SOLZ:
SINDA
TEN
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
“ The Town of Coldstream, because the General did
it the honour to make it the place of his residence for
some time, hath given title to a small company of men
whom God made the instruments of Great Things;
and though poor, yet honest as ever corrupt Nature
produced into the World, by the no dishonourable
Name of Coldstreamers.”—THOMAS GUMBLE, 1671.
The devastated beaches are gone-but
able

a
Z
<<
the bulk of the Allied troops were
lifted from the harbour and mole
by destroyers, other naval vessels
and merchant ships. But it is on
the beaches that the limelight has
most dramatically played and on
the armada of privately-owned
craft, the “ Cockleshell Navy,"
whose chief function was
the beaches on a stretcher, but bers of the Dunkirk Veterans out and dunes as comfortab
to
shuttle the waiting troops from the did not get away.
Association and the 125 members looking as armchairs. There w
shallows to the bigger ships at
Captain Walsham, son of a of the Association of Dunkirk a wooden shack, a bathing h
anchor in deeper water. And it regular soldier, had enlisted at Little Ships, they can be seen perhaps, and it had got written
was on these beaches, that stretch the age of 18, had seen service as epitomising three main groups on it in chalk 'Embarkation'.
some eight miles from Dunkirk to in China and India before the of participants
of participants - the troops that Nearly half way from Lille
the seaside resort of La Panne just war,
and was a 33-year-old got away, the troops that fought Dunkirk Lieutenant Langley w
over the Belgian border, that the battery sergeant-major in the
battery sergeant-major in the back the Germans while they got resting his platoon by the roa
three very different pilgrims found
Royal Artillery when he reached away and the civilian sailors who side to allow stragglers to cat
common ground.
his bit of beach in charge of helped to get them away. From up when the Brigadier of the
Colonel Langley, educated at
100 exhausted Tommies.
the paths that led them to Dun- Guards Brigade, of which
Uppingham and Trinity Hall, Harry Hastings, one
kirk one can trace something of
of
Coldstreams were part, drew
Cambridge, had joined the supple family of Thames watermen, was
the historic background.
in his car to announce: “Marvi
mentary reserve of the Coldstream 32 when he steered his father's
At Lille on May 26, Sergeant- lous news, Jimmy! We have ben
Guards in 1936, and was a 24-year- pleasure steamer, Tigris I, from Major Walsham received orders given the supreme honour
old Lieutenant commanding a Ramsgate to Dunkirk and picked from his battery commander to being the rearguard at Dunki
platoon when wounded in the last up some 900 troops before his spike his guns, destroy or bury Tell the men.”
desperate rearguard action on the boat foundered.
all unwanted vehicles and equip-
"Dunkirk perimeter. He reached From among the 20,000 mem-
ment, and make for Dunkirk -
every man for himself.” After
a fighting retreat from Louvain
in Belgium the regiment was back
in the grounds of the chateau
from which they had so con- gave some parting
Germans.
“ It had seemed a triumphal deal with Stukas.
progress into Belgium,
(Boston Moneyshops give you a
Berlin or bust' on some of the “Stand up to them
choice of three simple Bank loans.
army vehicles, and now we were
coming back with
with our
tails Shoot at them with
Pick the one you want.)
between our legs ” says Walsham.
“I
"Even so I was shocked by that a Bren gun from th
Boston Trust & Savings has a Take what you want. You've earned it
every man for himself, to which, shoulder. Take
lot of money to lend. And we want
Post coupon to‘BOSTON
I may say, we did our best not
them like a high
to lend it.
MONEYSHOP' at nearest
to comply.”
We've built a reputation for
address. No stamp needed
The 250,000 troops of the
pheasant..."
BIRMINGHAM: FREEPOST
providing a responsible money
British Expeditionary Force had
Birmingham B5 4BR. (Tel: 643 2366)
landed in France shortly after
service for responsible people. And
the outbreak of war and had dub-
for treating customers with courtesy
Bristol BSI 4YT. (Tel: 294431)
bed the eight months of inactivity
CARDIFF: FREEPOST,
and respect.
