Salerno mutiny facts for kids
The Salerno mutiny was an event during World War II where about 200 British soldiers refused new assignments. This happened on September 16, 1943, during the early days of the Allied invasion of Italy.
About 1,500 soldiers from the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and 51st (Highland) Division had sailed from Tripoli, Libya. They believed they were going to rejoin their old units. These units were in Sicily and were expected to return to the United Kingdom. This return was to prepare for Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy. Both divisions were experienced soldiers from General Sir Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army. They had fought in the North African campaign.
A Surprise Assignment
Once on the ship, the soldiers learned they were going to Salerno, Italy. They were told they would join the British 46th Infantry Division and 56th (London) Infantry Division. These divisions had lost many soldiers in battles. Both were part of British X Corps, which was fighting with the U.S. Fifth Army. Many soldiers felt they had been tricked about their destination.
Confusion and Frustration
When they arrived in Salerno, there was a lot of confusion. This made the soldiers even more upset. About 1,000 new recruits were sent to join different units. This left 500 experienced soldiers. Around 300 of these veterans were staying in a nearby field. By September 20, they were still there, refusing to join unfamiliar units.
Lieutenant-General Richard McCreery, the leader of the British X Corps, spoke to them. He admitted that a mistake had been made. He promised they would rejoin their original units once Salerno was safe. However, he also warned them about the serious consequences of refusing orders during wartime.
The Aftermath
Out of the 300 soldiers in the field, 108 decided to follow orders. This left 192 soldiers who continued to refuse. All 192 were accused of mutiny under the Army Act. This was the largest group of soldiers accused of mutiny at one time in British military history.
The accused soldiers were sent to French Algeria. Their trials began in late October. All of them were found to have broken army rules. Three sergeants were initially sentenced to death. However, these sentences were later changed to 12 years of hard labor. Eventually, these punishments were put on hold.
In March 2000, a debate happened in the House of Commons. A Member of Parliament (MP) named Anne Begg asked for an official pardon for the soldiers. She argued that they weren't refusing to fight. Instead, they were asking for a promise from their commanders to be kept. However, John Spellar, who was a government minister, denied this request. He stated that refusing orders in wartime, even if the orders seemed unfair, was a very serious matter that could not be pardoned.
