大象传媒

I have two lifelong friends who are twins.

During the war they both served in the same unit,the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and their story has always fascinated me.
This is Louis's (one of the twins) story.

I was called up, firstly to the Royal Scots and then transferred to the Cameronians, finally joining my twin brother in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
We were at Cassino with the 8th Indian Div, along route 6, and helped to capture ASSISI.

On August 1944 we arrived at FLORENCE,we rested outside and had time to go to a synagogue, where we said a short prayer Although it was booby trapped,we managed to disarm it.

Three of us were sent out to contact the other companies when we were spotted by the Germans. We took shelter in a cemetery,we were mortared and shelled, bodies were being blown out of the wall, When we arrived back we were put on a charge for not reporting back to HQ.

Our advance North through the Gothic line.

There was a big battle for MONTE ABETTINA, where we suffered heavy casualties, our four companies were now reduced to three.

We then went to support the 92nd US Division to halt an attack in the SERCHIO VALLEY. On the move again to the front line town of RUSSI and met up with the JEWISH BRIGADE who were in the line.

We are all very tense as we were getting ready to cross the SENIO RIVER. The officer got us all together, we were given extra ammo and food, we all exchanged addresses in case the worst happened.

What an attack !. First the guns, then the planes then the flame throwers, then us. Everywhere smelt of cordite, I got blown up to the first floor of a barn, How I survived I will never know, my brother Jack thought that I was killed .The last attack was taking FERRARA.

In May 1945 the war ended for us

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