The invasion of Sicily, known as Operation Husky, took place exactly 80 years ago and the recollections of that time remains especially vivid for families of the fallen as well as the local people on the island who greeted Allied soldiers as liberators.
The memory of James Murtagh, a 31 year old Rifleman from Lurgan, co Armagh who died while serving with the London Irish Rifles in Sicily during August 1943, is also remembered by members of their Regimental Association.
By 12 August 1943, the 38 day long Sicilian campaign was in its last few days. Airborne and sea landings on the south/south eastern coast in early July had been the first steps onto European shores that would eventually lead to full and final victory in May 1945.
For men of the 2nd Bn. London Irish Rifles (2 LIR), their task on that Thursday morning in August 1943 was to fight their way onto the summit of 2,000 foot Monte Sperina which overlooked the town of Maletto on the western foothills of Mt Etna.
The Battalion included men from all parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland and formed part of 38 (Irish) Brigade alongside men of the 6th Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. The Brigade had fought three major battles during the previous fortnight in blistering summer heat as they advanced northwards from the hill-top town of Centuripe. The attack on Sperina went in successfully despite desperate last ditch German defences and all their objectives were achieved, which allowed a final advance towards Randazzo to meet up with American forces advancing from the west.
A number of casualties were suffered by 2 LIR at Sperina, including six Riflemen who were killed, and among them were two men who hailed from Lurgan. One was 29 year old Rifleman Felix Creaney who was killed in action and another Lurgan-born man was Rifleman James Murtagh, who was wounded during the attack.
James would be immediately evacuated to Libya for medical treatment but died on route to hospital on 15 August 1943. His death was keenly felt by his friends in the Battalion as noted by CQMS Edmund O’Sullivan in his memoirs:
”My friend James Murtagh had died of gangrene after sustaining a shrapnel wound earlier. He was a brave man.”
James Murtagh’s valour at Monte Sperina was also formally recognised and 2 LIR’s Commanding Officer, Lt Colonel Harry Rogers, recommended him for a Military Medal (MM).
“Rfn Murtagh was the Bren Gunner of the leading section in the attack on Sperina on 12 Aug ’43. His platoon was held up by an enemy MG post halfway up a bare coverless slope. Rfn Murtagh immediately engaged the enemy MG post and, although in a very exposed position, silenced it and enabled the platoon to continue its advance, but in doing so he was wounded.
Rfn Murtagh, though wounded, continued to give covering fire for this section throughout a further advance and only gave up when his platoon had successfully reached their objective.
He showed courage and determination of a high order and was a splendid example to all. I strongly recommend the immediate award of the MM.”
Following his death, the MM recommendation was later confirmed by Generals Montgomery and Alexander and the formal notice of the award was included in the London Gazette on 18 November 1943. By that time, 38 (Irish) Brigade had already advanced to the Sangro river on the Adriatic coast of peninsular Italy.
James Murtagh’s friends were not made aware of the award of the MM at the time and nor, in fact, was the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) as his grave headstone and the CWGC’s data base records did not include mention of the MM for over 70 years.
It was only in 2016 that research by the London Irish Rifles Museum uncovered the omission and contacted the CWGC, who immediately corrected their records. Unfortunately, it would take another seven years before a replacement headstone could be placed at James’s final resting place in Tripoli. It was therefore most fitting that a picture of the newly erected headstone was recently received in July 2023 by CQMS O’Sullivan’s sons, Edmund and Richard, when they were again visiting Sicily.
The heroism of so many young men who died during the fight against Nazi tyranny may be gradually fading from the collective memory but the local townspeople of Maletto have certainly not forgotten James Murtagh, Felix Creaney and their comrades. In September 2022, a Memorial for men of 38 (Irish) Brigade was unveiled by the Mayor of Maletto during a pilgrimage to the town by members of the London Irish Rifles Regimental Association. It is clear that the full story of James Murtagh’s heroic actions at Maletto can be treasured for future generations.
Although the headstone at Tripoli CWGC cemetery does not include an epitaph, some appropriate words could be stated on our behalf:
“James sacrificed everything to secure the future of his family and friends and for future generations…He gave his life for us all.”