A Grave of Mystery in Catania

Hi All,

I have just returned from a trip to Sicily. My last visit before I left was to the CWGC Catania.
Whilst there I saw the following Grave / headstone:

UNRRA (Badge)
Assistant Nurse
Lily True
U.N.R.R.A
09 November 1945
Age 37

Whilst trying to find out more about this lady i have hit a brick wall.
Even the CWGC website doesn't have her listed! yet she is in their cemetery with a CWGC Headstone.
How very odd.
The only thing I can find is that UNRRA were United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. Formed in 1943 and dissolved in 1948.

Anyway, can anyone shed any light on this lady?

 

Here is a picture of the grave

 

That`s not a WW2 CWGC headstone so they won`t have her listed


CWGC Headstone Shapes

Killed in an air crash
Miss Lily True, who for some years was a nurse at the maternity home in Clarence-Street, Gloucester, has been killed a plane crash between Naples - Athens
Gloucester Citizen
Gloucester, Gloucestershire,
20 November 1945


Edit :-
A Memorial to a former Dorset Nursing Superintendent was unveiled in 1946 at the Dorset County Hospital . Erected to the memory of Miss Lily True, former superintendent of the County Nursing Association, who while seconded U.N.R.R.A., was killed in an air crash in November 1945 at the time Miss True was on her way to Athens to organise a midwifery course.

Source :- Western Gazette ,
20 December 1946
Published in Yeovil, Somerset, England

Kyle

 

There is a useful Wiki on URRA and in particular I noted:

Plus it was largely US-funded.
From: United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration - Wikipedia

Note the 'External Links' refer to UNRRA's records and a photo collection.

Aged 37yrs when she died. From: FALLEN'S POPPY CROSS OF CATANIA WAR CEMETERY by 1°ITIS M. Bartolo - PACHINO

From 20/11/1945 in The Citizen from Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England (behind a paywall): The Citizen from Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England

I wonder if she was wounded or died when in Greece then in a state of unrest, although officially not the Greek Civil War and with at least a divisional UK military presence. See for background: Greek Civil War - Wikipedia

You may find this in the British Newspaper Archive (BNA), which most UK public libraries enable in-person access or you pay!

 

Wow, thank you guys this is great stuff.

I should have at least spotted the shape of the headstone - school boy error on my part but also a learning curve in that I should look out for this kind of thing.

Coincidentally, I actually live in Gloucester!

many thanks again to all who commented and shared info.

 

Hi

Everything you would need to know about UNRRA. https://archive.org/details/unrrahistoryofun0000geor/page/n7/mode/2up

Gen Percy Lee Sadler (US Army), 2nd in charge 3rd British Infantry Corps was the officer in charge of Greece's Relief and Rehabilitation in late 1944.

His team worked in close liaison with the UNRRA operating in Greece.

Dakota crash details

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/337549

Air Safety on x

"a USAAF C-47 [Registration 42-24383] crashes in Palermo (Italy). Of 24 aboard, 1 survivor. An hour before arrival, crew reported they were lost due to bad weather, namely low clouds. Aircraft deviated from route and eventually hit a mountain on a CFIT."

Pilot was Marvin H Finley (779124) Army First Lieutenant who flew Dakotas for 51 Troop Carrier Squadron (TCS) part of 62 Troop Carrier Group (TCG).

The remaining 23 crew and passengers are all commemorated at the US Cemetery at Palermo including another member of the UNRRA. A female called C. M. McArthy from Colorado.



https://lambadoria.it/caduti/Elenco Caduti/cim-americano-palermo/x-PALERMO-cimitero-americano.pdf

Hope this helps

Gus

 

A snippet of info on her probate notice.

 

Links to the Missing Air Crew Report number 16066

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91172225?objectPage=6

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91172225?objectPage=7

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91172225?objectPage=8

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91172225?objectPage=9

Finn Buch