Posts by Edmund O'Sullivan
Reflections on Fusilier George Holmes’ time with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
A visit to eastern Italy in May 2022, an account by Gillian Morrison. Although my travelling companion, Diana, and I arrived in the Abruzzo region on the Adriatic coast of Italy on Friday 29th April, my major quest, and the main purpose of my visit to this area, didn’t start in earnest until Monday 2nd…
Read MoreIrish Brigade Films to complete final two parts in its documentary series
The Irish Brigade Films team flies to Italy on 4 July to carry out on-location filming for the final two parts of All My Brothers, a documentary series about 38 (Irish) Brigade in the Second World War. The first six parts covered the Irish Brigade’s role in the campaigns in Tunisia, Sicily, along the Adriatic…
Read MoreTwo Skins killed together in Italy.
On 30th December 1943, a patrol of Inniskillings was sent out in blizzard conditions from the mountain fastness of Capracotta which, at 5,000 feet above sea level, looks down over the valley of the upper Sangro river. Two men from the patrol to Guidre, Captain Joe Beglin and Corporal David Marshall, would be killed on…
Read MoreThe Faughs at the Trigno river, 27th/28th October 1943
Brigadier Nelson described the background to the Irish Brigade’s assault on the hill top town pf San Salvo, three miles north of the River Trigno close to the Adriatic coast of eastern Italy: “The Bosche did not hold the river line either on the Trigno or the Sangro. His main defences were about three miles…
Read MoreCaptain Michael Tasker in Tunisia and Italy
We were pleased to see the story of Michael Tasker being featured in the recent BBC documentary series, ‘A House Through Time’ and noted the references to his service with the 2nd Battalion London Irish Rifles (2 LIR) during the Second World War. In the making of the programme, we were able to help the…
Read MoreCQMS O’Sullivan crossing the Trigno river
“At that time, the Trigno was only about 20 or 30 yards wide and generally less than a foot deep. Its mighty bridge, which catered for a raging torrent, was about 600 yards long but about 50 yards was blown in the middle. E Company was sent to relieve the Faughs at the bridgehead. I…
Read MoreMajor Desmond Woods at the Trigno river
Major Desmond Woods MC joined 2 LIR after the battles near Termoli and was almost immediately leading a patrol forward from Petacciato to guard a newly built bailey bridge over the Trigno river. “Well, to cut a long story short, the Irish Brigade, as it approached the Trigno… the Germans must have got wind that…
Read MoreDesmond Fay at Monte Spaduro
In October 1944, the Irish Brigade were involved in desperate fighting north of Florence in the mountainous area near Monte Spaduro. Amongst those present at Spaduro was a young lieutenant, Desmond Fay, who was awarded a bar to the Military Cross for his extraordinary courage: “On 23 Oct ’44, Lt Fay was ordered to take a recce…
Read MoreLieutenant Nick Mosley at Monte Spaduro
Lieutenant Nicholas Mosley joined the 2nd Battalion, London Irish Rifles (2 LIR) during December 1943 and stayed with the battalion until the end of the war in Italy. He was platoon commander in E Company during the winter period in the Apennines of central Italy before the battalion moved to the Cassino front in March.…
Read MoreFusilier Christopher Mangan in Italy and Austria
We have been contacted by the family of Fusilier Christopher Mangan who served in Italy and Austria with the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (1 RIrF). In their notes to us, Christopher’s son, Philip, and grandson, Shane, have provided details of his service record but, although most elements are clear, Shane continues to uncover further…
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