Searching For Info John Dolton - Royal Army Ordnance Corps

You may help me on my quest. I am
researching my wife's grandfather death and location he was buried. He was
killed in the 2nd world war in the Sicily campaign near Catenanuova. He was
killed on the 30th of July 1943 on the way to Catenanuova.

His name is John Dolton, a Sergeant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps,
attached to the 5th battalion Northamptonshire Regiment.

"

On the July 29, the small highway and railroad junction town of Catenanuova was the major objective for Canadians operations in the Dittaino Valley.

The Canadians came under 78th division Command on July 29th and was given the task of capturing Catennuova for the British to use as their starting point. Hardgate’s timetable called for 1st Canadian division to begin its drive towards Regalbuto on the night of 30-31 with the 78th division would be holding position and entering operations on the night of August 1-2.

At 2336 hours on the July the 29th the gunners of the 78th Division fired a heavy artillery barrage in support of CIB’s attack.

1st Canadian Infantry Division attacked Catennuova supported by the bren carriers and anti-tank platoon of the 5th Northamptons. The 5th battalion took up the high ground to the west of Catennuova.

It fell this day in a well-coordinated attack by the Carleton & York and West Nova Scotia Highlander regiments that entirely broke the morale of the German defenders and sent them running. German high command was so incensed they broke up the German unit and its troops through the ranks of other units. But the damage was done. A British Eighth Army division could now use the town as its start point for an advance toward Adrano along the highway running through Centuripe.

On the 30th July 1943 the attack progressed, while 78th division were holding position west of Catennuova. In the afternoon the battalion echelon were sheltering from the heat of the sun under their trucks in a cornfield at this point they were attacked by enemy aircraft and secured direct hits on the Orderly room truck and ammunition truck the QM Lt Beardsall and RQMS Steadman were killed with six other ranks. Jack was one of these.

The RSM Maloney and 2 other ranks were wounded.
It is thought the 8 killed were buried in a mass grave nearby as there would have been little to find or to distinguish the men’s identity.
Books that my help you are:

The 5th Battalion in Noth Africa and Sicily printed by G.O.J. Harris, The Press On The Lake , Sandwich, Kent.

Together we stand, by James Holland, printed by Harper Collins
Kasserine, by Charles Whiting, Jove war book, ISBN 0515106186
Any one with info on the 30th July 1943 at Catennuova, I would love to hear from you.

Nick Duncan

 

Hi. No need to post the same post five times, once will do. I've set your own thread up in your quest.

 

Welcome, looks like this is him but on the CWGC entry parent regiment is REME. In Memory of
Serjeant JOHN DOLTON

7642843, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
attd. 5th Bn. , Northamptonshire Regiment
who died age 37
on 30 July 1943
Son of Herbert Henry and Alice Dolton; husband of Florence Emily Dolton, of Little Torrington, Devon.
Remembered with honour
CASSINO MEMORIAL
CWGC :: Casualty Details

 

1941 B D Squad Armourers Jack 3rd from left at the back

 

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

The information I have found, backs up that provided by wtid45 above, it is from UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 on Ancestry:

Name:John Dolton
Given Initials:J
Rank:Serjeant
Death Date:30 Jul 1943
Number:7642843
Birth Place: Devonshire
Residence:Somerset
Branch at Enlistment:Other Corps
Theatre of War:Sicily
Regiment at Death:Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Branch at Death:Other Corps

Have you applied for his records yet? Ministry of Defence | About Defence | What we do | Personnel | Service Records | Making a Request for Information held on the Personnel Records of Deceased Service Personnel

Good lick with your research.

Mark

 

Hi Mark yes I have applied for his records should be imminant. Just hoping I might get some further info.
Thank you all for you help.

 

Hi All this is the info I have collated hope its correct and interesting

Africa ‘Operation Torch’
A Sergeant was due to be attached to the 5th battalion the Northamptonshire Regiment he was ill unable to go and Jack took his place. The 5th intern was part of the 11th Infantry Brigade with 2nd Battalion the Lancashire Fusiliers and the 1st Battalion the East Surrey Regiment. With another 3 brigades, a reconnaissance regiment, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and Royal Army Corps made up the 78th Division (Battle Axe). The 78th Division, along with a few other units made up the First Army. A very grand name for what in essence were a few brigades under General Anderson.

