Edward Benjamin Drewry

CATANIA WAR CEMETERY, SICILY I. C. 35.

Drewry was killed in heavy fighting as the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment spearheaded the Allied invasion of Europe, taking part in Operation Husky (the amphibious invasion of Sicily).
Serving as a frontline infantry unit within the 17th Infantry Brigade of the British 5th Infantry Division, their actions during this historic month saw them transition from rigorous sea transit straight into fierce combat against Axis defences.

Timeline of Key Events (July 1943)

• 10 July (D-Day): Landing on Beach 44: Following a rough night at sea with high winds, the battalion landed at Beach 44, an assault sector located just south of Cassibile on the southeastern coast of Sicily. The landings were guided by specialized COPP beach-marking teams.
• 11–12 July: The Fight at Marcellino River: Moving rapidly inland and pushing north to secure the beachheads, the battalion ran directly into heavy resistance. They were heavily engaged in intense combat around the Marcellino River sector, positioned between the towns of Augusta and Melilli, as they fought to clear the route northward.
• Mid-to-Late July: The Advance North: After subduing coastal resistances, the 5th Division pushed up the eastern axis of the island. The battalion spent the remaining weeks of July battling through grueling terrain, soaring Mediterranean heat, and stubborn German rearguard actions as the Allies pushed toward the Catania Plain.