Photo Monte Natale

                                             Monte Natale. (Photo John Strafford)

Tufo Start Line stone wall

 A Soldier from ‘B’ Coy. 1 York & Lancs 

20 Jan 44 

‘We left the long stone wall at Tufo and advanced in open order as best we could for some 500 yards of grape vine wires behind a creeping barrage from our 25 pounders. We came to a clearing where a ginger haired Gerry was draped over his mortar and must have been caught by the barrage. All the rest of his crew were in an adjacent deep bunker screaming “Kamerad”. We fetched them out just as we were strafed by Yank aircraft, so they dived back down the dugout. We left one bloke to take them back to Tufo and carried on.

NEW INFORMATION 12 dead at Point 172 named!

 NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE BOOK PUBLISHED

 We Will Remember Them!

Book Page 81

Sergeant Fielding, ‘D’ Company, 1 York & Lancs. Missing Person’s Report 

20 Jan 44 

‘Private Holland [Private Stanley Holland, Minturno CWGC Cemetery] was transferred to my Platoon about 15 January 1944 because the Anti-Aircraft Platoon, HQ Company, was being disbanded. He was not with me long enough for me to get familiar with his home life, town, occupation, etc., but his age would be about 25 years, rather sharp features, slim build, fair hair. 

    At 7am on 20 Jan 44 the Battalion, on a two Company front, “A” and “D” Companies, were ordered to attack hill Point 172, about one mile Northeast of Minturno. I advanced with two Sections forward, Private Holland being in the Right Section. His Section Commander was wounded before reaching the objective. On the top of the hill, I disposed of one Machine Gun position, turned around, and saw my Right Section going for another one. I saw a German throw a stick grenade towards Private Holland, saw Private Holland fall down, and move his legs, and before I could get to him to evacuate him, or dispose of the enemy, he received a full burst of Machine Gun fire from the remaining Machine Gun position. Eventually we consolidated on hill Point 172 and being then the Acting Sergeant Major of the Company I called for Platoon casualty slips and detailed Sergeant Waddington, 18 Platoon “D” Company to gather in the dead bodies. We had 12 dead, and 33 wounded out of this action. Private Holland laid amongst the dead. I sent immediately for the Medical Officer of the unit to confirm the lost lives of the bodies. All personnel effects together with one identification disc was taken off, docketed, and forwarded to Battalion HQ. The Company was going to bury the men, but we had orders to move at once and on each man’s body was left all particulars on a piece of paper tied to the body, plus one identity disc. Major D. Young will bear out this statement.’ 

    The dead were moved after the action. Ernest Strafford’s body was on its own on Hill 172 when buried on 4 February so was not amongst the 12 dead that were moved to Minturno. 

    This indicates that he was still alive on 20 January and went on to the Cemetery with either ‘A’ Company or ‘D’ Company

The 12 Dead Soldiers were:

Pte. S.A. Holland             1 York & Lancs.    Killed  600 Yards N.E. Minturno

Killed 19 Jan 44, Taken to Point 172, 20 Jan 44.

L/Cpl H. Evan                 1 York & Lancs.     Killed        Attack Point 172.

Pte. C. France                 1 York & Lancs.      Killed        Attack Point 172

Pte. R. Gunn                   1 York & Lancs.      Killed         Attack Point 172

Capt. B. Lang                 1 York & Lancs.      Killed        Attack Point 172

Pte. J. Lowery                1 York & Lancs.      Killed        Attack Point 172                         

Pte. J.A. Lowery            1 York & Lancs.     Killed          Attack Point 172

Cpl. M. Norris               1 York & Lancs.     Killed           Attack Point 172

Cpl. W. Scarfe               1 York & Lancs.      Killed          Attack Point 172

Pte. W.H.Smith             1 York & Lancs.     Killed          Attack Point 172

L/Cpl. J. Stott               1 York & Lancs.      Killed        Attack Point 172

L/Cpl. J.Wilson            1 York & Lancs.      Killed        Attack Point 172 

                           

      L/Cpl Jack Stott 1 York & Lancs  died 20 Jan 44 (Photo David Rigby)

1 York & Lancs. Route of attack.

 

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)

NEW INFORMATION - Those killed in the orchard named!

 NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE BOOK PUBLISHED

 We Will Remember Them!

Book Page 60

1 York & Lancs. War Diary 

19 Jan 44 – 0615 

Move completed just as it was getting light. 4 killed, 6 wounded by mines in orchards. Captain Hewitt (Officer Commanding ‘C’ Company) and Captain Ramsay (Second in Command ‘B’ Company) wounded from shelling of road during move of Battalion.

The four men killed were:

 Pte. J.W. Barlow                                         1 York & Lancs.              Killed in Orchard minefield.

Sgt. J. Glover                                               1 York & Lancs.              Killed in Orchard minefield.

L/Cpl. C.E. Nugent                                     1 York & Lancs.              Killed in Orchard minefield.

Pte. G.W.Thompson                                    1 York & Lancs.              Killed in Orchard minefield.

Point 172 Road Cemetery to Tufo.

Battle For Monte Natale book Page 80 

Road: Cemetery to Tufo.   Point 172 at the top. (Photo John Strafford)

20 Jan 44 NEW INFORMATION - 1KOYLI

 

NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE BOOK PUBLISHED

From Norway to Burma by Roger Holgate

20 Jan 44

Kesselring ordered a major counter attack by 29 Panzer Grenadier Division with the object of rescuing 94 Infantry Division, which was trapped in the area of Castelforte, out of fuel and under constant attack.   By that time 13 Infantry Brigade had driven off a dawn counterattack which allowed 15 Infantry Brigade to pass them.   1 KOYLI were ordered to capture the town of Tufo, which is situated on the peak of a volcanic outcrop, and so dominates the surrounding area.   Obviously, this fact was not lost on the Germans, and after a gruelling climb, 1 KOYLI were forced into a street battle, to clear the defenders out of town.   The Green Howards overcame the defences at Minturno and Tremensuoli, as the York & Lancs. pushed toward Santa Maria Infante.

German counterattacks took place near Santa Maria Infante, but the British forces stood their ground, in a brutal encounter that surged back and forth.