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5.3 The Gothic Line

The move up the spine of Italy was laborious towards the much-vaunted line of last resistance of the enemy, given the name of 'The Gothic Line’, which was reported to be a continuous stretch of fortifications across the country from the east to the west coasts. When we reached it I was detached from the Corps to the Staff of the Chief Engineer 8th Army (General Kenneth Ray also a seconded South African), with the assignment to reconnoitre the route to be taken by the 5th Corps through the Line. I started by jeep with Jock Duthie my driver (a Scot from the Highlands with the broadest accent which I could hardly follow), but the first day when we came under accurate fire from an 88 gun and Jock's apt advice "Sorr! Let’s oot" had us each do an immediate roll out of our respective sides into the ditches on the sides of the road and let the jeep continue its way into the ditch about 100 yards ahead drawing fire from us, convinced me that some other plan was necessary. After recovering the jeep and doing a quick duck back to safety it was clear that I would have to continue on foot. This I did and managed most days to penetrate a bit further, and ably assisted by the odd Italian, measure up the bridges I found, all of which had been demolished, and then nip back to Jock and the jeep to return to base with my sketches which were beautifully drawn up by a draftsman with my platoon. When the walking distance became too long I persuaded the OC (also a South African on secondment) of a remount unit who held the mules they used for supplies to the troops in the inaccessible mountain points, to lend me a horse. I felt that a horse with its weight spread over four feet would be less likely to set off an anti tank mine! And so I continued the recce right through the Gothic Line, sometimes sleeping in an amiable Italian's home, in fact on one occasion I actually used the same bed that a German Officer used during the day!

When we moved through the Line it became quite amusing as I was ordered to liaise with the Companies detailed to build the Bailey bridges. The Pommy OC's to begin with were somewhat askance at the South African Lieutenant presuming to tell them what obstructions they would encounter at the bridge sites and what precautions they should adopt. However, when they found that he did know what he was talking about they became very co operative and would not budge until they had my word!!

Although I attached not much importance to my efforts through the Gothic line, considering it just another job, the top Brass seemed to take a different view and gonged me for it and I was appointed as an Additional Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and joined a rather limited number of junior Officers appointed to an honour usually given only to Field Officers for excellence of command.

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