The 77th Anniversary of Operation Ladbroke



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77 years ago today the Allied Invasion of Sicily began with Operation Ladbroke, with the first mass use of glider troops by Allied forces. Op Ladbroke (part of the bigger Operation Husky) involved the 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment. As part of the Airborne contingent, they set off in WACO gliders, but many of these were released too early and crash landed in the sea costing the lives of many men.


Earlier this week we had our first donation to the Museum since lockdown. A lovely lady came into Alma bringing memorabilia that belonged to her father-in-law who had served with the 1st Battalion during the Second World War. It included an accompanying letter from the War Office, dated November 1943, which told of his fate. 'A statement had been received from a member of your husband's unit that, during operations in Sicily, the glider in which he was travelling crashed into the sea. It is known that your husband, with the remainder of the crew, evacuated the glider and commenced swimming for the shore, but no news as to what subsequently happened to Sgt. ... is yet forthcoming.'



The donation also included his medals, the 1939-45 star, the Italy store, the war medal and the defence medal and his cap badge. I felt quite priviledged to receive these on behalf of the Museum, especially as they related to the assault on Sicily which anniversary takes place today.

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