- Contributed by听
- footslogger
- People in story:听
- Ray Sinclair
- Location of story:听
- Italy
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A3856728
- Contributed on:听
- 03 April 2005
My recollections of this period are rather piecemeal, the terrible weather, crossing the river Trigno,fierce enemy resistance, losing two carriers going over a mine field, that jolted me very much.
The battalion was ordered to take a town called San Salvo, the mortar plattoon was to follow up ready lay down covering fire, something went wrong apparently we heard tanks moving and a great deal of heavy firing with stuff flying all over the place, we were told then to pull back and re group. As usual in any action it is very hard to know what is happening other than in your own sector. It was only afterwards we found out that German tanks had some how got in the middle of us and caused considerable damage.to the battalion.
Reading through the stories that other people have written about this and the Cassino part of the Italian campaign by the 78th. div and the units in it. I realise that I am going over the same ground with not much difference to add.
We all were exposed to the same conditions
and horrors,wondering what was going to come next, would we get through it? not thinking too much while in action, just doing what we had to do, but afterwards feeling the re-action to what we went through but keeping most of the time our thoughts to ourselves.
After the Sangro action we were pulled back out of the line for rest at a town called Campobasso This was wonderfull, able to eat properly, clean clothing, showers.
But all too soon we back in the line in the most attrocious weather in the mountains,constant skirmishes and the inevitable casualties, then in February we handed over the sector to the Polish division and moved back to Capua for training for our next action; Cassino!
As I mentioned earlier what else can I write about what was a "Hell Hole" that hasn't already been recorded in far better detail than I can. I admit was scared when when told where we were going we had heard so much about Cassino.While up there I celebrated (if one can use this word at such a time)my 20th birthday and wondered if I would ever see my 21st!
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