“The Second World War would see larger seaborne invasions than TORCH, but none surpassed it for the distance covered, or sheer daring. The armada sailed over 3500 miles from the USA and 1500 from Britain. Three months in planning resulted in 700 ships, 70,000 troops and over 1000 aircraft.
As General Anderson pointed out, the first Army did not spring from the sea, “Fully” formed like Aphrodite, but rather grew steadily as fortnightly convoys arrived, and so the initial thrust had to be made by a somewhat cobbled together combined force made up of airborne troops and a seriously under-strength 78th division”.


The strength of the battalion improved after its return from France in 1940 new equipment and arms arrived. In January 1942 the 5th battalion went to Inveraray for assault landing training.

At this point Jack may have joined the 5th battalion. In September all were given 48 hours embarkation leave and stores were packed. Being so far from Devon Jack would not have been able to get home. On the 16 October the battalion moved to Greenock in Scotland.

On the 16th of October the battalion moved to Greenock for embarkation the 5th Northamptons boarded the 19000 ton Dutch vessel Marnix Van St. Aldegonde. The mechanical transport including the Bren Carriers embarked on another ship. No one was allowed off the boat and there was no outgoing mail. A couple of days and the boats moved down the Clyde. On the 20th/21st there was a assault landing exercise on the Isle of Arran.


Marnix van St Aldegonde (19129 grt). Sister ship to the Johann van Oldenbarnevelt and operated with her on the Amsterdam-East Indies service until used as a troopship during WW2. Torpedoed off the Algerian coast in 1943.


Between the 23rd to the 26th all the ships assembled. 27th October the convoy of 49 ships headed to the Atlantic to rendezvous with the American convoy. On meeting with the American convoy, the troops proceeded on the journey through submarine infested water in troop ships with 216 warships guarding them.

Once the convoys met they headed for Gibraltar and physical training and marching on day was the norm. When at Gibraltar the ships companies were informed the landing was to be in Algeria.

The Allies planned a three-pronged amphibious landing to seize the key ports and airports of Morocco and Algeria simultaneously, targeting Casablanca, Oran and Algiers. Successful completion of these operations was to be followed by an advance eastwards into Tunisia.

 

The Eastern Task force, aimed at Algiers, was commanded by Lieutenant-General Kenneth Anderson and consisted of two brigades from British 78th and the US 34th Infantry Divisions and two British Commando units—No.1 and No. 6 Commandos; in all a total of 20,000 troops.

U-boats operating in the eastern Atlantic area crossed by the invasion convoys had been drawn away to attack trade convoy SL 125. Some historians have suggested the timing of this trade convoy was an intentional tactical diversion to prevent submarine attacks on the loaded troop transports.

During the period of the amphibious landings the force was to be commanded by U.S. Major General Charles W. Ryder, commander of 34th Division, because it was felt that a U.S.-led invasion would be more acceptable to the French defenders than one led by the British. American uniforms were worn by the British during the landings for the same reason.
Near Algiers, Showing Beach at "Surcouf" now called "Ain-Chrob" seaside village "Torch" troops hit the beaches behind a large American flag "Left" hoping for the French Army not fire on them. 11/08/1942
The invasion was led by the U.S. 34th Infantry with 11th brigade of the British 78th the other acting as reserve. The 5th Northamptons on the right, 1st Surreys on the left with the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers following closely behind. The landings were split between three beaches—two west of Algiers and one east. Some landings went to the wrong beaches, but this was immaterial since there was practically no French opposition; coastal batteries had been neutralized by French resistance.
At dawn of the 8th November the 5th Northamptons landed on Apples White Beach, Fuka 25 miles west of Algeria.
Each man was issued with a 48 hour ration pack which fitted neatly into both half’s of the mess tin. After the landings COMPO rations were then issued.
The landing troops pushed quickly inland; General Juin surrendered the city to the Allies at 18:00.

