- Contributed by听
- boksurveyor
- People in story:听
- Peter Geoffrey Bate
- Location of story:听
- Anzio and Rome
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A2759150
- Contributed on:听
- 18 June 2004
Memories 3c
1944
February 18
265 Battery gun pit takes a direct hit 鈥 4 of the gun crew killed, 2 injured. Instructions from HQ to burn all letters and personal papers, and pack personal belongings in our Small Packs 鈥 sounds as if the Powers That Be are thinking of giving up
February 19
Send telepathic congratulations to Tig and Gerry 鈥 married today, I think. Gunner Eve gets shrapnel wound in hand 鈥 off to hospital. Hope he comes back 鈥 Gerry is shelling the hospitals as well as everywhere else.
February 20
To Anastasia Tower for Shellrep duty. Record the fall of shot around us, and venture out to make 鈥渟crapes,鈥 from which to plot the position of the Kraut guns that are throwing the stuff at us.
February 21
At midnight, take my theodilite through the infantry positions to survey in the end of a base.
Private. 鈥淲hat are you looking for, sir?鈥 (As a humble gunner, I savour that 鈥淪ir鈥)
Sir. 鈥淭he Pole Star鈥
Sergeant. 鈥淭here you are 鈥 ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer鈥
February 22
Dig a slit trench for my BSA bogwheel. (350cc motorbike)
February 23
Rain belting down, plus about 400 shells in our area.
February 26
Unit from Royal Artillery Survey Regiment lands, and takes over survey duties.
February 27
Torrential rain collapses dugout wall. Start rebuilding.
February 28
Get study papers for Class I Surveyor from RA Survey unit, start several weeks of swotting.
2
March 5
To Advanced Observation Post. Grey line of Kraut infantry advancing. If Banana Ridge was like The Four Feathers, this looks like a re-make of All Quiet on the Western Front.
March 7
18 near-misses. Sergeant Walker hurt.
March 9
Into Anzio Town by truck, to strip timber out of ruined houses. Back, to take off my dugout roof, line the walls with mahogany panelling, and make a stronger roof.
March 13
The Regiment鈥檚 ration of kippers arrives at our cookhouse by mistake. Eat as many as we can before the error is discovered. About 200 shells in RHQ area. Jack鈥檚 dugout takes a direct hit 鈥 total destruction. Lucky he is not at home.
March 15
Blown off bogwheel by a near-miss. BSA OK; elbows and knees scraped and sore.
March 28
Seconded to American Counter Battery Centre. Easy routine, better food. Indoctrinated into Culbertson Bridge, which takes up most of our waking time.
May 22
Break-out from the beach-head starts. RHQ leaves the field where the DUKWs were unloaded, four long months ago, and which now has communicating dugouts around the whole perimeter.
May 23 to June 6
Advance across muddy, blasted World War One landscape 鈥 innumerable craters made by our shells and bombs. Set up camp near to Rome, beside the main Rome-Anzio road. Get my upgrade to Class I RA Surveyor 鈥 more money, and a fancy badge.
June/July
A month鈥檚 R & R on the outskirts of Rome 鈥 not a bad 21st Birthday present. Into the Eternal City many times, and go swimming at a beach North of Anzio. On the first beach visit, have to probe the sand all the way to the breakers with bayonets, to check that mine clearance has been effective. Swim out 100 yards, look back to shore and see we are being swept rapidly southwards. Swim diagonally back to an uncleared beach, tiptoe inshore, stark naked, and straggle back sheepishly to our starting point.
June 22
To the Royal Opera House to hear Maria Caniglia and Tito Gobbi in an operatic concert 鈥 glorious.
漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.
Recommended story
Story with photo