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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947

@irishbrigade.bsky.social
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Richard. Following the journey of my father, Edmund O'Sullivan, who served with the 2nd Bn. London Irish Rifles as part of 38 (Irish) Brigade during the Second World War. From Algiers to Villach.

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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Very good. Crossing the Straits of Messina. IWM (NA 6210, 6212) - Major Geoffrey Keating.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
5 June 1944: IWM TR 1840/1853 - Capt. Alfred Tanner.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Indeed. I distinctly remember my mother unplugged it during a t’storm when I was watching the footie at home in Slough on the afternoon of 30 July 1966… but only for some part of the first half if my memory serves me well.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Bob Alexander to the right of Blair Mayne was killed in Sicily in July 1943..
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Some familiar names and faces that day....
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Thank you. My father served with Charles Reidy in the London Irish Rifles in the UK and North Africa during 1942/43. Captain Reidy lost the sight of one eye due to wounds suffered on Stuka Ridge in Tunisia on 26 Feb 1943.. but, after recovering, would later become the Irish National Hammer Champion.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Funnily, 2 LIR’s patrols on 15 Feb 1943 did invoke a couple of floral references:
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Excellent. I wonder if my Dad, CQMS “Rosie” O’Sullivan and his mates appreciated this fact on 14 Feb 1943 when they were stuck on top of a hill (Stuka Ridge) without a red rose in sight.. though it is possible that Terence Milligan, nearby with the Royal Artillery, might have known the story…
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Reposted by Irish Brigade, 1942-1947
Paul Reed @sommecourt.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
London Pride: The London Territorials in WW1 In this episode of the Old Front Line podcast, host Paul Reed is joined by military historians Charles Fair, Richard Hendry, and Dr. Tom Thorpe to delve into the often-overlooked history of the London Territorial Force during the Great War. The…
oldfrontline.co.uk
London Pride: The London Territorials in WW1
In this episode of the Old Front Line podcast, host Paul Reed is joined by military historians Charles Fair, Richard Hendry, and Dr. Tom Thorpe to delve into the often-overlooked history of the London Territorial Force during the Great War. The discussion begins with an exploration of the origins and purpose of the Territorial Force, established in 1908, which served primarily for home defense before the war.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Thanks. Excellent. I would be interested in the chapter on the London Irish Rifles as no contact was actually made with the Regimental Museum by that chapter’s author. And Pat MacGill, though an outstanding writer, is a pretty unreliable historian. In 1914, the CO of the LIR was in fact Dublin born.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
11 February 1945, 8th Army News - Rabbit Hole central.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
82 years ago today, on 30 Dec 1943, General Montgomery's last day with 8th Army in Italy. The Honour Guard was provided by a platoon of H Coy 2 LIR, & led by Lt Geoffrey Searles, who was an early-1940s' volunteer from the United States of America. Image: IWM (NA 10334/10338/10340) - Captain Black.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 27/12/2025
Very good. Crash landed in WGP on 30 September 1940. A brisk 8 minute walk from where I now live.... and the photo was taken close to the current day statue, where the lads marked the founding of the Irish Guards in April 2025... QS
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
Many thanks. I hope you're enjoying balmy Chichester. Pat Scott on 31 Dec '44: "At midnight, the Bosche also decided that something was necessary to mark the occasion & fired off everything he had straight into the air. It was a magnificent display of fireworks & much appreciated by both sides."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
Very good… a good listen indeed. thank you. Greetings from a fellow Windsorian (albeit only for the past 35 years)… my Dad and his mates also had a quiet 25 December in 1944 in the snowy Apennines.. football wasn’t quite on the agenda.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Sunny Italy, on 12 Dec 1943 near Campobasso: CSM George Charnick, Sgt Eddie Mayo, Sgt "Jock" McNally, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan, Lt Trevor Wilson, Capt Pat Giles & Capt Gerald Fitzgerald. By April 1945, this group will have accumulated 2 MCs, 3 MMs, an American Silver Star & 6 MiD.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
8 December 1980: a day remembered for the most tragic reasons. A few hours earlier, I had attended a rock show at Lancaster University…
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
I thought the cat ate all the cheese!!
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
Found this in the London Irish Rifles’ Museum yesterday… my father CQMS Edmund O’Sullivan, from Algiers to Austria. Faugh a Ballagh !
