Crossing the River Garigliano Jan 18 44 onwards - no sound.

Click on below:

  https://youtu.be/TrmJcd4RAJk?si=v4s3wHsxGzjWhmzY

Bostons aircraft in formations fly thru flak. Night shots of barrage in Garigliano valley, barrage continued all night. 4.5 guns firing at night, silhouettes of guns as they are fired. Tracers thru the air, all the above is night shots. Castelforte in valley being shelled by British. Germans shelling road. Several shots of 4.5's firing in daylight. smoke screen in valley. Order of "Fire" given. Smoke screen over Minturno. Piper Cub aircraft flying target spotting. Pontoon bridge over Garigliano river artillery being towed across. our guns firing, Minturno background. British troops cross pontoon bridge followed by despatch riders. Formations of Boston's aircraft flying thru German flak. Minturno dive bombed by Germans. explosions & smoke screen over target. Aerial shot Piper Cub spotting.

Above is P. Wyand's B.416/D1-2.

Following is A.F.U.:- Village of Suja, ambulances & stretchers take away wounded troops. Jeeps assist. MLS. of village dive bombed, shows village enveloped in smoke & dust. bomb burst. railway bridge wrecked this did span roadway & river. Royal Engineer's use oxyacetylene cutters to demolish iron girders of bridge, smoke screen background. Rubble emptied into shell holes from Army trucks. Bofors guarding operations. The bridge is S.W.Minturno. Various shots of Italians refugees pouring back to town, Bofors with smoking & burning Minturno in background. Refugees pass Sherman tank on road. pontoon bridge & rough road, British troops along same. Crossing bridge, Bren Carrier, armoured. cars, gun limbers, followed by crew of Bofors gun. In Castelforte & Lorenzo sector, Sherman tanks & British troops move up, British troops along wrecked railroad. Sherman tank moves at speed across open ground. Sherman tank in fore with battle in progress in valley, smoke, shell & mortar bursts rise from ground. Sherman passes infantry across railway crossing, receives near misses as it approaches Castelforte. Patrol supported by six tanks set out from scarred village of Lorenzo, various shots of their approach. Various shots of Castelforte during shelling of town, by both sides, Shot of shell burst near Observation Post. Shot of shellhole with smoke from same. Various angle shots of Castelforte undergoing shell & mortar fire.

"A" Co Position on road by cemetery

 1 York & Lancs. War Diary 

21 Jan 44 – 1500 

Another enemy counterattack was launched, not only against ‘B/C’ Company on Monte Natale but also ‘A’ Company on the road. The enemy put down a light smoke screen from the North to hide their attack on ‘A’ Company. The enemy suffered severe casualties. Accurate defensive fire by the artillery and the Battalion’s 3-inch mortars prevented the Germans penetrating the main positions, but some of the forward posts were lost before the counterattack faded out.

"A" Company, York & Lancs. position on road by cemetery, looking towards Tufo then Santa Maria Infante and finally Monte Natale!

20 Jan 44 

Ernest Shaw, 1 York & Lancs. reports 

‘Another lucky escape. On the same track 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). 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”.

German tanks came down this road from Santa Maria Infante. This was ‘A’ Company 1 York & Lancs. position, just around cemetery corner. (Photo John Strafford)

The Scauri Peninsula and Tremensuoli.

 2 Scots Guards War Diary 

21 Jan 44 – 0800 

Owing to the slow progress of the last few days and the stiff resistance which had been encountered, the plan for the attack by 201 Guards Brigade had been considerably  modified. 6 Grenadier Guards were still to go for part of the Scauri Peninsula; 2 Scots Guards was to capture Scauri village, and 3 Coldstream Guards were to remain in reserve at Tremensuoli. In accordance with this plan all arrangements and reconnaissance of the area were carried out. The Battalion was sent for to move up to the start line when the whole attack was postponed till first light the following morning. The reason given for this was the discovery of a counterattack forming up in Scauri.

Scauri Peninsula.  Tremensuoli is in front of it.   Photo taken from Minturno. (Photo John Strafford).

Preparations for crossing the River Garigliano before the battle begins. 17 Jan 44

Preparations for Crossing the River Garigliano before the battle begins. 17 Jan 44 

see below:

Preoparing to cross the River Garigliano - 17 Jan 44

 Preparing to cross the River Garigliano 17 Jan 44

https://youtu.be/7TajwuQ544I?si=-H25x_8vxvvxgTrn 

X Corps Cross the River Garigliano 17 Jan 44

X Corps Cross the River Garigliano. 17 Jan 44