Good Evening, I wondered if anyone had any information on what took place on the 31.12.43 in Augusta, Sicily. I am aware over 10 Royal Marines were killed by an explosion but wondered if anyone had anymore information. My grandfather was one of the injured, the day was his 25th Anniversary in the Royal Marines - I know he lost comrades and lived with shrapnel from the explosion. He was very grateful to the people of Sicily and we are hoping to visit this summer, so trying to establish the full information before we go - he didn't like to talk about it. Any assistance would be appreciated Thank you E
hello and welcome apply for his service records Get a copy of military service records if you shared his name we have very experienced and helpful people on the site who could add more
From CWGC CANTMarinePLY/X 101759 FRANK 31 December 1943Age 27SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYVII. A. 5. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom DADSWELLMarineCH/X 101943 CHARLES FREDERICK 31 December 1943Age 30SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYVII. A. 7. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom DENNYCorporalPO/X 3922 LESLIE CONINGSBY 31 December 1943Age 24SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYVII. A. 11. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom DOUGLASCorporalCH/X 101945 ANDREW BERTRAM 31 December 1943SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYVII. A. 12. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom ENGLANDMarinePLY/X 105507 ALBERT ETHELBERT 31 December 1943Age 41SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYIII. E. 16. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom GREENMarineCH/X 101951 THOMAS GUY 31 December 1943SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYVII. A. 9. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom JOHNSONMarineCH/X 111689 WILLIAM 31 December 1943SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYVII. A. 4. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom MILBOURNEQuartermaster SergeantCH/X 314(T) RAYMOND PERCY 31 December 1943Age 36SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYIII. B. 15. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom MOSSMarinePLY/X 101763 HARRY 31 December 1943Age 28SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYVII. A. 6. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom OXBURYMarinePO/X 113192 HENRY GEORGE 31 December 1943Age 21SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYVII. A. 10. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom PERRYMarinePLY/X 105090 LESLIE JOHN 31 December 1943Age 28SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYIII. A. 14. VIEW RECORDRoyal MarinesUnited Kingdom BARTONMarineCH/X 105044 WILLIAM PATRIC HARRINGTON 31 December 1943Age 22SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILYVII. A. 14.
RM 2nd Coastal Artillery Regt, at Augusta CANT, Frank, Marine, PLY/X 101759, killed DADSWELL, Charles F, Marine, CH/X 101943, DOWS DENNY, Leslie C, Ty/Corporal, RM, PO/X 3922, killed DOUGLAS, Andrew B, Ty/Corporal, RM, CH/X 101945, DOWS ENGLAND, Albert E, Marine, PLY/X 105057, killed MILBOURNE, Raymond P, Ty/Quartermaster Sergeant, RM, CH/X 314, killed MOSS, Harry, Marine, PLY/X 101763, killed OXBURY, Henry G, Marine, PO/X 113192, killed PERRY, Leslie J, Marine, PLY/X 105090, killed Royal Navy casualties, killed and died, December 1943
Thank you , I have a copy of his service record from the National Archives, if I apply for his actual one from the MOD will it be different and have more information? I attach it now, although it says nothing about the 31.12.43 - I know he was in Sicily and I know he was involved - however all his letters home don't mention anything for security purposes and as many men he didn't like to talk about it afterwards - although I know he sent lots of oranges home! He was Sgt Major A F Jacobs E
It may well be worth applying via the link i posted you never no you might get more info perhaps a member might have the war diaries
Hi, The very bottom of the service document - under “Wounds & Hurts” - says he was wounded in enemy air raid 31.12.43? The service record looks like the usual one page navy document usually seen on the forum. Have a look on the service record sub forum in case members have posted additional records - my memory is that the one page is all Navy & RM provided. Steve
Thank you, so I need to find out about an air raid in Augusta on the 31.12.43 - which I presume would be a German one. Any ideas how I find out about that? E
Hi, From your response to my post, and your previous comment that the record said nothing about 31.12.43, I take it you hadn't previously noticed that relevant entry I’ve brought to your attention on his service record? Are you hoping to identify the aircraft responsIble for bombing your grandfathers unit? If so I think you would need to search the German archives to try and identify the German Airforce order of battle and the squadron detailed to bomb Augusta on that particular night. It might not even have been a squadron detailed to bomb Augusta and may just have been a target of opportunity. I think you have set yourself a very difficult task - most people would be happy to have discovered the information about the incident on the service record - but if you wish to continue your research you might get a better result if you posted on the Axis Forum - Axis History Forum - Index page Good Luck Steve
Are these the men buried in row A plot VII Syracusa War Cemetery? I have wondered about these after visits. There are also two RA Gunners from 209 battery 70 Light AA Regiment who died on same day. Might that have been then same incident? The AA orbat for January 1944 has that unit in Augusta. The 70 Light AA war diary might mention the incident. Do we know for certain that there was an air raid on Augusta that night? At the back of my mind is a story about an accidental explosion and the dangers posed by sea mines rigged as demolitions. Maybe I misread a story about a George Cross recipient.