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
13th August 2025 at Maletto: Grateful thanks & admiration go out to the townspeople of Maletto who continue to honour the fallen men who helped to liberate their town in August 1943.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
13th August 1943, 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers In memory of Edward Graham - & fond greetings to Edward & Sydney Graham who have just celebrated their 82nd birthday. Faugh a Ballagh
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
13th August 1943, Remembering Fusilier Edward Graham at Maletto:
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
13th August 1943, 1 RIrF at Maletto: "Died on this Day: Fusilier Edward Graham Lieutenant William Bolton, Royal Irish Fusiliers. Fusilier Thomas Baybutt, Royal Irish Fusiliers."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
13th August 1943, 1 RIrF on the Maletto to Randazzo road: "The difficulty of walking over lava in the daytime has to be experienced to be believed; at night, it is almost impossible." www.irishbrigade.co.uk/original-war...
irishbrigade.co.uk
The Faughs – Advance to Randazzo
At 530pm on 12th August, Lieutenant Alex Smyth, who was IO at Brigade HQ, arrived with orders that we were to be relieved by the Argylls after dark and were to push on down the
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
13th August 1943, 1 RIrF on the Maletto-Randazzo road: "0130 - Remainder of bttn, moved off down the road. When 3 miles from the final objective, the leading platoons of B Coy under Lieut Bolton ran into an ambush, three were killed & four seriously wounded by about four MG34s."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
"August 1943, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan 2 LIR at Maletto: I heard sad news. One of my friends, Corporal James Murtagh from Lurgan, had died of gangrene after sustaining a shrapnel wound earlier. He was a brave man who was awarded the MM for his actions at Maletto."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
12th August 1943, 2 LIR at Maletto: "2330 - 1 RIrF, having gained their objectives during the day, pass through our lines moving up the main road to Randazzo." A/Major J Fitzgerald (a solicitor from Dublin) killed in action."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
12th/13th August 1943, 2 LIR at Maletto: "At midnight, E & F Coys were relieved by the 8 A & SH and came into reserve, G Coy remaining in position on Sperina till next day." www.irishbrigade.co.uk/original-war...
irishbrigade.co.uk
Battle of Maletto
During the afternoon of 11th August, the battalion moved to an assembly area south of Bronte 772410. Recces were being carried out for a night attack on the town of Maletto and the surrounding feature...
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
12th/13th August 1943, 2nd Bn. London Irish Rifles at Maletto: "The platoons advanced towards the objective, first meeting enfilade MG fire from the right flank, but due to the determination & leadership of the Platoon Commanders, all the objectives were reached."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
12th/13th August 1943, 1 RIrF at Maletto: "As the day wore on, enemy fire increased and accurate sniping began to take its toll..." www.irishbrigade.co.uk/original-war...
irishbrigade.co.uk
The Faughs – Attack on Maletto
The advance of the 78th Division beyond the Simeto valley was in no way easier than before: only one road was available along the western slopes of Mount Etna. On either side of it, there
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
12th/13th August 1943, 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers at Maletto: "At 230am on the 12th, the barrage came down & the leading Coys moved off. C Coy was on the right & A Coy on the left. The barrage was well put down & enabled A & C Coys to get right up to the foot of the hill before fire was opened."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
12th/13th August 1943, Brigadier Nelson Russell at Maletto: "This concluded the fighting of the Irish Brigade in the Sicilian campaign. Total casualties were 25 officers, and 365 other ranks." www.irishbrigade.co.uk/brigadier-na...
irishbrigade.co.uk
Attack on Maletto and advance to Randazzo
The 11th and 36th Brigades carried on the battle from August 6th to August 11th and pushed the enemy well north of Bronte, but it was now the turn of the Irish Brigade, well rested
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
12th/13th August 1943, 38 (Irish) Brigade at Maletto west of Mt Etna: "Plans were made for the capture of Maletto, the last town on the way to Randazzo, where it was hoped to join up with the American 1st Division."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
2nd/3rd August 1943, Lt Percy Hamilton 6 Innisks at Centuripe: "Another thing – at no time before or after the battle did I ever hear the troops call the place, ‘Cherry Ripe’, the name given to it by some misinformed correspondent."
The 6th Inniskillings were among the first troops to enter the town and are seen looking over the rough country from which the Germans had retreated. Both the 2nd and 6th Battalions of the Inniskillings took part in the invasion of Italy and the subsequent hard fighting as the Allied armies advanced slowly up the peninsula in the face of stiff German resistance.
NAM Accession Number: NAM. 1999-03-88-34
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
2nd/3rd August 1943, Lt Percy Hamilton 6 Innisks at Centuripe: "One of our officers posed in front of a door as if just bursting into it; another told the fellow if he wanted action photos, he could come & get them when there was some action on."