Cardiff CFHIYS (Tel: 384716)
that followed the Sitzkrieg. Few
After a moment Langley
That's why you're welcomed
CATFORD: FREEPOST,
had envisaged the chaos that
" You wouldn't like to tell th
London SE61BR. (Tel: 690 8111)
would ensue when Sitzkrieg
as a valued customer at any one of
Os
EDINBURGH: FREEPOST,
our nationwide network of Money-
Edinburgh EH2 OBJ. (Tel: 556 7015)
turned to Blitzkrieg - the bypas yourself, sir? » «
GLASGOW: FREEPOST,
sing of the Main
shops. You're important to them. Glasgow G2 GBR. (Tel2265
6 The Brigadier
.
LITTLE
Better Loans
20
fidently set out two weeks before advice on how to
BRISTOL: FREEPOST,

33
The Padlocks SQUIRE
with the 5-year guarantee
SQUIRELOCK
E
THE BOLT
THAT LOCKS
from Ironmongers D.I.Y.
Hardware and
Department Stores
SQUIRE
Michael Ward
Operation Dynamo, the
evacuation of 321.000
British and French troops
from France, started 40
years ago on May 26.
Michael Moynihan
revisits Dunkirk with
three Second World War
Veterans-Col. James
Langley, M.C., Mr Harry
Hastings and Captain
James Walsham-to
relive their experiences
of the epic retreat.
weekly review
DUNKIRK
-
90
The devastated beaches are gone-but eyes can still recall the anguish of defeat
<<
3
-
two
5
one
a
THE THREE elderly Englishmen
strolling on the vast expanse of
sandy beach to the east of Dunkirk
harbour, half a mile wide at low
tide, drew little attention from the
few locals around-fishermen rak-
ing nets in the shallows, children
building a sand-castle, splashing
barefoot in pools, a couple throw-
» ing a ball for their labrador.
Only a priest paused in his
perambulation to note that two of
the trio sported identical ties and
Blazer crests, woven with the arms
of Dunkirk and the legend “May
1940 June Dunkirk Veterans Asso-
ciation,” and that the left jacket
sleeve of the third hung empty.
To Colonel Jimmy Langley, MC,
Captain Jimmy Walsham and
Thames Waterman Harry Hastings
this tranquil scene, with spring
sunlight glittering on the wet
ribbed sand and sea-birds skim-
ming the waves, was another world
from the Dunkirk they remem-
bered.
Then the beaches had been
thronged with lines of haggard
unshaven troops queueing for the
ships that had come to rescue
them, the air rent with the screech
and crunch of bombs and shells
and the stutter of machine guns
from diving Stukas and Messer-
schmitts, the sky darkened by a
pall of black smoke pouring from
the burning town and blazing oil
tanks behind the harbour.
During the nine days of the
evacuation, from May 26 to June 3,
the bulk of the Allied troops were
lifted from the harbour and mole
by destroyers, other naval vessels
and merchant ships. But it is on
the beaches that the limelight has
most dramatically played-and on
the armada of privately-owned
craft, the Cockleshell Navy,"
whose chief function was
the beaches on a stretcher, but bers of the Dunkirk Veterans out and dunes as comfortable little town of Bergues early on clock back to a time when Dunkirk was later found, stamped for trips
to
shuttle the waiting troops from the did not get away,
Association and the 125 members looking as armchairs. There was the morning of May 29.
meant death and destruction and from Kingston to Hampton Court.
Captain Walsham, son of a
of the Association of Dunkirk a wooden shack, a bathing hut “I went into the Town Hall and
shallows to the bigger ships at
a gritting of teeth,
Tigris I was one of the first of
anchor in deeper water. And it regular soldier, had enlisted at Little Ships, they can be seen perhaps, and it had got written up
perhaps, and it had got written up there in the council chamber
When you see smoke coming
the "little ships” to head for
,
as epitomising three main groups on it in chalk Embarkation I can see it now
was on these beaches, that stretch the age of 18, had seen service
were 20 or 30
Dunkirk, after the inner harbour
up, that's Dunkirk” a naval officer
some eight miles from Dunkirk to
in China and India before the of participants - the troops that Nearly half way from Lille to British officers all slumped asleep had shouted through a mega-
had been put out of action by
and was
the seaside resort of La Panne just war,
a 33-year-old got away, the troops that fought Dunkirk Lieutenant Langley was
а
round a table littered with maps phone as Tigris I, with a navy
heavy bombardment and an
over the Belgian border, that the battery sergeant-major in the back the Germans while they got resting his platoon by the road and papers and with candles
lieutenant and
ratings
urgent message had been sent for
Royal Artillery when he reached away and the civilian sailors who side to allow stragglers to catch burning. I went up and shook the
burning. I went up and shook the aboard and Hastings at the wheel,
three very different pilgrims found
anything that can float. During
his bit of beach in charge of helped to get them away. From up when the Brigadier of the list officer at the head of the table
common ground.
