Ernest Shaw's hill - 19 January 1944 - Battle for Tufo

 

                                    Ernest Shaw’s hill – Tufo to the right. (Photo John Strafford)

                                                    See 19 January 1944  The Battle for Tufo

Crossing the Garigliano. Near Minturno (Italy) 19 Jan 44

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Book: Battle For Monte Natale Page 56

19 Jan 44

Crossing the Garigliano. Near Minturno (Italy)
During the Allied offensive by the 5^th Army, troops have successfully established a bridgehead over the Garigliano River at various points.   The Germans, however are still within Artillery range of the river, and in consequence, movement is likely to bring down shell-fire.   The early crossings were by boat with considerable casualties. The pontoon bridges were under constant fire and needed rebuilding. There were early casualties and prisoners of war who needed repatriating.

First light on the river sees casualties being carried up. On the narrow bridgehead on the other side the Infantry are held up by mines, and a Company of Sappers file onto a pontoon raft with detecting apparatus, cast off, and slowly cross the river under mortar fire.

Sappers board a Mark II Pontoon Raft, start its outboard motor and cross the river.   This action was quite heavily mortared, but owing to the haze and smoke the bursts hardly registered.

While Sappers of the 252 Bridging Company Royal Engineers constructed a pontoon bridge and tank raft for the vehicles to follow.   The tank raft is seen in operation carrying a tank, ambulance and Jeeps.   A Bulldozer widens the approaches  and an assortment of vehicles line the road waiting for dark to cross by the reconstructed Pontoon Bridge.

The stretcher bearers bring the wounded up from the GARIGLIANO RIVER.   Then board a Mark II Pontoon Raft, start its outboard motor and cross the river.   The enemy is only 200 yards away on the opposite bank.   This action was quite heavily mortared, but owing to the haze of smoke, the bursts will probably not register.

The Pontoon Bridge further downstream has been badly damaged by German mortar fire.   Here Sappers are seen examining and reconstructing the bridge so that it can be used without delay as a jetty in conjunction with a light tank raft seen crossing beside the bridge

On the 56^th Division front a pontoon bridge was hit and partially sunk.   Some men preferred to run across the bridge and wade through the sunken portion – deeming it wiser to get wet feet.   Others preferred to remain dry and crossed in assault boats.   On the 5^th Division front at the mouth of the river, troops were ferried across on rafts – this movement obviously noticed by th enemy, as a considerable number of shells came over

Army 5 Division

No.2 Army Film and Photo Section

Cameramen:   Sgt Hopkinson

                              Sgt Weber

                              Sgt. J.R.Herbert

Copyright: Imperial War Museum (Video IWM 643/ 5-7)

Royal Engineers carrying repairs to pontoon bridge 19 Jan 44

 

River Garigliano. Royal Engineers in assault boats embark for the opposite bank to repair the last two sections of the pontoon bridge knocked out by enemy fire. 19 Jan 44. (Photo Capt. R.F. Gade. IWM TR 1523.

 River Garigliano. A signalman repairs a line on a recently shelled pontoon bridge, 19 Jan 44. (Photo Capt. R.F. Gade, IWM TR 1530)

German Position 19-23 Jan 44 as the Germans saw it.

 

                                        German Position 19-23 Jan 44 as the Germans saw it

Anniversary of the book launch!

 Time Flies! One Year ago the book was launched!   Thank you all and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! John

German prisoners awaiting interrogation

 

A group of German prisoners awaiting interrogation, 18 Jan 44. (Photo Capt R.F. Gade, 2 AFPU, IWM TR 1526

York & Lancaster Museum Rotherham

We Will Remember Them!

 Last week I visited the Clifton Park Museum in Rotherham.   The last time I visited the Museum was some years ago.  Sadly the York & Lancaster section has been considerably reduced since then and now consists of a small room with a couple of showcases and a chest of drawers with one drawer for each country the York & Lancs. fought in.  However the good news is that the staff were magnificent.   We were given a warm welcome by the doorman who then showed us to the York & Lancs. section.   Then we went to the archives section of the museum where the staff were wonderful and very helpful.   I gave them a copy of my book "Battle For Monte Natale", and we had a lovely chat.   They told me that 70% of the museum's enquiries relate to the York & Lancs. Regiment.

The Italy drawer of the York & Lancs:

The contents of the drawer were as follows:

The keepsake says Buon Natale:

 

There was also a photo of York & Lancs. soldiers in Italy but no further information   If anyone recognises them please do let me know!