On This Day 21 January 1944 Italy Gerry Attacks!
A soldier with ‘B’ Co. York & Lancs. describes what happened ‘Another rude awakening at first light [21 Jan 44] when Gerry put in an attack on ‘C’ Coy. They were quickly overrun as they had been caught having breakfast. Even at 50 yards you could see our fellows standing with the Gerrys with their hands raised. The Gerrys seemed oblivious to our presence till we picked a couple of them off but with being so close together it was hard to shoot at our own. Anyway, they were marched off to the road and Gerry turned his attention to us. They had a good sniper and Private Cooper’s brains [Private William Cooper. Minturno CWGC Cemetery] were running down the tree at my elbow, his legs must have wedged his body in an upright position while leaning back on the tree behind him. Another three shots hit him, and the sniper must have thought he had missed. Why he did not shoot me I cannot start to understand but I soon moved to another position. Then for the rest of the morning Gerry came screaming at us in waves, thank God for the thick hedge and our 25 pounders, which Major D. Webster had given us.’
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