News

Fieldtrip to a sad reunion

Published 27 March 2013

A University of Brighton fieldtrip to Sicily gave student Zoe Hughes the chance to become the first member of her family to visit the war grave of her great, great uncle.

Charles Smith, a private in the East Surrey Regiment, died aged 22 during the Allied invasion of the island in 1943 and his remains rest with those of 2,134 fallen comrades in the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Catania.

Private Smith's family, including his late wife Joany who miscarried after hearing of his death, never had the opportunity to visit the grave until now, 70 years after he lost his life.

Zoe, a 21-year-old second year Geography BSc(Hons) student, was on a fieldtrip with fellow students from the university's School of Environment and Technology and before leaving asked if she could take time out from her fieldwork to make the visit.

Dr James Ebdon, Principal Lecturer present on the trip which looked at the erupting Mount Etna and studied a range of disciplines including volcanology, geomorphology, microbiology, hydrology, and ecology, said: "We were only too pleased to accommodate Zoe's request and to help her be the first member of her family to pay respects at the grave."

Zoe said: "It was a sad occasion and I was upset for everyone in my family, especially those who knew Charlie. My nan and Charlie's sister were especially pleased and really happy I had been able to get there."

Zoe's family have preserved a photograph of Private Smith in uniform and the "killed in action" telegram to his widow. He and Joan had married just seven months earlier, on Christmas Day, 1942.

The family also has a letter from Private Smith to his mother, written when he first arrived in North Africa before the Sicily invasion. The letter ends: "I miss you all very much and hope to see you all again soon, until then mum don't worry too much I shall be okay, so give my love to all mum and God bless you all. Your ever loving son Charlie."

Looking back on Namche from the Everest trail

Zoe Hughes by the gravestone of her great, great uncle Charles Smith

Zoe laid flowers at the grave, brought from the UK. They included a single red rose with a letter attached, written to Private Smith. The envelope also contained a photograph of Zoe's grandmother and mother.

Zoe said: "When my family learned I was going to Sicily, they asked if it would be possible for me to go to Catania and to take a photograph of the grave so we can say that at least one of his Charlie's family members had been to see him.

"I'm so pleased I did."