294th Engineer Combat Battalion - 1944.

[Walt's Daughter]

Posting this event for the Vicar who contacted me today. Many thanks to you kind sir!

 

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Dear Ms Chard

 

I am the Vicar of Sherborne Abbey in Dorset, UK, and I have discovered your website whilst researching the training accident which occurred on 20^th March 1944 on the Sherborne Castle Estate in which 29 members of C Company of the 294^th Engineer Battalion were killed. I am particularly grateful for the account of the incident given there by Joe Izzillo.

 

The 70^th anniversary of that tragic accident occurs this year, on Thursday 20^th March. As it happens, at 11.00 am the next day, Friday 21^st March, we have in Sherborne Abbey at 11.00 am our monthly Commemoration called ‘Remembering the Fallen’. At that Commemoration one page from each of three Books of Remembrance are read: the Dorset Regiment Book of Remembrance from the First World War; ditto from the Second World War, and from the Sherborne Town Second World War Book of Remembrance.

 

I intend that on 21^st March the 29 names of the US soldiers killed in 1944 shall also be read. They are, of course, recorded on a special plaque at the War Memorial in the Abbey Close. Every year on our Remembrance Sunday (the Sunday nearest to 11^th November) a member of the US Military places a wreath by the plaque.

 

If you think this piece of information is worthy of being posted on your website, I and the people of Sherborne would be honoured.

 

With warmest best wishes

 

Your sincerely

 

 

 

The Reverend Canon Eric Woods DL

Vicar of Sherborne