Primosole Bridge Sicily 1943

[Verrieres]

Hi,
If anyone is interested I`ll post a few of the individuals citation details.I have CSM Freddie Thompsons DCM details and L/Cpl Stan Roses Military Medal details buried here somewhere possibly some others from 6&8 DLI which I can dig up.
Regards
Verrieres

[Verrieres]

Lance Cpl Stanley Seymour Rose 9DLI Immediate Military Medal

One the night of the 14/15th July 1943 whilst the battalion was resting preparatory to making a dawn attack on the Primosole Bridge near Catania,seven Italian armoured cars suceeded under the cover of darkness,in penetrating to Bn HQ area.Here one 6pdr anti tank gun of which L/Cpl Rose was the layer,was sited in an open position on the side of the road.In great danger of being hit by the enemy Oerlikon guns who were firing in every direction.L/Cpl Rose held his fire until the nearest armoured car was only 30yds off.With his first shot he knocked it out.Then he was wounded.In great pain he continued to fire his gun until a second armoured car was destroyed andthe remaining ones routed.L/Cpl Rose had shown exceptional coolness and bravery in the most difficult circumstances.It was due to the sucessful handling of his gun that the enemy force was beaten off before they could inflict real danger to the Battalion

Does anyone else draw similarities to the action in which Adam Wakenshaw recieved his VC in North Africa ?

Added another Primosole MM here;-
L/Sgt Daley who seved with 13 Platoon `C` Company The 9th Durham light Infantry he won his MM for the actions around the Primosole Bridge and the crossing of the Simeto in Sicily. his citation reads;-

As soon as his platoon reached the far bank enemy automatics and snipers opened up on all sides from the reeds and vineyards at very close range.Sgt Daley showed splendid leadership and great courage in the hand to hand fighting.
Further counter attacks by the enemy forced the platoon back into the river where the water was deep.Soon three men were shouting for assistance from drowning,Sgt Daly quickly threw off his equipment and re-entered the water in the face of close aimed small arms fire on the bank and regardless of danger endeavoured to rescue the drowning men.He remained in the water for fifteen minutes and suceeded in bringing ashore two of the men under constant fire of automatic weapons.Throughout this day Sgt Daley had inspired all members of his company by his great personal valour and magnificent leadership.

No. 4039943 Lance-Sergeant Patrick Daly, The

Durham Light Infantry (Limerick, Eire).LG 19 October 1943

Sgt Daley ref link;-
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/researc...tml#post195852

Regards
Verrieres

[Tom Canning]

Verrieres - nit picker that I am - you mention that Primasole bridge was a key point in Mongomery's "race" to Messina - Monty , nor anyone else was aware of a race to Messina - or anywhere else for that matter.

only US Gen.George S Patton felt there should be a race and is somehow aligned with his refusal to help Monty out with a left hook around Etna to cut off the supply route to Catania...instead he cajoled Alexander into allowing him to "liberate" Palermo- he then landed on three different beaches and was welcomed by - not the Germans - but US Gen's Bradley and Walker who wondered what he was doing - thus he was first into Messina - The Wiinner !
Cheers

[Verrieres]

Hi,
Yep well spotted there! I don`t suppose there was a race in them terms I think race is used to emphasize speed of advance but fair comment I`ll sack my proof reader!!
Regards
Verrieres

[Verrieres]

Hi,
Thought I`d post the Military Medal Citation/Details regarding Company Sgt Major John Ritchie Hannah 8th Durham Light Infantry initially recommended for a DCM it was changed to a Military Medal;-

John Ritchie Hannah was Company Sergeant Major of the leading assaulting Company when the 8th Battalion DLI secured a bridgehead across the Simeto River on the night 15/16 July 1943. he led his men splendidly across the river and was one of the first men on the objective. the Company was heavily counter-attacked the next morning and was forced to withdraw. One platoon was some distance away and the sergeant major went himself to warn them to withdraw. During the withdrawal this platoon and the CSM were separated form the rest of the Company. He then withdrew his men across the river and made a detour, crossing the river again higher up where he found the rest of the Company and assisted his Company Commander in organising a new position. During the day of the 16 and 17, the Company was constantly under heavy machine-gun, mortar and shell fire, but he was always amongst his men, cheering them on and keeping them continuously supplied with ammunition and water. Throughout the two days his devotion to duty and complete disregard for his own safety was a magnificent example to his men and was a very vital factor in the Company maintaining the position until the enemy were forced to surrender.