Steve, no I am not interested in any information on the squadron, I just wanted confirmation that this was actually the case. I can't find any record of air raids at that time or whether it was at the port or whether they were on a ship. I suppose I just want confirmation that it was an air raid and whether it was land based or in the harbour and perhaps which ship. Sheldrake, yes they are the men buried in row A plot VII - the only reference we have to an air raid was the fact that it is on his service record as an air raid - I had always been told an explosion which could of course be either. His wounds were mainly to his legs. E
Hi I am new to this forum and this thread jumped out at me because of the date with regards to a bit of a family mystery. My great uncle was involved in this action and is buried in the same plot at Syracuse. However, he was initially buried by his comrades at the time who sent a photograph of the grave to his family, which is now in my possession. On it it clearly states killed by enemy action Dec 31st 1943, so far so good. However, the CWGC has his date of death listed as Jan 4th 1944 and this is on his stone at Syracuse. This has always puzzled me as I would have thought his comrades, being there with him would know when he died but the CWGC are usually pretty accurate. D
Hi one of the men I have been researching is listed above Royal Marine Frank Cant. The attached news article is from my local newspaper of the time. As you can see this states he was killed in an enemy air raid.
Thank you for posting this, along with the excellent newspaper cutting in regards to Royal Marine Frank Cant. I can share a family connection to this story. I had always had an awareness that my father also named Frank Cant born in 1952 had been named after his father’s (Colin Cant, born 1928) older brother Frank who had died in the war. I can only assume due to my Grandfather’s age at the time this happened he either didn’t get to learn many details surrounding this, or wasn’t able to talk freely about this so we’d never really known any facts as to where & when exactly Frank had fallen. My grandad Colin died in 1994 so I wouldn’t have expected to find out anything else My father has always been fiercely proud of his name, so much so that Frank is also my middle name. I was never too keen on using the name myself growing up in the 90’s where nobody my own age had the name, but reading about this now certainly adds some poignancy, some 79 years later. Tonight I was able to share this information with my father and he was very pleased to find this out then had remembered his fathers own connection with the Holt Arms. Many thanks again for the contributions made to share this Michael Frank Cant
Michael welcome to the forum thank you for your update. If you are interested you can apply for his service records Get a copy of military service records If they served in the Royal Navy (including Royal Marines) or the RAF you can either: apply online apply by post if you cannot use the online service MARINE FRANK CANT Service Number: PLY/X 101759 Regiment & Unit/Ship Royal Marines Date of Death Died 31 December 1943 Age 27 years old Buried or commemorated at SYRACUSE WAR CEMETERY, SICILY VII. A. 5. Italy Country of ServiceUnited Kingdom Additional InfoSon of Alfred and Eda Cant; husband of Brenda Cant, of Bacup, Lancashire. Personal InscriptionALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN Download certificate
It seems that there was indeed an air raid on Augusta on the evening of 31st December 1943. The war diary of the 2nd Coast Regiment, R.M. (ADM 202/260) contains the following entries: Augusta 31st December 1943 19:15:- H.Q.Coy billets received direct hit from H.E. (High Explosive) bomb, 10 killed and 16 injured. 1st January 1944:- Clearing kit, equipment and personal effects of H.Q.Coy personnel from demolished building. 2nd January 15:00:- Funeral at Military Cemetery, Syracuse, of eleven ranks killed by enemy action. 4th January:- L/Cpl E.A. King died of wounds in 33rd General Hospital, Syracuse; 10:30 Funeral at Military Cemetery, Syracuse, of Mne W.H.P. Barton 6th January 10:30:- Funeral at Military Cemetery, Syracuse, of L/Cpl E.A. King 7th January A.M.:- Cpl I.E.Collett died of wounds in 33rd General Hospital, Syracuse; 10:30:- Funeral at Military Cemetery, Syracuse, of Cpl I.E.Collett On 26th January 1944, the personnel of the 2nd Coast Regiment, R.M., boarded transport to return to the United Kingdom. I’m sorry, however I don’t have (yet ) the war diaries for the other units of M.N.B.D.O. II, including those for the 3rd and 4th R.M. A.A. Regiments. Steve
Hello, maybe I´m a little bit late, but I just found some informations about the 31.12.1943 in Augusta, when I was looking for informations about the fiancé of my aunt. He flew a Ju 88 A-4 in the 8. Staffel Lehrgeschwader 1 and died that night in Augusta. Verlustliste Lehrgeschwader 1 <br> 1943 I can not find the page with some more informations, but as I remember they lost 5 planes that night. Christian
