UNHAPPY ALLIANCE: The American-Canadian First Special Service Force in World War II

A video describing some of the unique and sometimes overlooked aspects of the history of the First Special Service Force in the Second World War, particularly from a Canadian perspective.

1:43 - Genesis of the Force
3:50 - Combat in Italy and France
5:27 - Postwar Histories
7:15 - Administrative Obstacles
9:17 - Manpower
11:31 - Organization and First Losses
14:47 - New Mission and Re-organization
19:07 - Senior Canadian John McQueen Jul 1942 - Sep 1942
20:44 - Senior Canadian Don Williamson Sep 1942 - Jan 1944
28:32 - Senior Canadian Jack Akehurst Jan 1944 - Dec 1944
31:39 - Awards
33:06 - Assessment
35:18 - Conclusion
36:38 - Credits
37:03 - Easter Egg

The following references were used in part in researching this video:

Further Reading:

Burhans, Robert D. The First Special Service Force: A War History of The North Americans 1942-1944 (Methuen Publications, Toronto, ON, 1981) ISBN 0-458-95020-1

Caravaggio, Angelo N., "Commanding the Green Centre Line in Normandy: A Case Study of Division Command in the Second World War" (2009). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 1075. https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/1075

Dancocks, Daniel G. D-Day Dodgers: The Canadians in Italy 1943-1945 (McClelland & Stewart Inc., Toronto, ON, 1991) ISBN 0771025440

Finlayson, Kenneth Unique Support for a Unique Unit: The Service Battalion of the First Special Service Force (Veritas, Vol. 2, No. 3, 2006 accessed online at https://arsof-history.org/articles/v2n3_fssf_page_1.html)

Grieves, Keith. "MAKING SENSE OF THE GREAT WAR: REGIMENTAL HISTORIES, 1918-23." Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research 69, no. 277 (1991): 6-15. Accessed June 15, 2021. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44225627.

Joyce, Kenneth H. Snow Plough and the Jupiter Deception: The story of the 1st Special Service Force and the 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion, 1942-1945 (Vanwell Publishing Ltd., St. Catharines, ON, 2006) ISBN 1-55125-094-2

Joyce, Kenneth H. A Case of Differentiation, The Story of Colonel Donald Dobie Williamson Officer Commanding The First Canadian Special Service Battalion/1st Special Service Force, 1942-1944 (pdf dated 2015 accessed online at https://nebula.wsimg.com/c87ccca6603034a6951f7e6974439b7a?AccessKeyId=BC21553F553BBD27F066&disposition=0&alloworigin=1 )

J. R. Seeger Book Review: The Force: The Legendary Special Ops Unit and WWII’s Impossible Mission David Saul (Hatchette Books, 2019) “Studies in Intelligence Vol 64, No. 2 (June 2020) “

Werner, Bret  First Special Service Force 1942-44  (Osprey Publishing Ltd, Botley, Oxford, UK, 2006) ISBN 978-1-84176-968-4

Wood, James "“Matters Canadian” and the Problem with Being Special: Robert T. Frederick on the First Special Service Force." Canadian Military History 12, 4 (2003)

Stanley W. Dziuban, Military Relations Between The United States and Canada, 1939-1945 (Washington: Department of the Army, 1959)

C.P. Stacey, Arms, Men and Governments. The War Policies of Canada, 1939-1945 (Ottawa: Department of National Defence, 1970)

Powell, Lawrece. “In the Thick of Things - West Nova Scotia Regiment unpacks artifacts, memories at new museum exhibit: Permanent display set up at Middleton's Macdonald Museum: accessed online https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/lifestyles/in-the-thick-of-things-west-nova-scotia-regiment-unpacks-artifacts-memories-at-new-museum-exhibit-208002/

Primary Sources:

War Diary, 1st Battalion, The Lincoln and Welland Regiment July-August 1944 (Library and Archives Canada RG 24 DND Fonds, RG 24-C-3 Volume 15104)

Nicholson, G.W.L. “The 1st Canadian Special Service Battalion” Army Headquarters Report #5, 22 Feb 1946

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