Regards
Verrieres

[LJW]

Hi Verrieres,
Would like to add one more Military Cross to your list:
Lieutenant Daniel Anthony "Tony" ffrench-Kehoe - DLI 6th battalion for actions at Primosole Bridge on morning of 17 July 1943.
If you like more details, I have his recommendation report.

(I have an interest in this person through family research and found this thread while looking for more information on the battle itself).

[Bodston]

I partial response to this excellent thread I was tempted to buy 'Operation Husky - The Allied Invasion of Sicily' by S.W.C. Pack when last in my local second-hand bookshop. I've not read it yet but I'll give you a few snippets. Captain Pack has interspersed the narrative with letters by the men who were there, and very good reading they make too. Here is one remarkable tale by Admiral Lord Ashbourne, relating to the disastrous landing of so many gliders in the sea.

We were stopped in the Keren off the beaches. I saw a body floating in the sea, almost alongside and evidently alive. I told the captain of the Keren to pick him up. A few minutes later a dripping soldier arrived on the bridge. He turned out to be Major-General G.F. Hopkinson commanding 1 British Airborne Division. The last time I had seen him was in 1922 when I had rowed in the same boat as him at Cambridge (Caius College). We wrung out his clothes, gave him a plate of eggs and bacon, and then sent him off ashore to catch up the rest of his soldiers. Poor chap, he was later killed near Taranto 10 September 1943. He was a splendid man and must have been a great loss to his airborne troops.

[Bodston]

Some more eyewitness accounts of the fighting around Primosole bridge, taken from 'Operation Husky' by S.W.C. Pack

..by 6.30am 14 July, about 120 British (airborne) troops had fought their way to the bridge and removed demolition charges, and were guarding their prize with three anti-tank guns. HMS Newfoundland gave valuable help in the matter of supporting gunfire. By the time the relieving force of 4 and 151 Brigades arrived on the scene there had been some tough fighting, with what Montgomery's Chief of Staff described as fanatical savagery.
In 151 Brigade was Tony Pridham, a platoon commander with 8 Battalion Durham Light Infantry, who writes:

I landed near Avola on D-day. I lasted only until the crossing of the Simento river and the Primosole bridge and was probably the first member of the Eighth Army to cross the bridge. I was later the only one to live of four who returned to the bridge in the carrier which was knocked out just on the south side of the bridge. I made contact with a tank lying near a wrecked glider just south of the bridge.

One who took part in the unfortunate airborne attack on Primosole bridge was Major G.H. Seal, who at that time was signal sergeant of 21 Independent Parachute Company. Seal says:

The operation was suspended for some reason for 24 hours, But on the beautiful clear evening of Friday 13 July we re-assembled. The CO 1 Parachute Battalion (Alistair Pearson, who later became Brigade Commander and won four DSOs) was wearing no badges of rank, a plain khaki shirt and dirty plimsolls. We knew that the job was on.
At about 8.30pm we took off from Tunisia and had a quiet flight, although it seemed much longer than a direct route would have taken. Light flak was fairly regular. I remember reflecting briefly that it wasn't a bad firework display. Our American pilot was flying very low; in fact, standing in the doorway, I was disconcerted that I was able, in the gloom, to discern quite easily the individual branches of the olive trees. the terrain was dissimilar to that one expected around the dropping zone.
As the green light came on, I went out like a bomb. My parachute opened and I hit the ground immediately on a hillside. My corporal was nearby. We never saw anything of the others in our stick.
All around us every activity, German and Italian, was intense. If any pattern revealed itself it was probably that the former were heading seemed to be heading north, and the Italians south. My corporal not wishing to proceed, I set off walking into the darkness. It was clear that the dropping zone was not in this neighbourhood. Accordingly I destroyed my pathfinding equipment by explosive. My course was north-east, but I had many stops, always to hide.
The operational objective for 1 Parachute Brigade was the capture of Primosole bridge, and the holding of it for 48 hours. The bridge is the entrance to the plain of Catania, and the Brigade task was to facilitate the passage of Eighth Army. Brigadier Gerald Lathbury, with a tiny force, captured the bridge and held it for many hours. I believe he performed excellently on a Bren gun. I never found the bridge.
At first light I identified a north facing strip of the east coast and realised that the bridge was several miles to the north of my position. An Italian commando captain, with his sixty or so armed men, came up to me and pleaded with me to take them prisoner I asked him to get lost, which he did.
Seeing what I thought to be a German patrol, I ran into a pillbox and found an undamged Italian machine gun, and trained the gun on the group. The group soon revealed itself as a British airborne collection. we occupied an adjacent farmyard and took up defensive positions. Soldiers filtered in and gradually our numbers built up. We assumed the bridge had been won or lost for we were ordered to make south, away from the scene, to Syracuse.
The first advancing Eighth Army vehicle was driven by a sergeant whose passenger was General Montgomery. He asked me some very pertinent questions and was given some straightforward comments on aircraft navigation. He spoke in a quiet and friendly way, gave me a cigarette and passed slowly on.
The whole affair had been thoroughly disappointing. If it had not have been postponed, and with a better navigation, the operation could have been a brilliant success.