the next six days about a thousand
nosed her way, in a flotilla of 40
Colonel Langley, educated at 100 exhausted Tommies.
the paths that led them to Dun- Guards Brigade, of which he he was a general - and he jerked variegated craft, out of Ramsgate privately-owned craft took part in
Uppingham and Trinity
awake and said 'What d’you harbour at dawn on May 29, 1940.
,
Trinity Hall,
kirk one can trace something of Coldstreams were part, drew up
Harry Hastings,
of
the historic background.
Cambridge, had joined the supple- family of Thames watermen, was
in his car to announce: “Marvel want?' I said I've lost my With
With accommodation for 117
pleasure boats, motor yachts,
At Lille on May 26, Sergeant- lous news, Jimmy! We have been
company.' He said "I've lost my trippers the deck had
barges, cockle
been
mentary reserve of the Coldstream 32 when he steered his father's
boats, oyster
Guards in 1936, and was a 24-year pleasure steamer, Tigris I, from Major Walsham received orders given the supreme honour of division. I said I want some
division. I said I want some stripped of obstructive seats but
smacks to firefloats, tugs and
an officer
trawlers. It was in such company
being the rearguard at Dunkirk. petrol.' He shook
old Lieutenant commanding a Ramsgate to Dunkirk and picked from his battery commander to
a
still had signs around proclaiming
awake and said 'Go and get the
that, after a smooth Channel
platoon when wounded in the last up some 900 troops before his spike his guns, destroy or bury Tell the men.”
"Ladies Toilet,” “Gent's Toilet,"
all unwanted vehicles and equip-
desperate rearguard action on the boat foundered.
lieutenant some petrol.' I soon
“Watney's Pale Ale," “ Guinness
"
crossing, Hastings at last sighted
Dunkirk perimeter. He reached
ment, and make for Dunkirk -
linked up with the rest of the
From among the 20,000 mem-
for Strength.” A roll of tickets
continued on page 34
every man for himself.” After
company.
a retreat from
Bergues proved to be on the
western tip of the 21-mile stretch
in the grounds of the chateau
of canal that constituted the peri-
from which they had so con- gave some parting meter from which the Germans
60
fidently set out two weeks before
would be kept at bay while the
to halt the invading Germans. advice on how to
evacuation proceeded. Along it
" It had seemed a triumphal deal with Stukas. . were strung some of the British
progress into Belgium, with
Army's most famous regiments-
(Boston Moneyshops give you a
Berlin or bust on some of the “Stand up to them.
'
names like the Loyals, the Royal
Fusiliers,
army vehicles, and now we were
the Duke of
choice of three simple Bank loans.
coming back with
our
tails Shoot at them with
Wellington's, the Green Howards,
Pick the one you want.)
between our legs” says Walsham.
the Sherwood
a
Foresters,
is
“I
Even so I was shocked by that a Bren gun from the the
Grenadier Guards, the King's Own
Boston Trust & Savings has a Take what you want. You've earned it.
every man for himself,' to which shoulder. Take Scottish Borderers. The Cold
lot of money to lend. And we want
I may say, we did our best not
Post coupon to‘BOSTON
streams were positioned some
them like a high
to lend it.
MONEYSHOP' at nearest
to comply."
three miles from Bergues, with
We've built a reputation for
address. No stamp needed.
The 250,000 troops of the
pheasant...
