We include the month by month details of the journey of the Irish Brigade from their arrival at Syracuse in Sicily during July 1943 to the time of the brigade’s advance to final victory in Northern Italy at the end of April 1945.
SICILY
The Irish Brigade spent most of July 1943 in continuing intensive training at Hammamet, and then moved to Sousse in preparation for embarkation. The 78th Division had been earmarked as the reserve division in support of 8th Army’s northerly advance from their landing beaches towards Messina……
FROM TERMOLI TO THE MORO
The Irish Brigade spent the first half of September continuing to recuperate near to Patti on the north coast of Sicily. A variety of training schemes was undertaken by officers and men at both battalion and brigade level, and a large intake of reinforcement drafts of men and officers joined all three battalions……
WINTERING IN THE APENNINES
The Irish Brigade spent January 1944 in various positions across the 8th Army’s defensive front in the Apennines of central Italy…..
CASSINO FRONT AND TRASIMENE
March 1944 would see the Irish Brigade, along with the rest of 78th Division, in full readiness to exploit any breakthrough of the Allied Armies into and along the Liri Valley. In preparation for this, the brigade spent the first part of the month taking part in extensive river training exercises on the Volturno river….
AT REST IN ROME AND EGYPT
After more than three months of intense front line action, early July 1944 saw the Irish Brigade travelling southwards, initially for two weeks of relaxation in the Tivoli area, before en-shipping for Egypt and arriving at Qassassin Camp, near the Suez Canal, at the end of the month…..
MONTE SPADURO AND WINTER IN THE MOUNTAINS
During October 1944, the Irish Brigade took part in a series of bitterly fought encounters during a period when they came under command of 5th Army in support of an advance towards Bologna. Determined German resistance had emerged at the Gothic Line which formed an almost impenetrable defensive barrier that impeded the plans for an advance onto the plains of northern Italy before winter….
THE SENIO FLOODBANK AND ARGENTA GAP
The Irish Brigade spent March 1945 both in and out of the line as the spring time warmth continued to dry the ground and the imminence of coming battle, perhaps the final one for the brigade, was clear to all….
