‘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 Two barrages in one day had apparently been too much for the enemy who had withdrawn or surrendered to 1 Green Howards in area Tremensuoli.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).

1 Green Howards Military Cross Citation for Major A.R.M. Tanner

 Book Page 92

 Tremensuoli by the sea.   Film taken from Point 141 (Film Peter Strafford)

20 Jan 44

1 Green Howards Military Cross Citation for Major A.R.M. Tanner 

Major Tanner commanded the left forward Company in the attack and capture of Tremensuoli (769957) on 20 Jan 44. Throughout this action he showed exceptionally high standards of leadership in directing and controlling his Company, cleaning up opposition and ensuring the immediate mopping up and consolidation of the objective. 

    During the whole operation the village was under heavy enemy artillery and machine gun fire and his Company was in close contact with the enemy on the lower slopes. Major Tanner moved continuously from Platoon to Platoon directing operations wherever the enemy fire was heaviest, and by his coolness and untiring energy set a magnificent example, which was an inspiration to his men

German Aid Post on the road.

 

                 German Aid Post on the road, forward slopes on the right. (Photo John Strafford)

Wounded on top of the wall

 A soldier from ‘B’ Company 1 York & Lancs. described what happened.

20 Jan 44 

Forward slopes of the hill in front of the Cemetery. Wall at the bottom. (Photo John Strafford)

At this time a Gerry officer and two wounded men were captured, and we jumped down a high wall onto the road and into the now empty Aid Post leaving the wounded on top of the wall. Two of us searched right round the Aid Post and found nothing but dead, on stretchers. We searched upstairs and found it clear. Now we waited instructions from Company HQ but were rudely interrupted by the whirring of a stick grenade which must have come through the window. It must have been a long fuse because seven or eight of us got outside in a hurry and the only casualty was the Gerry officer with a hole in his backside the size of a teacup. The rest of B Coy arrived

Gerry Aid Post 1 York & Lancs.

 A soldier from ‘B’ Company 1 York & Lancs. described what happened.

20 Jan 44 

‘We went forward again as the barrage lifted and topping a rise came under observation from a Gerry tank near the civvy Cemetery, our anti-tank crew fired two shells at him, one hitting his track guard and the other the turret, without going off. I reckon the second was not primed but it brought the gun round in a hurry and he fired on the Platoon on our right and caused casualties. Now we were in full sight of the Gerry Aid Post where another tank was loading wounded ready to leave the place, In all three enemy Mark III tanks took off at speed past the Cemetery.

                     German Aid Post seen from forward slopes of the hill. (Photo John Strafford)