On This Day 9th January 1944 Italy

 

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Minturno Town photographed from the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery

  5 Infantry Division of the British Army was withdrawn from the line on 9 Jan 44 and moved in great secrecy across Italy to a concentration area behind the United States 5^th Army’s front near the mouth of the River Garigliano   It arrived there on 15 Jan 44.

1 York & Lancs. was moved with the rest of 5 Infantry Division across Italy away from the Orsogna - Ortona line on the Adriatic coast, arriving at Isernia on 14 Jan 44 in readiness to attack across the River Garigliano and capture the Ausonia valley beyond the town of Minturno.  

The Battle of Monte Natale involved 5 Infantry Division and took place around four small towns/villages.   They were Minturno, Santa Maria Infante, Tufo and Tremensuoli.   All suffered extensive damage.   The people of Minturno suffered greatly, finding themselves under German occupation, and positioned on the very edge of the German Gustav Line.   The population of Minturno had to endure persecution and reprisals by the Germans and also famine.   In addition, the local villages endured heavy land and naval bombardments by the Allied forces which resulted in catastrophic damage, and the deaths and casualties of many innocent civilians.   Many Minturnesi were forced to flee to the mountains and surrounding countryside.