20 Jan 44 DSO for Lt.Col. Patrick G. Bulfin Green Howards

 Roger Chapman, 1 Green Howards History 

20 Jan 44 ‘After being kept awake by intermittent shelling and machine gun fire during the night Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick George Bulfin went forward at dawn to make a reconnaissance of Tremensuoli, a small village a couple of miles ahead. He had been ordered to capture it this morning with support from 15 Infantry Brigade artillery units. 

    It was to prove a hard fight, as the artillery barrage did not stop the German machine gun and mortar fire. There were many casualties from splinters including Lieutenant Norman Yardley, who recovered from the wounds and later captained a successful English cricket XI in several Test matches after the war. 

View of Tremensuoli from Point 141, Monte Del Duca. (Photo Peter Strafford)

Position of PIAT gun - 20 Jan 44

 20 Jan 44

Book page 101

A soldier ‘B’ Coy 1 York & Lancs. described the situation. Map drawn by soldier afterwards 

‘B’ Company advanced towards Monte Natale and dug in along a ridge which had a high hedge which was thick enough to be a barrier, but we could still see to our front through the sparse root system. After a while ‘C’ Company passed through us and dug in about 50 yards to our front. The whole area became quiet except for digging. All night one could hear horse transport on the road in front.

Sketch of battle drawn afterwards by a Private in 1 York & Lancs.

                        Book Page 102

Position of PIAT per sketch. (Photo John Strafford)

Same position 12 May 44 when US Forces arrived. (U.S. National Archives)

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)