Dunkirk six miles behind them
British Expeditionary Force had
over a featureless expanse of fields
providing a responsible money
BIRMINGHAM: FREEPOST,
Birmingham B5 4BR. (Tel: 643 2366)
landed in France shortly after
and marsh and dykes.
service for responsible people. And BRISTOL: FREEPOST.
the outbreak of war and had dub.
" All the time we were prepar-
for treating customers with courtesy
Bristol BSI 4YT. (Tel: 294431)
bed the eight months of inactivity
ing our defence positions, with a
and respect
that followed the Sitzkrieg. Few
Cardiff CFI IYS (Tel
: 384716)
had envisaged the chaos that
After a moment Langley said farm cottage on the canal bank as
That's why you're welcomed
CATFORD: FREEPOST,
“ You wouldn't like to tell them
a strongpoint, there was a contin-
Landon SE61BR. (Tel: 690 8111)
would ensue
when Sitzkrieg
as a valued customer at any one of
yourself, sir?"
I
EDINBURGH: FREEPOST,
uous stream of British and French
turned to Blitzkrieg – the bypas. Will's e said the Brigadier, getting troops crossing the bridge to our
our nationwide network of Money-
Edinburgh EH2 OBJ. (Tel: 556 7015)
sing of the Maginot Line, the
GLASGOW: FREEPOST,
right and straggling past along the
out of his car and striding across
shops. You're important to them. Glasgow G2 6BR. (Tel: 2264516)
of
lightning thrusts
panzer
of
divisions, the raking fire
to the seated men, exhausted towpath that would lead them to
We offer three simple Bank loans: ipswich P4 IBR. (Tel
: 213861)
roads to the beaches.
.
bombs and bullets from Stukas after 30 miles of marching. After
“Apart from two platoons of the
LEEDS: FREEPOST,
Personal Loans: No security required.
Leeds LSHYY. (Tel: 457495)
along roads congested with panic- telling them the good news the
some parting
Welsh Guards, who marched erect
LEICESTER: FREEPOST,
striken refugees fleeing their Brigadier gave
£200 to £2,000 with a choice of fixed re-
advice on how to deal with
and soldierly, they were a bedrag-
Leicester LEI 7ZB. (Tel: 538046)
homes for nowhere in particular. Stukas. « Stand up to them. Shoot gled, leaderless rabble. Occasion-
payment periods from 12 to 48 months. LIVERPOOL: FREEPOST,
Walsham's 60-pounders had been
The interest rate is fixed and a 7 day
Liverpool L1 TAB. (Tel: 708 7275)
at them with a Bren gun from the ally someone would ask how far it
MANCHESTER: FREEPOST,
among the first to fire on enemy
shoulder. Take them like a high ourselves—we had no maps-and
was to Dunkirk. We didn't know
service is normally possible.
Manchester M2 3DE. (Tel: 228 6833)
concentrations in Belgium but
Salvador Dali, the greatest living artist, examined and signed 500
Homeowner Loans: Secured on your
NEWCASTLE: FREEPOST,
pheasant. Give them plenty of
now, ringed around the chateau
could only shrug towards a lithographs of his renowned “Melting Clock”. Many collectors consider
Newcastle-on-Tyne NEI IBR. (Tel: 610316
lead. Remember, five pounds to
such
grounds,
guns
home, even if you already have a
smudge of black smoke in the dis-
PORTSMOUTH; FREEPOST.
any man who brings one down.”
this to be his most outstanding signed lithograph.
redundant.
Portsmouth PO3 5BR. (Tel: 691441)
Mortgage. £700 to £5,000. Fixed interest
tance behind us.”
READING: FREEPOST.
