大象传媒

On Monday 1st May 1944 we checked the bombs and prepared 200 per mortar to fire in the evening. On that same day a corporal in B Company was killed by enemy mortar bombs. During the night of 2nd May 1944 we 鈥渟tood to鈥� the mortars until 1am, and fired in support of B Company who were sending out a patrol to try and take a prisoner. The RA put down a barrage at the same time. At 11am that morning German guns sent over a heavy barrage to retaliate for our firing during the night. Again we fired 135 bombs per mortar at night. It was very quiet for the next three or four days, so on 7th May we fired on targets G7, G6 and G14. The RA OP reported enemy casualties being taken away by stretcher after we fired on G14. They then shelled us and hit two of our ammunition pits. The next morning we once again fired on targets G14 and G20, and we got a few enemy 105 shells back but they did no damage. The following morning, 9th May 1944, we fired again but this time there was no reply from the enemy. In the afternoon we were relieved by the North Hants and went back to B Echelon, we had exactly three days out of the line. We did a little PT and drill, I had a haircut and wrote some letters and went to see a film at a mobile cinema unit.

On Saturday 13th May 1944 we packed up and moved back up into the front line again. Three of our mortars were in a wood, forward of the lateral road. My detachment and the remaining two were in the first wadi where Gordie Bisset had been killed. The first five days were very quiet, we did register and fire on a few targets with hardly any reply from the enemy. The weather was beautiful and very warm and the wadi was well sheltered with trees so it was very pleasant. On Thursday 18th May 1944 we fired 20 bombs per mortar as harassing fire at irregular intervals from 10pm to 11.30pm. Cpl. Drew went into hospital with ear trouble and Cpl. Compton took over his detachment. Pte. Shaw and Pte. Cross from one of the rifle companies were killed during the morning. Their jeep, which was loaded with detonated 鈥淜鈥� mines, blew up. They were supposed to be relieved on Sunday but there was some doubt about it as a report came in that the Germans were preparing to pull back towards Rome.

On Saturday 20th May 1944 the enemy shelled heavily in the morning and at night a few shells fell on the track above the wadi, cutting our field telephone cable. Pte. Gale and Pte. Stringer had to go out and repair it. We did not go out of the line on the Sunday and each night when we put down harassing fire from our mortars, we got no retaliation from the enemy. On Monday 22nd May the First Division put in an attack which failed with fairly heavy casualties. The next morning the North Hants of our division, supported by four tanks, advanced over the river Mileto and captured positions on the L鈥橝mericano Feature. In the evening we, of rear mortar, fired 120 bombs per gun; 60 Neonite and 60 Charge Four, on four targets. On Wednesday 24th May 1944 the North Hants were counter attacked and driven back over the river Mileto with heavy casualties. The KOYLI鈥檚 also lost a company position in the fortress area. The Fifth American and Eighth British armies were doing well in their advance on Rome. The Americans took Pico that day. We fired our mortars for two hours that evening while the pioneer platoon laid a minefield. On Friday 26th May 1944 we fired again for about an hour without any reply from the enemy.

All German resistance in the Casino area had ceased as they withdrew towards Rome. British, Polish and American troops in that area now linked up with us on the beachhead. D Company who had sent out a patrol the previous evening had rather bad luck. On man was killed and two others wounded also one officer and three men were taken prisoner. On Saturday 27th May 1944 we were told to be ready to advance. The German Spandaus were still very active on our front, but no enemy mortar or artillery fire. D Company took two German prisoners. I went up to B Company OP with L/Cpl. Griffin to take up a Don 5 set and we had a good look at German positions from there. Sunday was a very quiet day, we heard that the enemy were now pulling back rapidly as the American and Allied troops from Cassino threatened to cut them off. On Whit Monday 29th May 1944 we were ordered to advance so our platoon moved forward in our carriers. All along the roadside were wrecked trucks, tanks, two ambulances overturned and here and there an SP gun with its barrel destroyed. D Company advanced towards Ardia, they were shelled and pinned down in a wadi for a while and towards night enemy planes came over to straffe our advance.

