OPERATION HUSKY JULY 1943 / JULY 2013

[colinhotham]

THE RETURN TO EUROPE 1943.

 

The 10^th of July 2013 is the 70^th anniversary of OPERATION HUSKY. This was the invasion of the island of Sicily which at the time was held by the Axis forces of Germany and Italy.

A decision had been made by the Allies that on the defeat of the Axis in North Africa, that Sicily would be used as a stepping stone to continue the advance into Europe.

 

I have visited Sicily on a number of occasions. Circumnavigated it by bus and train and travelled north to south many times, as I traced the routes of the British and Commonwealth 8^th Army, The US 7^th Army and the Canadian 1^st Division.

This operation was notable for the following:

 

The General Patton slapping incidents.

The Audie Murphy SNAFU comment.

The Combat Engineers and their “Bridge in the Sky”

Alec Guinness the actor (Later Sir Alec) in command of an LSI. (Landing ship infantry)

The battle for the Malati Bridge (3 Commando Army)

The reporting of Ernie Pyle, famous American war correspondent.

And many other outstanding stories.

 

As a tribute and commemoration, I have chosen to write a short biography of three of the soldiers who died during the 38 days of the operation. One British, one American and one Canadian.

 

Colin Hotham.

 

There is nothing we can do

for the ones beneath the

wooden crosses except to

pause and say, 'Thanks pal' (Ernie Pyle.)