大象传媒

My father John Cory鈥檚 story from his memoir 鈥淎 Span of Years鈥� as left to the family, edited by Richard Cory. The opinions expressed here are my father鈥檚.

On getting back to Italy, (Turriaco near Monfalcone not far from the Yugoslav border) I had to wait a month before going on further leave, this time to Venice for four days, in a hotel with full board at the Regiments expense.

Our main duty in the area was as an occupying force, to ensure peace was kept. The border territory had changed hands many times in history and there were those who thought the time was right to cause trouble and upset the status-quo.

The Italian partisans had taken the area including Trieste but Tito鈥檚 mob of communist had also infiltrated from the surrounding mountains and there was friction. A small number of inhabitants had Yugoslav roots and these were being stirred up.

To defuse the situation the Allies held a victory parade for the partisans in Trieste, after which they had to hand in their arms, but no doubt many were held back.

It was then the turn of Tito鈥檚 followers. They were 鈥榩ersuaded鈥� to get back into their own territory, in the mountains. The situation remained tense.

A Commission decided that Trieste would become a free international port and a defined area around would be administered by the Allies, all this at least for the time being.

This didn鈥檛 help, there was a riot in Trieste, resulting in six being killed. The communists called a general strike in the whole area, including the dockyards at Monfalcone. We doubled our guard, during the night and patrolling round the village. In spite of this Tito signs and slogans started appearing on walls and a few Yugoslav flags were being flown. One night an attempt was made to erect a huge red star on top of the village school.

We cleaned our rifles and made sure they were in working order, although we had strict instructions not to shoot anybody. We started doing rifle drill on the village square. We made the villagers white-washout the slogans and take down the flags.

We had our own riot, a demonstrating crowd gathered on the square being addressed by a few hot heads. We dispersed this by charging the crowd, wielding pickaxe handles. My 鈥榣andlord鈥� explained that the majority in the crowd were strangers, who were roaming the district fermenting unrest.

A few of us had a further job on the side, we had a day out at the races but didn鈥檛 see the horses running. We worked the tote, taking in the money, working the odds and paying out. For this the rate was the equivalent of 拢5 paid out on the spot.

On the 16th March I was made up to Bombardier, together with Jock Begg, an original member of the troop. We were also upgraded to Group A, Class II Surveyor, meaning a double pay rise.

We sewed on our stripes and got a lot of ribald remarks from our friends, as well as congratulations.

Next day, Jock and I were told that we were being sent on a Met. Course, which would last one month. The aim was for the army to replace R.A.F personnel by providing their own met reports for survey regiments and other branches of the artillery.

The course was held at Udine Airport, operated by the R.A.F and we were attached to the Met. Station there. Six other army types joined us for the course, two being sergeants and the others bombardiers. Maybe this was the reason for Jock and I being promoted.

The instruction in the main was working with the regular members of the Met. Station, first as watchers and then taking an active part. To measure the wind speed and direction at different levels we sent up pilot balloons about 6ft. in diameter, in blue or red depending on the type of sky. The ascents were measured against the clock and observed through a special theodolite which could swing up to the vertical. As the data was for aircraft use the observations were to the very limit, our record was 42,000 feet in an almost calm situation. Complex trigonometrically formulae were involved in computing the data, presented on an Air Ministry form. We also did barometric pressures, temperatures and humidity鈥檚. Then there were adaptations for artillery, sound ranging, and calibration use.

The troop got another job, that of security at a large vehicle park, near Casarsa. As jeeps, trucks and heavies were no longer required they were stored here in the open. The park was protected by a fence and barbed wire. We installed a telephone system around the perimeter and organised an exchange HQ. We had German POW trusties, armed with pick axe handles for self protection, to do the guarding. In case of trouble the Germans could ring us from a number of points and we would dash to the point in a jeep, complete with the 鈥榓rtillery鈥�.

We took turns at this soft job, plenty of time for sunbathing when it wasn鈥檛 raining. One night we caught five Italians trying to make off with a quantity of tyres.

A notice appeared on the troop board, Jock and I were congratulated on passing the Met. Course. We collected met. Equipment from Udine, had a truck allocated to us and we were in business, so we two had yet another job. As and when called upon we went to various locations and provided Met for artillery practice shoots and calibration.

As a welcome rest from all the activity a few of us went on a three day leave to Grado, a nice little spot by the sea and we were put up at the Hotel Metropole. The weather was marvellous, ideal for swimming and sun bathing. We got tanked up one evening at the bar and went for a midnight bathe in the nude, the water was so warm that it appeared to be steaming. We sobered up in the water and then went back to the Hotel for a few night caps before retiring to bed.

Some time back I had seen an announcement in one of the army newspapers concerning art and classical history courses held under the auspices of the British Council in Florence and I had made an application.

I had entirely forgotten about it when a course was confirmed for the end of June. So off I went with the blessing of the OC, being put up at the Helvetia Hotel, and I became a student for 28 days. During my time with the 8th. quite a few of us were interested in sketching and painting and we organised quite a good club, with trips to interesting places. On joining the 3rd. there had been no time for such pastimes.

At the art institute we were given the full course, lectures and work on still life, portraiture, life with real models and landscape. Anatomy and modelling in clay was also included. The history side was visiting museums, art galleries and churches, and attending lectures given by Italian professors.

Two symphony concerts were thrown in for good measure.

Getting back to the troop it was the same old round of jobs and guards, although the latter was not so bad, being an N.C.O I was a Commander IC. Sadly, one of my guards was killed in an accident whilst driving the water cart.

In August the troop took part in surveying in the frontiers around Trieste and the new administration area right up to the Yugoslav border, on the lines of the United Nations resolution. I spent a full day working in the field and then reverted to my usual job of map making when the Trig. Sheets started to come in.

This work was interrupted by notice that Jock and I were to go on privilege leave to the UK for 28 days. This was rather strange as it was premature and out of rota. We thought it might be a case of being 鈥榮et-up鈥� for something.

However, most grateful, we set off on the 16th. August, this time via Austria.

Doris and I went on holiday to the Isle of Wight and she tells me I was the brownest body on the beach. Towards the end of the leave I developed a poisoned finger. This was lanced by the army MO in Loughborough and I was granted a few days extra leave.

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