In Memory of
SUTCLIFFE, BRUCE ALBERT
Lieutenant Colonel, D S O
Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, R.C.I.C..
who dead
on 20th July 1943
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
He was killed in action in outside Assoro, Sicily in July 1943 while commanding the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, an infantry.
Brigadier H.D. Graham, commanding the 1st Brigade, detailed the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment for the attack on Assoro. This place stood on the western side of a jagged and lofty mountain peak - about 3000 feet high - which was crowned by an ancient Norman castle. The Hastings' Commander Officer Lt. Col. B.A. Sutcliffe, was killed by a shell as he reconnoitered this extraordinarily formidable position ; and the command devolved upon a son of a former Governor-General of Canada...
From: "The Canadian Army 1939-1945"
The official Canadian history of the war
On the morning of July 20 Bruce Sutcliffe and his Intelligence Officer, Battle Cockin (whose unusual Christian name of Battle was invariably shortened to Bat), set off for a reconnaissance.They crouched in the open, map boards in front of them, binoculars levelled, thir lenses winking in the sun as they anxiously scanned the mighty battlement looming ahead of them. They did not realise they were being regarded in their turn.
On the Assoro scarp a crew of 88 laid their gun over open sigths. Seconds later a cloud of yellow dust and black smoke obscured the observation post in the valley below.. Under its pall Sutcliffe lay dead and Cockin dying.
From: "The Battle of Assoro"
LCOL The Lord Tweedsmuir
On Saterday, 17 July 1943, this officer was ordered to move across unreconnoitred country a distance of 8 miles with his battalion and take the town of Valguarnera. He started with his normal complement on inf sp weapons but found the ground passable only on foot. He then continued without sp arms and led his battalion across most difficult country to ground overlooking the town. Here he made his plan and personally took a small party into the centre of the town meeting enemy vehicles and tractors; he led and directed close range attacks with S.A. and PIAT bombs destroying at least 6 large enemy transport - one gun, and killing upwards of 40 Germans. In the confused fighting which continued throughout the day Col. Sutcliffe kept together a small group of his men and hunted enemy snipers and M.Gs. throughout the day. One of his men moving close to him was severely hit by M.G. In the face of enemy fire this officer dressed the wound, got the man under cover and eventually in safety. His coolness, courage and determination in the face of enemy S.A., arty. and mortar fire were an inspiration to all his me, and were demonstrated also in an action before Grammichele on 15 July 1943 when under mortar fire he continued to direct the attack with great skill and courage.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 23 September, 1943.
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