A day by day consolidation of the war diaries of the Irish Brigade HQ and the three individual rifle battalions following their journey from Algiers to Austria.
Operations in Tunisia continued and the British First Army was engaged at Longstop Hill east of Medjez-el-Bab. Bad weather was also experienced around that time and mud hampered large scale movement by heavy vehicles, 25 December 1942.
All 3 battalions of the Irish Brigade fighting at Two Tree Hill, Grandstand and Hill 286.
A forward observation post held by the Germans was known as ‘Two Tree’ Hill as on its highest point two trees grew. It was important to take the hill as it had advantageous position commanding all the approaches for many miles around, 10 January 1943.
Assaults on the Djebels north of Medjez-el-Bab at Jebel Mahdi and then at Ang, Tanngoucha and Heidous.
After a violent assault by artillery and mortar fire, the mountain village of Heidous was secured on Easter Sunday. The village is little more than a heap of ruins and here personnel of the RAMC are searching the remains of the houses for casualties, 27 April 1945.
Resting and renewed training in Guelma in Algeria.
At 1800 hours, the Pipes and Drums of the 38th Irish Infantry Brigade under Pipe Major Evans and wearing traditional dress, played the Retreat and several Irish Airs before an audience of Officers and Men of the Brigade and British nurses from a nearby Military Hospital near to Guelma, 2 June 1945.
Fighting advance from Centuripe to Randazzo. The Irish Brigade’s leading role in the 78th Division’s advance from Catenanuova through Centuripe, over the Salso and Simetto rivers and then on to Maletto, its final major engagement of the Sicilian campaign.
Bren gun position on outskirts of Centuripe, 3 August 1943.
Rfn. J. Furnell of Southampton, the smallest and youngest man in the 2 LIR and incidentally the battalion mascot, with Rfn. Swift of Manchester, manning a machine gun built from the parts of five captured enemy guns – ‘E’ Coy near to Termoli, 13 October 1943.
Transport is one of the greatest problems on a shallow front overlooked by the enemy. Vehicles are here seen clustered along the base of the escarpment, below Mozzagrogna, 29 November 1943.
Fighting adavances to the Moro River before moving back to rest for 3 weeks at Campobasso.
Rfn. W.E. Tudor, S Coy., A/Tk PI.2 Btn. London Irish of Birkenhead, inspects a German anti-tank weapon abandoned at Rocca S. Giovanni. It was a 37 mm gun which fired a heavy bomb of the type seen on the ground besides the gun, 3 December 1943.
General Sir Oliver Leese talking to Major E.D. Danby of Vancouver, Carleton and Yorks Regiment, Brigadier Gibson and General Allfrey are seen in the picture, 7 January 1944.
General Charles Keightley, the CO of the British 78th Infantry Division and General Wladyslaw Anders discussing positions on a map outside General Keightley’s dugout. They are accompanied by Lieutenant Eugeniusz Lubomirski, General Anders’ adjutant, 5 April 1944.
Continuing raids in the mountains and readying for relief..
The stretch of valley through which runs the river Sillaro and the road to S. Clemente, a village well within range of enemy shellfire, is covered by a smoke screen. This screen is maintained by men of the 53rd L.A.A. Regiment, R.A., who work about 1,000 yards from the nearest enemy, 22 January 1945.
Advancing from the Santerno river to Argenta and onto the Po for Final Victory.
A Priest Kangaroo personnel carrier of 209th Self-Propelled Battery, Royal Artillery, transports infantry of 78th Division near Conselice, 13 April 1945.
