大象传媒

My father John Cory鈥檚 story from his memoir 鈥淎 Span of Years鈥� as left to the family, edited by Richard Cory. The opinions expressed here are my father鈥檚.

Afterthoughts and a Summary

The expanse of desert in North Africa proved an ideal training ground for the 8th. Army, room to try out and develop new methods of warfare. The aim was to bring down on the enemy the maximum amount of fire power, to obtain a high degree of rapid movement, a flexible approach to strategy, and above all the means to minimise casualities.

Regardless of any amount of sophistication in armour, on the ground or in the air, it is the lot of the infantryman to finally go into battle and gain actual territory, often yard by yard. Thoughts went back to the bloody battles on the Western Front during the Great War, such as the Somme, fought between static trenches, resulting in terrible slaughter on both sides.

In the new concept the infantry became motorised so that large bodies of men could be moved rapidly from one part of the front to another, and also able to surge forward in advance.

Another development was the successful use of artillery, to have plenty of it and to have the techniques of concentrating fire power where and when needed.

Survey Regiments became the eyes and ears of the artillery and the means to bring down accurate fire power on an organised basis.

The Airforce in the field was regarded as just another arm of the army and in fact wore khaki instead of their usual blue. The use of the Airforce was considered an extension to the artillery, reaching targets out of normal shell range, and, likewise, as support to the infantry.

The British tactical methods were later copied by the Americans and even improved upon the Second Front.

The British battle techniques resulted in a very high rate of ammunition and equipment expenditure requiring a good backup from the factories at home in providing the essentials, under difficult conditions of air raids and bombing. An efficient delivery service to the theatre of war was also paramount, merchantmen and protecting vessels facing hostility from the air and the ever present 鈥楿鈥� boats. Both provided and delivered the goods on time and in good measure.

The terrain of Italy was entirely different to that of the North African desert, ranges of mountains to be fought over and a series of rivers and floods to cross. The conditions, including the weather favoured the defender.

The Germans sticking to their orthodox methods of warfare preferred heavily defended lines, with the chance of counter-attack.

Battles could easily have developed into lengthily static situations but the allies did not fall into the trap. Infantry mass was held off in preference to devastating artillery fire, until chosen conditions made a successful push forward possible.

For once in war the attacker lost less men than the defender. The record of casualties, those killed, bears this out. On the German side they amounted to 523,000. allied casualties amounted to 312,000. These figures, of course, only refer to the war in Italy.

These figures, even combined, only amount to a small fraction when compared with the extremely heavy losses on the Western Front 鈥� 1914 鈥� 1918.

The 8th. Survey Regiment, although among the thick of it, was lucky as regards casualties, amounting to nearly 4 per cent. Don troop in particular was extremely fortunate. I think back to the orphanage, the nuns and their blessings and prayers on our behalf and wonder whether we really did have a guardian angel 鈥� one never knows.

Winning Battles but losing the war

Poland 鈥� a kingdom from the 10th century 鈥� invaded and partitioned 1772, 1793 and 1795, by Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russia and Prussia (Germany)

Independent republic declared after the Great War, guaranteed by Britain and France.

Early 1939 Russia and Germany made a treaty of non-aggression and secretly partitioned Poland into respective spheres of 鈥榠nfluence鈥�.

In march 1939 Britain repeated guarantee to Poland, offering assistance in case of aggression from outside.

German forces invaded Poland on the 1st of September 1939, which led to declaration of war by Britain and France.

Russia invaded Poland shortly afterwards from the east.

German forces crossed the border into France and British forces crossed the Channel and went to the aid of France, but military assistance not extended to Poland.

Russia joined the Allies.

Their country being fought over by both the Germans and the Russians, thousands of Poles, young and old, went on the move, with the main aim of getting to Britain. Some came by sea, others by devious means through France to the channel, and others were even picked up from the Middle East and Egypt. The Polish Government went into exile and setup in London.

The Polish free Forces were formed to fight alongside the Allies and eventually to free their country from invaders. The army was self sufficient including infantry, artillery and tanks, etc. A branch of the Airforce was also formed. These forces trained in Britain with British equipment.

Polish forces were fighting with the 8th. Army when I arrived in Italy.

At great sacrifice they took Cassino and broke through the Gustav Line, enabling the 8th. Army to press forward. They played their part in some of the fiercest fighting on the drive up to the Gothic Line. Finally they broke through the Gothic Line and took Bologna, once again raising their flag on high and the end of the campaign in Italy was in sight.

In February 1945 the Allied leaders met at Yalta, Churchill, Stalin and Roosevelt. An agreement was reached to split Germany into two main zones of occupation after the war had ended. Other parts of the Axis to be occupied by Russia would be Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Finland and Austria.

Secretly it was also decided that Poland would be occupied by Russia. Thus Poland would be treated in a similar manner to an enemy and be delivered into the hands of their other traditional enemy 鈥� Russia.

Shortly after taking Bologna the Polish Free Forces were pulled back into reserve by Army command. Officially after such good work they had earned a rest but the real reason was to contain the forces well away from the Alps.

The situation became tense when the troops were told of the 鈥榮ell-out鈥�. If their generals had given the word they would gladly have moved forward to take on the Russians in order to free their country.

The war ending, the Poles were given two alternatives, refugee or internee status. Their government in London accepted refugee status and some time after was 鈥榙itched鈥� by the British Government.

The Polish Free Forces eventually returned to Britain and on de-mobilisation dispersed, some to America to join relations, others to France and Italy where they had found hospitality, but the majority remained in Britain, to settle in England, Scotland and Wales, many to places where they had originally done their training.

Thus our Ally won their battles but lost their war.

General Anders died in England sometime after the war. It would be expected that such a war hero would be accorded a state funeral but he wished none of it. He left instructions that his sole wish was to be buried among his men in the Polish cemetery at Monte Cassino.

The Italian government was honoured to grant his wish.

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