To continue to film the journey of my father's journey with 38 (Irish) Brigade from Algiers to Austria, I've just got back from an excellent week with my brother and our cousins, Harry and Robbie, the cameraman and soundman respectively. Our visit was nicely primed by the chat with Ron Goldstein last Sunday as he recalled his memories from July/August 1943 of Adrano, Patti etc. Renewing old friendships and establishing new ones and sharing memories and personal stories. As usual, Sicily lived up to its hospitable best as we travelled from Fontane Blanche to Milazzo. Photos and short stories to follow.
Day 1 - From Ognina Bay to Raddusa. The Irish Brigade landed near Fontane Blanche beach on 28th July 1943 and moved across country via Cassibile, Floridia, Palazzolo and Vizzini to emerge from the mountains near Catenanuova on 31st July. My father recalled: “As we moved through the countryside, we were struck by its natural beauty but appalled by the poverty of the villages and towns. Our welcome was subdued, as the people were obviously uncertain whether we were friend or foe..."
Day 2 - Catenanuova to Centuripe. The Irish Brigade joined the 78th Division's assault on Centuripe on 1st August 1943. The Skins took the "short route" up the sheer cliffs to Pt 708 on the afternoon of 2nd August. My father: "The Irish Brigade advanced steadily, passing through the town of Catenanuova. Here we became infantry once more and prepared for our attack on the centre of enemy line at Centuripe. I served the company by jeep.” “One evening, I was being driven by Corporal Allen when we were hit by heavy shellfire. We jumped out of the vehicle into the roadside ditch. It was so shallow that, despite crouching, our heads and chests were exposed. We clung to each other, shivering. The fire was coming from our rear. The bursts lifted and through the smoke emerged a figure with his face masked by blood. ‘Stop these bloody shells. They are killing my boys..."
Day 3 - Centuripe. While the Skins took the front door, the Faughs attacked the cemetery and Irish Rifles assaulted three hills east of the town. By 3am on the 3rd of August, the town was clear. My father: “When we took Centuripe, I followed closely behind and entered the town in the early morning of its capture. I was not allowed to progress beyond the town walls as the battalion had to clear up pockets of resistance. Dysentery had me in its grip and I was in desperate need of a latrine. I knocked at the nearest house and stumbled out: ‘Scusati, il gabinetto?’ The lady went into the house and brought out a brown earthenware pot and held it out to me. I shook my head, saying: ‘Grazie.’ I saw a young man and approaching him I said: ‘Dove si trove il gabbinetto.’ Looking puzzled, he motioned me to follow him. We went to the town wall and climbed down steps and a steep path. There before us under the walls was a vast culvert lined with metal. With municipal pride he pointed to it and said: ‘Il gabbinetto.’ I thankfully made use of it despite the terrible smell. Hygiene and sanitation were primitive in central Sicily. Most people had only the earthenware pot which was emptied into the vast dump under the town walls. I suspect that the open fields were more frequently used.”
Day 4 - The Salso and Simeto rivers and onto Maletto. On 4th August 1943, the Irish Brigade crossed over the Salso river before meeting resistance at the Simeto river, the 5th August being one of the worst days for the brigade (suffering 40 deaths). After some days of rest, advancing to Maletto before meeting with American forces near Randazzo on the morning of 13th August 1943. My father: “I rejoined the company at the River Salso for the advance to the River Simeto where there was heavy resistance to the crossing. After this was cleared, E Company occupied the village of Carcaci (this was the battalion’s base before, during and after the Simeto crossing. It is on the railway to Syracuse which crosses the Simeto to the east). I was allocated a large room in a house as a cookhouse. I observed that its walls were black. As I approached, the walls moved. They were a mass of flies and mosquitoes. Both had painful bites and alarming consequences.”
Day 5 - From Patti to Milazzo. After resting near Maletto for 2 weeks, the Brigade decamped for beachside relaxation near Patti on the north coast before sailing from Milazzo to Taranto on 24th September 1943. My father: “Patti looked out over the blue Tyrrhenian sea. In the distance, we could see smoke and steam issuing from the volcano island of Stromboli. The men trained and rested while I continued in my never-ending task of feeding, clothing, quartering and equipping my company. This necessitated making a journey to Palermo, a beautiful city.” “We were to spend the remainder of August and most of September in this comparative paradise. I managed to bathe in the sea most days. A little way out, seemingly, was an attractive little island which always drew my eyes. One evening, I foolishly decided to swim to it. I entered the sea and made towards it with steady strokes, but the island appeared to get farther away. Tiring, I sensibly turned back and used an economical side-stroke to get to shore. I had not reckoned with the current and my evening swim became a struggle to remain afloat. As the shore finally came nearer, I repeatedly tried to find the shingle bottom with my toes but to no avail. Being the shore of a volcano, the beach was steep. Finally I found a toe hold and desperately threw myself above the water line. Here I lay panting for a quarter of an hour. It was a very narrow escape. This was confirmed the next day when two men were drowned trying to make the same short swim. The island was in fact more than two miles distant. The current was treacherous.” At Patti, we also paid tribute to Harry and Robbie's cousin, Charlotte who lost her life 13 years ago.
Day 6 - In Piedimonte Etneo. While the 2nd Bn London Irish Rifles were relaxing at Patti, the 1st Bn LIR rested at Fiumefreddo before moving to Piedimonte Etneo in early September 1943. We had the privilege of interviewing 96 yo Angelina who recalling seeing the "Scottish troops (sic) wearing orange skirts (double sic) coming into her home town.." thus the Pipes and Drums. We then went onto film at the Memorial to men from both battalions of the London Irish Rifles in Piedimonte.
Day 7 - CWGC Cemetery. Before leaving, we paid our respect to the 2,100 men buried at Catania. There were 110 who died while serving with the Irish Brigade including: Capt Billy Hanna from Armagh. Lt William Bolton from Belfast. Major Joseph Fitzgerald MC from Dublin. Fusilier Edward Graham from Northumberland. We were met at the cemetery by forum member Marco who very kindly guided us to the Primosole bridge area - to view the DLI and Royal Berkshire Regiment Memorials and a memorial to Italian forces near the Simeto.
Well done, all of you, for a well thought out review of what promises to be a super film about your Dad's experiences in WW2. Can't wait to see how it all marries together ! Ron (who confesses that he never realised the two young camera men were also your cousins)
Ron, Thank you for your kind words. They are actually our first cousin's sons.. both had trained at film school. We estimated that they were about 30% Irish (through their grandmother, Docherty and their/our great grandfather Halligan)..
