Irish Brigade, 1942-1947

Funnily, 2 LIR’s patrols on 15 Feb 1943 did invoke a couple of floral references:

Excellent. I wonder if my Dad, CQMS “Rosie” O’Sullivan and his mates appreciated this fact on 14 Feb 1943 when they were stuck on top of a hill (Stuka Ridge) without a red rose in sight.. though it is possible that Terence Milligan, nearby with the Royal Artillery, might have known the story…

London Pride: The London Territorials in WW1 In this episode of the Old Front Line podcast, host Paul Reed is joined by military historians Charles Fair, Richard Hendry, and Dr. Tom Thorpe to delve into the often-overlooked history of the London Territorial Force during the Great War. The discussion begins with an exploration of the origins and purpose of the Territorial Force, established in 1908, which served primarily for home defense before the war.

London Pride: The London Territorials in WW1

In this episode of the Old Front Line podcast, host Paul Reed is joined by military historians Charles Fair, Richard Hendry, and Dr. Tom Thorpe to delve into the often-overlooked history of the London Territorial Force during the Great War. The…

Thanks. Excellent. I would be interested in the chapter on the London Irish Rifles as no contact was actually made with the Regimental Museum by that chapter’s author. And Pat MacGill, though an outstanding writer, is a pretty unreliable historian. In 1914, the CO of the LIR was in fact Dublin born.

11 February 1945, 8th Army News - Rabbit Hole central.

82 years ago today, on 30 Dec 1943, General Montgomery's last day with 8th Army in Italy.
The Honour Guard was provided by a platoon of H Coy 2 LIR, & led by Lt Geoffrey Searles, who was an early-1940s' volunteer from the United States of America.
Image: IWM (NA 10334/10338/10340) - Captain Black.

Very good. Crash landed in WGP on 30 September 1940. A brisk 8 minute walk from where I now live.... and the photo was taken close to the current day statue, where the lads marked the founding of the Irish Guards in April 2025... QS

Many thanks. I hope you're enjoying balmy Chichester.
Pat Scott on 31 Dec '44: "At midnight, the Bosche also decided that something was necessary to mark the occasion & fired off everything he had straight into the air. It was a magnificent display of fireworks & much appreciated by both sides."

Very good… a good listen indeed. thank you. Greetings from a fellow Windsorian (albeit only for the past 35 years)… my Dad and his mates also had a quiet 25 December in 1944 in the snowy Apennines.. football wasn’t quite on the agenda.

Sunny Italy, on 12 Dec 1943 near Campobasso: CSM George Charnick, Sgt Eddie Mayo, Sgt "Jock" McNally, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan, Lt Trevor Wilson, Capt Pat Giles & Capt Gerald Fitzgerald. By April 1945, this group will have accumulated 2 MCs, 3 MMs, an American Silver Star & 6 MiD.

8 December 1980: a day remembered for the most tragic reasons. A few hours earlier, I had attended a rock show at Lancaster University…

I thought the cat ate all the cheese!!

Found this in the London Irish Rifles’ Museum yesterday… my father CQMS Edmund O’Sullivan, from Algiers to Austria. Faugh a Ballagh !

13th August 2025 at Maletto:
Grateful thanks & admiration go out to the townspeople of Maletto who continue to honour the fallen men who helped to liberate their town in August 1943.

13th August 1943, 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers
In memory of Edward Graham - & fond greetings to Edward & Sydney Graham who have just celebrated their 82nd birthday.
Faugh a Ballagh

13th August 1943, Remembering Fusilier Edward Graham at Maletto:

13th August 1943, 1 RIrF at Maletto:
"Died on this Day:
Fusilier Edward Graham
Lieutenant William Bolton, Royal Irish Fusiliers.
Fusilier Thomas Baybutt, Royal Irish Fusiliers."

The Faughs – Advance to Randazzo At 530pm on 12th August, Lieutenant Alex Smyth, who was IO at Brigade HQ, arrived with orders that we were to be relieved by the Argylls after dark and were to push on down the

13th August 1943, 1 RIrF on the Maletto to Randazzo road:
"The difficulty of walking over lava in the daytime has to be experienced to be believed; at night, it is almost impossible."
www.irishbrigade.co.uk/original-war...