The battle opened with initial success by the German and Italian forces, but the massive supply and numerical superiority of the Allies led to the Axis's complete defeat

Much better defensive possibilities existed to the west of Libya in Tunisia. Tunisia is roughly rectangular, with its northern and much of its eastern boundary defined by the Mediterranean. Most of the inland western border with Algeria was astride the western line of the roughly triangular Atlas Mountains. This portion of the border was easily defendable in the limited number of passes through the two north-south lines of the mountains. In the south a second line of lower mountains limited the approaches to a narrow gap, facing Libya to the east, between these Matmata Hills and the coast.

Generally, Tunisia offered an excellent and fairly easily defended base of operations. Defensive lines in the north could deal with the approaching Allied forces of Operation Torch, while the Mareth Line made the south rather formidable. In between, there were only a few easily defended passes though the Atlas Mountains. Better yet, Tunisia offered two major deep water ports at Tunis and Bizerte, only a few hundred miles from Italian supply bases on Sicily. Supplies could be brought in at night, protecting them from the RAF's patrols, stay

 

during the day, and the return again the next night. In contrast, Italy to Libya was a full-day trip, making supply operations vulnerable to daylight air attacks.

As early as 9 November there were reports of 40 German aircraft arriving at Tunis and by 10 November aerial reconnaissance reported 100 aircraft.[20] Two days later an airlift began that would bring in over 15,000 men and 581 tons of supplies. By the end of the month they had shipped in three German divisions, including the 10th Panzer Division, and two Italian infantry divisions.

On the 9th November the battalion was camped outside southern Algiers carrying out patrols.

11th November parts of the battalion were formed into a small force called Hart Force which carried out action to link up with 36th Battalion in Tabarka.

5th Northants concentrated on the east of Algiers during 16th, moving in military transport on the 18th towards Tunis via Constantine, Guelma, Souk El Arba and Testour the only enemy encountered were ME109’s strafing the main road.

On 19 November the German commander, Walter Nehring demanded passage for his forces across the bridge at Medjez and was refused by Barré. The Germans attacked twice and were repulsed. However, the French took heavy casualties and, lacking armour and artillery, were obliged to withdraw.

On 22 November, the North African Agreement finally placed Vichy French North Africa on the allied side, allowing the Allied garrison troops to be sent forward to the front. By this time the Axis had been able to build up an entire Corps, and the Axis forces outnumbered their Allied counterparts in almost all ways.

On the 22nd/23rd the 5th approach to Medjez-el-Bab they came under fire for the first time. They dug in on a ridge overlooking Medjez-el-Bab taking up defensive positions they made ready to attack.
On the 24th with the Lancashire Fusiliers the 5th Northamptons took Medjez-el-Bab riding on American Tanks.
By late in the day had taken positions in and around Tebourba, which had also been

evacuated by the Germans, preparatory to advancing on Djedeida.

27 November the Germans attacked in strength and 11th Brigade's attempt to regain the initiative in the early hours of 28 November, attacking towards Djedeida airfield with the help of U.S. armour, failed.

28th/29th the dash for Tunis failed from Djedeida they could see the spires of the city. Riding again on Sherman tanks the advance was suddenly stopped by German 88mm Guns. They had been forestalled by an Axis counterattack, led by Major-General Wolfgang Fischer, whose 10th Panzer Division, with Mkand V had just arrived in Tunisia.
By the end of the 29th of November the 5th found themselves in defensive positions at a farm called Les Romarins. There had been continuous attacks by Stukas and 109’s, and many casualties.

This threatened to cut off 11th Brigade and break through into the Allied rear but desperate fighting over four days delayed the Axis advance and permitted a controlled withdrawal to the high ground on each side of the river west of Terbourba

 

By the 30th the Allied force withdrew roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) to the high positions of Longstop Hill, (the 5th moved to a farmhouse “Les Chenes”) djebel el Ahmera and Bou Aoukaz on each side of the river..

After three days of to and fro fighting, with ammunition running low and Axis forces now holding adjacent high ground, the Longstop position became untenable and the Allies were forced to withdraw to Medjez and by 26 December 1942 the Allies had withdrawn to the line they had set out from two weeks earlier, having suffered 20,743 casualties.

By the end of 10 December Allied units held a defensive line just east of Medjez el Bab. Some of the 5th’s carriers were bogged down in mud and could not move, American tanks were unable to extricate them they were left with the Americans with orders to blow them up.

