Sicily Jul/Aug 1943

Discussion in 'Italy' started by bexley84, Jul 27, 2014.

  1. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    The capture of Centuripe and the cutting of the lateral road to Catania south of Adrano meant that German defensive forces were forced to retreat northwards of Catania (photo below from Misterbianco).

    On 6th August 1943, 78th Division moved across the Simeto river into the outskirts of Adrano, 56 Recce taking the lead but were met by mines and machine gun fire from German infantry. and so a heavy concentration of artillery and bombs was put down on the town that night and 1st East Surrey Regiment were able to enter "unopposed" on the morning of 7th August...(C Ray).

    (As mentioned above to Ron, staying in Adarano recently was a world away from his experiences in early August 1943).

    Meanwhile, the Irish Brigade took some much needed rest near the Simeto:

    The Skins' then IO, Lieut Percy Hamilton remembered:
    "I went bathing with the CO (Neville Grazebrook) one day there. We went up to the river in a jeep and bathed near the ruins of the bridge. The water was very cold but that was refreshing, we lay in the strong stream where it flowed over the ruins and held on to the temporary footbridge. We bathed naked as we didn’t have any bathing clothes and civvies didn’t worry us at all. It was an opportunity for a bath so we brought our soap along.."
     

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  2. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Just continuing on the trail of my father in Sicily during August 1943.

    A couple of photos here of Etna and at Nelson's Castle, to the west of Bronte, where the Germans had set up an HQ:

    Nelson Russell noted that

    "The 11th and 36th Brigades carried on the battle from August 6th to August 11th and pushed the enemy well north of Bronte, but it was now the turn of the Irish Brigade, well rested by their river, to take over the running. Plans were made for the capture of Maletto, the last town on the way to Randazzo, where it was hoped to join up with the American 1st Division.

    11th August was spent in junior recces; moving battalions up from the Simeto to a forward lying area immediately south of Bronte; and changing over from MT to Pack Transport.

    A daylight patrol on the 11th did yield some information, but most of it relayed to ground that was impassable, rather than approaches, which were possible. However, this was of value...The 36th Brigade gave real help by offering to capture Maccarone (7613) as soon as it was dark, and cover our forward assembly areas on both sides of the (bogus) lake. They guaranteed that this would be completed by midnight.

    My father also recalled the difficulties of the terrain in that area:

    "We were once more operating in mountainous conditions, on the slopes of Mount Etna. It was back to mule transport as we advanced across the lava fields of the very active volcano. The new rock was in parts still hot and plastic but in most places it had cooled and hardened into sharp pumice. This cut up our boots and played havoc with the mules’ legs.

    We were to make a dawn attack on Sperina and the approach to the forming-up point required a compass march in the dark across the lava fields. To add to our difficulties, the terrain was criss-crossed by stone walls.”
     

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  3. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    On the night of 11th/12th August 1943, the Irish Brigade attacked Capella, Sperina and Maletto on the road from Bronte to Randazzo.

    Nelson Russell wrote:

    "The Royal Irish Fusiliers carried out their tasks like a well oiled machine (which they are), capturing Capella and Pt Maletto in the darkness and clearing the village at an appropriate time in daylight.

    The LIR had a very difficult approach march – they got behind time; and only 1 ½ companies managed to get on to the left half of Sperina in the darkness. The remainder of the battalion was eventually collected and a further attack on the right hand of Sperina was launched at 1045hrs.

    It was soon evident that the chief trouble would come from the enemy, who were pretty strongly situated between the spurs and La Nave and the Inniskillings were dispatched on a long journey to clear up La Nave. It was known that it would take several hours before they could influence the battle.

    The LIR attack was only partially successful, with footings gained on the right lower slopes of Sperina, but under fire from the spur and La Nave.

    A good many Uncle Targets on these two areas eased matters and by 1700hrs, the LIR were at last established on their objective – the whole Sperina feature – the RIrF on their objectives and the Inniskillings within a reasonable distance of La Nave."

    My father's viewed it from a London Irish Rifles' perspective:

    "Compass-marching is difficult in daytime. At night, there could be only one result. Some units got lost. The attack went in with the few platoons which had arrived on time at the forming-up point. Heroically, they took their objective. When dawn broke, the rest were still floundering in the lava beds. A message came from the commanding officer.

