JAMES WATSON'S ARMY HISTORY

MY FATHER, JAMES WATSON, ENLISTED IN THE 2ND CAMERONIANS IN 1940, FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHER, ALFRED'S FOOTSTEPS.

THIS IS A BRIEF OUTLINE OF HIS WARTIME HISTORY.

The 2nd Cameronians were part of 13 Brigade, 5th Division and in 1940 were mainly engaged in anti-invasion duties and exercises. Due to worries of a german invasion of Eire, the division was sent to N. Ireland as a precaution and remained there for about 1 year. They then returned to England and were issued tropical khaki uniforms raising rumours of a move to India and Burma. In March 1942 the brigade sailed aboard the Fraconia 2, a former cruiser converted to a troopship.

they sailed first to Freetown, then on to Durban. The Brigade was ordered to take part in the invasion of Madagascar, but were only used as support troops, remaining there for 1 week before sailing on to Bombay. They remained around Ahmednagar before moving on to Persia ( via Basra, Iraq ) spending most of the time in Persia at Qum. Here they learned they were to be the follow up troops for the invasion of Sicily, ( codenamed operation Husky ).After rehearsals at Damascus, they moved down to Port Said in July 1943.

 

OPERATION HUSKY

This operation involved the US 7th Army and The British 8th Army landing in the SE of Sicily. The americans were to take Marsala. Palermo and the northern coastline, while the british took Syracuse, Augusta, and Catania, eventually meeting up to take Messina.the 2nd Cameronians were part of the troops taking, and defending Floridia, near Syracuse.

The Brigade advanced to the Catanian plain, and by 15 july, the cameronians were near villasamondo. On the 19 July, the cameronians were at a bridge over the Simeto. ( soon to be known as Lemon Bridge)

 

The Division slowly advanced meeting stiff German resistance everywhere they went. On the 16th August 1943 Messina eventually came into allied hands and the battle for sicily was over.

In all, it took 39 days for the allies to win Sicily, giving them a stepping stone to Italy and the European mainland.

 

 

" OPERATION HUSKY "

MY FATHER WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE INVASION OF ITALY AND WAS WOUNDED ON 1ST NOVEMBER 1943, NEAR BOJURNO.

THIS WOUND EVENTUALLY ENDED HIS CAREER IN THE ARMY.

 

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