1 York & Lancs. actual route of attack on Monte Natale 20 Jan 44.

 

1 York & Lancs. actual route of attack on Monte Natale 20 Jan 44. ‘A’ Co. on reaching the road turned right in front of the Cemetery and went around the corner to the left. (Map Frank de Planta)

Ernest Shaw of 1 York & Lancs reported:

We were going down the side of a road, perhaps 50 yards off the road on the right of the road (just before the Gerry Aid Post.   The Gerry Aid Post was just on the corner of the road which ran in front of the Cemetery as you approached it from Minturno). One of our platoons rounded the bend on the road itself and there must have been a German tank with this corner under observation and he let fly at them. There were a couple of casualties before they got off the road. While Ted and I were still behind this corner and still 30 to 40 yards short of the corner but off the road, “A” Company came marching down, a full platoon, not marching but walking in single file. Their Company Commander, I believe his name was Wilson, Major A. Wilson, was not far from the front, perhaps a couple of Sections in front of him and I shouted to him ‘Excuse me Sir watch it on the corner, you are under observation, you are better off the road’. But whether he did not hear me properly, he glared and carried on. Next thing the Gerry tank sees these guys going around the corner and lets go again and they scatter. There were a few casualties. I cursed the officer. “Daft Bugger”.

Road: Cemetery–Tufo. Point 172 at top.

              Road: Cemetery–Tufo. Point 172 at top. Ernest Strafford's grave is 55 yards from where this photo was taken on the right behind the hedge. (Photo John Strafford)

22 Jan 44 Track - Minturno Cemetery corner to Point 172.

 

 1 KOYLI War Diary 

19 Jan 44 – 1000 

Our initial task was to clear the village of Tufo, standing high on a ridge above the assembly area and then to push on to Point 201 to the North of Tufo. A large barrage of all the Corps Artillery plus a Medium Regiment had been laid on to support the attack. Unfortunately, this barrage had been decided upon before the infantry plan had been fixed and it did not in fact quite fit the ground as seen from the ground and not from a map. The attack as it was put in had the barrage on the left flank to start with, gradually moving away as the attack progressed. Not only this but the attack had to go in at 1000 hours to fit the barrage which did not in fact give the Battalion enough time for preparation, recce and forming up. Whilst directing the barrage Captain K. Ashdown, 92 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, who was the Forward Observation Officer was hit by one of his own shells and subsequently died of his wounds.

 Route of 1 York & Lancs. 14 - 18 Jan 44

Royal Artillery and the Coldstream Guards 22 Jan 44

 3 Coldstream Guards War Diary

22 Jan 44 – 0630 

Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. W.A.G. Burns MC and his group left the Assembly area. They went to the Battalion HQ of 1 Green Howards which were in slit trenches behind Tremensuoli. The HQ was under intermittent shellfire and aerial bombardment.

98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery War Diary

22 Jan 44 – 0650

SOS Category continuous: 471 Battery report strong counterattack making progress coming up road 781969 and at 780968 [Santa Maria Infante road, a kilometre North of the Cemetery]

Major G.H. Peile Adventures of 392 Battery, 98^th Field Regiment (1945 IWM)

“On January 22 after a long and exhaustive recce by the Commanding Officer, the position of the Observation Posts, which had been obscure, had ended by Capt. Palmer manning the Observation Post with the Battery Commander, with the Battalion Commander of 3 Coldstream Guards, as the Regiment had now taken over support of 201 Guards Brigade, then under command of 5 Division..  

The position was extremely unpleasant.   The Coldstreams had their Battalion H.Q. in Tremensuoli, which was being subjected to constant shelling and mortar fire, and the O.P. was in a very muddy slit trench rather than in advance of the Front Defence Lines.   This O.P. was manned alternately by Capt. Palmer and Capt. Stride.   During the next four days some excellent shooting was done both by the forward O.P. and the rear O.P., the latter being able to engage hostile Batteries which could actually be seen firing.   The whole of the forward position was overlooked.”  

 

German Position 17 Jan 44 as they saw it!

 German Position 17-23 Jan 44 as the Germans saw it.