King's College London
Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives

Copyright: The texts of the detailed catalogues are the copyright of King's College London and are made available for private research only.

Papers of Capt John George Burton, (1921-1978)

BURTON: 1-17 1943 Papers, photographs and maps relating to the invasion of Sicily and Italy during the Second World War, as experienced by 41 Royal Marine Commandos, including war diary and intelligence reports, 1943.

BURTON: 1 1943 Jun 2-1943 Jul 28

Handwritten official war diary of 41 Royal Marine Commandos under the command of Lt Col Bruce John David Lumsden, describing events during the Allied invasion of Sicily, where the unit were the first sea-borne troops to enter Europe, notably training at Gare Loch, the preparations for attack on board the Durham Castle including details of security and attack, the landing on a beach near Punta Castellazzo, and the following operations; an address from acting V Adm Lord Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten; changes in command and casualties. There is a second, typed copy of this section of the diary. 37pp.

BURTON: 2 1943 Sep 1-1943 Sep 26

Official war diary of 41 Royal Marine Commandos under the command of Lt Col Bruce John David Lumsden, describing events during operation AVALANCHE, the invasion of Salerno and Naples, Italy, notably exercises undertaken with 2 Commando in preparation ; the landing at Marina Cove in the Gulf of Salerno and the swift move to the town of Vietri; the fighting in the hills and ridges near La Molina, in which 41 Commando played an significant part. 6pp.

BURTON: 3 1943 Oct

Official War Diary of 41 Royal Marine Commandos, under the command of Major Thomas Henry Baker Cresswell, describing a month spent in the naval barracks at Catania, recuperating and training, and the present strength of the unit. 1p.

BURTON: 4 1943 Nov 1-1943 Nov 30

Official War Diary of 41 Royal Marine Commandos, under the command of Major Thomas Henry Baker Cresswell, describing events of that month, notably the award of the Military Cross to two members of the unit; the voyage for Bone, Algeria, in order to embark for England; reorganisation of the unit in preparation for operations, due to a change in plan. Two copies. 7pp

BURTON: 5 1943 Jul 12

Intelligence Summary by Lt Col Thomas Bell Lindsay Churchill, General Staff Officer, Grade 1, Special Service Bde, on the progress of the invasion of Sicily, giving details of the attacks from the east, south-east and south-west, and the German order of battle, as well as discussing the war in Russia. 3pp.

BURTON: 6 [1943]

Administrative intelligence summary about Sicily, describing the climate, medical resources, and communications system. 5pp.

BURTON: 7 [1943]

Five intelligence messages sent by Burton (as Intelligence Officer for 41 Royal Marine Commandos), probably during a training exercise, reporting enemy artillery areas, weaponry, and deployment.

BURTON: 8 [1943]

Rough handwritten notes on various, including chemical warfare, German tank formations, and British troop numbers. 5pp.

BURTON: 9 [1943]

7 photographs taken in Sicily, showing the beach landing site for 41 Royal Marine Commandos, and the hill occupied by 'B' troop.

BURTON: 10 [1943?]

Magazine cutting with a photograph of the officers of 41 Royal Marine Commando, and a description of the part they played in the Allied landings at Sicily and Salerno, Italy. 1p.

BURTON: 11 [1943]

Map of Italy drawn on silk, with the north on one side and the south on the other. Created by the Air Ministry (No. 7332) on a scale of 1:2,250,000.

BURTON: 12 1943

Map of the area around Amalfi, southern Italy, sheet 197 IV. Published by the Geographical Section of the War Office, on a scale of 1:50,000.

BURTON: 13 1943

Map of the area around Militello in Val di Catania, southern Italy, sheet 273-I. Published by the Geographical Section of the War Office, on a scale of 1:50,000.

BURTON: 14 1943

Map of the area around Vizzini, southern Italy, sheet 273-II. Published by the Geographical Section of the War Office, on a scale of 1:50,000.

BURTON: 15 1943

Map of Augusta, southern Italy, sheet 274-I. Published by the Geographical Section of the War Office, on a scale of 1:50,000.

BURTON: 16 1943

Map of the area around Ispica, southern Italy, sheet 276-II. Published by the Geographical Section of the War Office, on a scale of 1:50,000.

BURTON: 17 1943

Map of the area around Vittoria southern Italy, sheet 276-IV. Published by the Geographical Section of the War Office, on a scale of 1:50,000.
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