大象传媒

Then things began to move and we practised embarking and disembarking on and off L.C.I鈥檚, (Landing Craft Infantry), while the various vehicles and the guns were being loaded and off-loaded from larger vessels. We knew we were off to another country but didn鈥檛 know where. At last we embarked at Bizerta for the last time and after we had sailed from the harbour and were well on our way, we learned that we were going to Italy. The 8th Army had already landed at the Toe, and we were going to land at Salerno just below Naples. This was to be the first time heavy artillery had been used in an assault and it was going to be quite an experience.

As usual things went wrong from the beginning. The beach on which we landed was divided into two sections called 鈥淩ed Beach鈥� and 鈥淕reen Beach鈥�. We were safely deposited on the first one, but those for the second were landed too far down the coast. Consequently when the enemy, who had withdrawn, realised this they came back again, and as the second wave of troops landed they met with stiff resistance. For a long time after this it was touch and go and the Salerno landing nearly became a second Dunkirk. Gradually, however, the Infantry mastered the situation and we began to push forward.

From this time until I left the Regiment, when my nerve began to go and I was re-graded. I think all I can do is to recall one or two outstanding things, rather than try to describe movements from place to place as this would be too difficult and disjointed. I can remember Cassino very well, as when the first big air attack was made I was in a Hospital suffering with Yellow Jaundice. I was in there for three weeks and then went to a Convalescent Home in Sorrento for another three weeks. I rejoined the Regiment while they were still in front of Cassino and saw the next two attacks.

It was this particular place that caused a lot of controversy as we had to destroy the famous Monastery on Cassino Hill. It was absolutely necessary however as the Germans were using it to full advantage. The air attack however, apart from damaging the Monastery and the town of Cassino itself, was not sufficient to dislodge the enemy as we found out only too well. They were well dug in and when the infantry attacked after the bombing, they found the enemy still waiting for them.

It was only during the third attack that we were successful. The Germans had to be winkled out of each little nook and cranny and valiant work was done by the Polish Army. It was a fierce struggle but when the heights were ours the Liri Valley was open to us and we went on to Rome.

While the main army went to Rome we had rather a quiet spell in different sectors and two incidents here stand out in my mind. While on observation point duty in a small village we were able to obtain a small joint of meat from the troop cookhouse, and it was the first meal I had ever cooked in a bedpan! We had no other utensil to do the job and so we had two of these and cooked the meat in them, making a thoroughly good meal.

Then one day we went out to set up an observation point in a village which was at the end of a very long road, pitted with great holes, where the retreating enemy had blown it up in order to delay us. We had no observation point work to do as Jerry had pulled right back, so we stayed a few days and then returned to the gun position. But to get there we decided to use some mules belonging to some Indian troops, and to load hem with telephone and wireless equipment. I was given the honour of leading the biggest mule they could find and as I went off down the long road, I felt as if I was walking in front of an elephant.

Another memory tinged with sadness deals with the attack on the Gothio Line. For this an observation point party from our troop was detailed to join some of the Infantry and go forward with them thereby being in a position to give them Artillery support. After the usual preliminary barrage we started forward and were very delighted to find that the enemy had pulled back.

At the time it was quite thrilling to be in the front, (probably because there was no opposition), especially as we had to cross a small river. We started at about midnight and walked for hours and hours. Turning one corner we discovered that my pal Ginger Whittaker was missing. He was eventually found with two prisoners who were quite happily carrying some wireless equipment. He had also been able to obtain a watch off one of them. Later in the day he threw himself down while we were being shelled and the watch stopped. It was just after this that we were startled to hear an explosion in the village we had reached, and then saw a very sad sight. An Italian father was carrying his little boy, who had stepped onto a mine and his foot had been blown off. These sort of things bring into stark reality the futility of war, when the innocent suffer just as much as the guilty, and in some cases even more so.

A short while after this, my pal Ginger was out on observation point duty and was killed. Then came the very distressing job of sorting out his kit and keeping the valuables. These included the watch which I kept by me for a while. Then came the time for me to pack up. It was just between San Marino and Rimini that my nerve began to go and I was sent back to Assisi where I was eventually re-graded, unfit for further service in the front line. Then began a period of messing about until I finally reached my new Unit.

Before going on to my new life after re-grading I want to take stock of one or two things that stand out in my memory of the service in the front line. We, in the Artillery, were luckier than the Infantry with whom I had plenty to do when on observation point work. When we came under shell-fire we could always pull out, but the P.B.I. had to stick it out and I have the greatest admiration for them. So many lost their lives and are now only remembered by the country on one occasion and then only for two minutes. I wonder if their sacrifice was worth it.

