56 Recce Randazzo, Sicily

Discussion in 'Recce' started by Tony56, Jan 27, 2018.

  1. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    I am sure that most 56 Recce followers will have seen the photo titled “A scout car of the 56th Recce Regiment near the town of Randazzo, Sicily, August 1943.” on the National Army Museum site:
    https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1999-03-88-43

    The incident is recorded in the war diaries in this B Sqn report:
    http://ww2talk.com/index.php?media/resized-p1990948.7083/
    P1990948.JPG
    “On 14th Aug the Sqn came under Cmd 11th Bde and 11 Tp pushed forward to area 8016 where once again they were held up by a crater. Carrier Crews were called up to make a deviation round and engineers collected to clear mines. Owing to the metallic nature of the rock mine detectors were unable to locate mines in the diversion made by the Carrier Crews. Fortunately those mines were discovered before the first vehicles of the Sqn had crossed.
    Mines, both “S” [? Schu mine] and teller, were picked up in large quantities all the way to Randazzo which was reached about 1200 hrs.”


    I have come across this movie (37 seconds in) capturing the same incident with some action shots of an LRC and carrier negotiating the diversion, also a good close up of two crew members.
    http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1e95e68309ea4eabb10b4fdfbc6a6e57

    The location can be seen here on Google maps 37.844963, 14.911716
    430813 Randazzo (3).jpg
     
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  2. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    Thank you for posting Tony. I like very much:D

    Lesley
     
  3. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Tony,

    Nice...I stood almost on this exact spot (MR 800160) in October with the twin sons of Fusilier Edward Graham when we were retracing where their father and his comrades were killed on the morning of 13th August 1943.

    RIrF war diary excerpt for morning of 13th August 1943:
    "0130 Remainder of Bttn, with A Coy leading, followed by Bttn HQ. C Coy moved off down the road. When about 3 miles from the final objective (810190, the leading platoons of B Coy under Lieut Bolton ran into an ambush, three were killed and four seriously wounded by about 4 MG 34s. The reason why this platoon had got so far ahead was because the main body of the coy had encountered a number of S mines. Major HGC Garratt was wounded. They became so numerous that the CO decided to leave the road. The remaining three miles were over most difficult country. Vineyards with every now and then very high stone walls and terraces. The last mile was over a very open patch of lava, which in the darkness was very difficult to negotiate. It was impossible for mules even to follow up and they were left to follow up in daylight. The rear link also had to be left behind for the last mile. Two miserable PoWs were taken during the advance. At dawn, the Bttn got back on the road and continued to advance somewhat faster. A detour had to be made at one point to avoid running into some shell fire put down by Americans...."

    I shall pass on the link...

    thanks
     
    4jonboy, Recce_Mitch and Tony56 like this.

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