A rededication service for Private Lionel Brown, 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment, and Privates Daniel Hollingsworth and Thomas White, 1st Battalion The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) took place this past week. The three, having escaped from Italian prisoner of war camps during WW2, were shot along with I.S.9 agent Mario Mottes, near the village of Montedinove, Italy.

Read an official Ministry of Defence news story about the event, “Bravery of 3 World War 2 soldiers shot for escaping from a POW camp finally recognised after nearly 75 years.”

Read also “Heros Honored” by The Sun.

On this site, read “War Crime—the Ponte Dragone Executions” and “Ponte Dragone Deaths—A Second Report” for the details on the Special Investigation Branch war crime investigation into the soldiers’ capture and execution.

Private Lionel Herbert John Brown was born on October 18, 1908 in Hornsey, London. He enlisted on October 20, 1926, aged 18, and his trade prior to enlistment was porter. He was single.

Private Daniel Hollingsworth was born April 15, 1920 in Tidal Basin, London. He enlisted on June 24, 1940, aged 20 years, and his trade prior to enlistment was labourer. He was married with one daughter.

Private Thomas William White was born on February 26, 1921 in Leyton, London. He enlisted on April 27, 1938, aged 17 years, and his trade prior to enlistment was leather worker. He was single.

A bugler from The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment performs the Last Post during the rededication service / Crown copyright