For those wishing to buy the "Battle for Monte Natale" please go to: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/John-Ernest-Strafford/a/5971 The book is a hard back with 300 pages including over 100 photos and maps. For an Audio-Visual version see below right:
Feb 44 was the day Ernest Strafford’s
“Body recovered, identified and buried by British Troops”. We now
know that the only British soldiers in the vicinity of the grave were soldiers
from his own Regiment, “B” Company, 1 York & Lancs. It is fitting that they buried him.
See the video. If video stops press enter.
The route from Minturno cemetery to where Ernest Strafford's body was found and buried:
On This Day 3 February 1944 - Italy - Mystery weapon!
2 Scots Guards War
Diary
3 Feb 44
The enemy
have been using a weapon which cannot be accurately identified. It appears to be a rocket propelled bomb
weighing about 250 lbs. When fired the source of origin gives out a
bright flash, the bomb makes a very nasty noise and can be seen in flight. It makes a very large crater but is
apparently inaccurate and has done no harm as yet. In the early hours of this morning, one
landed just forward of the village, failing to explode. It will be dug up by some experts, after a
discreet period has elapsed.
Eddie Crutchley took out a patrol of six men to form an ambush
on a carefully chosen point on a track.
They successfully intercepted a party of 10 Germans, killing two and
seriously wounding a third, who escaped but could be heard screaming for
several hours afterwards. There were no
identifications on the bodies who were apparently also on patrol. Eddie and his men got back unscathed.
On This Day 2 February 1944 - Italy "They won't shell at night!
“A” Squadron 16/5
Lancers War Diary
2 Feb 44 - 1830
“C” Squadron arrived and took over our
positions and harboured next door to us.
The Squadron Leader warned Maj. Elwes about the shelling, but Maj. Elwes said “Oh,
they won’t shell at night, so I’ll dig in in the morning. Alas, they were fateful words, because from
0200 nobody got any sleep, owing to the noise of all the Artillery around us
firing and the enemy’s replies, some of which landed very near, and one dud
(luckily) shell landed in the area. We
are told “C” Squadron dug very deep the next morning! During the night, our knocked-out tank had
been taken over the bridge, after some good work by Sgt. Dadford and the crew
of the Armoured Recovery Vehicle to get it down to the bridge.
With thanks to Lorenzo Tonioli
On This Day 1 February 1944 - Italy - the Wandering Donkey!
2 Scots
Guards War Diary
1 Feb 44
The enemy shelled the Tremensuoli village a certain amount,
but the Company areas were not paid much attention. The main square opens up to the West so that
anyone foolish enough to walk about there is very apt to provoke hostile
action; most people realise this but there is one rather lonely donkey, which
sometimes wanders there and was several times the cause of shell fire. It has learnt to run to the houses for
shelter when it hears shells coming, but not to avoid the square altogether.
On This Day 31 January 1944 - Italy - Search for missing tank!
“A” Squadron 16/5
Lancers War Diary
31 Jan 44 - 1620
In
the evening “3” Troop moved out to 6 Grenadier Guards and took up a position on
a “Y” road just Southeast of Tremensuoli.
These positions were taken over from 40 Royal Tank Regiment. That night Lt. Holland went out on patrol to
Sgt. Ritchie’s tank to discover what he
could do. The patrol consisted of an
Officer of 1 Green Howards and a few men.
Lt.
Holland managed to identify the body of Trooper
Youster but could find no sign of anybody else. He did not climb on to the tank owing to it
being a very bright moonlit night and the danger of booby traps. The tank had been hit twice by a 75mm by the
co-driver’s compartment. There was a
dead German lying nearby; it is rather surprising that the Germans had made no
effort to bury Trooper Youster or their own man, although they may have been
behind their lines for several days. On
the return from the patrol the 1 Green Howards Officer turned to Lt. Holland
and said, “Thank God, my last patrol.” “4”
and “1” Troops returned to camp that evening and “2” Troop moved to Minturno.
On This Day 30 January 1944 - Italy - POWs captured!
X (BR) Corps
30 Jan 44
Fifth Army ordered X (BR)
Corps to supply an extra Brigade for VI (US) Corps in the Anzio bridgehead as
soon as possible. 168 Infantry Brigade
who were then resting were nominated to move.
With the impending removal of this Brigade, it was necessary for X (BR)
Corps to postpone for some days plans for a further substantial offensive. The total of prisoners of war captured by X
(BR) Corps since 17 Jan 44 reached 1070.
Feb 44 was the day Ernest Strafford’s “Body recovered, identified and buried by British Troops” . We now know that the only British sol...
