Royal Canadian Artillery members travelling to Italy to commemorate invasion of Sicily

Members of the Royal Canadian Artillery are heading to Italy later this month to commemorate the Allied Invasion of Sicily during World War II.

In 1943, a year before the D-day invasion of Europe through France, Canadians were at the centre of an allied campaign to attack Germany through Italy, starting with Sicily. They then fought veteran German soldiers dug into the mountains. They pushed the Germans back into Italy and through a line named after Adolf Hitler.

Some of the Canadian members of the Royal Canadian Artillery are buried at a military cemetery in Sicily.

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The soldiers from the unit going to Italy will be part of a tribute to the Canadians who fought in the invasion of Sicily 80 years ago.

They say the invasion of Sicily is overshadowed by D-day, but paved the way. The members plan to lay markers at the graves of five young men from this region, including Brantford and St. Catharines, who fought in a campaign that helped lead to victory in the war.

Sgt. Jason Routley said, “It’s the least we could do is provide some of our time and thought for their life.”