8th Army in Sicily Pics

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Mullet94, Jul 30, 2009.

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  1. Noel Burgess

    Noel Burgess Senior Member

    Interesting pictures
    Any thoughts about left background of second picture - could it be an eagle hydrogen trailer for gas cylinders (barrage baloon unit?)
    Noel
     
  2. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    Wonderful pictures, my interest has now grown in the 8th Army after finding out my Great Uncle served with them.
     
  3. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Richard Harrison -
    Difficult to show photo's of 46th Division fighting in Sicily - as they didn't - they were a floating reserve off shore for a few days until pulled back to North Africa to prepare to join X Corps in US 5th Army for the Salerno invasion of September 9th '43

    King Arthur -
    Surely your interest in 8th Army is a bit late inasmuch as they started fighting in the June of 1940 - some three years before they invaded Sicily - then some of them e.g 50th Div - 51st Div - 7th Armoured - VIII Tank Brigade - went home to land and fight on D Day and long afterwards - 50th were disbanded before the finish - as Monty said - "they have suffered enough " -the rest made it all the way to Berlin - while the main 8th Army - augmented by the 1st Army from North Africa slogged it all the way to the Alps.

    It's a tale worth spending time to learn - start with Barrie Pitt's "Crucible of War " all that before Sicily !
    Cheers
     
  4. kingarthur

    kingarthur Well-Known Member

    Tom it was only today that I found out the my Great Uncle served with the 8th.My interest in Sicily stems from my grandad serving there with 2para.My reason for commenting on this particular thread was purely down to the quality photographs.

    In time I will take my interest in the 8th further,but for now I will continue to concentrate on writing my book and 2Para.

    Regards

    Dave

    Thank you for the book recomendation none the less
     
  5. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Noel - can't recall ever seeing a barrage balloon in Sicily - or Italy for that matter - it does look like the three tonner is pulling a bunch of gas bottles though - might be a REME unit moving in to set up workshops -Catania became a base for a while -and the REME they did a lot of welding etc..
    Cheers
     
  6. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Dave - I can well understand your interest in 2nd paras as I did bump into them here and there mainly around Rome - before they took off for the abortive South of France thingi -they have a very proud history and will be worth reading your book...
    Cheers
     
  7. Richard Harrison

    Richard Harrison Senior Member

    Tom i was speaking hypothetically as the pictures are awesome quality...... besides my grandfather was with the 8th during Op Husky (RSF)...he took ill in August and was flown back to Bizzerta then due to time lapse or what ever reason, he was re assigned to 2/4 KOYLI was with the 46th this was two days prior to landing at Salerno. My carrier will be done as per Op Husky and my grandads time with RSF.

    once again though guys, fantastic pictures !

    Rich
     

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