In Memory of
GLENDON MURRAY ALCORN
Private, F/41550
West Nova Scotia Regiment, R.C.I.C
who died 23 age
on 9 August 1943
Remembered with honour
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Born:June 13, 1920 Bear River, Nova Scotia
Enlistment:September 21, 1939 Bridgewater, Digby County, Nova Scotia
Son of Murray Clifford Alcorn and Marjorie Florence Alcorn, of Bear River, Nova Scotia.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2018-08-17
Private Glendon Murray Alcorn, West Nova Scotia Regiment. Born on 13 June 1920 in Bear River (NS) and died of wounds on 9 August 1943.Glendon Alcorn was wounded in action on the 2nd of August 1943 when the West Novas made an attack on Monte Criscina. Glendon served in B-Company and the West Novas suffered many casulaties that day (20 killed, 35 wounded). Glendon died in a military hospital near Scordia and was also buried there.
Glendon lived with his parents in Bear River. It's not known if he had any brothers or sisters. Glendon enlisted on the 21st of September 1939 in Bridgewater (NS).
Find Grave, 2024-10-03
Glendon was part of B-Company of the West Novas. His death is described in West Novas by Thomas H. Raddall:
After their brief stand at Catenanuova, the Germans resumed their retreat, and by the night of July 31, the West Novas were on the march again, following a difficult trail over the dark hills toward Monte Peloso.
They stopped shortly before dawn for a meal and by 10:00 a.m. on August 1, they were in position and consolidated on Peloso. By 2:00 p.m., "B" Company had crossed the Catenanuova-Regalbuto highway to occupy a position (later known as "Whistling Hill") overlooking the next day's objective, a huge and menacing hill called Monte Criscina.
Here, "B" Company came under continuous and well-aimed mortar fire, as 88 mm shells whistled overhead to explode on the higher ground behind or fell short and exploded on the slope ahead. "18" Company's radio set was knocked out. Privates Alcorn and Perry were killed, and among the wounded were Lt. Cpl. Turner, Pt. T. Middleton, and Captain Cameron's Batman, Pt. Stan Smith. Cameron sent a pair of scouts to locate the German observation post, as enemy mortar fire was uncomfortably accurate. The scouts, Pts. Langille and O.S. Foster, captured a corporal from the 3rd Parachute Rifle Regiment, who was promptly interrogated at headquarters and proved to be a more valuable prisoner. In fact, he was too good, for not only did he accurately describe the German mortar positions, but he consistently estimated the German strength to be no more than one or two companies astride the hill to the northeast. Perhaps he was lying about this last point, probably just guessing, but the cold fact was that Monte Criscina was held in force by crack paratroopers equipped (as paratroopers always were) with an extraordinary number of machine guns and automatic rifles, and with heavy mortar and artillery support.
"C" Company was ordered to reinforce "B" on Whistling Hill, and when they emerged from their positions on Monte Peloso to do so, they were spotted by enemy observers and shelled by 88mm guns, suffering fourteen casualties, including Lieutenant General E.E. Romkey, who was wounded. Around the same time, the battalion transport, sheltering in a wood behind Monte Peloso, came under shell fire. Some vehicles were hit, but there were only minor casualties. Around 7:00 PM, the battalion headquarters, which had moved forward to a grove east of the main road, also came under artillery fire. The C/O's signalman, Lt. Cpl. Butler, was killed, and Bogert himself, just a few feet away, narrowly escaped. Thus the situation remained as night fell.
Glendon was evacuated to a hospital in Scordia, where he died a week later. He was initially buried in the Scordia civil cemetery and later interred in the Canadian War Cemetery in Agira
After their brief stand at Catenanuova, the Germans resumed their retreat, and by the night of July 31, the West Novas were on the march again, following a difficult trail over the dark hills toward Monte Peloso.
They stopped shortly before dawn for a meal and by 10:00 a.m. on August 1, they were in position and consolidated on Peloso. By 2:00 p.m., "B" Company had crossed the Catenanuova-Regalbuto highway to occupy a position (later known as "Whistling Hill") overlooking the next day's objective, a huge and menacing hill called Monte Criscina.
Here, "B" Company came under continuous and well-aimed mortar fire, as 88 mm shells whistled overhead to explode on the higher ground behind or fell short and exploded on the slope ahead. "18" Company's radio set was knocked out. Privates Alcorn and Perry were killed, and among the wounded were Lt. Cpl. Turner, Pt. T. Middleton, and Captain Cameron's Batman, Pt. Stan Smith. Cameron sent a pair of scouts to locate the German observation post, as enemy mortar fire was uncomfortably accurate. The scouts, Pts. Langille and O.S. Foster, captured a corporal from the 3rd Parachute Rifle Regiment, who was promptly interrogated at headquarters and proved to be a more valuable prisoner. In fact, he was too good, for not only did he accurately describe the German mortar positions, but he consistently estimated the German strength to be no more than one or two companies astride the hill to the northeast. Perhaps he was lying about this last point, probably just guessing, but the cold fact was that Monte Criscina was held in force by crack paratroopers equipped (as paratroopers always were) with an extraordinary number of machine guns and automatic rifles, and with heavy mortar and artillery support.
"C" Company was ordered to reinforce "B" on Whistling Hill, and when they emerged from their positions on Monte Peloso to do so, they were spotted by enemy observers and shelled by 88mm guns, suffering fourteen casualties, including Lieutenant General E.E. Romkey, who was wounded. Around the same time, the battalion transport, sheltering in a wood behind Monte Peloso, came under shell fire. Some vehicles were hit, but there were only minor casualties. Around 7:00 PM, the battalion headquarters, which had moved forward to a grove east of the main road, also came under artillery fire. The C/O's signalman, Lt. Cpl. Butler, was killed, and Bogert himself, just a few feet away, narrowly escaped. Thus the situation remained as night fell.
Glendon was evacuated to a hospital in Scordia, where he died a week later. He was initially buried in the Scordia civil cemetery and later interred in the Canadian War Cemetery in Agira
Jimbo Jimmy, 2025-07-13
Information courtesy of the 