The Return To Europe - Sicily 1943.

colinhotham · 04-09-2004, 01:10 PM

It all started with a library book.
Having just retired and looking for a project to keep me occupied, I was in my local library and having found nothing to interest me on the biography shelves turned to the WW2 section. there I found "Bitter Victory" by Carlo D'Este. From that point Sicily and Operation Husky have completely taken over my life. D'Este's book (to me one of the best WW2 histories ever written) covers in depth the reasons, planning and execution of Husky from the Casablanca Conference to the triumphal entry of the American Seventh and the British and Commonwealth Eighth Armies into Messina having ousted the Axis from the island in 38 days.

Many personalites were involved during that short time. Audie Murphy, the most decorated US soldier fought there, Alec Guinness the British actor as a Royal Navy Lieutenant, commanded LCI (L) 124 (landing craft infantry) for the invasion on the 10th July 1943. General Patton's "slapping incident" as portrayed in the film Patton, was an amalgamation of visits to the 15th Evacuation Hospital and 93rd Evacuation Hospital when he struck two soldiers he believed to be malingering. Then there was General Montgomery and his "left hook" manoeuvre around Mount Etna.

My two visits in 2003/04 have found an island much changed from that fought over by the Allies and Axis forces sixty years ago. Autostradas and a fairly modern transport system cover the island but much of the inland scenery remains as rugged and inhospitable as it was to the infantry and tanks in 1943. I managed to identify some battle sites with the help of the older local residents and visited the invasion beaches and towns like Caltanissetta and Enna which were the locations of the German and Italian headquarters.

My most lasting memory will always be the visits to the war cemeteries at Catania, Syracuse and especially the Canadian War Cemetery at Agira.

colinhotham · 06-09-2004, 12:42 PM

The Canadian WW2 Cemetery at Agira, Sicily - May 2004.

[attachmentid=239]In the foreground Lake Pozzillo with Mount Etna behind.

Gerry Chester · 06-09-2004, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by colinhotham@Sep 6 2004, 03:42 AM
The Canadian WW2 Cemetery at Agira, Sicily - May 2004.

[attachmentid=239]In the foreground Lake Pozzillo with Mount Etna behind.

Quoted post

As agreed with Colin here is the photograph viewable in its entirety:

Kiwiwriter · 07-09-2004, 03:41 PM

That's a truly beautiful last resting place for those Canadians and Tommies.

Owen · 09-05-2006, 12:18 AM

Just been trawling through old posts.
Found this one with the beautiful photo.
What a place to be buried.

ErikH · 09-05-2006, 01:08 AM

Thanks for posting that photo.

Beautiful.

lancesergeant · 09-05-2006, 11:10 PM

Cracking scenery, a fitting resting place

Owen · 09-05-2006, 11:59 PM

Here's the link to the Cemetery on the CWGC site.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_...2018000&mode=1
The photo on there isn't as good as Gerry Chester's.

If you want to see the details of those buried there click here.
http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_...2018000&mode=1

51highland · 15-05-2006, 05:11 PM

Hi colin, can send you relevant pages from Camerons regimental history re Sicily if they are of interest to you.
What a photo of the cemetary!! Brilliant.

Owen · 11-12-2006, 12:47 PM

Can you repost the photo?
I'd love to see it again.

07-09-2004, 03:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kiwiwriter Very Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Newark, NJ, and Christchurch, NZ Posts: 2,431	That's a truly beautiful last resting place for those Canadians and Tommies. __________________ "My intensity is intense." -- Roger Clemens "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender." -- Winston Churchill. "I am not a hero. The heroes are all dead. I am a survivor." -- Sgt. William Guarnere, Easy Company, 506th Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Check out my little contributions to World War II history at my web pages: World War II Plus 55 or http://davidhlippman.wildbillguarnere.com

09-05-2006, 12:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,314	Just been trawling through old posts. Found this one with the beautiful photo. What a place to be buried. Last edited by Owen; 09-05-2006 at 01:09 AM.

09-05-2006, 01:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
ErikH Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 161	Thanks for posting that photo. Beautiful. __________________

15-05-2006, 05:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
51highland Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ipswich Posts: 812	Hi colin, can send you relevant pages from Camerons regimental history re Sicily if they are of interest to you. What a photo of the cemetary!! Brilliant. __________________ 51 highland www.keep-em-moving.com Là á Bhlàir's math na Càirdean (Friends are good in the day of battle) Na diobair caraid's a charraid (Forsake not a friend in the fray) Cuimhnichibh na suinn nach maireann . Mairidh an cliu beo gu brath. (In memory of the Heroes who are no more. May their Fame live on forever)

11-12-2006, 12:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,314	Can you repost the photo? I'd love to see it again. Last edited by Owen; 11-12-2006 at 12:57 PM.

04-09-2004, 01:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
colinhotham Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North Wiltshire. UK. Posts: 60	It all started with a library book. Having just retired and looking for a project to keep me occupied, I was in my local library and having found nothing to interest me on the biography shelves turned to the WW2 section. there I found "Bitter Victory" by Carlo D'Este. From that point Sicily and Operation Husky have completely taken over my life. D'Este's book (to me one of the best WW2 histories ever written) covers in depth the reasons, planning and execution of Husky from the Casablanca Conference to the triumphal entry of the American Seventh and the British and Commonwealth Eighth Armies into Messina having ousted the Axis from the island in 38 days. Many personalites were involved during that short time. Audie Murphy, the most decorated US soldier fought there, Alec Guinness the British actor as a Royal Navy Lieutenant, commanded LCI (L) 124 (landing craft infantry) for the invasion on the 10th July 1943. General Patton's "slapping incident" as portrayed in the film Patton, was an amalgamation of visits to the 15th Evacuation Hospital and 93rd Evacuation Hospital when he struck two soldiers he believed to be malingering. Then there was General Montgomery and his "left hook" manoeuvre around Mount Etna. My two visits in 2003/04 have found an island much changed from that fought over by the Allies and Axis forces sixty years ago. Autostradas and a fairly modern transport system cover the island but much of the inland scenery remains as rugged and inhospitable as it was to the infantry and tanks in 1943. I managed to identify some battle sites with the help of the older local residents and visited the invasion beaches and towns like Caltanissetta and Enna which were the locations of the German and Italian headquarters. My most lasting memory will always be the visits to the war cemeteries at Catania, Syracuse and especially the Canadian War Cemetery at Agira.

06-09-2004, 12:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
colinhotham Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: North Wiltshire. UK. Posts: 60	The Canadian WW2 Cemetery at Agira, Sicily - May 2004. [attachmentid=239]In the foreground Lake Pozzillo with Mount Etna behind.

09-05-2006, 11:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
lancesergeant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 778	Cracking scenery, a fitting resting place

09-05-2006, 11:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Owen Top Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,314	Here's the link to the Cemetery on the CWGC site. http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_...2018000&mode=1 The photo on there isn't as good as Gerry Chester's. If you want to see the details of those buried there click here. http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_...2018000&mode=1

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