top of page
Search

Christmas Remembrance in Torbole — Honouring the 10th Mountain Division Missing in Action

As Christmas approached, members of Association Benàch gathered in Torbole for a moment of quiet reflection and remembrance. In a season often associated with celebration, we chose instead to pause and honour those whose lives were lost during the final months of the Second World War — men who never returned home and whose absence is still felt today.


At the monuments in Torbole, we laid wreaths in memory of the 25 soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division who remain Missing in Action, lost on 30 April 1945 during the tragic DUKW incident on Lake Garda. These men, whose story we continue to research and share through our documentary The Lost Mountaineers, represent not only sacrifice, but also unanswered questions and families left without closure.


Antonella Previdi, Pietro Porretto, and Ben Appleby at MIA monument after Christmas wreath-laying.
Antonella Previdi, Pietro Porretto, and Ben Appleby at the monument to the 25 Missing in Action 10th Mountain Division soldiers, after laying the Christmas wreath in remembrance and honour.

During the same act of remembrance, we also laid wreaths in honour of Brigadier General William O. Darby, founder of the U.S. Army Rangers, and his Sergeant Major John T. Evans. Like the men lost on the DUKW, Darby and Evans were killed on 30 April 1945 — a powerful and poignant connection that reminds us how a single day marked the loss of extraordinary leadership and countless lives.


BG William O. Darby monument with wreath in early evening, Torbole
Monument of BG William O. Darby with the wreath laid in his honour, captured in the early evening at Torbole.
BG William O. Darby monument with wreath in early evening, Torbole



For Association Benàch, it is vitally important that these men are remembered together. Whether Missing in Action, fallen in combat, or lost just as the war was drawing to a close, each represents courage, service, and sacrifice. Remembering them is not only an act of respect, but a responsibility — especially here, in the places where history unfolded.

Plaque marking where BG William O. Darby fell on 30 April 1945 with wreath
A wreath at the plaque marking where BG William O. Darby fell on 30 April 1945.

Through our work — from educational activities and historical research to documentaries such as The Lost Mountaineersand With Love, Billy — we are committed to ensuring that these stories are preserved and shared, so future generations understand the human cost of war beyond dates and statistics.

Below is a short video from our Christmas wreath-laying ceremony in Torbole, honouring the 25 Missing in Action of the 10th Mountain Division, and BG William O. Darby with Sgt. Maj. John T. Evans.


🕯️ Never forgotten



Support Our Work - If you would like to support the work of Association Benàch — including research, education, and acts of remembrance — you can contribute in the following ways:

👉 Bank Transfer: Cassa Rurale Alto Garda e RoveretoIBAN: IT46V0801634310000000425015Account name: ASSOCIAZIONE BENÀCH


Comments

bottom of page