Faugh a Ballagh …. To 🇮🇹

10th May 1944, General Oliver Leese at Venafro:
'A Press conference held at Tac H.Q. 8th Army.'
(IWM NA 14696/14697/14698 - Sgt. Johnson)
#Cassino

10th May 1944, 8th Army at Venafro:
'The Army Commander, General Oliver Leese, talking to War Correspondents during a Press conference held at Tac H.Q. 8th Army.'
(IWM NA 14695 - Sgt. Johnson)
#Cassino

It's been 80 years since our father and his friends first visited Casa Sinagoga on 16 May 1944 - so many of the lads were killed there that day.
We shall be returning to meet Franco & Clara Sinagoga next week (a reminder below of what we looked like in 2014 & one from May 1944).

10th/11th May 1944, Brigadier Scott at Presenzano:
'Our group included Rollo Baker (17 Fd Regiment), Arthur Welden (254 A/Tk Battery), ‘Ding Dong’ Bell (280 LAA Battery), Ronnie Denton (214 Fd Coy), Bob Lyttle (152 Fd Ambulance), D Coy Kensingtons & the addition of 16/5 Lancers.'

10th May 1944, 38 (Irish) Brigade south of Cassino:
'38 Brigade Group warned to move.
6 Innisks, 2 LIR, 1 RIrF, Brigade HQ, coy 152 Field Ambulance & B Squadron 16/5 Lancers to move at 2330 hrs for Divisional concentration area south of Presenzano.'

Five years since Charles Ward joined us at Cassino CWGC at the age of 100….

Great to see London Irish Rifles Sergeant Charles Ward going well and celebrating VE Day… it’s only been 84 1/2 years since he joined the LIR with my father in October 1939… a good man indeed.

8th May 1944, Major Lawrie Franklyn-Vaile 1 RIrF:
'After a strenuous spell 'in the line', most people were somewhat annoyed to be engaged in vigorous training. One rather tends to live from day to day because we never know what the future holds.'
irishbrigade.co.uk/eyewitness-acc…

79 years ago, my mother, Private Patricia Webb, was working the night shift somewhere in this building on 7/8 May 1945… she certainly did her bit while Dad was gallivanting somewhere near Udine after spending 30 months in 🇹🇳and 🇮🇹

On 8th May 1943, Lt. Col. T.P.D. Scott led 2 LIR through the streets of Tunis.
In May 1944, Pat Scott led the Irish Brigade during their D Day assault on the Gustav Line south of Cassino.
In May 1945, Brigadier Scott led the Irish Brigade into southern Austria.
Faugh a Ballagh.

8th May 1943, Tunis:
Imagine having a quiet drink in a cafe when this mob came into town. Mike Tasker leading the charge.
My father: 'The battalion marched in single file along both sides of the road. I remained in my three-tonner, which soon became be-decked with flowers.'

8th May 1944, Major Lawrie Franklyn-Vaile 1 RIrF:
'The weather has become very much hotter & I am getting brown again. We have had quite a strenuous period of training. There have been very big exercises & I have got still more practice in handling a Company.'

We’re looking forward to meeting all our friends on Saturday and Sunday in Castelforte.

Our plans:
12 May - Minturno CWGC/Castelforte.
13 May - Amazon Bridge/Abbey of St Benedict.
14 May - Cassino CWGC/Gari river to Piumarola.
15 May - German Cemetery at Caira/Anzio CWGC.
16 May - Casa Sinagoga.
All are welcome to join us at any time.
londonirishrifles.com/index.php/2024…

We shall be walking in the footsteps of our fathers and grandfathers next week.
Faugh a Ballagh
Quis Separabit
Nec Aspera Terrent

5th May 1944, Major Lawrie Franklyn-Vaile 1 RIrF:
'The reputation of the Coy stands extremely high at the moment. It is regarded as a really crack company & I think I can say without boasting that my stature in the Bttn is definitely high.
irishbrigade.co.uk/eyewitness-acc…

5th May 1944, Major Lawrie Franklyn-Vaile 1 RIrF:
'Today C Coy put on a demonstration for the Bttn. I gave the running commentary & it went off extremely well. The CO said afterwards that he had never seen it done so well as today - it was a highly satisfactory performance...'

We are looking forward to sharing in the commemorations for the Liberation of Castelforte on Saturday/Sunday 11/12 May.
We shall also be piping at Minturno CWGC Cemetery at 830am on Sunday 12 May.