    The battalion had run out of ammunition and we were to take up supplies immediately. We knew it was nonsense and we grumpily loaded up two mules with ammunition. I strapped two boxes each side of my first mule which immediately rolled over and died. Sicilian mules were not as robust as African ones.

    We set off in the hot sun, clambering over walls and avoiding the steaming fissures of Europe’s largest volcano. Finally we passed through a small wood which was the forming-up point. In front of us was a valley in which a tank battle was progressing. Also in front of us was a mound of ammunition. RSM Girvin knew his job. It was not the shortage of bullets that was the problem but the shortage of men to fire them in the precariously-held position. The missing platoons joined their fellows during the day while we took back our burdens and reloaded our carriers. A valuable mule was dead and most of the others unfit for work after a pointless and dangerous journey. The exhausted colour sergeants rejoined their companies that evening."
     
  4. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Richard

    Glad to see a reference to "Exhaustion" in your postings as this is one area where no one seems to bother about - BUT - after a day long battle - the

    maintenance and repair - re stocking of a Tank - late late dinners - one hour guard duty and finally 3/4 hours sleep- and to do it all over again the

    next and subsequent days - didn't take long to reach the exhausted point - even for 19 y.o.super fit youths…

    Cheers
     
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  5. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Tom,

    Yes exhaustion might have been an ever present..I suppose in the circumstances , a 3/4 hour night of sleep was a good long one.. long afterwards, I always wondered how my Dad was able to sustain himself with such small amounts..

    best
     
  6. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    During the night of 12th/13th August, the Irish Brigade continued its advance towards Randazzo, and that night was their last fight during the campaign.

    Nelson Russell described what happened:

    "At 1700hrs on 12th August, we took stock. The Divisional Commander, at the Brigade CP, decided that the enemy’s position was now untenable, that such Germans, as remained in the Spur and La Nave areas must be chased off and pursued.

    The main thrust was that of the RIrF with an axis of advance on the main Maletto to Randazzo road. It had the full Divisional Artillery at its disposal.

    The task given to the Royal Irish Fusiliers was a hard test, which could only have been entrusted to a few battalions. This battalion was now required to
    - Disengage from a position at 2100hrs.
    - Form up in the dark one mile distant.
    - Attack an enemy position
    - Pursue a retreating enemy for 5-6 miles.

    The RIrF attacked at 2230hrs and reached the road junction at 0830hrs on the 13th. They would have reached it sooner but for a necessary detour to avoid American shelling. Contact was soon made with the American 1st Division, who arrived at the road junction about 0930hrs.

    Enemy resistance was limited to a few ambushes, but the line of advance was thick with S and Teller mines, which made the going difficult; they were unpleasant companions on a dark night, and took their steady toll from a battalion determined to complete its task.

    This was a great performance by the RIrF, and could only have been carried out by a fine, fit, well officered battalion led by an able and determined commanding officer."

    My father remembered:

    "The brigade had made excellent progress, but we were cut out by other units, who occupied the town of Randazzo. Unfortunately, others were unaware of this movement and spent that day bombing the town. It was also reported that the poor Canadians sustained heavy casualties in the near vicinity. The planes came from North Africa and communications had broken down.

    We bivouacked in a pleasant little valley where the next day we buried our many dead in a multi-denominational service. Among them was Sergeant Leo McRory whose platoon had arrived on time at the start line at Maletto due to his efforts.

    That evening, I obtained a supply of NAAFI beer and augmented it with a hot rum toddy. We held a campfire at which Corporal Howarth presided. Colonel Rogers, then commanding officer of the battalion, attended and was asked to sing. When the men were happily maudlin, officers and NCOs put them to bed. Maletto was the battalion’s last battle in Sicily."

    Some photos here are of Randazzo.
     

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  7. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    Thought this might be of interest.
     

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  8. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Excellent newspaper clip - that photo from Misterbianco is there and I note the advice to guard against Malaria...but to no avail as my Dad and thousands of others found out:....

    "The next morning, I was unable to get out of the stretcher I used for a bed. I dressed and was taken to Doc Samuels who diagnosed malaria. I was put into an ambulance and finally arrived at a general hospital in Augusta. Here I remained for a few days, but when I heard I might be evacuated to Tripoli, I discharged myself. I swallowed a handful of tablets and made my way back to the regiment, but I still managed to get to Mass in the cathedral at Augusta on the Sunday."
     