Many of the men had come in contact with the Arabs and were infested with flea’s which the medical officer dealt with. The first three weeks of December the 5th Northamptons were at Oued Zarga area in a defensive position, they started a build up for another attack, and were ready by late December, 1942.

Lost Battalion

There was still a hope of capturing Tunis by the end of the year, new plans were made. The plan was for a drive to Djedeida, 12 miles from Tunis. The Northampton’s and Americans were to carry out a diversionary thrust left and meet up with the main force at Djedeida. The 5th set off at 2400 hours on the 24th December and carried out radio silence which did not matter as the radio was lost when a mule fell down a precipice. The Americans never met up with the 5th but the 5th carried on some 24 miles into enemy territory unaware that due to weather conditions the attack was cancelled on Christmas day.

600 men trudged through narrow twisting tracks through the high mountains in single file, mules struggled and by the first night much of the supplies were abandoned. Heavy rain, swirling mist and rivers becoming torrents were encountered. The enemy were engaged in a fairly heavy engagement it became obvious the push was cancelled and the 5th returned to their lines under attack from the Germans. They were missing for 5 days and were known as the “Lost Battalion”.

The continued but slow build up had brought Allied force levels up to a total of 54,000 British, 73,800 American, and 7,000 French troops.

A hasty intelligence review showed about 125,000 combat and 70,000 service troops, mostly Italian, in front of them.
At the front it rained a cold grey drizzle that, together with the fog on the dripping heather-covered mountain sides, made the place look more like Scotland than Africa. For weeks it had continued to drizzle. The mountains and dank, wet valleys where death reigned were cursed by the weary, bitter soldiers “bloody djebels”.
All infantry battalions were down to half strength.
The British and Americans had no answer to the German dug in 75, 88mm cannons, not to mention the new appearance of the monster Tiger tank.

The First Army had been in contact with the enemy virtually every day since the landings, they were weary and bogged down in the thick goo of the Tunisian mud. The supplies had to be transported 500 miles from Algiers, after travelling from Britain. All supplies had to be transported the last two miles to the front by mules, and the 250 casualties a day carried back the same way.

 

The mud was thick, sticky and bottomless. War correspondent Alan Moorehead said “The Dead were buried in the mud and the living were in it up to their knees. They were wet to the skin all day and all night. They had mud in their hair and mud in their food. When the mud dried, it set like iron and had to be beaten off the boots with a hammer or a rifle-butt”.

It was not just the mud and rain. The nights were bitterly cold, with snow and frost. “I have never been as cold ever since as that winter in 1942 in Tunisia,” ex Captain Eric Taylor of the 78th Division could recall forty years later. “All the infantry had upfront was a hole and what they could carry or loot from the abandoned French farmhouses. At night we crawled into our holes, wrapped in anything and everything we could find, including rugs and carpets looted from the farms and tarpaulins stolen from the gunners. For a couple of hours, one could manage to keep fairly warm, but by two or three in the morning the biting mountain cold would steel into your very bones and you would be praying for dawn and first light, trembling like a puppy in your hole, with the stars looking down icy and unfeeling”

With the Germans dominating the heights and the Luftwaffe all powerful during daylight hours, shooting up everything that moved- in one week alone the 78th Division had lost 250 supply men delivering rations- offensive action could only be successfully taken at nights.

The Allied run for Tunis had been stopped.

The 5th Northamptons arrived back at Toukabeur north of Medjez-el-Bab on the 27th of December and on to Munchar finishing at the Oued Zarga Hunt’s Gap area on the 29th.

6th January 1943 found the 5th Northamptons at the Goubellat Plain in defensive positions. This was a wide area of agricultural land dotted with isolated farmhouses. The enemy were 7 miles east however contact occurred north and to the west. It has been said this period was almost like trench warfare.

The Germans launched an attack on the 14th February to April 1943 centered on the Americans at Kasserine Pass.