With 35 men in three 30-cwt
Number 15 Platoon's fighting
Forty years on, Dunkirk, almost It is with particular pride we are able to offer 150 of these colour
rates and repayment periods from 48
Reading RGI IBR. (Tel: 586666)
lorries Walsham joined the chaotic retreat from near Brussels,
with completely rebuilt after the war,
to 8 months. No fees whatsoever.
lithographs to mark the Dali Exhibition at the Tate Gallery. A letter of
ROMFORD: FREEPOST
Romford RMI IBR. (Tel: 23833)
procession towards the coast some the Germans hard at their heels, provides few reminders of those
Continuous Credit: Up to £1,500. Un- SHEFFIELD: FREEPOST,
60 miles away, with army vehicles had already been full of incident. days. A thriving seaport, it boasts
authenticity certifying Dali's signature will accompany the numbered
secured line of credit 30 times an agreed
Sheffield SI LAY. (Tel: 737621)
of every description and files of Dug in on the banks of a river,
an imposing town centre, pictur-
lithograph, which measures 25 inches x 18 inches.
minimum monthly subscription, with
TWICKENHAM: FREEPOST,
mostly leaderless infantrymen they had confronted a spearhead
esque glimpses of tree-lined canals
Twickenham TWI IBR. (Tel: 891 0995)
cheque book and £50 cheque guarantee
Early application is recommended before the edition has been fully
of German infantry at point-
WATFORD: FREEPOST,
shouldering their way through the
and the bustling harbour, and a
subscribed.
blank range and accounted for profusion of cafes and restaurants
card. Interest charged monthly. Can be
stream of refugees, many with blank range and accounted for
Watford WDI 8FP. (Tel: 42333)
even more flexible than a credit card!
a number of them. After Langley that cater for the summer influx
Open 9-5.30
horse-drawn carts loaded with pos-
Monday to BOSTON
HERITAGE CLUB (LONDON) LTD., 407, Holloway Rd., N76HJ.
had supervised the blowing up of holidaymakers, mostly day-
sessions.
Saturday,
Free COUNTDOWN’ membership with all loans,
TRUST & Outside Ypres a military police of a bridge, attempts by the trippers from the surrounding
Send coupon now for full details of the loan
SAVINGS
man ordered him to abandon the Germans to cross the river in region. The official guide gives
inflated rubber boats had been little more space to 1940 than to
I would like to order the signed Dali lithograph of "Melting Clock", which
lorries in a field, where they would
you want. (Please tick). Personal Loan.
Homeowner Loan.
be burned. On the 40-mile foot-foiled. There had been a few
the five other occasions in
costs £298 including carriage. Delivery takes about 14 days.
Continuous Credit.
slog that followed numbers of casualties among the Guards but, Dunkirk's turbulent history when Please do not send any money now.
it has been rased to the ground
670
infantrymen of the Devonshire tough and disciplined, morale was
Name
Regiment, without even an NCO still high.
The only visible commemorations
NAME
to guide them, asked permission Confusion and utter fatigue are are an Allied Memorial overlook-
Address
to join his group. It was a column Langley's predominant recol- ing the harbour and beach and a
-
ADDRESS
of 100 he led down a track and lections of the final slog to British cemetery and memorial
saw the sea.
Dunkirk. Towards the end, by chapel.
TEL. NO.
"It was late evening. We could now out of touch with the rest Langley had revisited Dunkirk
Post Code
Phone
see the smoke of Dunkirk in the of his company, he got his men a number of times in recent years.
To: HERITAGE CLUB (LONDON) LTD.,
far distance. There were no ships on to an abandoned three-ton For Walsham and Hastings, on
APPLICABLE MAINLAND U.K. ONLY.
in sight this end. But it was a nice lorry, to find himself running out
lorry, to find himself running out their first pilgrimage, it was an
407, Holloway Road, London, N7 6HJ. Tel.: 01-607 0034
area, soft sand with grass growing of petrol as he drove into the emotional experience to put the
in Belgium the regiment was back 6 The Brigadier
Better Loans
the
*
CARDIFF: FREEPOST,
IPSWICH:
SIGNED BY DALI
were
Smile
ODO

34
THE SUNDAY TIMES, MAY 18 1980
DUNKIRK
SS
as
an
)
65
across
<6
6
66
were
to the huge edifice since those where and the rifleman had a start a war with a major retreat high in it. They were about 600
high in it. They were about 600 if he still talks of retreating you
if he still talks of retreating you About 4 pm the Germans started
days. For it was there, some time great time putting up a curtain of Corunna - Mons -
yards away and we opened up are to fill him with revolver to attack along the road just
after he had been taken prisoner, bullets.
