Lesley I am the president of a club that takes care of recovering the memories of the period from July to August 1943. many citizens hand me their material. I have more pictures that I will post soon. we are preparing for a commemoration of that period. someone tells me that will be the veteran of the 78th but we have no definite information.
Vicenzo It is a pity that we were not in contact when I made a return visit to Sicily a few years ago. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/17197-return-to-sicily-after-66-years/ Ron
Vincenzo Your photo's 1 & 2 from the left look to be Canadians of the 1st Infantry division as they appear to be wearing the RED patch of that Division as they were in the area of Adrano and Agira - as their cemetery at Agira will testify Cheers
don't worry Ron I had the pleasure of being in contact with the liberators of my land who risked their young lives. Thank you. Dear Ron if you give me your address I would send you a film about the Allied landings in Sicily in July 1943.I was in London last August and I went to see the IWM. I was fascinated by the beauty of the capital. I visited Stonehenge. beautiful Taormina true Ron? Tom Canning my mother, who is 89 years old, has always said that Canadians have come to adrano then, you're right. inform all of you that July 10 will be inaugurated an exhibition of photographs by Phil Stern to celebrate the 70 years of the operation Husky.
Vincenzo The Canadian 1st Division did a remarkable job in Sicily as their baptism of fire.....Colin Hotham is an expert on the Sicilian campaign - and we shall be meeting here in Vancouver next month - then he will be involved in the celebrations in Sicily next year so you should try and meet with him.....Taormino is beautiful as you say - especially the sun rises Cheers
other images about a location of artillery in action against the Germans still at adrano. the second photo is the headquarters of the German hit. The third photo shows how it was before the bombing
I am glad that the important part played by the Canadian 1st Division during Operation Husky has been recognised here. Their fight up the centre of Sicily to Agira and Adrano was a hard and costly slog for them. The 490 graves in the Canadian Agira Military Cemetery bear testament to that and I've stood in front of every headstone there to pay my respects. Monty's 'left hook' and Patton's 'expedition in force' via Palermo, contibuted to the objective of reaching Messina. But please remember the Canadians! Colin.
The first picture posted (on P1) shows a crossing barrier raised on the right, probably a railway crossing, and the road is a significant one. If that is Etna at rear then this location should be relatively easy to find on Google Earth Streetview. I'll have a go sometime.
Like the photos Vincenzo, thanks for posting. My father also served with the 56th Reconnaissance Regiment, part of the British 78th Infantry Division, he was in Sicily and Adrano. If you are a local resident then you will no doubt have researched the pictures but for the benefit of the rest of us I think I have identified the locations of two of the photos. Image008 shows what appears to be a church spire in the top of the picture, I am sure this is the church of SS Salvatore. I have reproduced your photo along with some street views. Unfortunately modern buildings prevent a good view but the spire can be clearly seen and a little further up the street the smaller square tower almost in the centre of your photo. View attachment Adrano 008.pdf The location is Via San Antonio, Adrano and can be found by putting this reference in Google maps, 37.664544,14.835421 There are some details of the church at http://www.comune.adrano.ct-egov.it/la_citt%C3%A0/chiese/chiesa-ss-salvatore.aspx Vincenzo will be OK but the rest might have to put the translator on. Image006 was easier, as the square tower can be identified as the Norman Castle in Adrano, street view taken from Via Spampinato Aurelio 1, 37.662565,14.832873 View attachment Adrano 006.pdf Hope you agree Vincenzo. I really must get out more!
Tony56 you did a great job!. places are: via garibaldi, via sant'antonino, piazza umberto, the church of Santa Chiara.
more photos of the 78th Reconnaissance in the streets of adrano. I enclose also the photo of the same area as it is today (via san pietro)
dear friends of the forum. I'm looking for a copy of the book "soldier's guide to sicily" can anyone help me?
Dear Tony56 it's great!. a collector's item!. interesting to know how the Sicilians were considered. We knew of this guide but we did not know the contents. The Sicilians are a people very hospitable and grateful to those who gave us liberty at the risk of their own lives.
Another good source of WW2 information is the 'London Gazette', if you have a look at the following post there are links to two reports on Sicily, issues 38895 and 38205. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/43426-operation-torch-nov-1942/?p=563817
