HMV Italia visits Catania War Cemetery, Sicily as part of commemorative Liberation Route journey

History & Military Vehicles Italia visited Catania War Cemetery, Sicily, on July 11th as one of the many stops on its Italian Liberation Route journey, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Italian Campaign.

The HMV Italia team visited Catania War Cemetery where Commonwealth War Graves commemorate over 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen who died during the Allied Sicily Landings and subsequent campaign in July-August 1943.

Catania was visited on the second day of HMV Italia’s journey across Italy. The team will be following the route taken by Commonwealth and US forces during World War Two’s Italian Campaign.

As well as Catania, the HMV Italia team will also be visiting other Italian CWGC cemeteries and memorials, including:

• Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio
• Foiano della Chiana War Cemetery
• Cassino War Cemetery
• Florence War Cemetery
• Milan War Cemetery

The team will also be visiting numerous important historical sites that tell the story of the Italian Campaign, finishing in Milan on the 18th of July.

The journey will be undertaken in five authentic World War Two era vehicles including Willys Overland Jeeps and Ford GPWs.

For more information on the Liberation Journey please click here.

About HMV Italia

History & Military Vehicles Italia was founded in 2011 to promote the culture and preservation of historic military vehicles and motoring in Italy. HMV Italia has worked with many different associations and organisations to achieve its aims.

Please visit the HMV Italia website for more information.

The Italian Campaign

Starting in July 1943 with Operation Husky, the Allied landings on Sicily, the Italian Campaign lasted for just over 18 months with the surrender of German Forces in Italy in May 1943. 

It was conceived as a way to knock fascist Italy out of the war, as well as tie up German troops and open another front in Europe.

Commonwealth War Graves commemorate over 49,000 Commonwealth soldiers across 57 war cemeteries and 123 total burial sites in Italy, representing casualties from the UK, South Africa, Canada, and New Zealand, amongst others.