On 26 February von Arnim, in the mistaken belief that the Kasserine battles had forced the Allies to weaken their northern Tunisia line to reinforce the south, launched Operation Ochsenkopf, (Ox Head) an attack against V Corps across a wide front and commanded by General Weber. Weber's force was to advance in three groups: one moving west towards Medjez el Bab; a second, to the north of the first group, advancing south west on the route from Mateur to Béja (which was some 25 miles (40 km) west of Medjez); and the third group pushing west some 25 miles south of Medjez. The northern flank of Weber's corps was to be protected by the von Manteuffel Division advancing west and forcing the Allies out of their advanced positions opposite 'Green Hill' and the Axis-held Jefna Station.

On the night of 25th February a strong enemy force nearby, there were several days of fierce fighting. At points the Allied lines were over-run. The 5th were involved in heavy fighting. With mounting casualties they held the line inflicting enemy casualties. At one point army headquarters were threatened and the right flank and rear of the 5th Northamptons was in jeopardy. It was rumoured that the battalion echelon were involved in the fighting (Jack was in battalion echelon).

The attack on Medjez el Bab was defeated by 78th Division but further south some tactical gains were made before the advance was halted. Positions finally stabilised and things quietened down.

The 5th Northamptons were relieved on the 5th of April and moved to a concentration area, where they made preparations for the next offensive.

 

On 7 April Anderson tasked the 38th, 36th, and 11th Brigades with clearing the Medjez el Bab road. The 11th Brigade closest to the road and the 5th Northamptons on the right of the 11 Brigade. It started with a night attack at 0100 hrs to drive the enemy north of the road.

They quietly crept forward to the enemy and at 0350 hrs the artillery opened fire then stopped at 0410 hrs and the infantry charged. The attack then wheeled to the right, supported by artillery and close air support they methodically advanced 10 miles (16 km) through difficult mountain terrain over the next ten days clearing a front 10 miles (16 km) wide.

The Quartermaster was killed by a booby trap while reconnoitring a farm in which to install the battalions echelon.

5th Northamptons are now 5 months in combat. Many killed or wounded and a shortage of officers and sergeants The next 3 days saw them laid up and rest.

On the 12th they moved through Toukabeur and Chaouach to Kelbine. No digging in incase the enemy were alerted so they hunkered down to a day of mortar fire and shelling.

13th of April they readied themselves to successfully attack Dejebel Bettiour a mountainous feature 2000ft above sea level all this leading to Longstop Hill.
The 14th-15th saw them in the battle for Tanngoucha. British First Army order of battle, 20 April 1943 Alexander planned that the First Army would attack towards Tunis while Eighth Army attacked north from Enfidaville.

22nd of April to the 13th of May they continued to fight to Tunis passing through longstop hill the controlling feature of the main road.

The 5th Northamptons were the first marching troops into Tunis.

The battalion finally pitched camp at Ariana a few miles from Tunis and relaxed for a while with trips to Tunis Carthage and earlier battle sites. 20th of May they took part in the victory march through Tunis. A well recived visit from General Montgomery (Monty) announced they were joining the 8th Army. He stated he was pleased to have the 5th Northamptons in his Army and if he had had the 78th Division in his army he would have been able to take Tunis himself.

The 5th had 70 men killed, 363 wounded, 279 missing a total of 712. Having started with 850.

Over 230,000 German and Italian troops were taken as prisoners of war, including most of the Afrika Korps

 

Sicily Operation Husky

Generals Montgomery and Patton Discuss Allied Operations in Sicily. Under the command of General Bernard Law Montgomery. The British 46th Infantry Division formed a floating reserve, but did not participate in the Sicily campaign

The 78th was formed specifically for Operation Torch from regular British Army units, landing at Algiers in 1942. Thereafter it continued in Tunisia, gaining a formidable reputation, then through Sicily, up the length of Italy, arriving in Austria for the end of the war with a few notable engagement the one that occurred while Jack was alive was Tunisia Longstop Hill. The 1st Army were absorbed in to the 8th Army. 10th July 1943 landings started.

11th July 1943 the Commanding officer of the told the men of it’s possible role in the forthcoming Operation Husky.
17th July 1943 Brigade Commander addressed battalion advising that 78th were to remain in reserve because things in Sicily were going better than planned.
20th July 1943 a warning order given. “prepare to embark at very short notice.
22nd July 1943 the whole battalion and motor transport embarked LCI’s at Sousse in Tunisia and the crossing was uneventful.

They arrived off Sicily at 0700 hours and landed at Casebile a beach South of Catania.
Left landing craft on Sicily’s beaches.

