Continuing the theme that bitter fighting in Italy continued, without pause, after the liberation of Rome, I attach a link to an excerpt of a first hand account, written by my father's Commanding Officer, Lieut Colonel John Horsfall, describing 78th Division's assault on the Albert Line west of Lake Trasimene at the end of June 1944. http://www.irishbrigade.co.uk/pages/eyewitness-accounts/john-horsfall-excerpts/sanfatucchio-20th21st-june-1944.php I also attach a few "recent" and a number of IWM sourced photographs, which were taken at the site of the Irish Brigade's HQ in Panicale, in the village of San Fatucchio and the nearby church and cemetery of San Felice and in/on Pucciarelli village/ridge. Some vivid and moving memories...and a most beautiful area to visit. best
Quite alot to read there. I see George Dunseath is buried at Orvieto. Did you get to visit there too? http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1707612/DUNSEATH,%20GEORGE%20EDWARD
As you know, the CWGC Cemetery is located just over the Paglia..and you can just see Orvieto in the distance... of course, the cathedral is pretty stupendous both inside and out...Signorelli's 'Last Judgement' leaves you gaping in amazement.
This pic is captioned Pucciarelli. Infantry of the 6th Inniskillings and a Sherman tank advance through Pucciarelli, 25 June 1944. THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1944. © IWM (NA 16442)IWM Non Commercial Licence
Thanks for that! Very interesting read. Does anyone know by any chance who cleaned up the area east of De Ruta and west of Foligno (i.e. to the right of the Irish Brigade)? All the best Andreas
I'd say 8th Indian Division. http://www.ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Tiger/triumphs05.html see map. http://www.ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Tiger/maps/map4.jpg
Owen The Orvieto cemetery is a few miles outside Orvieto on the road to Fano……Orvieto was an open city- and as Richard states - the Cathedral is something else as not many people would understand that on the left of the nave is a chapel ordered to the new Vatican 11 Council and venerating the miracle of the Blessed Sacrament, whereas the Chapel on the right is still ordered on the pre Vatican 11 Mass in the full Latin language… Cheers
that Sherman in photo I posted has 173 on it, can see two tone rectangle too. Richard's website mentions 11th Canadian Armoured Regiment. That's definantly one of theirs. edit: also on armoured acorn website. http://media.wix.com/ugd/279ff1_5c05bedbbe464cc0ae61fe4a50a993d0.pdf http://www.flamesofwar.com/default.aspx?tabid=110&art_id=325
Owen Quite right as I had noted the number - as this is the number we changed to while waiting to start the Gothic Line Battles as the 1st Cdn Ab were still at Florence- throwing cigarette packages in the Arno to confuse Kesselring - it worked… Cheers
Owen, nice - it seems that B Squadron were supporting the London Irish Rifles and A Squadron supported the Skins. Tom, Thanks for that detail about Orvieto cathedral. best,
Hi Andreas, The area east of Tiber river was assigned to 8th Indian Division but after the capure of Todi (15/6/44) the 16/5Lancers (6th Armd Div) was advancing on the eastern shore of Tiber and reached Deruta, Pontenuovo di Torgiano and Torgiano on 17/6/44. On 18/6/44 16/5L is on the western shore supporting 1st Guards Brigade in the operations against Perugia.
Thanks a lot Gandalf (not your real name, I presume ), that's very helpful. I am particularly interested in the area Montefalco - Bevagna - Gualdo Cattaneo. All the best Andreas