76 years this week since the invasion of Sicily

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This week marks the 76th anniversary of the invasion of Sicily 10 July 1943 - Operation Husky. British forces suffered 12,843 casualties, including 2,721 dead. American losses totalled 2,237 killed and 6,544 wounded and captured. [Source: U.S. Army Center of Military History report by Andrew J. Birtle].

The Italian campaign was long and costly continuing to the end of the war in Europe. During the campaign through Italy, Commonwealth forces lost almost 50,000 men. This included almost 1500 Indian servicemen whose remains were cremated and who are named on Memorials in three cemeteries [Source: CWGC].

German casualties for the Italian campaign were around 336,000, while those of the Allies totalled 313,000 [Source: National Army Museum].

We have an informative account of an early operation involving No. 3 Commando in Sicily commencing 12 July 1943 to take and hold a bridge which 'Monty' later renamed '3 Commando Bridge'. You can read it here:

https://www.commandoveterans.org/JohnErskine3Commando

Forty Two commandos from No. 3 Commando died in this action, all bar two dying on the 14th July 1943, with many others wounded. We will remember them.