Men of the 6th Inniskillings, 38th Irish Brigade, searching houses during mopping up operations in Centuripe.
Image: IWM (NA 5388) - Sgt. Gade
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
2nd/3rd August 1943, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan 2 LIR at Centuripe: "I followed closely behind & entered the town in the early morning of its capture. I was not allowed to progress beyond the town walls as the battalion had to clear up pockets of resistance."
Bren carriers bringing supplies into the town.
Image: IWM (NA 5393) - Sgt. WackettImage: IWM (NA 5394) - Sgt. Wackett
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
2nd/3rd August 1943, 38 (Irish) Brigade in Sicily; "Centuripe was in our hands. It was a difficult operation in difficult country against a determined enemy...."
Bren gun position on outskirts of town.
Image: IWM (NA 5386) - Sgt. GadeItalian civilians greet a British Tommy.
Image: IWM (NA 5392) - Sgt. Wackett
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
1st August 1943, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan 2 LIR in Sicily: "The Irish Brigade advanced steadily, passing through the town of Catenanuova. Here we became infantry once more & prepared for our attack on the centre of the enemy line at Centuripe. I served the company by jeep."
Troops crossing a Bailey bridge during the advance. This bridge was hit time and time again by enemy artillery and was erected five times before our position was stabilised.
Image: IWM (NA 5384) - Sgt. Gade
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
82 years ago today, on 1st August 1943, my father & his mates from 2 LIR were readying themselves for their first battle in Europe. "1600 - Bttn moves down from the hills to almond groves west of Catenanuova. 1900 - Bttn warned to move for probable night attack on Centuripe."
Carriers and troops of the 6th Inniskillings, 78th Division move up to Catenanuova
Image: IWM (NA 5399) - Sgt. Wackett
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
While glancing at ITV today, I was reminded that my father & the lads from 2 LIR were en-camped at Glorious Goodwood (House) 84 years ago, during the summer of 1941 - guarding the airfield at Tangmere & the beach at Climping. Dad sitting next to Cpl. Nigel Stock in the photo.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
My father spent a total of 59 days in Sicily in 1943, before leaving the port of Milazzo bound for Taranto... The story of the Irish Brigade's time on the island can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOmO...
youtube.com
All My Brothers - Part 3
YouTube video by The Second World War History Channel
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
July 1945, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan: "My mother said: ‘Why don’t you go round & ask her to the cinema?’ That evening, we went to the Astoria & we arranged a few more dates. Pat made my leave & I was very attached to her. When it expired, I said goodbye & promised to write.”
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
In July 1945, my father would meet my mother while on leave in London: "I saw a smartly-dressed young lady whom I recognised as Pat Webb. We chatted & I walked her home. We had a lot in common. She had been at school with me at Corpus Christi & near me later at the Oratory girls’ school...."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
While my father was landing in Sicily with the Irish Brigade, my mother, Patricia, was celebrating her 24th birthday while working with Southern Command at Wilton House near Salisbury... Glenn Miller would have to wait until she transferred to the War Office in 1945.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
28th July 1943, CQMS Edmund O'Sullivan 2 LIR in Sicily "As we moved through the countryside, we were struck by its natural beauty... our welcome was subdued, as the people were obviously uncertain whether we were friend or foe."
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
82 years ago, on 28 July 1943, my father & his mates arrived in Sicily. "1100 - Bttn landed at Bay of Ochrina, about 10 miles south of Syracuse. 1630 - Bttn left by transport via Floridia, Palazzolo, Biccher, Vizzini & bivouacked 2 miles north of Mineo." On the way to Rome...
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
I’ve seen another set of collective grave markers for 40 men from the Indian Pioneer Corps when I’ve visited Syracuse CWGC cemetery. Not entirely sure why they might be “buried” together but it appears more akin to a Memorial rather than a final resting place.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
I suppose on a "case by case" basis. 7 of my father's mates were killed at the Trigno river on 28 Oct '43 but are buried 30 miles away at the Moro CWGC. In that case, I can only surmise that they were initially buried by the Germans, their bodies recovered later & not individually identifiable.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Thanks to Mark for inviting me to say a few words on his new album, which is out today… I was once in Japan (Akasaka) - from March 1997 to February 2000… streaming now.
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Irish Brigade, 1942-1947 @irishbrigade.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
July 1945, Brigadier Pat Scott: "On Christmas Day 1939, His Majesty the King said to the Empire: 'Go out into the darkness & put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be you better than light & safer than a known way.' And so it had proved to be. Yours sincerely, TPD Scott."
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