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- Contributed by听
- bert pink
- People in story:听
- bert pink
- Location of story:听
- salerno italy 43
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A1088813
- Contributed on:听
- 24 June 2003
we landed at salerno from a L S T,with 6 pdr a/tank guns, in surport of 167 brigade in 56 lon/div the black cats.and took Battapagia on the 10th ,we were overun on the 11th and this was called black monday.we were driven almost back to the shore but after a fight Battapaglia was re taken.
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Message 1 - Battapaglia
Hello Researcher 231004,
Do tell us more about your experiences - what was it like to be there? How did you manage to retake Battapaglia? How long did you stay in Italy, did you move further north?
It would also be great if you could tell us your real name - do so by clicking on the link that says 'My Details', in the top right hand corner of every page after you have logged in. Who knows, someone else from 56 London Division may come looking for you on this site - using your real name will make it easier for them to find you.
Best wishes,
Deborah
听
Message 2 - Battapaglia
Posted on: 27 June 2003 by bert pink
We were part of the 5th army ,there were two british divs i think one was the 46th and us the 56 th ,I stayed in italy and was at the river Garoliarno, and the Volturno[during the first 3 months in Italy our Division had about 5000 casualties]and it was the worst winter for about 40 years ,I think it was about Feb 44 when we were sent to Anzio when we came out of there we went to egypt for a rest and retured to Italy and joined the 8th army and stayed with them until the war ended in MAY 45, I returned to England in june 46 after 4 years overseas,and finished my time at Woolwich.I returned to civvy street late 48 after nealy 8 years service.And found it very hard to get used to civvy life.
听
Message 3 - Battapaglia
Posted on: 02 July 2003 by bert.pink
i was 15 when war broke out and joined what was then called the local defence volunteer force
,and we had arm bands with LDV ON them.on Sept i think it was the 9th we were guarding an unexploded bomb it was the time when the docks was hit,and we had to fill sand bags and one at a time was sent into the house to put the sandbag over the bomb hole, in the morning when we were releived i went home and found we had been bombed out of our house and spent tha next few months in the public shelter.
I joined the army as a volunteer put my age up 2 years in Feb 1941 and had to sign on for 12years with the colours in the Royal Artillery. I did my training at Larkhill and joined the 67th anti/tank reg part of the 56 London Div in Jun41 at Ashford as a no3 gun layer on 2 pounder guns after a short while we were given the new 6 pounder .We went overseas in middle of 42 some went via the Cape to Egypt and after El alamein, we was sent up to Iraq to form part of the 10th army. About Feb 43 we returned to join the 8th army and stayed with them to the end of the war in Africa.
We next saw action at Salerno [ITALY]
SEPT 9th as part of the 5th American Army and stayed with them at the river Garigliarno and Volturno and then at Anzio. after this we had about 2 months in good old Egypt and back to Italy to join the 8th army we stayed with them right through to the river Poo and on to the end of the war on May 6th 45, After a bit of a wangle i managed to get a 28 day leave in Oct 45 and managed to get home to blighty I got with a special licence and got married on Oct 20th, and returned to Italy in Nov to complete 4 years overseas ,I returned to Woolwich in Jun46 and finished my time there, After almost 8 years i was allowed to be transfered to class B reserve,I was recalled in Feb 50 when the war started in Korea but was sent home after training and told to wait further orders but i was not sent for so was finaly discharged in Feb 53,We are still together after nearly 58 years and are very happy.
听
Message 4 - Battapaglia
Posted on: 02 July 2003 by bert.pink
i was 15 when war broke out and joined what was then called the local defence volunteer force
,and we had arm bands with LDV ON them.on Sept i think it was the 9th we were guarding an unexploded bomb it was the time when the docks was hit,and we had to fill sand bags and one at a time was sent into the house to put the sandbag over the bomb hole, in the morning when we were releived i went home and found we had been bombed out of our house and spent tha next few months in the public shelter.
I joined the army as a volunteer put my age up 2 years in Feb 1941 and had to sign on for 12years with the colours in the Royal Artillery. I did my training at Larkhill and joined the 67th anti/tank reg part of the 56 London Div in Jun41 at Ashford as a no3 gun layer on 2 pounder guns after a short while we were given the new 6 pounder .We went overseas in middle of 42 some went via the Cape to Egypt and after El alamein, we was sent up to Iraq to form part of the 10th army. About Feb 43 we returned to join the 8th army and stayed with them to the end of the war in Africa.
We next saw action at Salerno [ITALY]
SEPT 9th as part of the 5th American Army and stayed with them at the river Garigliarno and Volturno and then at Anzio. after this we had about 2 months in good old Egypt and back to Italy to join the 8th army we stayed with them right through to the river Poo and on to the end of the war on May 6th 45, After a bit of a wangle i managed to get a 28 day leave in Oct 45 and managed to get home to blighty I got with a special licence and got married on Oct 20th, and returned to Italy in Nov to complete 4 years overseas ,I returned to Woolwich in Jun46 and finished my time there, After almost 8 years i was allowed to be transfered to class B reserve,I was recalled in Feb 50 when the war started in Korea but was sent home after training and told to wait further orders but i was not sent for so was finaly discharged in Feb 53,We are still together after nearly 58 years and are very happy.
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