Patrick Herlihy Remembered at Westminster
Not many people may know this but Patrick Herlihy, (Uncle Paddy) husband to our dear Aunty Lily, participated in the Battle of Monte Cassino (also known as the Battle for Rome and the Battle for Cassino).
The battle was a costly series of four assaults by the Allies against the Winter Line in Italy held by Axis forces during theItalian Campain of World War II. The intention was a breakthrough to Rome. The capture of Monte Cassino tolled some 55,000 Allied casualties, with German losses being far fewer, estimated at around 20,000 killed and wounded.
Thankfully Paddy survived the campaign, and he is remembered today by his 6 children, Jimmy, Terry, Desmond, Maureen, Patrick & Eileen, and of course his grandchildren.
His son Terry has arranged for a small wooden cross to be placed in the Field of Remembrance next to Westminster Abbey to honour their father's participation in this bloody battle for Cassino.
From the photographs his cross states, "Patrick Herlihy 76th HAA, Royal Artillery".
HAA stands for "Heavy Anti-Aircraft".
This also puts paid to the myth that the Irish were neutral in WWII. Many served in both wars and many lost their lives for Great Britain.
Well done Uncle Paddy! Well remembered on this day!
posted by DocMurf @ 9:21 PM
2 Comments:
Formal: Thank you for posting this remembrance. My father was very proud of his frontline service in WWII and regaled us with stories of his exploits in North Africa, Egypt, Sicily and Italy, 1942 - 1946. He always volunteered for frontline service : brave, fearless and daring. He spoke passable Italian and used to converse with our Italian neighbors in New York. Allora !
When the British Army liberated Rome, all the Catholic soldiers were invited to an audience with Pope Pius XII at the Vatican : I remember his excitement as he re-told the meeting. He visited St.Peter's on that day and told us that all the great cathedrals of the world were smaller than St.Peter's and were so marked on the floor of The basilica - St. Patrick's in NY, Westminster Abbey, Notre Dame etc. I actually so those markers at St.Peters in 1970 when I visited and recalled his story - one of so many.
Jim Herlihy
My father participated in the liberation of Rome from the Germans. The Catholic troops of the Allied armies attended an audience with a grateful Pope Pius XII in St. Peter's . Always remember my father relating the story. He was in Sicily and Italy from 1942 to 1946. He spoke passable Italian and used to converse with our Italuan neighbors in New York. Allora. !!!!
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