Friday, June 26, 2026

Jan 17 1944 2 Royal Scots Fusiliers amphibious assault on Monte d'Argento

 

Gelsomino Rossi

Jan 17 1944

On the night of January 17, 1944, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (2 RSF) took part in a daring amphibious assault on Monte d'Argento (Scauri, Italy). The operation was part of a larger amphibious assault during the crossing of the Garigliano River, aimed at breaking through German defensive lines during the Italian Campaign. The attack, launched as an outflanking maneuver, saw the 2 RSF land from the sea near Monte d'Argento to capture the high ground. The objective was to clear the way for the Seaforth Highlanders' inland advance. However, the operation encountered serious difficulties and navigational errors; most of the landing craft failed to reach the correct beaches, and many misjudged their landing sites and ran aground too far south. Those who landed at Monte d'Argento found themselves immediately trapped.

2 Royal Scots Fusiliers War Diary

The battalion's landing plan failed completely, and the unit was brutally disorganized from the start. Many of the drivers strayed too far from shore, making it impossible to use the guide lights placed at intervals along the beach or to see the mouth of the river, which would have been the safest guide.

"Not one of the boats carrying the Royal Engineer assault companies found the right beach."

Major Sandilands, second in command of the 2 Royal Scots Fusiliers, reported:

"Before the bombardment began at 9:00 PM, we had no idea where we were. It was already clear that the third wave was lost in any case. They found themselves trapped inside an unmarked German minefield, which caused significant losses and disorganized the battalion. Many of the landed riflemen were blocked, and several men were wounded or captured; unfortunately, there were also deaths. The infantry troops, such as the Royal Scots Fusiliers, found themselves under incessant fire close to the beaches. The German soldiers, barricaded on the heights and protected by vast minefields, machine-gunned the Allied positions and, on several occasions, the enemy units exchanged shouts and taunts during the violent clash. I was able to understand and empathize with the horror and brutality of war when I read the diary of Captain Anthony Courtney, who was part of the  2 Royal Scots Fusiliers:

 

“From the shoreline under fire from the 88s and the German MGs, they could hear in the distance the megaphones of the PK units. German propaganda, literally shouting at them:

"Come forward, you bastards, we're waiting for you!"

The minefield trap and the landing of Company B at Marina di Minturno. The beach and slopes of Monte d'Argento had been heavily mined by the German defenders. Captain Courtney and Private Chamberlain found themselves trapped under enemy fire right inside one of these dense minefields and were separated from the rest of the company.

Monday, June 22, 2026

Casualties between 18 -22 Jan 44

 

NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE BOOK PUBLISHED.

22 Jan 44 Page 128

Official History

Brigadier Molony’s The Mediterranean and Middle East, notes that between 18-22 Jan 44 inclusive, the start of the Garigliano Offensive, casualties in the whole of X Corps (which included 5, 45 & 56 Division) were 1,312.

Just three battalions of 5 Division lost about 565 men that week: The Royal Scots Fusiliers’ casualties were approximately 140, including seven officers, to which a further 53 casualties had to be added on 23 Jan 44 - a total of 193.

Field Returns of Jan 22 44 for 6 Seaforth Highlanders show a complement of 27 officers and 608 ORs, against a War Establishment of 36 officers and 815 ORs. The battalion was forced to reorganise into three Rifle Companies, so it must have lost in the region of 100 men. 

1 Bn York & Lancaster lost 256 men during the week ending Jan 22 44.

The Wiltshires, also from 5 Division, lost 195 men during the Garigliano operations (two weeks) .

According to 56 Division ADMS, divisional troop casualties for the week ending 22 Jan 44 were 40 officers and 659 ORs.   Eric Morris, in Circles of Hell, gives the figure of 4,000 British casualties in the first battle of Cassino (22 Jan – 13 Feb 44).

56 Division ADMS Medical Diary for Jan 44 records 76 officers and 1311 OR casualties in January - a total of 1387.

Sunday, June 21, 2026

The Gustav Line where many battles were fought over many months

 The Gustav Line where many battles were fought over many months including the Battle For Monte Natale which was part of the first Battle for Monte Cassino.

Map of Southern Italy 1944 – The Gustav Line. (United States Military Academy)






Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Main dispositions of Regiments at midnight 21 Jan 44.

 Main dispositions of 1 York & Lancs. 1 Green Howards and KOYLI at midnight 21 Jan 44.

1 York & Lancs. on Monte Natale. 1 Green Howards around Tremensuoli. 1 KOYLI. At Point 172. 



Sunday, June 14, 2026

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

New Information since book published!

Book Page 120 

98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery War Diary 

21 Jan 44 – 1830 

Hectic hour in which 392 and 471 Batteries each received urgent SOS’s and 391 Battery alternated from one to the other in support. Meanwhile Division asked for six Stonks [artillery bombardments] which had to be refused. Ammunition running low. 

NEW Information!

T. B. Davis "The Surrey & Sussex Yeomanry (98 Field Regiment)" 1980

"Enemy reaction had now reached a peak and six targets were engaged by the whole Divisional Artillery before 5.15a.m.   Two hours later the guns were firing a barrage in support of a 15 Brigade attack eastwards on Tremensuoli.   Resistance was fierce and by evening the leading troops were still only half way to the village; two days later after a series of savage counter attacks they were not even as close as that.   The Germans fought with great tenacity,  and there is no doubt that their counter-attacks, supported as they were by armour, would have had a far greater success but for the crippling fire which the Regiment was able to bring down upon them.   The guns were seldom silent and in these two days alone they fired over 11,000 rounds."

Further Information received since book published

Jan 17 1944 2 Royal Scots Fusiliers amphibious assault on Monte d'Argento

  Gelsomino Rossi Jan 17 1944 On the night of January 17, 1944, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers (2 RSF) took part in a daring a...