大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Norman Wigley of the 大象传媒 Radio Sheffield Action Desk on behalf of Mr George Martin, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

This edited account is taken from the book 鈥淐assino to the River Po. Italy 1944-45. A personal account of life and action in a tank troop鈥� written and published by George Martin.

Other parts to this story can be found at:

Part 1: A7832441

Part 3: A7832964

Part 4: A7833152

Part 5: A7833549

Part 6: A7833710

Part 7: A7833837

Part 8: A7833972

Part 9: A7834043

Part 10: A7834179

Our next move was into the area south of Monte Grande and Monte Piccolo. It was between these two peaks that our centre line must pass, observers on these peaks could, of course, dominate the open ground over which we must pass. We were told that patrols had found out that the enemy occupied the peaks between dawn and dusk, taking up positions just before dawn.

Just as dusk fell on 27 April 1944 we moved forward into the open ground and formed up in troops, line ahead, a mile or so from the gap between the hills which was to be our eventual line of advance. We were joined by the Welsh Guards. The plan seemed simple enough, they had to get up onto the peak before the enemy, and to ambush the Germans when they arrived at dawn to take up their position.

Before dawn the Guards moved off silently, faces blackened, in single file. The plan outlined to us by the Squadron Leader seemed fairly simple and straightforward. The Guards would move up and occupy the heights before dawn, ambush the enemy as they approached, and with the peak in our hands, we should then move forward to continue our advance along the road in the narrow gap between Grande and Piccolo.
In order to lull the enemy into a false sense of security, no artillery bombardment was to take place on the area beyond the trenches through which the enemy would have to pass. Events proved this to be a costly mistake.

At first light the tank troops moved forward to a point just short of the gap between the hills. Once in position 鈥� it was quiet; too quiet, and I had a feeling all was not well. Suddenly we heard the sound of battle going on high above us but at this stage we had no way of knowing what a disaster the attack had been. Eventually we were approached by two figures 鈥� dirty, uniforms torn and without weapons. As I approached, one of the men called out, 鈥淒on鈥檛 shoot, we鈥檙e Welsh Guards.鈥� 鈥淲hat the hell are you doing down here?鈥� was my reply. Although badly shocked, they told me briefly of their ordeal, how, just after dawn, they arrived near their objective, but the enemy was already in position and they didn鈥檛 have a chance. 鈥淎ll hell broke loose,鈥� they said. Most of their company was cut down by cross fire before they even got near the trenches. We felt these losses deeply, but were ordered to sit tight and await a change of plans.

As the sun rose higher, I noticed a small valley behind the far peak over to my left. We moved forward a few yards to get a better view. I watched for a long time and thought I could see movement. Watching now, very intently, I saw more movement, figures in field grey moving behind what looked like camouflage netting. I ordered the gunner to traverse on to the area of movement and then saw a motor cycle despatch rider stop, dismount and go into the shelter where I had seen the other figures. The gunner shouted, 鈥淥n target 鈥� they鈥檙e Krauts alright.鈥� The activity suggested a forward command post which was in the process of packing up to move to a new area. The target wasn鈥檛 an easy one. 鈥淔ire,鈥� I ordered. We were right on target! We followed up with 5 more rounds of H.E. When the dust settled, nothing moved.

Some part of the debt to our lost friends had been repaid. The Germans did not waste any time in returning fire with interest, but luckily we escaped with only one casualty 鈥� the 3 troop leader, who was hit by a shell splinter and evacuated to hospital, returning to us several months later. Considering the shelling we had been lucky to get off so lightly.

Pr-BR

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