大象传媒

CASSINO 1944

The 2nd battalion Royal Fusiliers 4th British Division relieved the 3rd Welsh Guards.
We were in a static position located in what was once a schoolhouse.
The section were located in what was left of the schoolhouse, with an OP in a Sanger (shelter built of rocks) consisting of a Lance Corporal and a Fusilier whose job it was to monitor movements of the enemy on the three hills namely, hangmans, monastry and castle.
On this particular day the forward OP had a visit from a young officer who had just joined the battalion from Sandhurst, England.
Good morning chaps he said is everything alright? we replied yes sir. He said what's that movement on the hill we said that's the Germans filling up their water containers. They do that the same time every day sir. He called for a sniper and ordered him to fire at the water carrier. His body was collected under cover of the red cross flag.
About two hours after the incident all hell let loose, the Germans had brought up a tiger tank and shelled the schoolhouse. One shell went through a recently made hole, bursted on the wall above where the section was sheltering. Two fusiliers were killed and several injured. The bodies were stretchered out on the nighttime.
When we took over the position, written on the wall were the words (don't stir the s--t). If that officer had only done just that!

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