Wednesday, February 25, 2015

HMCS Fredericton visits Agira War Cemetery


Casualty Record Detail

The Royal Canadian Navy released news today that while deployed in the Mediterranean, the crew of HMCS Fredericton took an opportunity to visit the Canadian Agira War Cemetary in Sicily.  The visit took place on January 23 2015.

During the Invasion of Sicily in 1943, the 1st Canadian Infantry and 1st Canadian Tank Brigade captured Agira. The cemetery is located on a hill side in the commune of Agira, located in the Province of Ennn - right in the heart of Sicily. Following the fall of Sicily, a decision was made to consecrate one cemetery for all Canadians killed in action in Sicily. The Agira Cemetery contains the resting place of 490 (6 are still unidentified) Canadians killed in 1943. (Another 58 who drowned while en route to Sicily are commemorated on the Cassino Memorial, in mainland Italy.

The crew of HMCS Fredericton held a small rememberance ceremony in memory of those who gave their lives during the Second World War, and where given time to wonder the site and pay their individual respects to those buried there.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13

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