The Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery
Agira, Sicily
During the Sicily Campaign, the Eighth Army sustained
11,843 casualties, killed, wounded or taken prisoner. The Canadian war dead numbered 562
from all services. Of these 506 are interred in Sicily.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission which is charged with maintaining
the graves of Commonwealth war dead created the Agira Canadian War Cemetery to place at
one site the Canadian War dead of the Sicily campaign whose bodies were not repatriated to
Canada for burial. With the exception of 12 Canadians who are buried at the Commonwealth
Cemetery in Catania and 4 who are buried at Commonwealth Cemetery in Syracuse, all other
Canadian war dead from the campaign are buried at Agira. There are 490 Canadians buried at
the Agira cemetery. It is the only exclusively Canadian War Cemetery in Italy.
The cemetery is located on the crest of Monte Campanelli the first hill
to the east of, and dominated by, the medieval town of Agira. The geographic co-ordinates
of the cemetery are N 37 deg 39.375 min, E 14 deg 32.967 min. The above photograph shows
the view at the entrance of the cemetery.
The cemetery can be reached by taking the A19 motorway west from Catania
towards Palermo. Take the Catenanuova exit and follow the signposts to Regalbuto, then
pass Regalbuto, going in the direction of Agira. As you approach Monte Capanelli the pines
of the cemetery stand alone as a green patch on a hilltop in an otherwise largely treeless
and (at this time of year) brownish countryside. If one approaches from the west the view
is similar, with the pines again standing out against the background.
The cemetery is located a few hundred feet off of highway 121. The geographic
co-ordinates of the cemetery are N 37 degrees, 39.375 minutes, E 14 degrees, 32.967
minutes.
The graves are laid out in four square areas separated by grass lanes.
At the center of all is the "Great Cross". As one enters the cemetery the square
on the right is Plot A, that on the left is Plot B. Plot D is behind Plot A and Plot C
behind plot B. The Great Cross, itself is on the crest of the ridge so that the squares in
which the graves are located slope gently downward to the west for Plots A and B and to
the east for Plots C and D.
Within each plot the rows of graves are lettered from A through H
sloping down the hill from the Great Cross. The grave sites are numbered 1 through 504,
starting in the center at the row closest to the Great Cross in Plot A.
The Commonwealth Graves Commission provides information on any grave in
the cemetery (and for all Commonwealth Cemeteries around the world). This information can
be accessed through their website:
http://www.cwgc.org/
These pictures and descriptions were taken on 21 May 1998. We made our visit to see the
grave of a childhood friend of my father's, Robert Gunn (Robbie) Nicoll.
The hilltop fortress town of Assoro which lies to the west of Agira. It
was taken by the "Hasty P's", 21-22 July 1943. |
The hilltop town of Agira which is to the west of the Agira cemetery.
Agira was attacked by Canadian forces on 24 July 1943, but did not fall until 28 July. |
The approach to the Agira War Cemetery from Agira. The pines in the
middle of the photograph mark the position of the cemetery. |
The approach to the Agira War Cemetery from the east. Agian the pines in
the middle of the photograph mark the position of the cemetery |
The main entrance to the cemetery
|
The first level of the entrance on which are located the registry book
and tablets |
The shelter on the left side of the first level showing the repository
for the registry book to the right |
The dedication plaque |
The Great Cross |
Looking towards the entrance from inside the cemetery |
A view to the southeast from plot A. |
Inside the entrance looking towards the Great Cross |
A view from the center towards plot A |
A view to the southwest from Plot A |
The view to the south |
The view to the east. The lake (a reservoir) did not exist at the time
of the Sicily campaign. |
The grave of
Major J.H.W.T. Pope
The Royal Canadian Regiment
18th July 1943, age 30
The inscription reads:
The Lord is My Shepherd
Therefore Can I Lack Nothing
|
The grave of
M.4154 Gnr. R.G. Nicoll
Royal Canadian Artillery
25th July, 1943 age 23
The inscription reads:
To Live in hearts
We Leave Behind
Is not to die |
The grave of
Lieutenant Colonel
R.M. Crowe
The Royal Canadian Regiment
24th July 1943, age 31
The inscription reads:
He that dwelleth
in the secret place
of the most high
shall abide under the shadow
of the mighty |
|
ŠKenneth Scott, 2001
Permission is granted for the non-commercial re-production of these images in
connection with genealogical studies or in memorials to our honoured dead.
email contact: ken@kenscott.com
