In Memory of
BERNARD MANUS KANE
Trooper, B/88064
Three Rivers Regiment, R.C.A.C.
who dead age 25
on 05 August 1943
Remembered with honour
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
AGIRA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY
Born on 20 Dic 1917,
Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada;
Enlisted on the 10th of November 1939 in Toronto.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2024-12-31
Bernard joined the Three Rivers Regiment in October 1942 after spending his first years with the Royal Canadian Artillery as a Gunner. On the 5th of August 1943 he was part of the formed "Booth Force"."A strike force called Booth Force, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel E. Booth was formed. It was made of 'A' and 'B' Tank Squadrons (TRR), 'A' and 'C' Companies, Seaforth Highlanders, 'A' Squadron, Princess Louise Dragoon Guards, a troop of the 90th Anti-Tank Regiment with engineer and other artillery elements.
It struck east between the Salso River and the Troina-Adrano road heading in the direction of Carcaci (a village three miles west of Adrano) forcing the enemy during a four-hour fight to withdraw to the north. According to Major General G.G. Simonds, GOC, 1st Division, the success "was due to the 12th Canadian Tank Regiment."
The entire action of the past few days has been watched by General Montgomery and Major General Simonds, both of whom declare it to be the finest piece of infantry-tank cooperation they have ever seen.
This was "infantry-cum-tank" action at its best. The way to deal with the enemy, it was found, "was to have the tanks winkle about the terrain and clean out all suspicious-looking places with 75-mm high explosives and with blasts of machine gun fire".
The enemy's losses in killed were extremely heavy, but Canadian casualties were few. It had been a model operation, and Lt.-Col. Booth received the D.S.O. for the "dash and determination" with which he carried it out. He was later promoted Brigadier, and was killed in Normandy while commanding an armoured brigade.
(Source: Official history: "From Pachino to Ortona)
In the course of these actions, Corporal J.M.V. Dilio and Trooper B.M. Kane are killed by snipers, and a number wounded by shells, mortar and sniper fire. The Three Rivers' part in the Sicilian campaign ends here. Within a day or two, all Canadian troops are to be withdrawn to the south, to refit for landings in Italy. Only the extreme northeastern corner of Sicily now remains to be cleared.
(source: War Chronicles 1939-1945 Three Rivers Regiment by Charles Prieur)
Bernard was initially buried in the Salso Valley and later reburied at Agira.
Bernard lived in Toronto with his parents, one brother and two sisters. His brother Frank also served in the Canadian Army.
Find Grave, 2024-12-31
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