militia when the war broke out. His chain of command quickly made him a company commander, then sent him away from the unit to gain valuable staff training and experience. Although lacking combat leadership experience, he rejoined the 48th Highlanders in Italy, became the battalion’s second-in-command, and, after only five months, took over as the commanding officer at the age of twenty-nine. Mackenzie’s experience provides valuable insight into the challenges faced by infantry battalion commanders. Additionally, by considering Mackenzie’s progression in comparison with the career paths of other potential commanding officers within the unit, we can see the challenges faced by one battalion as it attempted to promote from within and develop its officers.
The Clear-Up
The Anglo-American Experience in Southeastern Italy, 1943–1946
AMY MUSCHAMP
Abstract: As Allied forces gradually ascended Italy in the arduous Italian Campaign, the newly liberated country was left in chaos. Focusing on the often-overlooked experiences of Southeastern Italy, and in particular the area known today as the region of Molise, this article presents an analysis of the Allied clear-up operation within this tumultuous situation. The mass movement of people southwards has been described as the “real drama” of the war for those living in Molise and the experiences of the people here are representative of many in the rural south. Moreover, knowledge gained by Allied forces here would impact future operations in terms of POW rescue missions, casualty clearing and burial procedures.
A Clash of Conflicting Priorities
Why did the Battle for the Beveland Causeway last almost three weeks?
7 October – 24 October 1944
ROBERT WILLIAM CATSBURG
Abstract: This article examines the 2nd Canadian Division’s nearly three-week campaign to drive German forces from the Beveland Causeway, a key part of the Battle of the Scheldt. Despite having superior numbers, the Canadians—led by Brigadier Holley Keefler—were unable to break through the enemy lines at Woensdrecht. In the secondary literature, high praise is given to the skill of the German battle group, at the expense of Canadian combat effectiveness. Drawing on primary sources, this article highlights the aggravating factors that contributed to this unexpected stalemate. It shows that, independent of the courage and ability of the soldiers on the ground, it was the conflicting strategic priorities of the opposing sides that shaped the developments on the battlefield.
“Mud, mud, mud to the right of us”
How Canadian Reconnaissance Regiments Adapted to the Terrain of the Scheldt Estuary
VICTORIA SOTVEDT
Abstract: During the Battle of the Scheldt, Canadian reconnaissance regiments played a crucial role in gathering information for their attached divisions and participating in combat operations. To be effective in this role, these regiments needed to maintain a high level of mobility and be adept at operating at or beyond the divisional front. As First Canadian Army moved into the Scheldt Estuary in autumn 1944, the reconnaissance regiments’ mobility and efficiency were challenged by the difficult terrain. These regiments therefore developed new techniques to allow them to continue fulfilling their role despite these challenges, including the adoption of new weaponry and operating on their own initiative.
CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM – MUSÉE CANADIEN DE LA GUERRE
Behind Barbed Wire
Jack Powerful Griss and the Material Culture of Dieppe POWs at Stalag VIII-B
TERESA IACOBELLI
Abstract: Through a collection of material culture that includes letters, ephemera and objects, this article traces the Second World War service of Private Jack Powerful Griss. Griss was a survivor of Dieppe and subsequently interned as a POW from 1942 to 1945. Griss’ collection of donated materials reveals his personal story but also sheds light of the broader experience of captivity, especially among the Canadians captured at Dieppe, France in 1942 who were imprisoned in Germany until the end of the Second World War.
Sommaire: À travers une collection de documents culturels, incluant des lettres, des documents éphémères et des objets, cet article retrace le service du soldat Jack Powerful Griss pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Survivant de Dieppe, Griss fut ensuite interné comme prisonnier de guerre de 1942 à 1945. La collection de documents donnés par Griss révèle son histoire personnelle, mais éclaire également l’expérience plus large de la captivité, notamment chez les Canadiens capturés à Dieppe, en France, en 1942, puis emprisonnés en Allemagne jusqu’à la fin de la Seconde Guerre mondiale.
FEATURE
Remembering Tim Cook
KEVIN SPOONER
Abstract: Tim Cook, C.M., F.R.S.C., Ph.D passed away on 26 October 2025, aged 53. Tim was a prolific contributor to this publication and a pillar of the two organisations that publish it, the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada (LCSC) and the Canadian War Museum. LCSC Director Kevin Spooner offers this remembrance.
