大象传媒

After a whlie in Naples we were moved up front ready for the assault on Cassino, our bivouac about 6 kilometres from the town in a field by the main road. Via Casillina. One evening I was sent to Caserta H.Q. Having delivered signal I set of back to camp. About 10 miles on route bike developed a puncture. Having no means of repair I decided to stuff the tyre with grass to get back to base. This took considerable time and effort. When finished, off I went like the proverbial rocket. About 3 miles farther I was revving but going nowhere. The sap from the grass had lubricated the wheel spinning in the tyre.
I had decided that this was were I was going to spend the night when I heard a lorry coming. I straddled the road with bike hoping I would be seen. (We had no lights) The driver did stop and 2 good chaps loaded bike on the back and dropped me off next to the camp.
The next days were very active with assaults on Cassino with many trips mostly I remember to the railway station, what was left of it.
Finaly passed through Cassino and camped in a vineyard next to the village of Arce. Whilst here I noted we were not far from Alvito, where I had some relative connection. I thought I would make a diversion on my next outing a few days later. Up a mountain chalk road through Roccasecca down the other side through a virtual track in a valley. The road became more rural and the mountains high and sheer. I noticed a spurt of dust in the road then heard the shot. Spun the bike round and was back at Arce in half time.
Before leaving we buried 5 germans in a proper manner in the field adjoining camp, then made our way towards Rome.
We arrived at our camp at what we called Kilo 10 from Rome, waiting for the attack, which never came and we were off again towards Arrezzo. Beautiful weather and I remember us jumping in the lake at Trasimino. Rumour had it. The King had decided to visit and was staying in some castle not far from the front. We were camped in a vineyard midway. The germans were intent on shelling the castle but it was a bit out of range and many of the 88s were dropping in our vineyard. Great relief when they said he had moved out.
Steady progress was made through Italy and we finished at the small village of Fileto, near Forli. In a local Manor house. I made dear friends of the family.
Advance held up by the weather (One of Italys roughest winters) and the rivers. The rivers being our companys objectives we expected the worst. I was asked by a member of the family if I would take a note to the Mother Superior at the convent in San Marino. I immediatly said yes and on my next trip in that direction I made the diversion. When approaching San Marino I noticed a sentry patrolling the road. I knew their was some talk of them being neutral so I thought I had better take a route via the mountain. What a mistake.Hauling the bike through steep vineyards. I was exhausted and was pleased I had a Matchless and not heavy B.S.A. I delivered the note and set off back. Main road regardless of sentry and went by the pill box so fast he did!nt have time to come out.
The Sargeant Major asked me. As we are short of a driver would you do a job? Knowing I could!nt refuse he gave me instructions. Climbed in a Bedford O.Y.lorry, with map reference, to load some chestnut paling. Another reference where to deliver, which happened to be on the river near Argenta. With orders to deliver at midnight I was!nt too pleased. I arrived at the site which was a farm in a remote country lane and parked in the yard. My turn came to take this load down to the river. It would be laid on the bank to prevent the pontoon carriers getting stuck in the mud. As I sat there waiting, wishing I had previously gone to the toilet, I was summoned to go. I pulled out of the farm entrance and my rear wheel dropped in the ditch. Wheel spinning and no movement. Court martial came to mind, suddenly jerked forward and I was on my way. About 250 yards down the lane I was stopped and told to turn round and reverse to the river bank. Hardly any vision and mortar and machine guns opening up. Another 100 yards backwards. Two lads unloaded the paling anmd I made a rapid exit amid various explosions on the bank and in the vineyard. Charged up the lane till I came to the decent road. No brakes and noises coming from the rear . When out of earshot I stopped and looked for the reason and found half the lorry body had gone.
On return to base I learned that the chap who had been detailed to do the job was a decent fellow named Scarrat. He could!nt read a map.
D.R.s. were often sent to other units on detachment (many were shot by snipers). I was later sent on loan to the the 4th. Indian Division. Another chap Jaffa Orange, and I had a tent adjacnt to the the ration tent. I had a particular liking for Carnation milk and the Indians had loads of this because they were big tea drinkers. One night it was pouring with rain and dark very early. Jaffa and I started a 15cwt. Bedford and backed it up to their ration tent,pretending we were stuck in the mud, he was shouting and revving whilst I was throwing tins of Carnation into the back of the truck. We pulled out without detection and the next minute we were being showered with ant-personel bomnbs and finished up under the truck. An outing towards the village of Mezzano at that time under attack. I was riding along a chalk road and came up behind a lorry going very slowly as the road was being shelled. I looked up at the rear and a head popped out and shouted "How you doing Faz? I looked closer and recognized it was someone I knew from home. Colin Mason. We used to call him Colonel.
Back in Filetto things had not progressed, owing to the weather and failure to cross the Reno. Our bridge units were still at the river and one evening I was given an urgent signal to deliver. Bitterly cold and I did!nt relish the trip. Arriving at the forward post in the middle of the night I was amazed how quiet it was considering the Germans were just the other side of the river.As I was about to leave another D.R. arrived, covered in snow. He had lost his way. I knew him but only as Lofty (over 6feet tall). He said we might as well go back together if you know the way. Which I thought I did.
After about half an hour travelling we were hopelessly lost and virtualy frozen. Lofty said we will have to look for some shelter till daylight and we began to look for a barn or derelect house. We noticed a building of sorts about a hundred yards off the track and quietly ventured up to it pushing our bikes. Lofty said there is a truck parked next to the barn its F.A.P. Red Cross. We piled in the truck and had a cold restless few hours. Glad to see the glimmer of early dawn I suggested we move out without disturbing anyone ( their was no sign of Life anyway). Once outside I glanced back up at the truck and in the half light could see that it was!nt Red Cross but an Iron Cross.We pushed our bikes back to the track and waited until the light was good to refer back to our maps. Arriving back at base hours later they thought we had been took prisoner.
It was just after that the Italian front lost its importance. Ater a few weeks we packed up and moved to Leghorn for embarcation to south of France.
I cannot remember our landfall could have been Canne or Nice. Our destination Germany.
continued.