300366 Lt. Cornelius Joseph Horgan. 1 Royal Irish Fusiliers and 6 Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
SR/598077V Trooper George Alexander Law. Prince Alfred's Guard, 6th South African Armored Division
SR/598077V
Trooper George Alexander Law died of wounds sustained in action on 23rd June 1944 on the approach to Chiusi, Italy, aged 27
Trooper G A Law was born on 24th June 1916.
His Military career started with the Southern Rhodesia Defence Force, after the East African Campaign (World War II) He volunteered for service with the Union Defence Force South Africa.
He was posted to Prince Alfred's Guard which converted from an infantry regiment to an armoured unit, 11th South African Armoured Brigade, which was action in Italy 1944 - 1945.
Remembered with Honour
Trooper G A Law was born on 24th June 1916.
His Military career started with the Southern Rhodesia Defence Force, after the East African Campaign (World War II) He volunteered for service with the Union Defence Force South Africa.
He was posted to Prince Alfred's Guard which converted from an infantry regiment to an armoured unit, 11th South African Armoured Brigade, which was action in Italy 1944 - 1945.
Remembered with Honour
1775337 Rifleman Charles Henry Burt 2 London Irish Rifles
Rifleman Burt, aged 33, was killed on 21st June 1944 at Sanfatucchio.
He originally came from St Columb Major, Cornwall. but was living in Boston, Lincs at the time of his enlistment His war record was:
Enlisted 27/02/41 72 Coast Training Regiment R A
Posted to 535 Coast Regiment in the Orkneys, then to 544 Coast Regiment at Lowestoft.
Transfered to No 16 Infantry Training Centre 17/11/43, then to 9th Btn.on 09/02/44
18/05/44 Transfered to 2nd Battalion London Irish on 18/05/44.
Rifleman Burt's son Brian, who sent in this information, was 4 years old when the family received the telegram.
He originally came from St Columb Major, Cornwall. but was living in Boston, Lincs at the time of his enlistment His war record was:
Enlisted 27/02/41 72 Coast Training Regiment R A
Posted to 535 Coast Regiment in the Orkneys, then to 544 Coast Regiment at Lowestoft.
Transfered to No 16 Infantry Training Centre 17/11/43, then to 9th Btn.on 09/02/44
18/05/44 Transfered to 2nd Battalion London Irish on 18/05/44.
Rifleman Burt's son Brian, who sent in this information, was 4 years old when the family received the telegram.
6975426 Rifleman Daniel Merron 2 London Irish Rifles
Rifleman Merron was 37 years of age when he was killed on 22 June in the Battle of Sanfatucchio, having enlisted on 24 July 1940. He had previously been a labourer in Maghera County Derry. Daniel had married his wife Mary in 1934 and they had two sons. Although he was only 8 years old at the time, their eldest son, Peter vividly remembers his mother's reaction to the telegram and says that it is something that will stay with him. Mary died in 2001 but did not get the chance to travel to Orvieto to visit her husband.
5346977 Private John 'Jack' Beale, 5 Northamptonshire Regiment
Private Beale was killed in the advance on Castiglione del Lago just beyond the the river Pescia, on 25 June 1944
The 5 Northants War Diary WO 170/1446 has this entry for that date:-
0015 hrs. 'D' Coy crossed river and advance(d) on their objectives at 412924. Heavy fighting was encountered and the Coy withdrew across the river to their former positions.
0540 hrs. A patrol from 'B' Coy reached the first objective at 412924 and found it unoccupied
0600 hrs. 'A' Coy moved forward passed through patrol onto second objective at 408925. 'D' Coy moved back to 423910. During the day the Bn (battalion) area was subjected to very heavy shelling, mortaring and Nebelwerfer fire, resultiing in one officer and four other ranks wounded
Presumably Private Beale died from his wounds. The following day the War Diary records four other men from the regiment as having been killed, making a total of five. In contrast, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission indicates that two men were killed on 25 June and three men on 26 June)
The 5 Northants War Diary WO 170/1446 has this entry for that date:-
0015 hrs. 'D' Coy crossed river and advance(d) on their objectives at 412924. Heavy fighting was encountered and the Coy withdrew across the river to their former positions.
