HMCS Charlottetown crew commemorate World War II fallen at the Agira Canadian War Cemetery

October 28, 2024 - Defence Stories

On a hill overlooking the Sicilian countryside 23 crewmembers of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown gathered at the Agira Canadian War Cemetery to commemorate Canadian soldiers who gave their lives during the Sicilian Campaign of World War II.

A small ceremony was led by Lieutenant (Navy) John Evans, the Chaplain embarked in HMCS Charlottetown, followed by a wreath laying.

“It’s important to remember that all of these men had mothers and fathers, perhaps sisters and brothers and wives and children, who they never saw again. They gave up their futures for ours,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Evans. “In this stunningly beautiful, peaceful spot, it brings home the sacrifice they made and that we all must be prepared to make. It’s important for them to know their sacrifice mattered and that they are not forgotten.”

On July 10, 1943, some 3,000 Allied ships and landing craft reached the Sicilian coastline in a coordinated attack on enemy territory. Codenamed Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily marked one of the largest seaborne operations in military history. Tragically, 58 Canadians had drowned when three Allied ships were sunk by enemy submarines before reaching Sicily. After more than four weeks of fighting on the island, there were approximately 2,300 Canadian casualties, including almost 600 who gave their lives. 

The Agira Canadian War Cemetery is located on a small hill in the Commune of Agira and the Province of Enna, in the heart of Sicily. After the Sicilian campaign the decision was made to concentrate into one cemetery the graves of all Canadians who gave their lives in the island fighting, and in September of 1943 Canadian officers chose the site at Agira. It contains the graves of 490 Canadians (13 members of the RCAF and 477 of the army), six of whom are unidentified. 

“The significance of this cemetery, this island and the role Canadian troops played here is a powerful feeling as you stand where they once stood 81 years ago,” said Sailor Second Class Christian Zenglein. “The ability as CAF members to come halfway around the world, to stand peacefully in the same place and do our part in remembering their service to our country and the peace and freedom they created for so many people in Canada and around the world is an honour. We are forever in their debt.”

The crewmembers are in Sicily as part of a scheduled port visit to Catania while deployed on Operation REASSURANCE as the Flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2). HMCS Charlottetown has been deployed since mid-June and is expected to return to their homeport of Halifax, Nova Scotia in time for the holiday season.