War correspondent Stewart Sale commemorated in Italy

Sale, 38, was killed on 28 September 1943 at Scafati near Salerno with Alexander Austin of the Daily Herald, and William J. Munday, of the News Chronicle and the Sydney Morning Herald. They were covering the Battle of Scafati during the Italian campaign. All three were buried at the Montecorvino Commonwealth war cemetery.

Sixty-six years later, the local town council has unveiled a commemorative plaque in the town centre and another at the spot where they died. A Città di Scafati journalism prize is to be established in their names.

Sale’s son, Anthony Sale, was present as an honoured guest at the ceremonies and visited his father's grave. The direct descendents of the other two correspondents who also died on that day were also present. They were greeted by the mayor and people of Scafati.

The commemoration was the idea of Angelo Pesce, Scafati’s official historian, who has written a book about the three journalists who died in his town. ■