大象传媒

An amusing incident occurred one afternoon when we were on parade. Somehow someone's tent caught fire and we had to ask permission to fall out in order to extinguish it. This only proves how well disciplined we were.

Then things began to move and we practised embarking and disembarking on and off L.C.I鈥檚, (Landing Craft Infantry), while the various vehicles and the guns were being loaded and off-loaded from larger vessels. We knew we were off to another country but didn鈥檛 know where. At last we embarked at Bizerta for the last time and after we had sailed from the harbour and were well on our way, we learned that we were going to Italy. The 8th Army had already landed at the Toe, and we were going to land at Salerno just below Naples. This was to be the first time heavy artillery had been used in an assault and it was going to be quite an experience.

As usual things went wrong from the beginning. The beach on which we landed was divided into two sections called 鈥淩ed Beach鈥� and 鈥淕reen Beach鈥�. We were safely deposited on the first one, but those for the second were landed too far down the coast. Consequently when the enemy, who had withdrawn, realised this they came back again, and as the second wave of troops landed they met with stiff resistance. For a long time after this it was touch and go and the Salerno landing nearly became a second Dunkirk. Gradually, however, the Infantry mastered the situation and we began to push forward.

From this time until I left the Regiment, when my nerve began to go and I was re-graded. I think all I can do is to recall one or two outstanding things, rather than try to describe movements from place to place as this would be too difficult and disjointed. I can remember Cassino very well, as when the first big air attack was made I was in a Hospital suffering with Yellow Jaundice. I was in there for three weeks and then went to a Convalescent Home in Sorrento for another three weeks. I rejoined the Regiment while they were still in front of Cassino and saw the next two attacks.

It was this particular place that caused a lot of controversy as we had to destroy the famous Monastery on Cassino Hill. It was absolutely necessary however as the Germans were using it to full advantage. The air attack however, apart from damaging the Monastery and the town of Cassino itself, was not sufficient to dislodge the enemy as we found out only too well. They were well dug in and when the infantry attacked after the bombing, they found the enemy still waiting for them.

It was only during the third attack that we were successful. The Germans had to be winkled out of each little nook and cranny and valiant work was done by the Polish Army. It was a fierce struggle but when the heights were ours the Liri Valley was open to us and we went on to Rome.

While the main army went to Rome we had rather a quiet spell in different sectors and two incidents here stand out in my mind. While on observation point duty in a small village we were able to obtain a small joint of meat from the troop cookhouse, and it was the first meal I had ever cooked in a bedpan! We had no other utensil to do the job and so we had two of these and cooked the meat in them, making a thoroughly good meal.

Then one day we went out to set up an observation point in a village which was at the end of a very long road, pitted with great holes, where the retreating enemy had blown it up in order to delay us. We had no observation point work to do as Jerry had pulled right back, so we stayed a few days and then returned to the gun position. But to get there we decided to use some mules belonging to some Indian troops, and to load hem with telephone and wireless equipment. I was given the honour of leading the biggest mule they could find and as I went off down the long road, I felt as if I was walking in front of an elephant.

Another memory tinged with sadness deals with the attack on the Gothio Line. For this an observation point party from our troop was detailed to join some of the Infantry and go forward with them thereby being in a position to give them Artillery support. After the usual preliminary barrage we started forward and were very delighted to find that the enemy had pulled back.

At the time it was quite thrilling to be in the front, (probably because there was no opposition), especially as we had to cross a small river. We started at about midnight and walked for hours and hours. Turning one corner we discovered that my pal Ginger Whittaker was missing. He was eventually found with two prisoners who were quite happily carrying some wireless equipment. He had also been able to obtain a watch off one of them. Later in the day he threw himself down while we were being shelled and the watch stopped. It was just after this that we were startled to hear an explosion in the village we had reached, and then saw a very sad sight. An Italian father was carrying his little boy, who had stepped onto a mine and his foot had been blown off. These sort of things bring into stark reality the futility of war, when the innocent suffer just as much as the guilty, and in some cases even more so.

A short while after this, my pal Ginger was out on observation point duty and was killed. Then came the very distressing job of sorting out his kit and keeping the valuables. These included the watch which I kept by me for a while. Then came the time for me to pack up. It was just between San Marino and Rimini that my nerve began to go and I was sent back to Assisi where I was eventually re-graded, unfit for further service in the front line. Then began a period of messing about until I finally reached my new Unit.

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