NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE
BOOK PUBLISHED.
22 Jan 44 Page 128
Official History
Brigadier Molony’s The
Mediterranean and Middle East, notes that between 18-22 Jan 44
inclusive, the start of the Garigliano Offensive, casualties in the whole of X
Corps (which included 5, 45 & 56 Division) were 1,312.
Just three battalions of 5
Division lost about 565 men that week: The Royal Scots Fusiliers’ casualties
were approximately 140, including seven officers, to which a further 53
casualties had to be added on 23 Jan 44 - a total of 193.
Field Returns of Jan 22 44 for 6
Seaforth Highlanders show a complement of 27 officers and 608 ORs, against a
War Establishment of 36 officers and 815 ORs. The battalion was forced to
reorganise into three Rifle Companies, so it must have lost in the region of
100 men.
1 Bn York & Lancaster lost
256 men during the week ending Jan 22 44.
The Wiltshires, also from 5
Division, lost 195 men during the Garigliano operations (two weeks) .
According to 56 Division ADMS,
divisional troop casualties for the week ending 22 Jan 44 were 40
officers and 659 ORs. Eric Morris, in Circles
of Hell, gives the figure of 4,000 British casualties in the first battle
of Cassino (22 Jan – 13 Feb 44).
56 Division ADMS Medical Diary
for Jan 44 records 76 officers and 1311 OR casualties in January - a
total of 1387.