25th July 1943 they eventually drove 2 miles in land. 5th Northampton’s were the first battalion to be organised and in a mater on minutes moved west by north west to Palaggolo, then on to Buseene. They then moved on to Vizzini, Menes and finally south of Pagonia.

26th July 1943 at 0630 hours the battalion established itself at Giardinelli, with battalion HQ at Castel de Judica, and a strong Observation Point (OP) on Mount Judica, with active patrolling to Nicosia.

27th July 1943 The Observation point reported Catennuova being shelled and refugees leaving town.

29th July 1943 The Battalion moved to Mount Scapello.

On the July 29, the small highway and railroad junction town of Catenanuova was the major objective for Canadians operations in the Dittaino Valley.

The Canadians came under 78th division Command on July 29th and was given the task of capturing Catennuova for the British to use as their starting point. Hardgate’s timetable called for 1st Canadian division to begin its drive towards Regalbuto on the night of 30-31 with the 78th division would be holding position and entering operations on the night of August 1-2.

The Plan called “HardGate”, called for two divisions which would be aimed at Adrano- the newly arrived 78th British Infantry division and 1st Canadian Infantry Division.


The former division would advance from Catenanuova north eastwards via road that passed through Centuripe to Adraino while the Canadians would drive through Regalbuto and then hook northward into the Salso valley for the final approach directly from the west into town.

 

At 2336 hours on the July the 29th the gunners of the 78th Division fired a heavy artillery barrage in support of CIB’s attack.

1st Canadian Infantry Division attacked Catennuova supported by the bren carriers and anti-tank platoon of the 5th Northamptons. The 5th battalion took up the high ground to the west of Catennuova.

It fell this day in a well-coordinated attack by the Carleton & York and West Nova Scotia Highlander regiments that entirely broke the morale of the German defenders and sent them running. German high command was so incensed they broke up the German unit and its troops through the ranks of other units. But the damage was done. A British Eighth Army division could now use the town as its start point for an advance toward Adrano along the highway running through Centuripe.

On the 30th July 1943 the attack progressed, while 78th division were holding position west of Catennuova. In the afternoon the battalion echelon were sheltering from the heat of the sun under their trucks in a cornfield at this point they were attacked by enemy aircraft and secured direct hits on the Orderly room truck and ammunition truck the QM Lt Beardsall and RQMS Steadman were killed with six other ranks. Jack was one of these.

It is thought the 8 killed were buried in a mass grave nearby as there would have been little to find or to distinguish the men’s identity.

Later all the dead were moved to one of three Allied cemetery’s it is not known which Jack and the 7 went but it is thought they went to Catania War Graves Cemetery Sicily, which contains 2,135 Commonwealth Soldiers burials and 113 unidentified burials.
The RSM Maloney and 2 other ranks were wounded.
Mr Hutchins the postman got Mrs Murch to go with him to deliver the telegram to Florrie informing her of Jacks death.

 

Bibliography
People
Assistant Archivist, Lambeth Palace Library
Assistant Secretary REME Association
Museum Attendant Royal Anglian Regiment Association
Cardinal Came to give a service at Taddiport Church
Webmaster Catenanuova.IT
Corps Archivist, REME Museum of Technology
Books Published

The 5th Battalion in Noth Africa and Sicily printed by G.O.J. Harris, The Press On The Lake , Sandwich, Kent.

Together we stand by James Holland Harper Collins
Operation Husky The Canadian Invasion of Sicily July 10- August 7 1943 by Mark Zuehlke. Douglas & McIntyre
Kasserine by Charles Whiting, Jove war book, ISBN 0515106186
Crockfords Church of England’s records of Vickers
Internet
WWW.britishsoldier.com
www.wikipedia.org
WWW.rootsweb. Ancestry.com 49er1951No052.pdf
The National archives

 

The letter describing Jack's death.

5th Northampton
FMF
30th (Nov ?) 1943

Dear Mrs Dolton,
I am in receipt of your enquiry dated 7th inst. – regarding the loss of your husband on July 30th 43.

Yes, I knew your husband and found him one of the most charming men whom I have met. I was very sorry when I heard that he was one of the fatal casualties due to a disastrous air-raid on our B Echelon.

