A friend has recently come across an album of pics from WWII. On the first page of the album is this text: Pvt. Carroll R. West, Bari Italy 11-17-43 It contains many interesting pictures, some apparently taken by a professional photographer by the name of Ficarelli, as his name is stamped or embossed on the backs of some of the pictures. She has asked me for help in getting some more information about some of the pictures. There is only one that has anything written on the back, and it is in Italian, and is difficult to read. The picture itself is of a Fire Brigade; it looks like the formation is taking place in a public square or area. I will ask for her permission to post the picture and a scan of the back if anyone on here wants to help her identify it. I've been told that Ron Goldstein frequents this forum, and that he has a wealth of information on Bari, Italy. My own Dad served in the 26th general hospital which was in Bari, Italy, very late in 1943 and was active until 1945. I've posted a bunch of his pictures from North Africa and from Italy on that forum: http://www.ww2f.com/topic/49464-leaving-africa-behind-26th-gen-hospital-moves-to-italy-1943/ in case anyone here is interested in those. Walt's Daughter
Walt;s Daughter I was shipped into Bari in October '44 from the Hospital in Ancona before heading to Catania- Sicily for surgery - didn't see much and while there were many British and Commonwealth Hospitals in the area - I didn't realise that there was also an American Hospital obviously tending casualties from the giant Air Base at Foggia a few miles North of Bari which was in the British 8th Army sector... sorry can't help much
Bonnie on your other thread most of the photo's show various parts of St Peter's Basilica interspersed with scenes of the Colloseum and the "wedding cake" which was the popular name for the Vittoria Emmanuel Memorial and to the right of that was the balcony where Mussolini would spout his propaganda to his fellow Fascists - and ROME was "liberated " on June '44- two days before the Normandy landings Cheers
Hi Bonnie & Welcome Aboard ! i see that our mutual friend Fred Wilson has been setting me up as a Bari expert but unfortunately, in this case, he he couldn't be further from the truth ! My total experience of Bari is an entry in my Army Album and then a single Day Leave there in August 1943, nothing to compare with your super set of photos of your Dad's stay in the city. http://ronsactualarmyalbum.blogspot.co.uk/ (scroll down to Page 14) In fact the only photo I have of a Bari street scene is here: http://ww2talk.com/forums/gallery/image/12-11943-septemberbari-italy-bbc/ You need to know that although I have posted quite a few articles on ww2f, my major home from home is here on ww2talk and if you do a bit of searching on this site you will find that I have posted quite a few photos of Italy, most of which can be found in the Galleries. Might I also suggest to you that you use the galleries provided by this Forum to post your very evocative snaps, as an example have a look at the album I set up to duplicate my original album: http://ww2talk.com/forums/gallery/album/42-rons-actual-army-album I'm just back from a week away from my PC so I've got quite a bit of catching up to do. Give me a day or so and I will be back here to provide whatever info I can, in the meantime enjoy this super site ! Best regards Ron
My uncle was in one of the General Hospitals in Bari when the bombing raid (2 Dec 43) hit the John Harvey which was carrying mustard gas shells. Not sure which hospital he was in - he mentioned the New Zealand hospital, (88th?) but I don't think he was in it. There were as many as six hospitals there, as Bari was the largest rear area base in the Mediterranean.
Staffs... It's entirely possible that your Father was in the NZ 88th Hospital at Bari as the Sangro River battles were in full swing about that time in the run up to Ortona at Christmas with the Kiwi's and Canadians fully engaged and many of the hospitals were full of casualties - so any with a spare bed was quickly filled Cheer
He also mentioned that there were German POWs in the next ward, who originally were very happy that their side were bombing...
Looking at Ancestry there's a couple of possibilities for Carroll. One was born 14 Oct 1917 from New Jersey (city/county Bergen), enlisted 3 Sep 1943 at Newark, private, married and he died 30 Jun 1990. The other one was born 1923 in Texas (City/County Runnels). He enlisted 30 Oct 1942 at San Antonio. He was a private in the Air Corps and single at the time of enlistment. He died in Burnet County, Texas 27 Feb 2004.
Thanks, everyone, for the comments and the welcome. I'm pretty much done with my Dad's pictures. Ron, one day I will take your advice and post the pics to one of the galleries here once I have had time to explore them. Right now, I'm more concerned with the Carroll West pictures that a friend shared with me. After I posted, I found out that he is indeed the man from Runnells, TX; and he did pass away a few years ago. His niece shared the pics with my friend. I have gotten her permission to post the pics she shared with me in hopes someone will help us figure out what the inscriptions say, and where it might be. We already know what the one picture is: it is a variation of the famous pic of Mussolini hanging by his feet with the others, taken from a slightly different angle. I'll post all 3 in a separate post. I'll try to figure out which gallery to put them in. Thanks again, Bonnie
My father was in Campo PG75 (bari). I am visiting Italy in 2014 and will be visiting his other camps PG52 and PG57. Does anyone know where PG75 was, so that I can visit the location? regards Graeme
My grandfather, Reginald J. Baker, was aboard the SS John Bascom during the raid. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his heroism. Sadly, he died 12 years later, age 35. Most likely PTSD related.
