大象传媒

With my arrival at Borgo-san-Lorenzo,the war was already drawing to its virtual close
events such as the capture and demise of Mussolini and his Mistress were occuring.
the roads were full of convoys of german prisoners of war being transported back behind the lines, and evidence and news of
what had happened in the Concentration Camps
in Poland was appearing,and displayed in wall newspapers in the City Centre.
Meanwhile we were busy recovering broken down vehicules and generally keeping communication routes clear. Shortly after VE Day we moved up through Bologna and on to
Piacenza on the River Po, about 80 miles south of Milan. Again being involved with vehicules and Traffic this invloved keeping the large pontoon bridge across the Po free of potential obstructions.
The Railway Bridge had also been Demolished
by the Germans. so all trains from Milan
terminated at the bridge and passengers had to cross the river using the emergency ferries which were available, I had to use
these a couple of times myself.
Later we were taking some surplus other vehicules from Piacenza to Monza race-track
in Milan which had become Material Store.
It was the second day of the journey when
the next close shave ocurred.Being the last truck of four,on Straight-Tow behind a Heavy Tank Recovery Lorry a(Diamond T) I found myself, watching the Pin connecting the tow-bar to the lorry immediatley in front of me, slowly unwinding and ready to drop out allowing the bar to drop into the
road and throw the Truck and myself down the Embankent alongside. How to stop a Tank Recovery Lorry, 40Yards and four trucks ahead in full flight? No electrics,No Horn, no means of communication whatsoever! Shout!
Bang on the side of the Truck! No chance!
Apply the brakes! Just a smell of Burning Rubber and No response! the bolt by this time was down to its last 1 or 2 threads!
Jump? and Leave a truck Careering behind the the line of vehicles and destroying
on-coming traffic? what next? Last resort!
applying and releasing the brakes, immediatley created a jerking motion which at last alerted the leading lorry to a Problem, as we came to a standstill at the side of the road, the Pin DROPPED OUT, ready for refixing.

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