However, they were always humorous and among many of the funny stories, I like the following one. In order to try and encourage his men, an Infantry Officer offered 拢1 for each German captured. Well, the night following this statement Bill and George were on sentry duty. Bill suddenly said, 鈥淕eorge, you remember what the officer said this morning about the money, well don鈥檛 tell the others, there is about 拢2000 worth coming towards us鈥�.

Although like many others, I always thought it better to be a live coward than a dead hero, I did get a kick out of my many varied duties and I was particularly pleased on one occasion to be on observation point duty which involved going forward with the Infantry on the attack on the Gothic Line in Italy. I wasn鈥檛 very happy at first, not knowing what was in store, but after the usual preliminary barrage, we discovered that the enemy had already pulled back and that made things much brighter. We walked all night and all the next day until early evening and I was dead tired, but I shall always remember ramming handfuls of delicious grapes in my mouth as we walked through the vines in the fields.

One incident I must mention, which was not funny at the time, but which has caused me plenty of laughter since was when once again we were working with the Infantry. This time we were with the Ghurkhas and situated on the side of a hill. The object that night was to go forward over the top down the other side and take positions further forward. Unfortunately, due to the stupidity of the 鈥淏rass Hats鈥�, a party of them had planted themselves on top of the hill in the afternoon drawing the attention of the enemy mortars, who had promptly registered the place, during which performance the 鈥淏rass Hats鈥� decided to beat a hasty retreat and leave us to 鈥済ive 鈥榚m Hell鈥�. When night came we set forth up the hill preceded by mules, but the moment the first one set foot on the top of the hill we were plastered by mortar fire. Panic stations was the immediate order and like a cavalry charge the mules bolted back down the hill, with me in the lead. I have never run so fast in my life, thinking to myself, what my Troop Officer will say to me. However, when I managed to turn the corner of a path into comparative safety, I discovered that the officer had been there sometime before me.

Now to my rehabilitation, as it was called. After I had been re-graded, I left with a party of others for Galliano, near to Naples, to await a posting to another regiment. This process took some time and I went on several excursions before finally being posted Once or twice I was included in a party taking British soldiers to various parts of Italy for their Court Martial. A lot of them were deserters, and as we were all supposed to be re-graded with our nerves, it didn鈥檛 help much. However, as we couldn鈥檛 care less whether or not any of the prisoners escaped, we were not harmed in any way.

I was then posted to Bari, but owing to the usual efficiency of the British Army, I went to Arezzo to a wrong Unit. This took several days, and during the journey one of the Corporals with us decided to be a bit smart. We were selling various pieces of equipment (unofficially of course), and he put on his arm a Military Policeman鈥檚 Armband. He then hid himself behind the truck and as the Italian came by with the various purchases he had made, our brainy Corporal took them from him. Unfortunately he was only able to do this once, as the next Italian was too smart, he left by crawling under the railway truck and escaped.

We returned to Naples and then on to Bari, but on arrival there found that the Unit had moved further north. However, it had been used as a rest camp and I was there for about three weeks. During this time I had a very easy life working in the sports section under the care of none other than Stan Cullis, manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Inevitably it came to an end and I returned to Baiano for another wait. This time I was luckier and was posted to A.F.H.Q. at Caserta to work in what was called Coal Section. I found that the H.Q. was situated in the marvellous Palace at Caserta and what a building it was. At the back were many swimming pools and the water was supplied from a wonderful waterfall coming at the foot of a mountain. There were hundreds of rooms in the Palace all occupied by clerical workers, and we lived in the Cavalry barracks on the other side of the road.

Life was very easy, with days off when I usually whisked myself off with friends to Naples to enjoy life in the canteens and cinemas. It was soon after being here that we celebrated V.E. Day and a lot of us went to a football match in Naples. On the way back the lorry in which I was travelling over-turned and crashed into a tree. I spent the night in hospital just for a check-up, although there was nothing actually wrong.

Among the many entertainments we enjoyed were gramophone recitals in the Opera House, at which place we also enjoyed visits from Italian artists. Then one day I heard that I had to go to our office in Rome at the Allied Commission for a short stay while the Corporal in charge of Coal Division went on leave. Although only there for a short while I thoroughly enjoyed it. I went to the open air Opera at Torme de Carncalla, and what an experience. The performance took place on an immense stage situated in the ruins of the Ancient baths and started at 9.00 p.m. each evening and lasted until midnight or even later for the longer Operas. We were issued with special passes for this purpose as we sometimes did not get back to our billets until about 2.00 a.m. It is difficult to put into words the magic of the surroundings for the Operas, but to be out in the open in those very old ruins with the moonlight shining down, with scenes before you of ancient times. One of the most spectacular scenes for me occurred in Aida where during the triumphal march great beacons are lit and twelve trumpeters play standing on pedestals.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.