Ernest Raymond Cecil MALLETT

1922 - 1943  (21 years)

• Name	Ernest Raymond Cecil MALLETT  [1, 2, 3]
  Birth	22 Feb 1922	Andover, Hampshire, England   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Census	29 Sep 1939	88 Morley Hill, Enfield U.D., Middlesex, England   [1]
  UKC 1881	N
  UKC 1881	N
  Alternate Name	Ernest C R Mallett  [1]
  Occupation	29 Sep 1939  [1]
  	Sheet Metal Worker.
  Death	14 Jul 1943	Italy   [3]
  	Ernest served with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and with 3 Commando and was Killed In Action during Operation "Husky" on Malati Bridge (Italy) on 14 July 1943. On 12 July 1943, two days after taking part in the invasion of Sicily, No.3 Commando were sent forward 10 miles behind enemy lines to take the Malati Bridge near Lentini, to clear the way for the 50th Division advance. They landed at a beach near Agnone about 20 miles north west of Syracuse. After capturing the bridge from the Italians commanded by Lt.-Col. Francesco Tropea, and removing the demolitions he had laid, a counter attack by the Germans with three Tiger tanks inflicted heavy casualties. Following a fierce battle, No.3 Commando were ordered to withdraw but the bridge was saved from the demolition that the Germans had planned. After the fall of Catania, General Montgomery ordered that a bronze plaque of “3 Commando Bridge” be secured into the Malati Bridge for posterity. 3 Commando lost a total of five officers and 23 men killed, four officers and 62 men wounded and eight officers and 51 men missing - nearly 50% of the unit's strength. Ernest was awarded (post mortem) the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Italy Star, and the War Medal 1939/45.
  Burial	Aft 14 Jul 1943	Syracuse War Cemetery, Syracuse, Sicily, Italy   [3]
  Person ID	I8348	East Anglia
  Last Modified	23 Oct 2023

  
  

  Father	Ernest Wilby MALLETT,   b. Abt Jun 1890, Sydenham, London, England d. Abt Dec 1956, Edmonton, London, England (Age ~ 66 years)
  Mother	Elsie CLARKE,   b. 12 Jul 1891
  Marriage	Abt Dec 1919	Lewisham, London, England   [1, 4]
  Family ID	F2211	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S3229] UKC 1939 Mallett, Ernest W 1890, 3229. [S3230] Birth (I) Mallett, Ernest R C 1922, 3230. [S3235] Website War & Son, (War & Son), 3235. [S3231] Marriage (I) Mallett, Ernest W 1919, 3231.