  9. amberdog45

    amberdog45 Senior Member

    Caught up with your thread again. Just brilliant Richard. Love how your Dad took flight with his handful of pills to avoid being sent to Tripoli. Regards - Maria
     
  10. HAARA

    HAARA Well-Known Member

    The other disease that seemed to affect the Sicily campaign was jaundice, with a number of soldiers being sent back to Algiers hospital, those less badly affected being held in tented camps, with, apparently, little attendance by medical staff. Some spent considerable amounts of time in trying to get back to their units due to the administrative processes involved.
     
  11. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Yes illness was prevalent.. in many fields. My father almost succumbed after some misplaced optimism over his swimming abilities...

    After the fighting in Sicily had completely finished on the morning of 17th August 1943, he had a few weeks of relative relaxation...

    "I caught a train to Patti on Sicily’s north coast where the London Irish were stationed. The battalion was very short of men due to malaria and dysentery. The Simeto had particularly nasty mosquitoes and flies.,, George Charnick, who never took his mepachrine, had been immune, but many others had succumbed. I heard sad news. Corporal James Murtagh, my friend and assistant from my stint in the sergeants’ mess, had died of gangrene after sustaining a shrapnel wound earlier. He was a brave man who had been awarded the MM. Eddie Mayo rejoined us. He had been wounded three separate times. But because he had only been hospitalised twice, he was returned to his unit after being patched up.

    Patti looked out over the blue Tyrrhenian Sea...The men trained and rested while I continued in my never-ending task of feeding, clothing, quartering and equipping my company. This necessitated making a journey to Palermo, a beautiful city.

    We were to spend the remainder of August and most of September in this comparative paradise. I managed to bathe in the sea most days. A little way out, seemingly, was an attractive little island which always drew my eyes. One evening, I foolishly decided to swim to it. I entered the sea and made towards it with steady strokes, but the island appeared to get farther away. Tiring, I sensibly turned back and used an economical side-stroke to get to shore. I had not reckoned with the current and my evening swim became a struggle to remain afloat. As the shore finally came nearer, I repeatedly tried to find the shingle bottom with my toes but to no avail. Being the shore of a volcano, the beach was steep. Finally I found a toe hold and desperately threw myself above the water line. Here I lay panting for a quarter of an hour. It was a very narrow escape. This was confirmed the next day when two men were drowned trying to make the same short swim. The island was in fact more than two miles distant. The current was treacherous.“

    Here, a couple of recent photos from Monreale and Cefalu - by the way, what did the Normans ever do for us ?
     

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  12. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Book ending my father's journey through Sicily.

    Brigadier Russell reviewed the Sicilian campaign as the fighting came to an end on 17th August 1943....of course, despite the optimism at the time, it took another 22 months before my Dad got to see his own Mum and Dad.

    He was, no doubt, one of the lucky ones. ​

    Quis Separabit,​
    Faugh a Ballagh.​
    Nec Aspera Terrent.​

    "Centuripe was the Skins battle. The Faughs had some heavy fighting on the east side of the town, principally in the cemetery area and the London Irish made a dangerous flank secure; but the Skins were closely engaged all day and all night and Neville Grazebrook handled his battalion with great determination and skill. Amongst those who distinguished themselves were Hobo Crocker and McClinton, the latter a first rate subaltern, who is continually distinguishing himself in action. The capture of Centuripe had repercussions on both flanks, as it forced the Bosche to readjust his whole line. It was evident that he did not anticipate its capture at such an early date.

    This action cost us some casualties, and the Faughs lost Billy Hanna, one of their best company commanders, in the cemetery area.

    The forcing of the two river crossings, the Salso and Simeto, followed immediately.

    The Faughs had the harder fighting in both crossings, and required the assistance of a company of Skins at the latter, but the London Irish went in with great dash and performed their part extremely well.

    Those two crossings cost us some very good chaps. Charles O’Farrell was an irreplaceable loss, probably the greatest loss incurred by the Faughs since the beginning of the war. He was such a good chap and such a good soldier.

    The Skins lost four Company Commanders. Peter Savage, Little, McPhillips and Duddington, the former killed, the others wounded. The London Irish lost two officers, Howells, who had been with the battalion some time and Allen, a first class boy, killed at short range when leading his platoon in the most gallant fashion.

