大象传媒

Information provided by: William Mullan
Part of: The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regimental Museum
First Published: 20 May 2004

Overview

The outbreak of war in 1939 found the 2nd Battalion at Catterick in Yorkshire. The 2nd Battalion landed in France with the BEF and spent the period of the 'phoney war' constructing defences along the French-Belgium border. The German 'blitzkrieg' in the West was launch in May 1940 and the Allied armies were soon in retreat, during which the Inniskillings fought many desparate rearguard actions. Like the rest of the British forces they were evacuated from Dunkirk, leaving most of their equipment and transport on the beaches. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel F.J. Lefroy, who had been cut off and captured during the retreat was subsequently awarded the D.S.O. for his "determined and fearless leadership". After Dunkirk the battalion served in Africa and the Near East before returning to the Mediterranean to take part in the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943. The 2nd Battalion and 6th Battalions were later heavily involved in the invasion of Italy and in the hard fighting as the Allied armes advanced slowly up the peninsula in the face of the determined German resistance. When the commanding officers of the 2nd Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel O'Brien Twohig heard of the Germans evacuating the important road and rail junction of Isernia, he raced ahead with a patrol and a large stencil of the Inniskillings' castle badge. When the Americans later entered the town they found it empty, but were surprised to find the castle of Enniskilling daubed on every available wall. By early 1944 the Germans were putting up a stubborn defence particularly around the famous abbey of Monte Cassino. General Montgomery, commanding the 8th Army decided to launch an attack at the west end of the enemy line at the mouth of the Garigliano River, while at the same time landing a force on the coast behind the enemy's rear at Anzio. The 2nd Inniskillings were part of a force to cross the river and advance over a plain commanded by enemy positions. The battalion succeeded in crossing the river and advancing under heavy fire and a German-held farm was taken at the point of the bayonet. Casualties were so heavy that only a Lance-Sergeant was left to take command, all officers or N.C.O.s having been killed or wounded. Under very heavy fire more Inniskillings managed to cross the river and the main objective was soon captured. Unfortunately the rest of the Corps attack had been a failure and the Inniskilling soon found their flanks dangerously exposed, but held their positions in the face of heavy enemy counter attacks until relieved.

Facts and figures

Unit name: 2nd Battalion
Unit nickname: The Skins
Force: Army
Designation: Battalion
Type: Infantry

Museums and Associations

Name: The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regimental Museum
Address: The Castle, Enniskillen, Fermanagh
Postcode: BT74 7HL
Telephone number: 028 6632 3142
Email address: museum@inniskilling.com

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