In Memory of
BURY WILLIAM GLEDSTANES
Major
Loyal Edmonton Regiment, R.C.I.C.
who died 45 age
28th July 1943
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Born: 19 Mag 1898, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Son of Justice Ambrose Upton Gledstanes Bury and Margaret Amy Beatrice Bury; husband of Margaret May Bury, of Ottawa, Ontario.
On the evening, 26 July 1943, "D" Company, Edmonton Regiment, under command Major Bury, then west of Agira (Sicily) was ordered to occupy and hold an isolated post astride a road leading from Agira to the north in order to close the northern exit from the town and to block the enemy's line of retirement from Agira.
By map and compass, on this dark and moonless night, this officer unerringly led his men, cross country over the six mile stretch of rugged precipitous rock. Reaching the post at dawn Major Bury personally led the bayonet charge which captured the post, then the company dug in.
Between the time that it became possible to relieve them some twelve hours later, "D" Company under Major Bury's gallant, skillful and courageous leadership successfully fought off three major German counter attacks, patrolled, located and blew up a large ammunition dump, skillfully laid 75 anti tank mines which blew up two enemy tanks, five lorries and effectively blocked the north road as an avenue of retreat.
Awarded posthumously
Alfio was five years old when Major William "Bill" Bury of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment shooed him back indoors during street fighting in Agira.
Seconds later, Alfio heard a burst of gunfire, and when he looked back outside, he saw Major Bury - who two days earlier had won the Distinguished Service Order - lying dead in the street.
Today, Alfio took us to that very spot and told us the story.
William Bury was killed in action by a mortar bomb on Cemetery Hill near Catenanuova on the 28th of July.He earned the Distinguished Service Order for leading his company earlier that day when the Loyal Eddies knocked out several enemy tanks and captured various German soldiers without losing of their own.
He personally led a bayonet charge on an enemy post which they captured and dug in. William Bury's citation was submitted by the Loyal Eddies Lieutenant Colonel Jim Jefferson.
(source: Operation Husky pages 340,344 and 345 by Mark Zuehkle)
Information courtesy of the 