Page 130 - Chronicle Vol 17

A key objective was to produce recommendations about the future of the memo- rialisation of the landings in Sicily in 1943 and their consequences. These were developed in an interactive session on the conference’s final day which engaged speakers, local and international exporters and delegates in a bilingual workshop.
A huge contribution to the conference was made by Major General Maurizio Scardino, commander of the Italian military in Sicily and his comrades including Lieutenant Colonel Uberto Massimo and Captain Sara Isgro – who both addressed the conference.
Thanks are due to the outstanding institutions dedicated to memorialising this period; the National Army Museum in London, which was represented at the con- ference by its director Justin Maciejewski who moderated the international history session; the American Battle Monuments Commission, represented by Secretary Charles Djou and deputy operations director David Americo; The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, represented by its country manager Claudia Scimonelli and her colleague Giordano Righetti; The National WWII Museum of New Orleans, represented by Dr John Curatola and Waymand Brothers; the Canadian War Museum represented by Dr Tim Cook and The German Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies Helmut-Schmidt – Universitat/Universitat der Bundeswehr in Hamburg which was represented by Dr Martin Nassua.
I am indebted to UK ambassador to Italy, The Rt Hon Edward Llewellyn, for his contribution and delivering a personal message of support to the conference from HM King Charles III whose father Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, was a Sicily campaign veteran.
A key role in the conference was played by representatives of British regimental formations; Chris Lawton, Chairman of the Durham Light Infantry Association, and his colleague Ian Pearson who together organised a mission to the confer- ence; Steve Erskine, a researcher at The Green Howards Museum in Richmond, Yorkshire, and my brother Richard O’Sullivan of the London Irish Rifles Association.
Day 4 was the second day of the Conference and started with the British perspec- tive of the 1943 campaign moderated by Edmund O’Sullivan. This was followed by the Italian approach, then the US perspective moderated by Bob Desourdis. The Canadian perspective moderated by Steve Gregory. A brainstorming ses- sion introduced by Major General Scardino and Major General Jez Bennett and a Summary Workshop.
Day 5 was out in the open again with a Remembrance Service and Wreath Laying at the Catania CWGC cemetery. Wreaths were laid at the Memorial and the DLI delegation also planted 190 small wooden crosses with the DLI cap badge next to the 190 DLI headstones. This was followed by a second Service and Wreath Laying ceremony, this time at the Syracuse CWGC cemetery. 19 crosses were
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