大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People's War website by Sue Sutton on behalf of Trevor Bray, the author and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

My unit the 6th Btn Gordon Highlanders who were attached to the American 5th Army commanded by Gen Mark Clarke, had fought their way through Sicilly and Italy to somewhere near Caserta where we were resting for a brief period. I recall being on my knees cleaning something; probably my rifle - bondook, our slang term for it, when the RSM commonly know as the "Bull" walked by "You're on shingles draft in the morning, Corporal Bray", he said. "What does that mean, sir?" "You will bloody well find out!" was his reply. Next thing that I remember was being loaded in the harbour on to an LST - landing ship tank - three Shermans were already sitting nose to tail down the middle of this craft - we footsloggers crammed in like the proverbial sardines on either side. Out to sea we went a short journey til the ship ran aground on the beach at Anzio. A crunch and a jolt then a great roar as the tank engines came to life. The bows of our ship opened up like a pelican's bill and they trundled off. My concern was that they were within inches of my toes, these 52 ton monsters! They then raced up the beach and we followed. There was an officer there already to greet us, or I should say, to direct us. He was Major Dennis Healey, now Lord Healey ex politician. At the top of the beach it was so nice to find some cover - bushes and wrecked buildings. We were not the first Allied soldiers to arrive at this resort - there was ample evidence of that. A grave of a German soldier, helmet on rifle butt, stabbed in as a marker. On it was hung a card and some wag had written on it "A stiffer dead you've never seen - He did not take his Mephaichrine!" Reference to the tablets we all had to take daily, to protect us from the ravages of malaria. On for a mile where coming under all kinds of fire, we dug in and defended ourselves. It became clear that if we had all pressed forward, we could have broken the German resistance and continued our progress towards Rome. But no, Gen Clarke decided then for us to await the Yanks who were held up at Neturno and even when they broke out he was far too hesitant, allowing Jerry to bring up his armour. We carried out many fighting patrols. "We are going up the flyover tonight!" That was the first reference I had ever heard to that architectural road design. Jerry had encamped under it and we used to go up there for a scrap, with the hope of taking POWs. Not all fun and games though. We got a bloody nose more than once.

When we did break out of the bridgehead the enemy still offered strong resistance. Our casualties were not light and we all lost friends. A whole company of ours was surrounded and had to give in. The Jerry officer in an armoured car stood up with a submachine gun in his hands. "Those of you who want to be taken prisoner, over here and those who do not, stand over there." All did except the guy who played dead and came back to tell the tale.

Somewhat further north we crossed the Pontine Marshes. At night on guard duties while other men rested, I recall the maddening din of the frogs chorus. It was dissorientating! Advancing towards Rome, we heard that it had been declared an "open city", Jerry deciding not to fight street by street. Ours for walking in! But no, our great American Allies encamped the Brits in the countryside whilst the Yankie boys slouched past us to occupy this wonderful place. May be two weeks went by before Gen Mark Clarke let the British go in. Somehow I managed to go and see most famous buildings St Peters, Trevi Fountain, Coliseum and certain Opera Houses taken over for entertainment. An Italian man was singing "O Sole Mio" - as soon as he finished "encore, encore!" was the cry - he sang til he dropped, poor boy. Later, we heard that his name was Mario Lanzo. He was rescued by some Yanks and shipped over to America - where he began another career. So here is written a record of no more than 150 miles of my multi thousand mile long wartime adventure. I hope that you enjoyed it. I didn't!

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