大象传媒

This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by Norman Wigley of the 大象传媒 Radio Sheffield Action Desk on behalf of Mr George Martin, and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site鈥檚 terms and conditions.

This edited account is taken from the book 鈥淐assino to the River Po. Italy 1944-45. A personal account of life and action in a tank troop鈥� written and published by George Martin.

Other parts to this story can be found at:

Part 1: A7832441

Part 2: A7832702

Part 3: A7832964

Part 4: A7833152

Part 5: A7833549

Part 6: A7833710

Part 7: A7833837

Part 9: A7834043

Part 10: A7834179

The mountainous nature of the central areas of Italy made serious tank actions virtually impossible, particularly in winter, which was now upon us. We spent most of the winter acting as infantry, but at least we spent some time on lower ground near Florence. In early January 1945 we were in the high mountains and frozen stiff. The highlight of our stay here was to knock out an enemy Spandau machine gun position, which had been firing regularly on our patrols, by using a captured Spandau and their own ammunition against them! HQ got upset however as I had omitted to tell anyone in advance what we were planning, and everyone thought we had been overrun when the sound of a Spandau was heard but with no return fire! We were glad to return to Squadron HQ and then on to Florence. We then learned that our spell as infantry was over.

We had new tanks with new armaments arriving, courses to attend, and some welcome leave to take before the new offensive in the spring. Each squadron was now to have three troops of 76mm gun tanks and one troop fitted with 17 pounder guns, all Shermans, the latter known as the 鈥楩irefly鈥�. Squadron HQ was to have one tank fitted with the 105mm Howitzer, useful in close support roles. As before the recce troop would retain its turretless 鈥楬oneys鈥�, I was given the 17 pounder troop. Leaving early on 12th March 1945, the run to our new area took us through Forli and Rimini and by nightfall, we had settled in on the outskirts of Pesaro. Eventually the Squadron was complete with the new tanks and the crews up to strength. Early in April the atmosphere suggested an early move to prepare for the spring offensive, and on 10th April we set off for our next stop at Cesana, prior to our final 鈥榩ush鈥�.

Our next move was a hot and dusty one to a concentration area near the Argenta battle zone. By early evening, we had settled into our new area, also with us were the Rifle Brigade, the intention being that each squadron would work independently with a company of R.B. in close support. To this end, the next day, a lovely warm sunny day, was spent with the R.B.鈥檚 getting to know them, their equipment, and a demonstration of the flame-thrower they were using.

18th April 1945 was the day of our move north towards the River Reno, and heralded I suspected, action the next day. Next morning we moved early to an area north of Argenta for our first action. Tank movement was not easy, but fortunately the enemy defences seemed to lack co-ordination. Our move forward was greeted with the usual shelling, but there was no sign of infantry. On our flank, an anti-tank gun knocked out the tank of the Troop Leader who was then reported missing. We had taken quite a lot of ground against light opposition from infantry, also a number of prisoners. In the darkness of evening, we harboured just where we were. A suggestion to the Squadron Leader that I should take a few men and look for the missing Troop Leader was turned down flatly, just as well perhaps because it was not long before the sentry challenged approaching figures who turned out to be two very young German soldiers, unarmed, bringing in the wounded Troop Leader. He had lost a leg when the tank was hit; his young helpers seemed pleased to surrender as P.O.W.s while the Lieutenant was rushed to the nearest Dressing Station.

Next morning saw us on the move again; early action was limited and we seemed to be collecting quite a number of prisoners. It seemed to me that enemy defences and determination to fight were not so marked as in the past. The ground at this point was more open as we headed for the small village of San Nicolo. The attack here was led by two troops of our 76mm gun tanks, going across open ground three tanks were rapidly knocked out, apparently by anti-tank guns. I then took my troop of 17 pounders through the forward troops; most of the shelling seemed to be high explosive. Solid A.P., if any, missed us, the anti-tank guns seemed to be part of a much-practiced delaying tactic.

Next day we received a message from Squadron Leader: 鈥淚鈥檝e reports of three Tiger tanks heading south along to the road to your front. Take up positions to meet them.鈥� 鈥漈rust us to be in line to meet three Tigers,鈥� said my gunner, 鈥渏ust one of those bloody things gives me the creeps.鈥� We took up positions giving us a good spread of fire and some cover, hoping this would enable us to get off a shot or two before being spotted. Quickly I realigned my turret to what I fondly hoped would be the position of the Tigers should they arrive. I had asked for 鈥榗ab racks鈥� support as an afterthought. The R.A.F. rocket firing Hurricanes had been in the Italian theatre of war for some time, but we had not seen them in our sector of the front. They seemed to spend most of their time blasting enemy supply routes in the rear areas, so I did not really think we would see them coming to our aid.

From our positions we watched and waited patiently, but no Tigers came into view, we listened as well. With engines switched off it鈥檚 surprising how easily one can hear heavy tank engines and the clatter of tracks, but no sound came. Then quite unexpectedly, we heard the distinctive sound of the Hurricanes as they flew in from our right rear, sweeping in at what appeared to be treetop height, they banked gracefully to follow the line of the road. Just the two of them; we watched as they banked and climbed steeply, then, as they swept down again, they were lost from our view, but we heard the explosions of their rockets, we reckoned about one or one and a half miles ahead.

In the distance, the two Hurricanes climbed and banked once more as though having a last look round before they roared over our heads towards the rear areas. A short time later, the voice of the Squadron Leader came over the radio, 鈥淧eter 4, you鈥檒l be glad to know the 鈥楥ab-racks鈥� knocked out two Tigers and the other one turned tail and was last seen heading north, keep your eyes open though, it may return. Remain where you are for the present, we鈥檙e being pulled out later to do another job, out.鈥� By mid afternoon, our relief, an infantry unit, had arrived and dug in. We then left to join the rest of our Squadron a mile or so to the rear.

Pr-BR

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