On Tuesday our battalion were the most forward troops of the division. D Company was just outside Ardea and recci patrols went into Ardea and shot up Spandau nests. The enemy slung a few shells over in the morning and at 5pm an attack was made by our troops on the right of Ardea. The crusers at sea shelled the foot hills to the right and forward of our positions. The next morning the Cameronians advanced and passed through us. Since our advance from the wadi area, casualties in the battalion had been very few. At dusk that day we moved forward of Ardea and took up positions with D Company. On their way up two of our carriers lost their way and went towards enemy lines, but as soon as they realised their mistake, they spun the carriers round and came dashing back. Harry Frith of the carrier platoon was wounded in the neck by a bullet that night. We were digging gunpits and slit trenches by moonlight until about 2.30am. On the morning of 1st June 1944. The enemy sent over some heavy Howitza shells and a report came in that two platoons of the Sea Forths had been captured the previous night. I went down to the river in the afternoon to have a bath, the water was pleasantly warm and it was lovely. Some more of the chaps were either washing clothes, having a bath or just swimming. On Friday 2nd June 1944 I prepared to go as Mortar OP Radio Transmitter with Gilb Mullins. We were to go with C Company but we did not go forward that day, instead all Companies sent out patrols to probe for resistance.

Saturday 3rd June 1944 is a day that will not be forgotten by any of us who took part in the attack on North East Spur. It is in Battalion records that every 3rd June shall be known as 鈥淪gt. Rogers VCMM Day鈥�. Gilb Mullins and I went into the attack with C Company to take Point 51. It was high ground North West of Ardea. D Company鈥檚 objective was Point 57. Having taken Point 51, C Company pushed forward in an attempt to reach North East Spur, their final objective.

The fighting lasted about seven hours and enemy resistance was very stubborn and fought from excellent defensive positions. C Company were checked just before reaching North East Spur owing to intense enemy fire power and casualties. The Carrier Platoon were then ordered to take North East Spur supported by C Company and a troop of tanks. The position was wired and mined and very strongly defended by the enemy. The Carrier Platoon advanced through machine gun fire until they reached the enemy wire that was 70 yards from their objective. At this point the Platoon was under the intense fire of several Spandau nests firing from 50 to 100 yards, and they sustained a number of casualties. I saw 鈥淏ubbles鈥� Boylen killed outright and a pal of 鈥淧op鈥� Comers. We had been talking and joking with them on our way up. The Platoon, checked by the wire and intense fire from the Spandaus鈥�, took cover and returned the fire preparatory to gapping the wire. Sgt. Rogers however, without hesitation continued to advance alone firing his Tommy gun. He scrambled through the wire, ran across the mined area and destroyed two of the Spandau nests with his Tommy gun and grenades. By now Sgt. Rogers was 100 yards ahead of his platoon and had penetrated 30 yards inside the enemy defences. He had drawn onto himself the fire of nearly all the enemy Spandaus and had thrown their defences into confusion. Inspired by the example of their Platoon Sergeant the remainder of the platoon breached the enemy wire and began the assault. Still alone and penetrating deeper into the enemy positions, Sgt. Rogers, whilst attempting to silence a third Spandau post, was blown off his feet by a grenade which burst beside him and wounded him in the leg. Undaunted, he stood up still firing his Tommy gun and moved on towards the enemy spandau post. He was shot and killed at point blank range. Sgt. Rogers determination, fearless devotion to duty and superb courage carried his platoon on to their objective by sheer inspiration and example in the face of a determined enemy in a strongly defended position.

By his heroic self- sacrifice Sgt. Rogers displayed gallantry worthy of the finest traditions of the service. His Majesty King George V1 had been graciously pleased to approve the award of the Victoria Cross posthumously to Sgt. Rogers 5568932 of Support Company Carrier Platoon.

