The Gustav Line where many battles were fought over many months

 The Gustav Line where many battles were fought over many months including the Battle For Monte Natale which was part of the first Battle for Monte Cassino.

Map of Southern Italy 1944 – The Gustav Line. (United States Military Academy)

Main dispositions of Regiments at midnight 21 Jan 44.

 Main dispositions of 1 York & Lancs. 1 Green Howards and KOYLI at midnight 21 Jan 44.

1 York & Lancs. on Monte Natale. 1 Green Howards around Tremensuoli. 1 KOYLI. At Point 172. 

Tremensuoli from the top of Point 141, Monte del Duca.

 

Tremensuoli from the top of Point 141, Monte del Duca. (Photo Peter Strafford)

Minturno Town 16 Oct 2012 (Photo John Strafford)

 

New Information since book published!

Book Page 120 

98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery War Diary 

21 Jan 44 – 1830 

Hectic hour in which 392 and 471 Batteries each received urgent SOS’s and 391 Battery alternated from one to the other in support. Meanwhile Division asked for six Stonks [artillery bombardments] which had to be refused. Ammunition running low. 

NEW Information!

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

"Enemy reaction had now reached a peak and six targets were engaged by the whole Divisional Artillery before 5.15a.m.   Two hours later the guns were firing a barrage in support of a 15 Brigade attack eastwards on Tremensuoli.   Resistance was fierce and by evening the leading troops were still only half way to the village; two days later after a series of savage counter attacks they were not even as close as that.   The Germans fought with great tenacity,  and there is no doubt that their counter-attacks, supported as they were by armour, would have had a far greater success but for the crippling fire which the Regiment was able to bring down upon them.   The guns were seldom silent and in these two days alone they fired over 11,000 rounds."

1 York & Lancs. Route through Italy. 16 Nov 43 to 14 Jan 44.

 1 York & Lancs. Route through Italy. 16 Nov 43 to 14 Jan 44.

 

Crossing the Garigliano - South West of Minturno 21 Jan 44

21 Jan 44 

Crossing the Garigliano – South West of Minturno

   The slow but strong tank-raft is putting the Sherman Tanks on the North bank.

On its retreat towards ROME the German Army is leaving not one of the many road and rail bridges intact.   The railway spanning the main road and RIVER GARIGLIANO completely demolished by Sappers of  572 Field Company Royal Engineers to free a passage for heavy traffic.   An oxyacetylene cutter breaks up the fallen bridge structure, Sappers remove the rails suspended  in air, while behind them runs the river and a thick smoke screen to hide the bridging operations from German observers in the hills beyond.   The rubble is loaded into trucks and tipped into nearby shell craters which are further blocking the main road, and one of many Bofors Guns guards these operations, and the newly won town of Minturno is in the background.        

With the taking by British forces on January 20^th of MINTURNO, hundreds of civilians began pouring home again.   Most of them were ill clothed and on foot, little children and the aged, all in a long almost unbroken line from dawn until dusk.   They are passing a Sherman tank on its way forward, the demolished bridge, and the ever alert Bofors gun crew.

Army 5 Division

21 Jan 44

Video 643 1-4

Cameraman: Sgt. Weber

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