0540 hrs. A patrol from 'B' Coy reached the first objective at 412924 and found it unoccupied
0600 hrs. 'A' Coy moved forward passed through patrol onto second objective at 408925. 'D' Coy moved back to 423910. During the day the Bn (battalion) area was subjected to very heavy shelling, mortaring and Nebelwerfer fire, resultiing in one officer and four other ranks wounded
Presumably Private Beale died from his wounds. The following day the War Diary records four other men from the regiment as having been killed, making a total of five. In contrast, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission indicates that two men were killed on 25 June and three men on 26 June)
14602349 Fusilier Elijah Stanley Schofield, 2 Lancashire Fusiliers, B Company, 10 platoon
Fusilier Schofield was killed on 21 June in the opening attack on Sanfatucchio. His widow was told that
he was killed while out on a night patrol which was trying to pinpoint the location of a German machine gun post. After sucessfully finding its location, the patrol was spotted, while moving along the top of a wall and the German gun opened fire on them killing most of the patrol members with the exception of the patrol leader. (Information from his grandson, Craig Schofield)
Seven men from the battalion, including Fusilier Schofield, were killed on that date and buried in Orvieto War Cemetery.
he was killed while out on a night patrol which was trying to pinpoint the location of a German machine gun post. After sucessfully finding its location, the patrol was spotted, while moving along the top of a wall and the German gun opened fire on them killing most of the patrol members with the exception of the patrol leader. (Information from his grandson, Craig Schofield)
Seven men from the battalion, including Fusilier Schofield, were killed on that date and buried in Orvieto War Cemetery.
27213 Brigadier John Gwynne-James DSO, King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Brigadier Gwynne-James, commanding 36 Brigade, 78 Division, was killed on 26 June. The division's War Diary WO 170/499 has the following entry:
0915. From 36 Bde. In the course of operations to enlarge a bridgehead over the River Pescia Brigadier James was killed by an unlucky shell from a self-propelled German 88 mm gun while carrying out reconnaissance in his jeep in the forward area of the Royal West Kents.
0915. From 36 Bde. In the course of operations to enlarge a bridgehead over the River Pescia Brigadier James was killed by an unlucky shell from a self-propelled German 88 mm gun while carrying out reconnaissance in his jeep in the forward area of the Royal West Kents.
567499 Private Albert Henry Brooks, 2 Somerset Light Infantry
Letter to Albert’s girl friend from his friend Tom Davis. (By kind permission of Mrs Kay Farmer, niece)
Dear Miss Hazell,
This letter will come as a surprise to you I expect. As you'll have seen there are some photos that Albert asked me to send on if anything should happen to him, and I'm sorry to say it did, as you'll have heard by now. I can give you a few details of what happened though not a lot, I'm afraid. We had taken up positions in a vineyard, awaiting the order to advance. Our objective was an old farmhouse a few miles away. We captured the place and started to dig in. Albert had to run across an open piece of ground and was halfway across when a German sniper shot him. The bullet went in the shoulder and then down to the spine. He was conscious for a while and I'm glad to say he felt no pain. After we had evacuated him, we were all terribly sorry to hear that he had died. If it's any consolation to you at all, we avenged him by getting the sniper. Well that is all I have to say. The chaps wish me to tell you how sorry everyone is, for we all feel that we’ve lost a great pal.
Regretfully yours
Tom Davies
Private Brooks was killed on 25 June when his battalion, belonging to 28 Brigade, 4 Infantry Division, was advancing across country between Vaiano and Gioiella. He was taken to hospital in Orvieto where he died.
Dear Miss Hazell,
This letter will come as a surprise to you I expect. As you'll have seen there are some photos that Albert asked me to send on if anything should happen to him, and I'm sorry to say it did, as you'll have heard by now. I can give you a few details of what happened though not a lot, I'm afraid. We had taken up positions in a vineyard, awaiting the order to advance. Our objective was an old farmhouse a few miles away. We captured the place and started to dig in. Albert had to run across an open piece of ground and was halfway across when a German sniper shot him. The bullet went in the shoulder and then down to the spine. He was conscious for a while and I'm glad to say he felt no pain. After we had evacuated him, we were all terribly sorry to hear that he had died. If it's any consolation to you at all, we avenged him by getting the sniper. Well that is all I have to say. The chaps wish me to tell you how sorry everyone is, for we all feel that we’ve lost a great pal.
Regretfully yours
Tom Davies
Private Brooks was killed on 25 June when his battalion, belonging to 28 Brigade, 4 Infantry Division, was advancing across country between Vaiano and Gioiella. He was taken to hospital in Orvieto where he died.
6978669 Lance Sergeant William Frederick Bovaird, 1 Royal Irish Fusiliers
Lance Sergeant William Frederick Bovaird, killed during the liberation fo the village of Sant'Arcangelo, was the first soldier to die on the shores of Lake Trasimeno.
The entry in the 1 Royal Fusiliers' War Diary for 19 June is as follows:
by 1500 hours
C Company report 1 Pl astride the main lake road in area, thus indicating that its objective had been reached. At 1530 a patrol was sent to Sant’Arcangelo where enemy are reported to be. A short clash took place in which Sgt. Bovaird was killed and L/Cpl Brown wounded. 1 prisoner was captured from 4 Para. Regiment.
An eye witness, Enzo Nichiotti, who was 17 at the time, witnessed this skirmish and has indicated that it took place at La Godiola.
