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Irish Brigade HQ arrived in Villa Volturno north of Capua on February 15th 1944. They hear news of the retirement of Brigadier Nelson Russell and a few weeks later move up in to the battle area of Monte Cassino.

Friday 18th February
Today went to Division with Cowboy to get maps. Hell of a road there. The enemy has destroyed all the villages before retreating. The populations are very poor and even worse than the other side of Naples. This evening the senior Sergeants were summoned to the Brigadier Russell’s room and he then told us that he was leaving. It was a great shock to us all but he has not been enjoying good health for some time. He thanked us for all our help and I am sure he was deeply affected. He shook hands with usual after the glass of whisky and when he came to me he shook my hand very heavily. We have always been very good friends, something more than the usual mutual respect has existed between us and at his going I lose an excellent commander and a good friend. I am more than sorry.
This evening the boy at our billet, Andrea, took both Chalky and I to his friend Ianone’s house. A grim exterior, but pleasant inside. Ianone played the piano-accordion excellently and his father (ex Bandmaster and American soldier) played the violin. We went through all the Italian operas and his mother (perfect American speaker and ex singer) sang. We had some first class wine there and left about 22.30.

Wednesday 15th March
Today we got our tent erected and camouflaged in the yard behind the men’s billet. The sun was beautiful and hot there. Harold and I finished it at 16.30 and then had to dash off to 152 Forward Ambulance for tablets and TT inoculations. Returned to billet after tea and then to bed. Awful night with wind and rain. No sleep — shivering. All day large numbers of allied aircraft going over to bomb Cassino. Afterwards, 2 New Zealand with 4 Indian going for Cassino and Monte Cassino. The aircraft support was terrific — a proper relay system. I saw 150 Fortresses followed by some Liberators.

Wednesday 22nd March
The heavy rain yesterday had made the ground anything but good for getting trucks up to HQ for loading but as usual Cowboy managed it OK. We were packed by midday so spent the afternoon enjoying a lounge. The time for starting was soon after 17.00 and I unexpectedly though not unusually found myself virtually the leader of the column. We left Villa Volturno at 17.30 and in proper convoy fashion I set the pace. I was very satisfied with the whole run because although I was 5 minutes late over start time I kept them well together and we did 29 miles to Mignano in just under two hours. I was the same old feeling that I felt. Once more we were for the line and this time perhaps even stickier than some others. The run was for a long way badly marred by American trucks with terrific headlights against which our puny glimmer could do nothing despite Cowboy’s efforts. The road to Mignano was good but after that it deteriorated badly as it was not the American made road on the railway embankment (picture of this in Cyril Ray’s book). It had turned bitterly cold too. At the first Bailey bridge I saw a line of red lights, so took the diversion, which was wrong, and we had to come back and join the column. From here the road was bad, uphill, and down dale with no lights. Gunfire on all sides helped us. I was very glad to reach our destination under the railway bank and to be told to wait until dawn before pitching the tent. John produced some rum, which warmed me well. When I returned the lads had erected me a bivvy and I crawled in and wrestled with my bedding to get some sleep.

Thursday 23rd March
Despite quite a heavy barrage going over most of night I managed to get some sleep, though it was damnably cold. I was awakened about 05.30 and we forthwith got cracking on setting up the office. By breakfast time all was set up. The morning that followed was hectic with callers in. I was somewhat amazed to find Terry O’Connor wandering around soon after I was up. I had expected that he was still in Belliona. He had apparently had to come off on an advance party before we started. During the morning jerry put over a few shells in our direction but we are presumably under the lee of the railway embankment. All day the guns are firing and it is magnified very much by the echo from the hills. Down on our wadi you can see M Trocchio with snow on it. Our first day under canvas was cold and windy. I’ll sleep in the office tent tonight.

Friday 24th March
I have got things organised for some sort of comfort. The Valor stove near my bed lit and can of water for washing on top and all done from bedside. To wash and shave inside the tent makes a deal of difference. The day turned out perfect, blue sky and sun. Jerry put a few at the back of us and some on the other side of the embankment. All day our own artillery kept up a continuous roar. We saw the Mustang dive-bombers go over at 17.30 and drop food to the Ghurkhas who are half way up Monastery hill. This evening the artillery are going even stronger than before.

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