[Verrieres]

Originally Posted by LJW

Hi Verrieres,
Would like to add one more Military Cross to your list:
Lieutenant Daniel Anthony "Tony" ffrench-Kehoe - DLI 6th battalion for actions at Primosole Bridge on morning of 17 July 1943.
If you like more details, I have his recommendation report.

(I have an interest in this person through family research and found this thread while looking for more information on the battle itself).

Hi
Leah Please post away,you cannot have to much information! I believe ffrench-Kehoe was attatched to The North`n Reg at the time his MC was Published in THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 9 AUGUST, 1945.at the time he was Temp Captain but thats all I know anything else you may have would be of Interest. Welcome once again.
Regards
Verrieres
North'n R.
Capt. (actg.) D. A. FFRENCH-KEHOE, M.C. (189441

[LJW]

Hi Verrieres,
Correct that D.A. ffrench-Kehoe was attached to Northamptonshire -
he was 2nd Lieutenant at the time I believe and his MC was published in the Supplement to the London Gazette 18 November 1943 (gazette#36351).
I'm a bit new to researching the military aspects and still trying to make sense of some of the things I have, acronyms etc. I'll probably be making much use of this forum as I have a few military backgrounds in my family I'm enjoying sorting out!



Here is my transcription of the recommendation, I hope you find it of some interest (from ffrench-Kehoe's recommendation: catalogue reference WO/373/3 of the National Archives UK - crown copyright)

"151st (Durham) Brigade. 50th (N) Division.
Thirty Corps, Northamptons ATT 6th Bn Durham LI, W/Lieutenant
Action for which recommended:
On the morning of the 17th July after the Battalion had carried out an attack on PRIMOSOLE BRIDGE this Officer's Company was on its objective forward of [word looks like 'sunken'] lane, but depleted on account of heavy casualties. The whole time it was being continually sniped and all movement was most difficult. Later the sniping ceased and it was thought that all the snipers had been mopped up, so the Company Commander went to make contact with the adjoining Company. During his absence it was noticed that a party of more than 40 Parachutists some 300 yards away were advancing up the lane to attack the Company from the rear. Lieutenant ffrench-Kehoe immediately realising what was about to happen, went out to the Platoons under heavy enemy covering fire and warned and organised the small force to meet the attack. With a T.S.M.G. he himself then took up a position to meet the attack. So fierce was the fire of his force that the entire enemy force was either [word could be 'killed'] or surrendered, with Lieutenant ffrench-Kehoe himself killing five. There is no doubt that it was entirely due to this Officer's resolute courage and example that the Company so successfully dealt with what might have been a very serious situation."

By whom recommended: W.I. Watson, Lieut-Colonel. Commanding, 6th Bn. The Durham Light Infantry.
Awarded M.C. L6 18.11.43

[having difficulty reading the signatures]


A side note:
ffrench-Kehoe relinquished command in 1948, granted rank of Captain. In 1952 he went on to write and publish the novel "And Ruffians Leap" under the pen name Desmond Carolan. The novel was a "good-humoured satire on certain aspects" of WW2. It takes place on a small island in Greece, where apparently he also served.