2 INNISKS capture 'LEMON', Sicily

Captain Christie's medals, on display in the Regiment's museum in Enniskillen, include the DSO and the MC.

During the invasion of Sicily the 2nd Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers reached the high ground overlooking the port of Catania on 18 July 1943. The way forward was across a plain intersected by irrigation ditches and the defended line of the River Simeto.

Major Thompson's patrol having reached the south bank of the river discovered a concrete bridge mined and ready for demolition. Brigade Headquarters gave 2 INNISKS the task of establishing a bridgehead over 'LEMON'.

Major Meade's C Company advanced and received mortar and machine-gun fire from German positions on the north bank covering LEMON. He sent Lieutenant Christie's platoon east to cross the river and attack the German position from the rear while the remainder of the company attacked from the south. The manoeuvre was successful; the enemy, being threatened on two sides, withdrew. By dusk the Battalion had a tenuous bridgehead threatened by a German force poised to counterattack.

During the first counterattack against Lieutenant Christie's platoon on the north bank the Germans called out 'Don't fire, this is the Jocks', but not easily deceived by this German mendacity the Inniskillings (later) declared that the Germans were 'shot where their sporrans ought to be'. Lieutenant Christie's platoon then engaged the enemy at close quarters with bayonets and hand grenades while the company on the south bank adjusted its position in preparation for an attack across the bridge. During this fierce night fighting the southern company commander was wounded and his successor killed. By dawn of 19 July, the bridge was firmly in 2 INNISKS's hands.

D Company then moved forward from reserve with a single anti-tank gun. Fusilier Moore (left*) driving a jeep towed the gun into a good fire position on the north bank - 'Through two days and nights of hard and confused fighting Fusilier Moore's conduct was beyond praise ... he was an inspiration to his comrades'. Finally, when supporting armour arrived, the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel O'Brien Twohig, withdrew his sub-units from the north bank and brought down supporting fire in preparation for 2 INNISKS' final attack.

The following day 2 INNISKS handed over the bridge to real 'Jocks' - the Cameronians. For the important LEMON breach of the German line along the River Simeto, the CO and Lieutenant Christie were awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), Major Meade the Military Cross (MC) and Fusilier Moore the Military Medal (MM).

(Right, General Montgomery presents the CO with his DSO (Image Copyright © IWM NA6733).)

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(Image Copyright © IWM NA8503)