大象传媒

Were the armies evenly matched?

I think probably but it was the 11th hour, the town of Monte Casino was down the bottom and at the top there was a big monastery, unfortunately the Germans were using that as a lookout so they could see all around. It is easier to fight an enemy down there. When we moved into Salerno we were in an American division and we knew it too because the morning we went in we attacked. I read an article, we went in on the Long Beach, an American ship, and in the article it was an American landing and not the British鈥ell, I won't say any more!

Did you fake any injuries?

Did I, no.

When we went out there to North Africa we had a bad journey from Scotland where the convoys merged and it was a very rough ride. When we got to our boat we were told that the No 1 hold was full of aviation fuel, 2,3 and 4 were vehicles and no.5 was bombs and ammunition. Now there were only 100 of us and over the bombs and ammunition was our sleeping compartment and where we ate. We had just got into the mess when the ship lurched. I looked up and as far as you could see was black soot, in the middle of it, flames. They had torpedoed us and hit the no. 1 hold. Then we were hit again and that went in to no.4 and thankfully no.5 or I wouldn't be telling my story today.

Were the Americans quite enthusiastic about fighting in the war?

I think so, yes. They're a different culture to us. We went in to come out again, they went in to die, that was the difference. It was a different feeling for them. They didn't want to fight any more than we did but it had to done and they would do irrespective of whether they came out.

Was British morale good?

Yes, very good. We had our moments and enjoyed ourselves as much as we could and we looked forward to our rest periods.

Were the rations good?

Yes. We lived off the Italian land because it was there and arrangements had been made to supply us. We had a lot of food you had to put water to like potato and greens and it was quite nice. Of course when we got to North Africa there was stuff there that people in England couldn't get. We were living off grapes, oranges, melons, you name it. That side was very good. In Palestine we had grapefruit and we ate that just like an orange, it was sweet, you can't get that here.

Where was the fighting worse?

The worst was in Italy, right in the centre of Italy are mountains and several rivers, which went far apart, and we had to cross them, that wasn't easy. It was very muddy and seemed to rain hard when we went in.

Did you actually fight on the front lines?

Our job was up front, surveying for the incoming army. When it was static we had an easy time at the back.

Would you have been facing mines?

Yes, you had to be very careful, especially when driving a vehicle.

Did you have mine detectors?

We didn't but the infantry and engineers did upfront but at times we had to go past their lines.

Did you have any previous knowledge of what you were doing?

I was never in the army. I was called up at Easter and by Christmas our men were moving guns around the coast, a very short time if you think about it.

I will say that we had PT every morning before breakfast and we moaned about it, but if we hadn't we wouldn't have got through the war.

One of the things you had to do was obey the command and in normal life you wouldn't normally do this but you were taught to react instantly.

So even if you knew it was wrong you still had to do it?

Yes, it was a command, but I don't think that ever really happened.

Were there ever any orders that you disagreed with?

Probably, but the people at the top knew what they were doing so you did it.

What rank did you make?

I didn't get anywhere, I wanted to get back, by becoming a surveyor we got extra money compared to the others, it was an important job.

Did you gain a lot of respect from those in Italy?

Yes we did. It was different to North Africa, that was by the French, they ran the farms, the rest were Arabs so it wasn't easy there. In Italy they were falling over us they wanted to help. The night before we went into Salerno it was announced that Mussolini had capitulated and that they were out of the war.

Can you give us your recollections of when the war ended?

It was a funny ending really. The news came through that Gerry had surrendered and from that time nothing happened.

When the war ended, how long did it take for you to get back to England?

It ended in May or June in Italy and we made it up to Austria. We were there for some time and moved towards Graz. Here I learned that I had got leave so I went home by rail and got there in September. I had six weeks leave and my regiment was disbanded. I was sent to one of the other regiments, but I got compassionate leave and came home just after Christmas and was demobbed in Guildford about two or three months later. I was actually living and working in Chatham and so I went home to sleep every night but was still officially in the army. My father was ill and I had to get things ready to start up the business because the men that we had would be coming back. I was glad to be home but I love travelling and have returned to Italy and Africa several times.

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