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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Robert Free Osler

In memory of:

Lieutenant Robert Free Osler

July 26, 1943

Military Service


Force:

Army

Unit:

48th Highlanders of Canada

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 200 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

D, A, 384.

Location:

Agira Canadian War Cemetery lies in the Commune of Agira, Province of Enna, in the centre of Sicily. From the autostrada A19, Catania-Palermo, take the exit to Catenanuova. Follow signposts to Regalbuto, then pass Regalbuto, going in the direction of Agira. The Cemetery is then signposted about 12 kilometres from Regalbuto. 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 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. Agira Canadian War Cemetery contains 491 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Biography
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Badge– In memory of the members of the 48th Highlanders of Canada who went to war and did not come home. Submitted on behalf of the 48th Highlanders Museum, 73 Simcoe St. Toronto, ON M5J 1W9 Submitted for the project Operation: Picture Me.
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram May 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Kingston Whig-Standard. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Robert Free Osler– In memory of the members of the 48th Highlanders of Canada who went to war and did not come home. Submitted on behalf of the 48th Highlanders Museum, 73 Simcoe St. Toronto, ON M5J 1W9 Submitted for the project Operation: Picture Me.
  • Photo of Robert Osler– Wedding of Robert Free Osler ("Bobs") and Elizabeth Evelyn Harty ("Betty"), at Roselawn, Kingston, Ontario, on September 5, 1936.
  • Newspaper clipping
  • Newspaper Clipping– Source:  Hamilton Spectator, August 17, 1943
  • Newspaper Clipping– In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Entrance
  • Entrance– Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Photo 3 of the Cemetery– The entrance to the cemetery.
  • Agira Canadian War Cemetery
  • Agira Canadian War Cemetery
  • Cemetery– The cemetery, with the medieval town of Agira in the background.
  • Gravemarker
  • Photo 2 of Cemetery– The cemetery in context of the Sicilian landscape. (note the arrows)
  • View of Mt. Enna
  • Cemetery– Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cemetery– Cross of Sacrifice - Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
  • Headstone of Robert Free Osler
  • Grave Marker– Grave marker - Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Robert's Grandson– Jason Osler (Robert´s grandson) becomes the first immediate family member to visit the grave.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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