The Murder of Corporal Edward Symons, 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion.

[His Comrades Will Never Forget] [poem, 1943]
6 May 2013 by · Leave a Comment
[Editor: This poem was written in memory of Corporal E. W. Symons (known as “Sox”), of the 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion, who was killed by a guard in an Italian prisoner of war camp, 20 May 1943. The authorship is unknown.]


[His Comrades Will Never Forget]
Never a day that went past but we’d welcome
That smile on his cheerful face
As a breeze that freshens the desert
To this dreary and desolate place

And we’d welcome each mirth-treasured moment
For they helped us suffer our knocks
And most of us knew not his surname
He will live in our memory as Sox

When we’re back once again in our homeland
When we’re through with our struggle and strife
And receiving the welcoming embraces
Of a mother, a sweetheart, a wife

We will try and forget all past troubles
Of the desert, and Syria and the Pen
As we plan what we’d do as civilians
When we’re back in our civvies again

But amid all the cheering and tumult
As we march through the flag-strewn street
With the band blaring out a glad welcome
We will not be returning complete

For out in a far western cottage
Is a mother whose tears will burn
As she waits by the fireside
For her son who will never return

In the ranks there will be a place vacant
As a sign of respect and regret
And a memory will follow thro’ their lifetime
For his comrades will never forget.




Published in:
S. Trigellis-Smith, Britain to Borneo: A History of 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion, Sydney: 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion Association, 1993, pages 153-154

Filed Under: poetry · Tagged: @ SourceTBA, Australian Army 2/32 Infantry Battalion, poem, prisoners of war, war poetry and military poetry, year1943

 

hi,
did you or any othermember do any research on this? Sorry, if I overlooked an earlier post.

Stefan.

 

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&...alion.24636/&usg=AOvVaw0IBXqo2JIG3KSGd1In70Sg

 

Thanks. but, I could not identify what Edward's crime was. However, I fear in these days the murderer did not need much of a reason.

RIP Edward

Stefan.

 

unfortunately there was no crime committed by Edward,only by the guard who shot him...

 

Thanks Toni Maxwell,

Very sad.
In my home town, a young english officer was caught while trying to escape in 1941 . He gave up immidiately., but was still shot by a guard.

Stefan.

 

https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/54cc17/pdf/
THIS link should give you all the information on the story.

 

Thanks Toni,
i am also doing research of non-war crime events in my hometown in 1941, I really appreciate this high quality document
Kindly send me a PM, I might neeed your support.
Stefan.

 

I can’t believe I’ve just found this thread.
I’ve just been writing about this 'incident' (not trivialising what happened) in my book. This tragedy happened when my Father was at 57.
Regards Chris

 

Hi Barbara,
There is apparently a bit more to it than that. It seems it’s not on the internet But I found it in amongst Dad's things he was at Campo 57 two years. I only weaved this story into the book I am writing a few days ago, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this thread.
Cheers Chris

 

Here's an extract from my forthcoming book:


PG 57 Grupignano was the scene of one of the few killings which took place inside a camp when the motive for shooting was other than to prevent an escape: Corporal Edward William Symons, Australian Imperial Force, died of firearms wounds on 20 May 1943. Here is the case for the prosecution:

On that date there was a cricket match between two teams of prisoners at which a large crowd of spectators was present and at which there was much barracking. After the game was over, four or five men remained playing at the wicket, and a number of spectators remained also.

Symons had been drinking and had a bottle of beer in his hand and was loudly barracking the players...(illegible) the accused, Marianello Sodini, and another carabiniere, Russo, who approached him across the field. The accused motioned Symons to go to his hut. Symons refused and became threatening. In the ensuing confusion Sodini shot him.

Corporal Symons died of wounds in the camp infirmary and is buried in Udine War Cemetery. Tried by a military court at Afragola between 4-9 March 1946, Sodini was found guilty and was sentenced to death by shooting, but there was a plea for mercy because it was considered that he was not guilty of premeditation but had acted on impulse. The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment.


The National Archives (TNA): TS 26/732, Udine/Grup(p)ignano: murder of Corporal E. Simons.

Vitellino