In Memory of
DILIO, JAMES MICHAEL VINCENT, J M V
Corporal
D/95759
Three Rivers Regiment, R.C.A.C.
12th Army Tank Regt.
who died 22 age
5 August 1943
Remembered with honour
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Born 20 Mag 1921, Montreal, Montreal Region, Quebec, Canada
Son of Federico and Marietta Dilio, of Montreal, Province of Quebec
He was the 5th of 11 children all born in Montreal of Italian parents
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2009-08-05
Jimmy Dilio was part of the Booth Force, a strike force commanded by Lt-Col Booth. It was formed by A and B squadrons of the TRR, A and C Companies of the Seaforths, A squadron of the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards and a troop of the 90th Anti Tank Regiment with engineers and other artillery.The Booth Force struck between the Salso River and the Troina-Adrano road near Carcaci. They were involved in a four hour battle forcing the Germans to the north.
The whole action was watched by General Montgomery and Major General Simonds and according to Simonds the succes was due to the presence of the 12th Canadian Tank Regiment. Lt-Col Booth was awarded the Distinguished Service Order after this battle.
Corporal Jimmy Dilio and Trooper Bernard Kane were the only casualties that day. Just before Jimmy was killed he teased his crewmates about his countrymen's faint-hearted resistance during the Sicilian Campaign. Jimmy remarked that Italians have so many relatives in Canada and the US that we seem family to them. "In fact I am". Jimmy was soon killed after that by a German sniper.
Source: H.E. Dedels and Official History from Pachino to Ortona
Jimmy lived in Montréal with his parents, four brothers and six sisters. His brother Armand served overseas with the Black Watch. Jimmy enlisted on the 2nd of September 1939 in Montréal with the Victoria Rifles of Canada until the 3rd of November 1939. After that he joined the TRR.
Find Grave, 2024-10-25
Information courtesy of the 