Page 132 - Chronicle Vol 17

With the VIP’s and the Canadians on parade, we all moved to the Canadian beach at Patchino and attended their Service and saw the Canadians set off on their 325 Km “Walk of Remembrance” on the same route covered 80 years ago by the Canadian Army.
Day 7 was the delegates chance to follow the route of the DLI in July 1943 from the Avola beach, north through Syracusa, Floridia, Solarino, Augusta, Sortino and Lentini clearing out the enemy forces. After Lentini the 151 Durham Brigade con- ducted a 25-mile forced march in full kit to relieve the remnants of the British Parachute battalion who were running out of men and ammunition as they tried to maintain a grip on Primosole Bridge under sustained attacks by the German Parachute Regiment who were Nazi zealots to a man. The London Times who reported on the battle stated that “the German Paratroopers were of the highest quality, experienced veterans of Crete and Russia, cool and skilful, and fanatically courageous.” “To fight against them was an education for any soldier. To capture and hold the bridge against such opposition had been a fine fighting achievement on the part of the Durham Light Infantry, especially the 8th Battalion.”
131