Op Husky: Centuripe

Discussion in 'General' started by dazzler1976, Sep 15, 2009.

  1. dazzler1976

    dazzler1976 Junior Member

    Hello all,

    New to this forum, first post.

    I am heading to Sicily on Saturday to tour some of the battlefield sites from Operation Husky. I have to deliver a talk on the taking of Centuripe. Can anyone help with any images or information on that battle. Any maps, images or accounts of the battle would be greatly appreciated.

    Derek
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Ken Ford's book, Battleaxe Division has a whole chapter on it.
    The Div history has a few pages & a map , I can scan tomorrow morning if that helps .
    a few images on IWM website.


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    Universal carriers of the 6th Inniskillings, 38th Irish Brigade, 78th Division in Centuripe, August 1943

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    Men of the 6th Inniskillings, 38th Irish Brigade, searching houses during mopping up operations in Centuripe, August 1943.

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    The Drive for Messina 10 July - 17 August 1943: A German Mk III tank knocked out during the fierce street fighting in Centuripe.
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    Men of the 6th Inniskillings, 78th Division, await orders to move into to Centuripe, 2 August 1943. The umbrella was used to shade the wounded.
     
  3. colinhotham

    colinhotham Senior Member

    Carlo D'Este's book Bitter Victory is the best book written on Operation Husky.
    Colin.
     
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    [​IMG]

    from Algiers to Austria by Cyril Ray
     
  5. dazzler1976

    dazzler1976 Junior Member

    Thanks very much guys much appreciated.

    Does it say in any of the books mentioned how the 38th actually fought the battle? Were there any special tricks, or weapons that they used?

    Cheers aagain for replying and posting

    Derek
     
  6. dazzler1976

    dazzler1976 Junior Member

    Does it say in those books who the commanding officers of the three Irish regiments were? Are there any photos of Maj.Gen Evelegh?

    Derek
     
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    I'll have a look,
    edit 6 Inniskillings CO Lt-Col Grazebrook DSO, 1 Royal Irish Fusiliers CO was Lt-Col Butler DSO , 2 London Irish Rifles CO was Lt-Col Rogers.


    have you seen this book?

    I've not got it yet but a few members on here have.

    Doherty, Richard (1994) Clear The Way! History of the 38th (Irish) Brigade, 1941-47. Dublin: Irish Academic Press

    edit: pic of Eveleigh & Wedderburn-Maxwell in Tunisia

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  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    bit of basic ino on pages 67 & 66.
    General Evelegh considered that although 36 Bde had failed to capture the town it had dented the defence by it's steady pressure and that it had taken the points necessary for a final thrust. It was clear afterwards that the Germans had not expected the attack to take place when it did, and did not believe that it could get so far.
    The whole of the Division's artillery therefore slapped down a concentration on to Centuripe; the Royal Irish Fusiliers moved up near the hairpin road towards the cemetery, through the East Surreys ; the london Irish attacked from the wet; and the the Innsikillings over the highest and roughest approach of all towards the town itself. Their CO , Lt-Col Grazebrook won an immediate DSO as did Lt-Col Butler of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
    By dusk on the 2nd August the Inniskillings had a foothold in the southern edge of Centuripe , afetr being closely engaged all day , and by first light on August 3rd the Royal Irish Fusiliers after four hours of bloody fighting in the narrow , twisying cobbled streets , were through the town and pushing out patrls towards the north.
     
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Lieutenant Colonel BEAUCHAMP HENRY BUTLER D S O, 17713, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Cdg. 1st Bn., Royal Irish Fusiliers who died age 41 on 27 October 1943
    Son of Charles R. and Ethel E. J. Butler; husband of Vera May Butler, of Clogher, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
    Remembered with honour SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY
    Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. D. 29.


    See post no. 2 here for DSO

    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/unit-documents/19476-royal-inniskilling-fusiliers.html
     
  10. colinhotham

    colinhotham Senior Member

    Photo of Maj Gen Evelegh meeting Col "Paddy" Flint CO of the US 39th Inf Regt outside Randazzo. Between pages 447 & 449 in Bitter Victory. See also Sitmap pages 420 & 421.

    Also the book The D-Day Dodgers by Daniel G. Dancocks. Pages 90 to 94. The Canadians took Regalbuto while the British took Centuripe.

    Colin.
     
  11. dazzler1976

    dazzler1976 Junior Member

    Superb stuff!!!!!!!!! Thank you all so much.

    I spoke to a so called expert about Centerupie and I commented that Grazerbrook and Butler had recieved DSO's, he looked at me as if I was stupid.

    I couldnt remember were I read it, cant wait to mention this.

    Thanks again.

    Derek
     
  12. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Hi Derek and welcome to the forum.

    Have a good trip and bring back lots of PICTURES !

    Regards
    Andy
     
  13. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Superb stuff!!!!!!!!! Thank you all so much.

    I spoke to a so called expert about Centerupie and I commented that Grazerbrook and Butler had recieved DSO's, he looked at me as if I was stupid.

    I couldnt remember were I read it, cant wait to mention this.

    Thanks again.

    Derek

    Go one better, copies of citations available online here, at a cost of £3.50 each:

    The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
    Name Grazebrook, Tom Neville
    Rank: Major,Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
    Service No: 30680
    Regiment: The Gloucestershire Regiment attached 6 Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
    Theatre of Combat or Operation: Sicily
    Award: Distinguished Service Order
    Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 18 November 1943
    Date 1943-1944
    Catalogue reference WO 373/3

    The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
    Name Butler, Beauchamp Henry
    Rank: Major,Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
    Service No: P.17713
    Regiment: The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers attached 1 Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers
    Theatre of Combat or Operation: Sicily
    Award: Distinguished Service Order
    Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 18 November 1943
    Date 1943-1944
    Catalogue reference WO 373/3

    The thread I provided a link to has Butler's citation, but it is a transcription from a publication about Volunteers from Eire and may not be the full text.

    Regards,
    Diane
     
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    From Battleaxe Division by Ken Ford.

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