New Information 98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery

 Book: Battle For Monte Natale Page  162

201 Guards Brigade History

NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE BOOK PUBLISHED.

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

On 22^nd January came the heartening news that 1 Division and 3 U.S. Division had landed sixty miles to the north at Anzio, only 35 miles south of Rome.   If Kesselring would react to this threat to his supply routes  by withdrawing forces from the Garigliano front there might be an end to the present stalemate.   Rome seemed suddenly more attainable.

The Regiment was now placed in support of 201 Guards Brigade and during the ensuing Observation Post reliefs “B” Troop O.P. party was heavily mortared.   With the enemy little more than a quarter of a mile away movement in any of the Regimental O.P.s in daylight was out of the question, and officers and signallers had to wait for nightfall to stretch their cramped limbs and to gain some respite from the cold and insanitary confinement of their slit-trenches on the bleak hillside.

The news from Anzio indicated that the landing had not achieved the quick success that had been hoped for, and all ranks were warned to expect a period of static warfare on the Regimental front.

22 Jan 44 Disposition of 15 Infantry Brigade troops.

 

22 Jan 44 midnight: The dispositions of 15 Infantry Brigade troops. York & Lancs.

“B” “C” “D” Cos. and HQ. East of Minturno, KOYLI and Green Howards North of Minturno and Wiltshires around Tufo. (Photo John Strafford)

2 Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers Citation: Bar to Distinguished Service Order for Lieut. Col. J.P. O’Brien-Twohig

 NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE BOOK PUBLISHED

Battle For Monte Natale page 68

 2 Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers Citation: Bar to Distinguished Service Order for Lieut. Col. J.P. O’Brien-Twohig

 ‘On the night of 17-18 Jan 44, the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J. P. O’Brien-Twohig, were ordered to force a crossing of the River Garigliano and to capture the East end of the Minturno ridge. The operation involved crossing the river in assault boats, traversing a broad expanse of plain held by German machine-gun posts and finally taking the ridge itself, which was very steep and woody, protected by deeply dug entrenchments and covered by extensive minefields.

Throughout this long and difficult action Lieutenant-Colonel O’Brien-Twohig gave an inspiring example of gallantry and leadership. With complete disregard of danger, he personally organised and encouraged his men and produced a complete recovery from a succession of setbacks which might well have proved fatal to the success of the operation. During the advance, a shell fell beside him, killing two officers and four signallers. Although painfully wounded and considerably shaken, he refused all offers of assistance and evacuation and insisted on continuing to command and lead his men. The successful completion of the task was very largely due to his personal example and encouragement, and he gave an outstanding example of courage and leadership at a time when such qualities were most urgently required.

General Montgomery pins the ribbon of the DSO on Lieut. Col. J.P. O'Brien-Twohig, Officer Commanding 2nd Inniskillings. The award was won during the Sicilian campaign. Standing a few yards away is Brigadier Campbell, VC., 13th Brigade.

5 BR Infantry Division plan for crossing the River Garigliano, 17–18 Jan 44. (TNA)

 

22 Jan 44 Bombardier Keast was awarded the Military Medal. NEW INFORMATION since book published.

 Book Battle For Monte Natale" Page 154

98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery War Diary

22 Jan 44 – 1430

Air Observation Post on recce but does not see anything. Enemy tanks at 776965, Point 156, Monte Natale.

22 Jan 44 – 1445

471 Battery reports three Sherman tanks previously stuck now OK. Observation Post Officer slight injury. ‘E’ Troop Observation Post Officer resting with 1 York & Lancs. Battery Commanders jeep disabled.

Mark Howard, historian researching the 98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery” 

‘E’ Troop Observation Post Officer with the York & Lancs is Captain John Jerdein and Bdr. Reg Keast was his signaller

98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery Military Medal Citation for Bombardier J.R. Keast

22 Jan 44

On 22 Jan 44 Bombardier Keast was on duty as Observation Post Signaller on the Monte Natale feature, in support of 1 York & Lancs.

To enable support to be given to the forward troops the O.P had to be maintained all day, in an exposed position.   It was subjected to constant shell, mortar and sniper fire and the least movement brought intense fire down upon it.   A number of casualties were suffered by the infantry close by.   In spite of this Bdr. Keast crawled back on four separate occasions to repair the remote control wires when they were cut by shells or mortars.

His coolness and efficiency under heavy fire and complete disregard for his own safety, kept communications through at a time when they were urgently needed, as the O.P. was the only one in support of the Battalion.