    Joseph Fitzgerald of the London Irish distinguished himself greatly during those crossings.

    The Brigade got a few days rest after this second crossing. It was very welcome, as we’d covered a lot of hilly country and fought very hard for six days. I had one of life’s outstanding baths in the River Simeto with my behind on a fairly smooth stone and the cool mountain water rushing over a very sweaty, dusty body. I lay there for at least an hour, and afterwards cut all nails with a pansy manicure set borrowed from a tough looking Canadian private, the least likely looking man in the whole fore to carry such tools.

    A few days later we were 'at it again', at the Maletto battle and the subsequent advance onto Randazzo.

    This was undoubtedly the Faughs’ battle. They maintained the finest tradition of their fine Regiment and Beauchamp Butler must have felt a proud man. I will remember this battle by reason of its unpleasant lava setting on the slopes of Mt Etna; the difficult and well shelled and only point for recce, where unpleasant moments were spent by most sightseers; and the great abundance of S and Teller mines in the area. It was a fine achievement, well done and now over, but I doubt if anyone wants to do it again.

    This operation cost us a number of good chaps, chiefly from the Faughs. Henry Garratt, a first class chap, received fatal wounds, as did Bolton and they had a good many officers wounded. The London Irish lost Joseph Fitzgerald, a great character and a fearless leader. He was, by trade, a west of Ireland barrister, about 36 years old, and thus a volunteer in the very highest class.

    The final advance of the Royal Irish Fusiliers to Randazzo finally finished the fighting for the Irish Brigade in Sicily.

    Quite a proportion of us have now completed two campaigns, an unusual experience for any British soldier.

    The form of the brigade, after the last campaign, is terrific. They are all fairly throwing a chest, and are all convinced that they practically won the Sicilian campaign off their own bat. They certainly played a creditable and notable part, and have every right to be proud of themselves.

    But they can’t be half as proud of themselves as their Commander is of them."
     

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  13. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Richard

    The biggest problem in war is to find your best friends dead - nothing can replace the sadness of that sort of event - a good friend of mine died in agony after

    two hours of stepping on a shu mine - and owing to the nature of that weapon - nothing can be done - and for those who are not aware of this weapon - it is

    that after stepping on the unseen wires - it jumps to waist high in between steps - and explodes - throwing hundreds of white hot ball bearings etc into the

    lower stomach area and all the organs in that region of the body - all that can be done is massive morphine which hardly does the task and death is inevitable

    Cheers
    I know of no survivors to that mine- the current IED is not quite as efficient...
     
  14. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Tom,

    thank you.

    best wishes
     
  15. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    My father left Augusta hospital on 25th August and spent the next fours weeks on the beach near Patti.

    Along with Tom, Ron and tens of thousands others, it was then Taranto and all points north until they crossed into Austria in early May 1945.

    I've added a few more stories from my recent Sicily trip to the Irish Brigade web site here:

    http://www.irishbrigade.co.uk/pages/news--articles/sicily-july-2014.php

    best
     
  16. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Richard,

    My holiday reading included 'The Battle for Sicily - Steeping Stone to Victory' (Ian Blackwell).

    At Chapter Eleven:

    Best,

    Steve.
     
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  17. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Steve,

    thanks. yes a good read.

    I got a note today from the step daughter of the one of the London Irishmen who was killed in Sicily - the usual feeling.

    ROS
     
  18. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Richard,

    I thought it was a good read... Hopefully the London Irish soldier's step daughter took at least some comfort from your thread, which recalls the sacrifice made by these men.

    Regarding the 'wonky' artillery barrage discussed at Messages # 7 to 9, Ian Blackwell states that the entire Divisional Artillery was on call for the attack, numbering 72 X 25-pounders.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  19. tron333

    tron333 Member

    Is this the "hospital from Gerbini ? I found it 1/4 mile North from the airfield bunker complex
     

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  20. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Tron,

    thanks,



    But not quite sure what you're exactly referring to here - was it Tom's reference to his comfortable sleeping arrangements?

    "...my main memory of Sicily is laying in a clean - white sheeted , warm bed in the 33rd Gen Hospital in Catania for two months after.."

    best
     

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