From the time we started out we had to dash and often crawl along an open track before we got to Point 51. We were being fired on by a Spandau and somone up front was hit and wounded in the legs so we passed the word back for stretcher- bearers. When they hoisted the Red Cross flag it was fired on, so they had to crawl forward and tend his wounds while lying down and then crawl back again dragging the stretcher foot by foot. I crawled along the track with the other chaps as fast as my load would allow, dragged by rifle behind me. The sun was very hot and so were we, we were covered in sweat and dirt. Then we reached higher ground and were able to walk upright for a short distance. While we were on our way up we met and passed the Carrier Platoon. We spoke to some of them including 鈥淧op鈥� Comers pal who was later killed in the attack, and we joked about being up in front before them. At the top of this high ground we had to crawl into a narrow shallow rain channel. Machine gun bullets whistled everywhere overhead and enemy SP88mm at close range kept us pinned down. We had to stay here for some time as shells exploded quite close and shrapnal cut through the air, some even falling in the gulley. Fortunately no one was hit. While we were here Gilb Mullins and I had a few drags at a fag and I just had a quick check to see if the 18鈥� radio set I was carrying had been damaged, but it appeared to by OK. As the assault drew near its end a Lieutenant of C Company and his runner made a dash towards a group of buildings just forward of our gully. He was shot and killed instantly. As soon as some of the Spandau posts had been silenced and the SP guns had ceased shelling, we were ordered to make for these buildings. We did so one at a time after a dash of about 40 to 50 yards over open ground. We took up defensive positions here and after posting a strong ring of sentries, we settled down rough for the night. How quiet it was the next morning, after the heavy attacks of the previous day the enemy had pulled right back during the night Our stretcher bearers were out picking up more of our dead and a few wounded. They found one badly wounded German who had been left behind.

Allied troops entered Rome that morning and we moved on towards Rome and pulled in for the night about six miles from the river Tibor. On Monday 5 June 1944 we moved on a few more miles and pulled into a camp ARRA for a few days rest. A NAAFI issue came up and there were two bottles of beer for each of us to celebrate reaching Rome. On Tuesday 6th June 1944 we heard that Allied Forces had landed in France to start the Second Front and were supported by waves of Allied planes. I had a letter from home and wrote one back, I also did a little washing. On 7th June 1944 we had an RSM鈥檚 drill parade, but apart from that we spent a quiet day. In the afternoon I went over to see S Company play D Company at football. S Company won 2/0. The next three or four days were about the same, we did a little arms drill and PT in the mornings, cleaned our guns and rifles, then watched football or just relaxed in the afternoons. I was on guard duty with 鈥淧opeye鈥� and Cyril Withers on the 8th June 1944. While we were here I had dental treatment and went into Rome on a pass on 10th June 1944. I didn鈥檛 have a lot of time to see all of the city, but was very impressed by what I did see, including many of the beautiful buildings. On Sunday 11th June 1944 we had a service of remembrance for all our pals killed in the fighting in Sicily and in Italy. The Brigadier was at the service.

On Monday 12th June 1944 we got packed up and left for Anzio at 2.30pm. We arrived there at 5pm and after tea I went for a bathe in the sea with several more of the lads. The sea was very refreshing and warm. I had another bathe early the next morning and later in the day we left the camp area and boarded LCT鈥檚 at 6pm. I was feeling rather tired as we pulled out from Nettuno harbour and I looked up at the church on the hill. My mind was filled with so many thoughts and memories of all those wonderful young men who were never coming back with us again. All the events we had been through together in the past few months and throughout the War so far. My eyes became misty and I think I must have fallen asleep for a while because as I gazed up at the church I saw a brilliant white light surrounding the open door. From this light appeared nine angels. On the grass banks under the trees surrounding the church were all the soldiers killed in the fighting in Sicily and Italy. They were all alive and whole again. Some of them were sitting down, others chatting in little groups, some eating or smoking, Officers and men alike. I saw each one so clearly, then the nine angels began to sing a hymn. It was 鈥淚mmortal, Invisible God Only Wise鈥� and soon all the soldiers joined in the singing. It was very beautiful and as the singing came to an end the brilliant light appeared again and enshrouded all the soldiers and the nine angels and they were gone. I shall never know if this was a vision or just a very vivid dream. Why did they sing that hymn, one which I hardly knew existed, and why nine angels, not ten or twelve? I suppose in this life I shall never know. In memory of all who fought at Anzio and those who died there I will write down this little poem.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.