As a direct result two counter-attacks were beaten back, largely by Artillery fire.

Bombardier Keast was awarded the Military Medal.

          

                       Photo Mark Howard 1986: left to right Sgt. Charlie Howard MM, Lance Bmbr. Les Belcher, Capt. John Jerdain MC, Bmbr. Reggie Keast MM.

 In December 44, Sgt. Charlie Howard won his MM near Bologna, having volunteered for an OP duty in an enemy occupied town, with the ulterior motive of trying to find his best mate Reg Keast who had been missing for 24 hours. Keast’s OP had been overrun however, he’d been badly injured by a grenade, & taken prisoner. These four gentlemen were the E Troop, 471 Battery, 98 Field Regt . Royal Artillery Observation Post party. 

Point 172 – Minturno in distance.

 1 KOYLI War Diary 

20 Jan 44 – 1000 

 All went well and Minturno and the Point 172 ridge were in British hands. We were then told we were in Brigade Reserve and were to occupy and hold Minturno, 1 Green Howards having previously passed through this town – but not cleared it, on the night of 19-20 January.

Point 172 – Minturno in distance. (Photo John Strafford)

                   Monte Natale - view from Tufo looking West (Photo John Strafford)

Start Line - Stone Wall at Tufo 20 Jan 44

 A Soldier from ‘B’ Coy. 1 York & Lancs.: 

20 Jan 44 

‘We left the long stone wall at Tufo and advanced in open order as best we could for some 500 yards of grape vine wires behind a creeping barrage from our 25 pounders. We came to a clearing where a ginger haired Gerry was draped over his mortar and must have been caught by the barrage. All the rest of his crew were in an adjacent deep bunker screaming “Kamerad”. We fetched them out just as we were strafed by Yank aircraft, so they dived back down the dugout. We left one bloke to take them back to Tufo and carried on.’

Oranges are Sweet

 Updated with further information

If only this had been in place before Ernest Shaw went there!

Cassino and its surroundings were a no-go area for a long time after the fighting was over, with uncleared minefields being a particular hazard. This sign was near the River Garigliano. All the orchards on the northern side of the Garigliano have been thickly sown with mines-hence the notice. The man in the pictiure is L/Cpl. Babb of Heath End, Great Kingshill High Wycombe, Bucks. Photo 10 Feb 44 NA11582

17 Jan 44 Crews prepare for river crossing

More Information

 Crews of some Priests self-propelled guns at work preparing them for the river crossing. 17 Brigade, Garigliano area.   Photo 17 Jan 44 2 APFU Sgt. Johnson. NA 10922.

17 January 1944 is the eve of the launching of the first stage of the battle for Rome.

Armour moves up for the battle, and mobile “PRIEST” Guns and their crews prepare.   Last minute adjustments and repairs are carried out on the guns, and the gunners eat their eve of battle meal.   Gunners of the 471 Battery, Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry prepare themselves and their mobile PRIEST Guns for the battle.

NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE BOOK PUBLISHED: 

"Mark Howard, historian researching the 98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery”

It is believed that the Sergeant working on the gun is Sgt. Gerry Tonkin.

                                   Priest F1 Sgt. Gerry Tonkin on right Winter 1944

1 York & Lancs. actual route of attack on Monte Natale 20 Jan 44.

 

1 York & Lancs. actual route of attack on Monte Natale 20 Jan 44. ‘A’ Co. on reaching the road turned right in front of the Cemetery and went around the corner to the left. (Map Frank de Planta)

Ernest Shaw of 1 York & Lancs reported:

We were going down the side of a road, perhaps 50 yards off the road on the right of the road (just before the Gerry Aid Post.   The Gerry Aid Post was just on the corner of the road which ran in front of the Cemetery as you approached it from Minturno). One of our platoons rounded the bend on the road itself and there must have been a German tank with this corner under observation and he let fly at them. There were a couple of casualties before they got off the road. While Ted and I were still behind this corner and still 30 to 40 yards short of the corner but off the road, “A” Company came marching down, a full platoon, not marching but walking in single file. Their Company Commander, I believe his name was Wilson, Major A. Wilson, was not far from the front, perhaps a couple of Sections in front of him and I shouted to him ‘Excuse me Sir watch it on the corner, you are under observation, you are better off the road’. But whether he did not hear me properly, he glared and carried on. Next thing the Gerry tank sees these guys going around the corner and lets go again and they scatter. There were a few casualties. I cursed the officer. “Daft Bugger”.

Road: Cemetery–Tufo. Point 172 at top.

