Tombstone - Pte G.A. Cromb, KIA 21 July 1943 and buried at the Agira War Cemerery, Sicily K52962 Pte. Charles Alexander Cromb served in the Seaforths from 11 May 1940 until he was killed in action on 21 July, 1943 in a probing action outside of Leonforte, Sicily. CWGC Historical Information: On 10 July 1943, following the successful conclusion of the north African campaign in mid May, a combined allied force of 160,000 Commonwealth and American troops invaded Sicily as a prelude to the assault on mainland Italy. The Italians, who would shortly make peace with the Allies and re-enter the war on their side, offered little determined resistance but German opposition was vigorous and stubborn. The campaign in Sicily came to an end on 17 August when the two allied forces came together at Messina, but failed to cut off the retreating Axis lines. Agira was taken by the 1st Canadian Division of 28 July [1943] and the site for the war cemetery was chosen in September for the burial of all Canadians who had been killed in the Sicily campaign. The Agira Canadian War Cemetery contains 490 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.