Clipping - Parson of Baranello, 25 November, 1943. "The Parson of Baranello to the Canadian Soldiers in prayer gathred in the parochial church wishing that almighty God afford them happiness and victory. Baranello (Italy) 25 November, 1943" Baranello is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Campobasso in the Italian region Molise, located about 10 kilometres southwest of Campobasso. The 1st Canadian Division was sent next toward Campobasso at the start of October over mountainous roads, to repeat a sequence of events that would become familiar during the course of the Italian campaign - costly attacks over treacherous terrain against determined resistance, followed by repeated attacks, after which the Germans simply withdrew to the next defensible positions. A Canadian column of tanks and infantry attacked for five days to gain 18 miles as the crow flew. Various small-unit actions during October cost the Canadian Army in Italy 650 casualties. During the later half of October, the Canadians moved forward to the Biferno River to consolidate their hold on the east bank. On October 17, a company of Seaforth Highlanders, supported by machine guns and mortars of the Saskatoon Light Infantty and a battery of British field guns, captured the village of Baranello, which was held by soldiers of the 67th Panzer Grenadier Regiment. When the Germans brought up sizeable reinforcements for a counterattack, the Seaforth company sensibly withdrew to a hill about 900 metres to the east. The next day, the Seaforths attacked in force and drove the enemy out, assisted by a tank squadron of the Ontario Regiment in its first battle on Mainland Italy. For capturing the town, the Seaforth Highlanders received the honour Baranello. The Germans now withdrew all their troops east of the Biferno to the far bank. From the Album (Scrapbook) of Major W.D. Blackburn consisting of captioned photos and clippings from newspapers and magazines. The items are from Canada, England and Italy. He served in the Regiment from 13 August, 1940 to 12 February 1944. He commanded "C" Company in Italy.