              Road: Cemetery–Tufo. Point 172 at top. Ernest Strafford's grave is 55 yards from where this photo was taken on the right behind the hedge. (Photo John Strafford)

22 Jan 44 Track - Minturno Cemetery corner to Point 172.

 

 1 KOYLI War Diary 

19 Jan 44 – 1000 

Our initial task was to clear the village of Tufo, standing high on a ridge above the assembly area and then to push on to Point 201 to the North of Tufo. A large barrage of all the Corps Artillery plus a Medium Regiment had been laid on to support the attack. Unfortunately, this barrage had been decided upon before the infantry plan had been fixed and it did not in fact quite fit the ground as seen from the ground and not from a map. The attack as it was put in had the barrage on the left flank to start with, gradually moving away as the attack progressed. Not only this but the attack had to go in at 1000 hours to fit the barrage which did not in fact give the Battalion enough time for preparation, recce and forming up. Whilst directing the barrage Captain K. Ashdown, 92 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, who was the Forward Observation Officer was hit by one of his own shells and subsequently died of his wounds.

 Route of 1 York & Lancs. 14 - 18 Jan 44

Royal Artillery and the Coldstream Guards 22 Jan 44

 3 Coldstream Guards War Diary

22 Jan 44 – 0630 

Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. W.A.G. Burns MC and his group left the Assembly area. They went to the Battalion HQ of 1 Green Howards which were in slit trenches behind Tremensuoli. The HQ was under intermittent shellfire and aerial bombardment.

98 Field Regiment Royal Artillery War Diary

22 Jan 44 – 0650

SOS Category continuous: 471 Battery report strong counterattack making progress coming up road 781969 and at 780968 [Santa Maria Infante road, a kilometre North of the Cemetery]

Major G.H. Peile Adventures of 392 Battery, 98^th Field Regiment (1945 IWM)

“On January 22 after a long and exhaustive recce by the Commanding Officer, the position of the Observation Posts, which had been obscure, had ended by Capt. Palmer manning the Observation Post with the Battery Commander, with the Battalion Commander of 3 Coldstream Guards, as the Regiment had now taken over support of 201 Guards Brigade, then under command of 5 Division..  

The position was extremely unpleasant.   The Coldstreams had their Battalion H.Q. in Tremensuoli, which was being subjected to constant shelling and mortar fire, and the O.P. was in a very muddy slit trench rather than in advance of the Front Defence Lines.   This O.P. was manned alternately by Capt. Palmer and Capt. Stride.   During the next four days some excellent shooting was done both by the forward O.P. and the rear O.P., the latter being able to engage hostile Batteries which could actually be seen firing.   The whole of the forward position was overlooked.”  

 

German Position 17 Jan 44 as they saw it!

 German Position 17-23 Jan 44 as the Germans saw it.

German tanks coming from Santa Maria Infante. 22 Jan 44

 22 Jan 44

The German tanks were coming down this road from Santa Maria Infante. 40 Royal Tank Regiment had to stop them getting to this corner of the Cemetery. (Photo John Strafford)

Ortona, Italy. December 1943.

 

Ortona, Italy.   December 1943.   1 York and Lancs. were based just west of here at this time.

Michael Pare:

The artist was Major Charles Comfort, an official Canadian war artist and member of the Group of Seven. He painted this in London from his sketches in November 1944. It is part of the war artist collection of the Canadian War Museum.

It shows tanks of the 14th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Calgary Regiment) passing through Piazza Plebiscito in Ortona.

Grenadier Georg Duscher was killed on 22 Jan 44 at Solacciano

 

NEW INFORMATION RECEIVED SINCE BOOK PUBLISHED.

Book: Battle For Monte Natale Page  133

Translation of the German Text

Grenadier Georg Duscher was killed on 22 Jan 44 at Solacciano which is one kilometre West of the (Minturno) cemetery and two kilometres North of Tremensuoli.   He was with the 361 Grenadier Regiment.

**In pious remembrance of our dear

Senior Grenadier

Georg Duscher

Farmer’s son from the Basen farm in Achleiten,

Parish of Schardenberg,

who, in his 20th year of life, met a hero’s death in the heavy fighting in southern Italy.**

 

Poetic Verse

You left us with a courageous heart

And hoped for a reunion.

But now our pain is greater,

Since this can no longer happen.

Yet when the bell from the tower tolls

That death has been ordained for me so soon,

Then do not weep, my loved ones—

You must be where I am now.

I went with two of my brothers

As a hero to the homeland of heaven.