Lance Sergeant Bovaird's grave is to be found on the left immediately upon entering the cemetery
The entry in the 1 Royal Fusiliers' War Diary for 19 June is as follows:
by 1500 hours
C Company report 1 Pl astride the main lake road in area, thus indicating that its objective had been reached. At 1530 a patrol was sent to Sant’Arcangelo where enemy are reported to be. A short clash took place in which Sgt. Bovaird was killed and L/Cpl Brown wounded. 1 prisoner was captured from 4 Para. Regiment.
An eye witness, Enzo Nichiotti, who was 17 at the time, witnessed this skirmish and has indicated that it took place at La Godiola.
Lance Sergeant Bovaird's grave is to be found on the left immediately upon entering the cemetery
2146827 Driver Walter Henry Coombs 256 Field Company Royal Engineers
Driver Walter Henry Coombs was killed during the advance to Città della Pieve from Montegabbione on 17 June 1944.
The inscription behind the photograph, which had been sent ot his mother, reads:-
"With love from your loving son Walter xxx M.E.F. 25-11-41"The date clearly indicates that it was taken when he was serving in North Africa.
The inscription behind the photograph, which had been sent ot his mother, reads:-
"With love from your loving son Walter xxx M.E.F. 25-11-41"The date clearly indicates that it was taken when he was serving in North Africa.
Walter and Irene Wigens on their wedding day in 1940
The following dedication appears on Walter's gravestone:
TIME CANNOT HEAL SO GREAT A LOSS
REMEMBERING YOU ALWAYS
LOVING WIFE IRENE
14625347 Private Thomas Pratt East Surrey Regiment
Thomas Pratt was recruited in 3.6.43 and made Corporal in the 2nd battalion East Surrey Regiment. After training he was initially posted to Italy on 28.2.44 and then to North Africa on 9.4.44. He was posted back to Italy on 16.4.44 reverting to rank of Private.
He was killed in the fighting near the Trasimene Line at Città Della Pieve on 17th June 1944. He was 29 years old and would have celebrated his 30th birthday on the 22nd June 1944.
He was born in Brighton Sussex and was married to Eileen. In the last few years she added a postscript to his head stone which reads "to live in one's heart is not to die” love Eileen and son Keith".
Eileen has recently passed away aged 92 but she never forgot her love for Tom. They leave a son Keith Pratt.
He was killed in the fighting near the Trasimene Line at Città Della Pieve on 17th June 1944. He was 29 years old and would have celebrated his 30th birthday on the 22nd June 1944.
He was born in Brighton Sussex and was married to Eileen. In the last few years she added a postscript to his head stone which reads "to live in one's heart is not to die” love Eileen and son Keith".
Eileen has recently passed away aged 92 but she never forgot her love for Tom. They leave a son Keith Pratt.
14289745 Gunner Gerald Kirwan 132 Field Regiment Royal Artillery
Norma Baker, who sent in this photograph of Gunner Kirwan says that it was possibly taken at her parent's wedding in 1940. They visited Orvieto Cemetery in about 1948 with a group of relatives of other deceased soldiers.
Gerald was the middle son of 6 children of Gerald and Alice Kirwan of Liverpool and the favourite of the family. He was about to turn 21 when he was killed and had been an altar boy at mass that day. A devout Catholic, Gerald was to go into the priesthood after the war. My mother had baked a fruit cake and iced it for his birthday and my grandfather, a plumber, had sealed the tin with solder before posting. The cake was never returned, of course.
My grandmother swears, she saw Gerald come to the kitchen door and say 'Ta ra, Mam' just before they heard of his death.
Gerald was the middle son of 6 children of Gerald and Alice Kirwan of Liverpool and the favourite of the family. He was about to turn 21 when he was killed and had been an altar boy at mass that day. A devout Catholic, Gerald was to go into the priesthood after the war. My mother had baked a fruit cake and iced it for his birthday and my grandfather, a plumber, had sealed the tin with solder before posting. The cake was never returned, of course.
My grandmother swears, she saw Gerald come to the kitchen door and say 'Ta ra, Mam' just before they heard of his death.
556775 Trooper James Compton The Warwickshire Yeomanry
Taken from :
Yeoman yeoman: the Warwickshire Yeomanry, 1920-1956 Paul B. Baker Pge 90 Now the weather which had been so beautiful changed completely and heavy rain fell to make life more difficult and uncomfortable. So, in heavy rain, B and C Squadrons moved on towards Monteleone with B covering the Piegaro road where enemy tanks had been reported, incorrectly as it turned out. Meanwhile the 3rd Hussars with their Infantry had been held up at Città della Pieve. During the night of the 17th patrols had found the village of Piegaro clear of the enemy so the two Squadrons moved on through dismal weather to Route 71 amidst a certain amount of attention from enemy mortars and long range shells. That some enemy were still close at hand became abundantly clear when a C Squadron tank was hit by a bazooka shell and Sgt Hubbard ( 550793) and Trooper Compton were killed. |
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