I had the unfortunate task of burying 8 men including ‘key’ men such as your husband and the QM.

They were killed instantly while lying down beside their trucks, resting in the afternoon sunshine. It was one of the lightening raids, which we get from time to time. After bombing them, they came and machine gunned us.

I don’t know if it gives you any satisfaction, but I can assure that death was instantaneous, as the result of a direct hit.

All of us who knew him felt the great loss we had suffered and convey to you our sympathy in this loss.

The actual location of the burial ground I cannot give you at present, though I conducted the Service, but you will be informed in due course. I can say that it was in central Sicily.

If you could see the bombing which is going on over the German positions at this moment, as I can from where I am at present, I think that you would feel that the death of your husband and many more fine men is now being avenged. Our bombing during the past week has been simply colossal and added to continuous artillery bombardment. I wonder how any human beings can stand it.

I know that this cannot give you again what you have lost, but it may reassure you that the cause for which he died is not in vain and I trust it will not be long before the Nazi menace is crushed and peace is restored to our folk once more. I wish I were in Devon once again for that is my home county.

Yours sincerely
E. Elworthy

Scanned copy can be found @

Pictures by Barerootbonsai1 - Photobucket

 

My Grandfather was Frances Pook and like others who have lost family members in the sicily campaign to whom have not known . With new records and documents now being released for public viewing and reading it has been possible to trace the movements of many units that had been secrets to public knowlegde such as Airborne units , Airlanding divisions and so many more as known to day as the likes of the Parachute regiments and the S.A.S Squadrons ect . Many years and thousands of reading material these '' Eight soldiers known unto God'' , can be known as to where those men had been in a communial grave site as to how their deaths happened . Catania Cemertery plot 2 G46 .. A request has been sent to have an D,N.A. Test sample taken as this with D.N.A Samples from myself and other family members willing to provide . ''YOU HAVE THE EIGHT NAMES AS SO DO I ''. To provide a sample from myself so a sample can be taken from all bone samples burried will provide the answers to many a question . A match will comfirm whom these men truely be .. Any querries to this , all imformation and all records provide the knowledgeneeded so to be true to those who lay beneath they ground . A communial head stone with the names of these soldiers and children of GOD so to be known to us all and not just to GOD ..

 

Anne Boustead , with to our conversation nick we as a family have been very pleased to hear from you and what was talked about as to arranging an evening to discuss a few more issues with putting things right . Having read through new records and accounts that have become to public viewing of secret documents of Winston churchill's secret service units that signed declarations stating not being part of the regular army units so many records becoming lost in time apart from service personals own accounts. With information gained with yours along with reports from others contributing we here are going to seek an audience with Government officials either in Sicily or Italy with this overwhelming knowledge that throughout all of the C.W.G.C There is one and one only grave site in the whole Sicily and Italy that has eight soldiers unknown . Catania Cemetery Plot 2 G46 the only cemetery that has references of eight buried in an communal site untill reburied after the war in Catania Cemetery . Eye witness accounts of French and Canadian special forces with whom they seemed to be part of

 

The grave at Catania CWGC plot 3, G20 is of 8 unknown Airborne troops, as there were large losses in the parachute drop at the start of the Invasion with a lot being dropped short it is most likely that G2 20 contains these.
However, plot 2 G 46 contains 8 unknown Soldiers, this is the most likely one to hold the remains of our relatives. At present I am trying to find out if there were any specific location recorded by the Luftwaffe of the attack.
The Luftwaffe Unit involved was SKG 10, 9 x FW 190/A aircraft attacked a concentration with 8 x Sd 250 kg. bombs and observed a large explosion and a smoke pillar reaching 800 mtrs. high.
The personel killed were members of the 5th. Batt. Northants. Regiment and 2 members of the REME / RAOC, after exhaustive research into the Canadian involvement I have found that although the Canadians were to attack Catenanouva they had no casualties in this part of the action, a French Canadian Regiment were fighting nearby but neither these or French Forces were part in the initial attack on Catenanouva, also no Special Forces were involved.

 

Great Picture and thanks for sharing it. Is there any info on the rear?



1941 B D Squad Armourers Jack 3rd from left at the back