Posts Tagged ‘Cassino’
The Irishmen who fought at Cassino
More than 100,000 men from the island of Ireland served with the Allied Forces during the Second World War. When the 38th (Irish) Infantry Brigade was formed in early 1942, a significant number of the men serving within its three constituent infantry battalions were either Irish born or had direct ancestry connections to Ireland. Brigadier…
Read MorePreparing for the storm at Monte Trocchio in May 1944
Monte Trocchio, at over 400 metres, proved an excellent viewing platform for the Allies in early 1944 after it had been first occupied by American forward units in the middle of January. During the Cassino campaign, it was used by Air Force spotters, nicknamed ‘Rover David’, that were able to call up sorties when requested…
Read MoreO Group in the Liri Valley and the death of Colonel Goff in May 1944
A group of London Irishmen recently re-traced the movements of 2 LIR to the exact point where they had concentrated on the afternoon of 15th May 1944 as they prepared for an attack against German forces along the Gustav Line. At about 2pm that day, an artillery strike hit the battalion’s ‘O’ Group that was…
Read MorePeace Bells at San Angelo
On the afternoon of 14th May 1944, the Irish Brigade started their crossing of the Gari river as they moved forward, along with the rest of 78th Infantry Division, to continue the attack on the German defensive positions across the Liri valley. The Irish Brigade’s crossing point was Congo Bridge, which had been the second…
Read MoreRemembering the fallen at Cassino
The London Irish Rifles/Royal Fusiliers group visited the CWGC Cemetery at Cassino for a commemorative ceremony in memory of the 4,000 men who are buried and more than 4,000 others, who are named on the twenty four memorial panels in the cemetery. The ceremony was held in full tribute with inspired pipe and bugler support…
Read MoreThe life and legacy of Major John E McNally MC
Duncan McNally has kindly sent us further details about his father, Major JE McNally MC. We would like to thank Duncan, his mother Elisabeth, and his two sisters for their kind permission to add this story to the Irish Brigade website. “Like many in the Irish Brigade, Dad was not born an Irishman, and was…
Read MorePrince Harry at Cassino ceremony 2014
A party of London Irishmen and Royal Fusiliers attended a British Service of Remembrance to Commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Italian Campaign, which was held at Cassino CWGC Cemetery on 19th May 2014. In attendance was His Royal Highness, Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales and government officials from Commonwealth nations whose men served in…
Read MoreLondon Irish commanding officer Ion Goff remembered
Lieutenant Colonel Ion Goff, who was killed by shellfire in the Liri valley on the afternoon of 15 May 1944 during the fourth battle of Cassino, was the only commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, London Irish Rifles (2 LIR) to have been killed in action during its 30 months of campaigning in Tunisia and…
Read MoreAnzio
On 22nd January 1944, Allied Forces, led by two American and British infantry divisions, landed at the coastal port area of Anzio-Nettuno. The plan had been that this outflanking sea landing would force German forces to withdraw from their strongly held defensive positions on the Gari and Garigliano rivers. In fact, this did not materialise…
Read MoreVisit to Casa Sinagoga in the Liri valley
Following the review of the area where 2 LIR had held their ‘O’ Group on the afternoon of 15th May 1944, the London Irish Rifles group followed the line of attack for the battalion on the morning of 16th May. After the death of their Commanding Officer, Ion Goff, the previous day, there was some…
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