In Memory of
IRELAND, GEORGE JOHN, G J
Private, M/17233
Loyal Edmonton Regiment, R.C.I.C.
who died 31 age
on 03 August 1943
Remembered with honour
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Born on 16 Set 1911, Slave Lake, Slave Lake Census Division, Alberta, Canada;
Son of Decorsy and Mary Ireland; husband of Elizabeth Ireland, of Peace River, Alberta.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2018-08-21
George served with two of his brothers in the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. His brother Frank was wounded in action on 16 July 1943 and his brother Thomas "Pat" was taken prisoner of war on 5 August 1943. George served in No. 3 Platoon of the Support Company of the Loyal Eddies with Sergeant Jack Birmingham. George got wounded in action during the attack on Point 736 near the Salso River northeast of Regalbuto. Below is a part of the war diary from that day:"During this whole day the Battalion was out of communication with the outside. As was mentioned, the mule teams were unable to get away on time. They followed on as quickly as possible but at daylight they were still far behind. The leading train, consisting of 28 mules laden with MGs from the Brigade Support Group, came under heavy artillery and mortar fire and was badly scattered. Succeeding trains managed to get as far as an orchard about 592 978, but could not find the troops until late in the afternoon when 'C' Coy was encountered. From then on supplies were got through and communications reestablished."
It is not known how George got wounded in action, but considering that they were under heavy artillery and mortar fire it is most likely that he was hit by this. He was buried in a field grave northeast of Regalbuto and later reburied at Agira.
George was married to Margaret Elizabeth and together they had one son, Patrick Murphy. They lived in High Prairie, Alberta.
George his father lived in Triangle, Alberta and was a World War I veteran. His mother passed away in 1938.
He had four brothers, ( Frank and Thomas with the Loyal Edmontons, James with the Calgary Highlanders and Charles who was still in Canada) all serving with the Canadian Army. His brother Frank was killed in action on 27 December 1943 near Ortona while serving with the Loyal Eddies. He also had two sisters. George and Frank were both part of Force III which took part in Operation Gauntlet, the raid on Spitsbergen in August 1941.
Find Grave, 2024-12-28
Information courtesy of the 