Invasion of Sicily 1943
Appreciate the reasons for Operation HUSKY in July 1943. Visit the landing sites at Avola and Gela. Understand the challenges the British faced at Primosole Bridge, the Canadians at Agira and the Americans at Troina. Recognise the success Axis Forces had in withdrawing across the Messina Straits.
Sense the urgency that planners were under in putting together the largest amphibious landing the Allies had undertaken. Hear of the lessons that the American and British airborne forces learnt from the campaign. From the hilltop towns in the centre of the island look at the Allies’ development of the campaign. Feel the rivalry between Montgomery and Patton and how this affects decision making. View the Sferro Hills battlefield and visit the 51st Highland Division Memorial. Witness the skilful defence undertaken by the German Forces under General Hube around Mount Etna. Marvel at the feats of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division’s ‘Hasty Pees’ at Assoro and the 38th Irish Brigade's amazing feat of arms in seizing Centuripe. Remember the brave Canadian soldiers who fought at Agira through the beautiful Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery. Visit both the excellent museum in Catania and the German Cemetery at Motta San Anastasia. Consider the role of the Allied Military Government of the Occupied Territories and the resurgence of the Mafia.
Historically, we always drank more Sicilian wine than we knew - for the reds were used to beef up Bordeaux and others, while the whites were fortified into Masala for the Royal Navy. Even today this ‘continent of wine’ produces more than South Africa, yet behind the sheer scale lies a myriad of styles and grapes grown in all manner of soils from sea level to the slopes of Mount Etna. Tasting the best of Etna Rosso, which we will do, you’ll see why these elegant, perfumed wines have been called the Burgundy of the Mediterranean. And so different from the dark, muscular Nero d’Avolas we will try earlier from the grape’s birthplace of Avola, or the spicy, fragrant Frappatos from that other Allied landing site of Gela, or whites like Zibibbo or the citrusy Carricante used in Etna Bianco.
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51st Highland Division in Sicily
When re-visiting the battlefields of Sicily recently, I set about following the campaign of my wife’s grandfather who commanded 152 Brigade, part of 51st Highland Division. I had been given his copy of the ‘History of the 51st Highland Division 1939-1945’, R B Salmon (1953) and the chapter entitled ‘TheThirty-Nine Days’ covered the campaign in the detail I needed. It included the image of the Divisional Memorial at Sferro, which I was to locate. I knew 51st Highland Division to be a Territorial Division that had been reconstituted after Dunkirk, before being sent to North Africa where it played a decisive role in 8th Army’s victories. Limited training time was available to prepare for the amphibious operations and the fighting that would take place over the very different terrain of Sicily, but they were commanded by Major General Douglas Wimberley who had the reputation as a fearless leader and a superb motivator of men. For good reasons Brigadier Gordon MacMillan did not take command of 152 Brigade until 19 days before the landings and so had to rely, to a large degree, on the preparations that had already been put in place.
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Borghetti Associates provides expert guided tours of the Italian battlefields of the First and Second World Wars.