Author: Cpl Micallef

Harry Douglas Pope was born May 18^th 1924 in Toronto. He lived a few blocks away from Trinity Bellwood’s Park at 148 Northcote Ave Toronto Ontario. The school he attended was Muri and Dovercourt Public schools. Harrys official enlistment date to the Canadian army as an infantry man was June 9^th 1943 at the age of 19. He had some experience in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps from April 16^th 1942 to June 8^th 1943, this being found on his attestation papers. This unit was an administrative and transport corps of the Canadian Army, it was established in the Non-Permanent Active Militia in 1901 and in the Permanent Active Militia in 1903.. At the time of his enlistment and deployment to the European theatre Pte Pope was not married and his only next of kin listed was his mother, Mrs Evelyn Pope. His official trade in his civilian life was as a shipper and had experience as a bread wrapper. Pte Pope did not attend high school or any college or university before enlisting into the army.

After completing basic training in Borden, Pte Pope participated in training overseas in the UK, according to his travel documents in December of 1943. After completing training in February 1944 Pte Pope and the 48^th made their way to the Italian theatre. Pte Pope spent just over a year in Italy. He arrived on the 18^th of February 1944. After a few months in the Italian campaign he was wounded. A Canadian National Telegraph was sent back to Mrs. Pope stating he was wounded in action by shrapnel in the flesh of his right arm on the 16^th of September 1944. It is likely that his wound was received at one of the many battle honours that the 48^th Highlanders had received during the Italian campaign. Through my findings specifically looking at the dates of the major battles the 48^th had participated in, it is safe to say that Pte Pope sustained this injury during the fight for San Martino and San Lorenzo. On the 16^th of September the 48^th along with the RCR and Hasty Ps began the attack. The 48^th advanced immediately into strong German resistance. The German positions used machine gun fire and accurate artillery on the 48^th and RCR advance. On the 16^th of September the assault force suffered 53 casualties, including 11 killed in action. This information further backs up the statement that Pte Pope took part in the brave assault and was wounded in the early stages of the attack. After recovering in the hospital and rejoining the 48th Pte Pope left Italy March 11^th 1945 and arrived in Northwest Europe March 12^th 1945

Pte Pope was killed April 15^th 1945, on the 5^th Day of Operation CANNONSHOT. At this stage of the operation C and D Coys moved against entrenched enemy positions in Apeldoorn’s outskirts, supported by tanks targeting snipers in elevated positions. Based off the readings I have done, it is my best guess Pte.Pope was part of C Coy based off the finding that they were the only Coy to send back 45 POWs. Unfortunately, it is not specified how Pte Pope was killed. He was temporarily buried in the town of Wilp located SE of Apeldoorn. His body was moved to Holten Cemetery sometime in the summer of 1946. His mother chose the personal inscription for his headstone “Too Dearly Loved To Ever Be Forgotten”.

He was 20 years old, 33 days before his 21st birthday. He was survived by his Father and Mother Harold and Evelyn Lucy May Pope, also by his 4 siblings. Frank, John, George and Evelyn Pope.

NOK: Son of Harold and Evelyn Lucy May Pope, of Toronto, Ontario.