Operation GOLDFLAKE was the move of 1 Canadian Corps complete and 5 British Infantry Division from 15 Army Group in ITALY to the BLA theatre.
It began during February and was carried out under the overall direction of SHAEF but HQ 21 Army Group was made responsible for providing staffs and units to assist HQ Com Z in planning and administering the GOLDFLAKE L of C which ran from MARSEILLES to dispersal points at CAMBRAI and ATH in BELGIUM.
HQ 9 L of C Sub Area was sent to PARIS for this purpose and movement control staffs were despatched to MARSEILLES and to all road and rail staging camps and halts, where administrative staffs were also provided by 21 Army Group.
The whole operation involved the transfer of a force of the same size as the original assault forces for operation OVERLORD and had to be planned in a matter of twelve days.
Staging camps were set up at various points for the benefit of units moving by road and arrangements were made to provide hot meals and haversack rations for personnel travelling by rail.
The rail journey was planned to take three days with three halts per day.
The journey by road took five days to complete and was divided up into distances of approximately 130 miles for each day’s travelling.
The help and co-operation given by HQ Com Z contributed largely to the success of the operation.
The movement started on 18 February and was completed in the second Week in April.
