August 1943
As July turned to August, Patton and Montgomery and their armies battled against determined German troops dug into the mountainous Sicilian terrain. The U.S. and British soldiers pushed back the Axis forces farther and farther until most were trapped in a northeast corner of the island.
The 111 Fd Regt were still in Tunisia at this point, and the War Diary shows that the regiment were becoming frustrated with being told to prepare to embark for Sicily on six different occasions, only to be stood down at the last minute. However, the seventh occasion on 9th August 1943 would see the 111 Fd Regt finally leave North Africa after 11 months.
| 1st August 1943 – P5361 |
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| Training etc. |
| 2nd August 1943 – P5361 |
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| 06:00hrs – Regimental drill order. Occupied two positions. Fixed all guns into sea at HEGLA to test accuracy of calibration. |
| 3rd – 4th August 1943 – P5361 |
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| Training etc. Received verbal orders to embark – cancelled. |
| 5th August 1943 – P5361 |
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| Training etc. Guests to dinner RHQ mess: Lady Brocklehurst, Mrs N. Colmore and Hon. Miss D. North YMCA and Major Sir C. Hilton Greene CMP. |
| 6th August 1943 – P5361 |
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| Received verbal order to prepare to embark for Sicily – for the SIXTH time. No written movement order. |
| 8th August 1943 – P5361 |
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| 476 Bty and 1/3rd of RHQ, C.O., Adjutant, Signals Officers embarked on LST. Sailed 23:59hrs (1st boat) under command of C.O. Lieutenant J. E. Hugo Royal Corp of Signals returned from hospital. |
| 9th August 1943 – P5361 |
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| 211 Bty and 1/3rd of RHQ, Survey Officers, Padre and Medical Officer embarked – 2nd Boat under command of Major W. H. Cheeseman RA. 212 Bty and 1/3rd of RHQ, Second-in-Command, Lieutenant Quartermaster, Technical Adjutant and Assistant Adjutant embarked on 3rd boat under command of Major C. H. A. Barnes RA. |
| 10th August 1943 – At Sea |
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| 04:00hrs – 1st boat attacked in convoy off Syracuse by enemy aircraft. No damage – no casualties. All bombs landed in the sea. |
| 12:30hrs – 1st boat docked at AUGUSTA. 476 Bty plus 1/3rd of RHQ proceeded to assembly area No. 8 AUGUSTA (Map Ref: SICILY -Sheet 56. Catania 1:200,000. J0564) |
| 11th August 1943 – Augusta |
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| 09:00hrs – 2nd and 3rd boats docked at Augusta and proceeded to assembly area 8. Whole Regt intact and complete. |
| 12th August 1943 – Augusta |
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| Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Nolan posted from 111 Fld Regt to 3 R.H.A Regt. Major C. H. A. Barnes assumed command. Second-in-Command – Major W. H. Cheeseman. Captain E. G. Walker commanding 211 Bty. |
| 13th August 1943 – Augusta |
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| C.O. reported to main 30 Corps HQ and 51 Division HQ. Movement Order No. 17 received. |
| 14th August 1943 – Augusta |
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| 07:00hrs – Regt moved through LENTINI, CATANIA, ACIREALE to take up battle positions previously occupied by 127 Fld Regt at FLERI (Map Ref SICILY – Sheet 51 [ETNA] 1:250,000 – H9796). |
| 12:00hrs – Enemy well out of range – Regt unable to go forward through congestion of movement in forward areas. |
| 15th – 16th August 1943 – Fleri |
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| Regt still in leaguer areas. |
| 17th August 1943 – Fleri |
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| RHQ moved to Italian house occupied by Antonio Fusco and family at PISANO H975980. 20:00hrs – Received cypher message from main 30 Corps, passing Lady Brocklehurst under Regt’s command. |
The end of fighting in Siciliy
17th August 1943
As Patton and Montgomery closed in on the north-eastern port of Messina, the German and Italian armies managed (over several nights) to evacuate 100,000 men, along with vehicles, supplies and ammunition, across the Strait of Messina to the Italian mainland. When his American soldiers moved into Messina on 17th August, 1943, Patton, expecting to fight one final battle, was surprised to learn that the enemy forces had disappeared (some 6 days after the 111 Fd Regt arrived).
The battle for Sicily was complete, but German losses had not been severe, and the Allies’ failure to capture the fleeing Axis armies undermined their victory. The advance against the Italian mainland in September would take more time and cost the Allies more troops than they anticipated.
| Axis Forces | Allied Forces |
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| 9,003 killed | 5,749 killed |
| 46,000 wounded | 15,683 wounded |
| 126,967 captured or missing | 3,468 missing |
| 18th August 1943 – Pisano |
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| Organised enemy resistance in Sicily reported finished. Lady Brocklehurst visited Regt – above order cancelled. |
| 19th August 1943 – Pisano |
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| Received warning order “Prepare to move area Milazzo 2-3 days”. Regimental “Sports” No. 2. |
| 20th – 21st August 1943 – Pisano |
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| Training and sports programme. Inter-Battery Spelling Bee by R/T – won by 212 Bty. Received 51 (H) Division Operational Instruction No. 16. |
| 23rd August 1943 – Pisano |
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| Lieutenant-Colonel J. S. Elliot joined to command the Regiment – approved composition of Z Party – Recce Parties. |
| 24th August 1943 – Pisano |
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| Z Party set off via ZAFFERANA, LINGUAGLOSSA, CASTIGLIONE, FRANCAVILLA, NORVARA, BARCELLONA, DIVIETO and MESSINA. |
| 25th August 1943 – Pisano |
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| Recce party followed Z Party. Temporary RHQ established at MESSINA (Ref Map: Messina 1:250,000 310 580). 2/Lt G. S. B. Pike posted to Regt. |
| 26th August 1943 – Messina |
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| 06:15hrs – 211 Bty |
| 27th August 1943 – Messina |
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| RHQ occupied Battle HQ at Messina 356576. Dumping continued evening. |
| 28th August 1943 – Messina |
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| Preparation of Gun positions, further ammunition dumping on night of 28th/29th. 1 O.P. for Regt manned 14:00hrs – 20:00hrs. |
| 29th August 1943 – Messina |
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| Preparation of gun areas. No dumping programme. |
| 30th August 1943 – Messina |
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| Ammunition dumping completed. 450 HE rounds per gun. 50 smoke. 500 cartridges and 45 Supercharges per gun. 1 O.P. manned 14:00hrs – 20:00hrs. |
| 31st August 1943 – Messina |
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| Gun positions ready for occupation. Gun pits, command posts and slit trenches dug. 1 O.P. manned 14:00hrs – 20:00hrs. |