Dear Ron Ron Goldstein Apologies for asking a direct question of you here on the open forum but just wondered if you had any memory of a specific set of incidents (outlined below) when you were based in the Trieste area during March 1946. A) The context: 1) In the course of a recent discussion with a former London Irish Rifles' piper who served in Italy during 1944-46, he referred to the memory of the murder of a bass drummer from the LIR band and sent a photo of the funeral.....at an un-referenced location. 2) Independently, about 18 months ago, I was chatting to my Dad's youngest brother about his time with the Merchant Navy and he mentioned that during his first voyage out at the age of 16, he had arrived at Trieste in March 1946 and had heard that London Irishmen had been "rioting" in the town in reaction to the violent death of one of their comrades. Obviously my uncle knew that my father, one of his older brothers, had served with the LIR in Italy so, no doubt, had that fact in mind to stir his memory. 3) I have found just one CWGC entry for March 1946 for the LIR in Italy - with an entry "Died Between 24/03/1946 and 25/03/1946" - the Rifleman had been buried at Udine CWGC. B) The question: 4) Does any of the above references to events in Trieste during March 1946 ring any bells with you.? Many thanks in advance for any feedback comments, Ron. yours Richard ps I also take the liberty of downloading an excerpt of your posting on the BBC site below BBC - WW2 People's War - Trieste, October 1945 to January 1947 QUOTE: March 1946 Among the cultural treats available in Trieste was an old Roman Castle named Castello San Giusto. In the summer months they used to hold opera performances there, in the open, and I was lucky enough to see a performance of Carmen with an orchestra and cast of several hundred. The audience numbered 12,000 and the performance went on till the early hours of the morning. END QUOTE.
Richard I'm always glad to be reminded of my days in Trieste (I was there for over a year) but in this instance I regret that I have no knowledge whatsoever of the murder of which you write. There were, of course, many riots at the time in question and we (that is all the troops in the area) very much involved but I certainly never heard about a member of the LIR being murdered. Sorry for not being of any help. Best regards Ron
Ron, Very many thanks for that..it was a wild outside chance that you may recall something. When my uncle Barnie first mentioned the story, he didn't have a clue of the personal details of the man in question so I had a quick look at the CWGC for the period and noted that the one LIRman listed as being killed during March 1946 was a Rifleman Daniel O'Sullivan.. the exact name of another one of my Dad's/Barnie's brothers. A coincidence indeed. I attach two photos below - the notice (Plot I) might indeed suggest that the burial location was Udine as Rifleman O'Sullivan's final resting place is Plot I. A. 8. Casualty Quis Separabit. thanks again.
Richard, Did you notice that there is a March 1946 burial of a soldier from Ron’s unit on the same graves registration form as Rifleman O’Sullivan? Steve
Steve, I had a look at the report but not looked closely at the others:...spooky Trooper WARR, DAVID GWYNNE Service Number 10601547 Died 27/02/1946 Aged 24 "A" Sqn. 4th Queen's Own Hussars Royal Armoured Corps Son of Leonard and Margaret Hannah Warr, of Roath Park, Cardiff. Buried in Plot I. A. 6. Casualty best wishes
UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: Daniel Osullivan Given Initials: D Rank: Rifleman Death Date: Mar 1946 Number: 14665335 Birth Place: Hertfordshire Residence: Middlesex Branch at Enlistment: Infantry Theatre of War: Italy Regiment at Death: London Irish Rifles Branch at Death: Infantry TD
Richard I regret to say that in the case of Trooper Warr DG, this is recorded in my copy of the 4th Hussars War Records as him having 3 Gunshot wounds to the head whilst on Guard Duty Truly a tragic event. Ron
