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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 30

I thought the cat ate all the cheese!!

Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 30

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

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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.

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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."

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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...

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

www.irishbrigade.co.uk

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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."

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

"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."

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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."

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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...

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...

www.irishbrigade.co.uk

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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."

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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...

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

www.irishbrigade.co.uk

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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."

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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...

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

www.irishbrigade.co.uk

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 13

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."

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 2

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."

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

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 2

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."

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

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 2

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."

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

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 2

2nd/3rd August 1943, 38 (Irish) Brigade in Sicily;
"Centuripe was in our hands.
It was a difficult operation in difficult country against a determined enemy...."

Bren gun position on outskirts of town.
Image: IWM (NA 5386) - Sgt. Gade

Italian civilians greet a British Tommy.
Image: IWM (NA 5392) - Sgt. Wackett

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 1

1st August 1943, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan 2 LIR in Sicily:
"The Irish Brigade advanced steadily, passing through the town of Catenanuova.
Here we became infantry once more & prepared for our attack on the centre of the enemy line at Centuripe. I served the company by jeep."

Troops crossing a Bailey bridge during the advance. This bridge was hit time and time again by enemy artillery and was erected five times before our position was stabilised.
Image: IWM (NA 5384) - Sgt. Gade

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Aug 1

82 years ago today, on 1st August 1943, my father & his mates from 2 LIR were readying themselves for their first battle in Europe.
"1600 - Bttn moves down from the hills to almond groves west of Catenanuova.
1900 - Bttn warned to move for probable night attack on Centuripe."

Carriers and troops of the 6th Inniskillings, 78th Division move up to Catenanuova
Image: IWM (NA 5399) - Sgt. Wackett

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Jul 29

While glancing at ITV today, I was reminded that my father & the lads from 2 LIR were en-camped at Glorious Goodwood (House) 84 years ago, during the summer of 1941 - guarding the airfield at Tangmere & the beach at Climping. Dad sitting next to Cpl. Nigel Stock in the photo.

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Jul 28

My father spent a total of 59 days in Sicily in 1943, before leaving the port of Milazzo bound for Taranto...
The story of the Irish Brigade's time on the island can be viewed here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmO...

All My Brothers - Part 3

YouTube video by The Second World War History Channel

www.youtube.com

Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · Jul 28

July 1945, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan:
"My mother said: ‘Why don’t you go round & ask her to the cinema?’
That evening, we went to the Astoria & we arranged a few more dates. Pat made my leave & I was very attached to her.
When it expired, I said goodbye & promised to write.”

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