New Information 98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery

 NEW INFORMATION received since book published:

Book: Battle for Monte Natale page 97

98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery War Diary

20 Jan 44 – 1725

‘E’ Troop, 471 Battery Observation Post, location 783966 [Hill in front of Cemetery]. Approx. eight German Self-Propelled Guns and Mk. IV tanks in vicinity of road 780970 [Santa Maria Infante]

New Information:

Mark Howard, historian researching the 98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery” :

Lt. Col TB Davis Regimental History of the 98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery

20 Jan 44

 l Battalion the York and Lancaster Regiment on the right, supported by Captain Jerdein and E Troop Observation Post, seized Monte Natale, a mile to the north of Minturno. During the afternoon the O.P. was dive-bombed and Sergeant Howard was slightly wounded. Then, as the light faded, the enemy counter-attacked in force and infiltrated to the right of the position. The O.P. was heavily shelled and twice cuts in the remote control cable were repaired under heavy fire by Bombardier Keast. Later, further German advances cut off the O.P. completely, but Captain Jerdein managed in the dark to work his to the way round to the south of the Monte Natale feature and succeeded, in spite of heavy machine-gun fire, in joining the York and Lancasters and his own O.P. vehicle just before the position was evacuated.

With the O.P. vehicle Bombardier Belcher and Gunner Alcott had spent an uncomfortable night, having first been closely shelled by a German self-propelled gun and then after dark having tried in vain to contact their missing Troop Commander on foot. However, Captain Jerdein completed an excellent day's work by backing the O.P. vehicle, half trapped by shell craters, down a twisting, sunken lane and finally leading the whole party back to Rear Headquarters Battalion near Point 172, north of Minturno.”

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

20 Jan 44

“While this fighting was in progress Captain Ian Anderson had been trying to lead three 471 Battery O.P. Shermans up onto the Minturno ridge, but they had all become bogged in heavy going on the far bank of the Garigliano.   Pressing on without them, he was on the point of reaching Point 172 when his Dingo overturned and he had to be evacuated with an injured back.”

 

Bombardier Reggie Keast who won the Military Medal at Monte Natale as signaller to Captain Jerdein, 471 Battery Observation Post.

Route of 40 Royal Tank Regiment

 40 Royal Tank Regiment No. 1 Troop War Diary 

20 Jan 44 – 1630 

The Troop Leader saw a party of Germans at 781964 [German Aid post on Santa Maria Infante road]. On seeing the tanks, the enemy ran away, but were chased in to 1 KOYLI lines by the Troop Leader. 

20 Jan 44 – 1645 Took enemy Non-Commissioned Officer prisoner from house, 782961 [half a kilometre South of the Aid Post]. 

20 Jan 44 – 1700 

Contacted the Commanding Officer of 1 York & Lancs. at his Command Post. The Troop was ordered to take up an anti-tank counterattack role at the Cemetery at 781968 [just round Cemetery corner on Santa Maria Infante road], at first light 21 Jan 44 0630. The Troop was put under the command of the CO. ‘A’ Company, 1 York & Lancs. 

This is the route 40 Royal Tank Regiment took, passing the German Aid Post, going to the corner of the cemetery where they waited and observed the German tanks around the corner coming from the direction of Santa Maria Infante. (Film John Strafford)

Point 141 Photo from Minturno.

 5 Infantry Division 

20 Jan 44 – 1605 

1 KOYLI had taken over Point 141, Monte del Duca, from 1 Green Howards and Point 172 from 1 York & Lancs. 1 York & Lancs. were then attacking Monte Natale Point 156.

                       Point 141 hill. Photo taken from Minturno town. (Photo John Strafford)

1 York & Lancs. "D" Co and Battalion HQ by cemetery.

 20 Jan 44 - 1600

"D" Company and Headquarters on the road by the cemetery. Forward slopes down to the cemetery and then on the far right is the German Aid Post. (Film John Strafford)

 The action was described as follows: ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies renewed the advance under heavy artillery support. Thanks to this fire which paid attention to the enemy tanks, the road was crossed without difficulty and Monte Natale captured against relatively light opposition. The position was then consolidated with ‘C’ Company on the exposed North-West end of the feature, ‘B’ Company on the main part of the feature itself, and ‘A’ Company astride the road. Behind this line ‘D’ Company and Battalion Headquarters occupied the area of the Cemetery, whilst on the right 1 King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry took over the hill [Point 172] originally captured by ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies in Phase 1. By 1600 hours the objectives had been achieved. 

‘C’ Company’s position on Monte Natale

 

1 York & Lancs.

20 Jan 44

    The action was described as follows: ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies renewed the advance under heavy artillery support. Thanks to this fire which paid attention to the enemy tanks, the road was crossed without difficulty and Monte Natale captured against relatively light opposition. The position was then consolidated with ‘C’ Company on the exposed North-West end of the feature, ‘B’ Company on the main part of the feature itself, and ‘A’ Company astride the road. Behind this line ‘D’ Company and Battalion Headquarters occupied the area of the Cemetery, whilst on the right 1 King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry took over the hill [Point 172] originally captured by ‘A’ and ‘D’ Companies in Phase 1. By 1600 hours the objectives had been achieved.

    ‘C’ Company’s position on Monte Natale gave it a view of the whole valley. It is no wonder that both sides wanted to hold this position.

Film (John Strafford)

"C" Co. position at the top of the forward slope of Monte Natale

 

‘C’ Co. 1 York & Lancs. position looking towards Santa Maria Infante. The forward slopes of Monte Natale on the left (Photo John Strafford)

1 York & Lancs. War Diary 

20 Jan 44 – 1600 

 ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies advanced to capture second objective at Point 156, Monte Natale, under barrage from road running North from Minturno. Barrage concentrated on road for 5 minutes, then advanced at rate of 100 yards in 3 minutes. Neither Company met any opposition. Two barrages in one day had apparently been too much for the enemy who had withdrawn or surrendered to 1 Green Howards in area Tremensuoli. When ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies had captured their objectives, ‘A’ Company mopped up and took up position in area of Cemetery – [track to Tufo] junction. ‘B’ Company consolidated at South end of Point 156 feature and ‘C’ Company on the North-West end. 

 2 Scots Guards War Diary 

20 Jan 44 – 1500 

The Brigadier held his Orders Group on Point 141, Monte del Duca, a bare and exposed hill just west of Minturno [the purpose of meeting here was to recce the battlefield and the objectives]. The Commanding Officer held his Orders Group in the same place immediately afterwards, but as it was not possible to get a sufficiently detailed view of the Battalion objectives, the Brigade plan was only given out and a further Order Group fixed for tomorrow at Tremensuoli, which is the next feature to the West.

Point 141, Monte del Duca, hill on left, Minturno on the right, taken from South-West. (Photo John Strafford).