Images bring to life the bravery of British troops 75 years on from WWII invasion of Sicily
- Allied troops landed on the island in 1943 before launching operation Husky to seize it from the Axis powers
The bravery of British troops during the invasion of Sicily in World War Two has been brought to life in stunning colour images for the first time.
Operation Husky saw soldiers advance through Sicily, marching towards the front lines before the grizzly end of infamous dictator and architect of fascism Benito Mussolini.
Images have been released to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the action showing troops in Pachine, men of the Highland Division up to their waists in water and a 5.5-inch gun of 212nd Medium Regiment of the Royal Artillery.
Other striking shots show US Sherman M4 tanks landing during Operation Husky, Private Roy Humphrey being given blood plasma after he was wounded by shrapnel and the Liberty ship Robert Rowan as it was hit by a German Ju 88 bomber and its cargo of munitions exploded.
The Allied invasion of Sicily, codenamed Operation Husky, was a major campaign of World War II, in which the Allies took the island of Sicily from the Axis powers of Italy and Nazi Germany.
Operation Husky was the first major Allied assault on German occupied Europe. Churchill described Sicily and Italy as the soft underbelly of Europe but the Italy campaign was hard fought and only came to an end in May 1945.
During the invasion of Sicily, the Liberty ship Robert Rowan (K-40) has been hit by a German Ju 88 bomber and its cargo of munitions explodes off Gela, Sicily. The plume contains a significant amount of toxic substances
US Sherman M4 tank lands during Operation Husky in Sicily in 1943 as the allied forces arrived on the island to fight Nazi Germany
A 5.5-inch gun was used by men in the 212nd Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, on 23 July, 1943. The conflict led to the infamous dictator and architect of fascism Benito Mussolini's end
Stunning colour images took months to create as black and white photographs were transformed. Pictured: British troops in Pachine during the advance through Sicily
Italians wave an American flag as Allied troops walk past. The images which have been colourised show brave troops smiling at locals as they prepared for Operation Husky
Just after dawn men of the Highland Division are up to their waists in water unloading stores from landing craft tanks. Meanwhile beach roads are being prepared for heavy and light traffic during dawn of the opening day of the invasion of Sicily
Troops wade ashore from landing ships as they landed in Sicily ready to take on the Axis powers of Italy and Nazi Germany
Royal Air Force Eagles getting ready for Operation Husky on Sicily. Royston Leonard from Cardiff, Wales, who restored the shots said he could see 'brothers and sons' as he stared at the troops - and not just soldiers heading for war
It began with a large amphibious and airborne operation, followed by a six-week land campaign, and initiated the Italian Campaign.
The original black and white photographs were painstakingly colourised over a number of months by electrician Royston Leonard from Cardiff, Wales.
'These images show young people getting ready to face war to bring freedom back to Europe,' the 55-year-old said.
'When you look at these pictures you can see fathers, sons, brothers not soldiers. Yes they are soldiers but only a short time before they had been neighbours and friends or family.
US troops make their way through the smoke to Fontainebleau, en route to Paris, during World War II as the allied forces make a bid to take Europe back from fascists
'The pictures show what had to be done and by looking at them we can keep in mind to please never let it happen again.'
Husky began on the night of 9-10 July 1943, and ended on 17 August. Strategically, Husky achieved the goals set out for it by Allied planners; the Allies drove Axis air, land and naval forces from the island and the Mediterranean sea lanes were opened for Allied merchant ships for the first time since 1941.
The Italian leader, Benito Mussolini, was toppled from power in Italy and the way was opened for the Allied invasion of Italy. The German leader, Adolf Hitler, cancelled a major offensive at Kursk after only a week, in part to divert forces to Italy, resulting in a reduction of German strength on the Eastern Front.
The collapse of Italy necessitated German troops replacing the Italians in Italy and to a lesser extent the Balkans, resulting in one fifth of the entire German army being diverted from the east to southern Europe, a proportion that would remain until near the end of the war.
Images of troops in Sicily have been colourised for the first time in the 75th anniversary year of Operation Husky which took place in 1943
General Bernard Law Montgomery is bid a jolly farewell by Lieutenant General George S Patton, Jr at the Palermo, Sicily airport after a visit by General Montgomery
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