NEW INFORMATION (9)
Book: Battle For Monte Natale
Page 202
98 Field Regiment Royal
Artillery War Diary
26 Jan 44 – 1030
392 Battery being shelled –
four casualties on way to Medical Officer and one more. 26 Jan 44 – 1055
Batteries ordered to stop moving vehicles in area forthwith [visibility too
good for any Motor Transport movement].
26 Jan 44 – 1120
Two ambulances to this location
[474 Battery] immediately.
26 Jan 44 – 1300
Regiment’s position being shelled
apparently by same guns as before. 392 Battery report situation serious –
ammunition hit – 17 casualties.
26 Jan 44 – 1332
391 Battery report 12 rounds fell
in their area.
26 Jan 44 – 1335 Orders received
for 392 Battery to pull out.
26 Jan 44 – 1530
Information received from Battery
Master Royal Artillery that Regiment is to be pulled out at dusk on 27 Jan 44.
Artillery played an important
part in the recent advances, firing almost continuously. During a respite, the
crew of a Priest self-propelled gun unpack ammunition ready for the next shoot.
Minturno/ Garigliano area. 26 Jan 44 (Photo 2 AFPU, Sgt. Johnson. TNA 11532)
26 Jan 44 – 1600
Orders received to leave area at
1800, 27 Jan 44.
Lord Carver, War in Italy, 392
(Surrey Yeomanry) Battery, 98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery. J. Gascoigne-Pees
writes
26 Jan 44 Wednesday
’A black day for the Surrey Battery. It was a very clear morning, and their first warning of trouble was a ranging air burst plumb over the Battery area. This was ominous and it was soon followed by a few shells straight into the area. The Command Post staff were inside “H” truck, and it seemed as though the shells whizzed just a foot above the hood. Soon the troops were reporting to Command Post that some gunners had been hit and all spare men from “K” and “Y” trucks were used as stretcher bearers to take the wounded to the Regional Aid Post. The shelling eased off for a while and then came on again very heavily. Several enemy guns must have been engaged on bombarding the position and then “C” Troop reported one ammo dump on fire and later reported it was out of control. Shortly after that “D” Troop reported the same thing and some guns had to move their position. More and more shells were pumped into the area but throughout the day the Surrey guns kept firing. The situation was reported to Regimental HQ and the CO.2 [second-in-command] ordered the Battery to evacuate the position when it became untenable. It was more than untenable and to hang on would have meant all would have been lost. Their own ammo was burning furiously and exploding, and the air was alive with schrapnel. The guns pulled out and Command Post made a rush job of packing up “H” truck and cleared off. They mustered together again by 391 Battery position, and it was a very dazed party that was left. 18 of the gunners had been hit out of about 100 men on the gun position. Luckily there were some rations on “H” truck, and they were able to have a brew up for the HQ party. A few more shells came over while they waited until dusk before they moved back to “B” echelon where they spent the night. Jack Beeby who was in charge of one of “D” troop’s guns described the day in his diary: “the wind changed direction and our smoke screen became useless and at the same time the visibility became very clear. Soon after breakfast I was on the gun firing and with a sudden swish a shell burst two yards in front of our Priest [self propelled 105mm gun]. A minute later another burst right at the side of us putting the gun out of action. Our armour saved us from injury but the schrapnel damaged a great deal of our equipment. From then on we were shelled solidly all day long. We had casualties every few minutes and to make matters worse two of our piles of ammunition were hit and started to explode all over the place. However, we continued firing until several more guns were knocked out and then we were given the order to evacuate. Shells were bursting all around us, trees came crashing down and the air was filled with that horrid acrid smell that comes from bursting shells.”
"Mark Howard, historian
researching the 98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery” NEW INFORMATION
NEW INFORMATION (9)
John Gascoigne-Pees, 98 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery was in Peile’s
Battery, & before Peile was promoted to Major, in his troop
Empty shell cases being stacked
ready for removal. Minturno and Garigliano area. 26 Jan 44. (Photo 2 AFPU Sgt.
Johnson, TNA 11533)
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