13th August 1943, 1 RIrF on the Maletto-Randazzo road:
"0130 - Remainder of bttn, moved off down the road. When 3 miles from the final objective, the leading platoons of B Coy under Lieut Bolton ran into an ambush, three were killed & four seriously wounded by about four MG34s."

"August 1943, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan 2 LIR at Maletto:
I heard sad news. One of my friends, Corporal James Murtagh from Lurgan, had died of gangrene after sustaining a shrapnel wound earlier.
He was a brave man who was awarded the MM for his actions at Maletto."

12th August 1943, 2 LIR at Maletto:
"2330 - 1 RIrF, having gained their objectives during the day, pass through our lines moving up the main road to Randazzo."
A/Major J Fitzgerald (a solicitor from Dublin) killed in action."

Battle of Maletto During the afternoon of 11th August, the battalion moved to an assembly area south of Bronte 772410. Recces were being carried out for a night attack on the town of Maletto and the surrounding feature...

12th/13th August 1943, 2 LIR at Maletto:
"At midnight, E & F Coys were relieved by the 8 A & SH and came into reserve, G Coy remaining in position on Sperina till next day."
www.irishbrigade.co.uk/original-war...

12th/13th August 1943, 2nd Bn. London Irish Rifles at Maletto:
"The platoons advanced towards the objective, first meeting enfilade MG fire from the right flank, but due to the determination & leadership of the Platoon Commanders, all the objectives were reached."

The Faughs – Attack on Maletto The advance of the 78th Division beyond the Simeto valley was in no way easier than before: only one road was available along the western slopes of Mount Etna. On either side of it, there

12th/13th August 1943, 1 RIrF at Maletto:
"As the day wore on, enemy fire increased and accurate sniping began to take its toll..."
www.irishbrigade.co.uk/original-war...

12th/13th August 1943, 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers at Maletto:
"At 230am on the 12th, the barrage came down & the leading Coys moved off. C Coy was on the right & A Coy on the left. The barrage was well put down & enabled A & C Coys to get right up to the foot of the hill before fire was opened."

Attack on Maletto and advance to Randazzo The 11th and 36th Brigades carried on the battle from August 6th to August 11th and pushed the enemy well north of Bronte, but it was now the turn of the Irish Brigade, well rested

12th/13th August 1943, Brigadier Nelson Russell at Maletto:
"This concluded the fighting of the Irish Brigade in the Sicilian campaign. Total casualties were 25 officers, and 365 other ranks."
www.irishbrigade.co.uk/brigadier-na...

12th/13th August 1943, 38 (Irish) Brigade at Maletto west of Mt Etna:
"Plans were made for the capture of Maletto, the last town on the way to Randazzo, where it was hoped to join up with the American 1st Division."

The 6th Inniskillings were among the first troops to enter the town and are seen looking over the rough country from which the Germans had retreated. Both the 2nd and 6th Battalions of the Inniskillings took part in the invasion of Italy and the subsequent hard fighting as the Allied armies advanced slowly up the peninsula in the face of stiff German resistance. NAM Accession Number: NAM. 1999-03-88-34

2nd/3rd August 1943, Lt Percy Hamilton 6 Innisks at Centuripe:
"Another thing – at no time before or after the battle did I ever hear the troops call the place, ‘Cherry Ripe’, the name given to it by some misinformed correspondent."

Men of the 6th Inniskillings, 38th Irish Brigade, searching houses during mopping up operations in Centuripe. Image: IWM (NA 5388) - Sgt. Gade

2nd/3rd August 1943, Lt Percy Hamilton 6 Innisks at Centuripe:
"One of our officers posed in front of a door as if just bursting into it; another told the fellow if he wanted action photos, he could come & get them when there was some action on."

Bren carriers bringing supplies into the town. Image: IWM (NA 5393) - Sgt. Wackett

Image: IWM (NA 5394) - Sgt. Wackett

2nd/3rd August 1943, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan 2 LIR at Centuripe:
"I followed closely behind & 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."