“One thing he abhorred was with the two Bren guns. It was bullets. He must not leave that across the canal.
that his left
his left arm
had been “ Cheers went up when the left battledress," Langley recalls. “I a bit of a massacre and. I can't position. I went over he was “ Their own creeping barrage
amputated.
continued from page 33
engine of one of the planes burst can see him here now, in his say it gave me much pleasure. an officer I knew wellhe drank fell on them but they never
The beach at Bray, four miles into flames. It did a U-turn back papier-mache helmet, his riding The next thing that happened the whisky and was killed an hour stopped.
stopped. They got into the
east of Dunkirk, saw some of the the way it had come, then we saw breeches, woven green stockings
breeches, woven green stockings was near that group of buildings later."
cottage just opposite where part
the black smoke pouring from biggest concentrations of troops. two parachutes opening and drift- and brown shoes, his Sam Browne in the trees, about a thousand The tangled ethics of warfare of the roof and front had been
Dunkirk.
Lacking the pall of smoke that ing away in the same direction and that he polished himself..'I don't yards away, when a number of not infrequently obtrude blown away. From our attic we
Now on the expanse of beach hung over the Dunkirk beaches, the Stuka dive into the sea. Of mind dying for my country' he
Germans appeared linking arms Langley looks back to those saw them poke a machine gun
to the east of the harbour, facing and that to some extent kept the course there was a lot of argument said but I'm not going to die with women and children whom distant days. The Coldstreams, he through the tiles but we blasted
the way he had come, Hastings Luftwaffe at bay, it was under as to whether the rifles or the dressed like a third . rate they must have rounded up from reveals, had orders not to take them before they could fire. About
looks excitedly around. “This is frequent attack and numbers were Bofors had brought it down. chauffeur."
the farms and were using as a prisoners (the likelihood that the 7 pm the fighting died down a bit
it-there's the mole there
buried in shallow graves among
“We woke next morning to a The first day by the canal was shield to get at their wounded. Germans knew of this caused him I went back to headquarters
this is the place - this is where
the dunes.
lovely sight. Hove to at anchor out
spent preparing defensive One or two of them had stretchers
One or two of them had stretchers some initial disquiet when he was behind the cottage to
see if
we made our five lifts. In differ- Colonel Langley's map,
map, in there was a destroyer of the Royal positions and collecting weapons, on their shoulders. We couldn't taken prisoner).
Angus had any instructions and
ent places they were there was
scribed “Situation on the even-
Navy-HMS Codrington. I imme. ammunition and food from the use the Brens, of course, but my His fellow-officers were apt to
there I saw him curled upon
a naval control boat and an officering of May 30, 1940” and show diately reported to the embarka- mass of army vehicles that had crack shots picked off about half appraise their skill in killing the top of a trench with a dead
shouting through a megaphone ing the dispositions of the
tion hut and was told 'You have been abandoned and immobilised a dozen before they retreated. Germans in sporting terms, and guardsman lying beside him.
Go there and get them off.'
various regiments throughout the priority, get your men into the along the road running along the “About midday the Germans the fact that the canal battle I told him I thought we could
enemy side of the canal. Langley launched attack in some was being fought on the Glorious hold the cottage
Our lieutenant would give perimeter, showed the Belgian water, lined up in column.' Small
cottage some time
the order and I'd ease her up to
border as a dotted line about a naval boats-whalers I think had jotted the armoury haul in strength, crossed the canal bridge First of June” did not pass
longer. He said I'm tired, very
the sand - 200 yards perhaps
mile from Bray.
they're called-came out from the
to the right there and pushed back unnoticed. He recalls one officer, tired. Go back to your cottage
from the water's edge. They'd
Now a rough track led parallel destroyer and we were told to
the battalion to the Coldstreams' boasting of picking off a German
and fight on. He'd been nearly
to it to a concentration of caravans wade in waist deep. The first one
right. We kept our Brens firing all
start wading out - it was all right and a car park with the dunes pulled to the head of the column
at long range, complaining I three days without sleep but I
for the tall ones, they'd only be
the time—when they got too hot can't put him in my game-book think now that he may have been
waist deep when they got to our
beyond and a glimpse of a coil of and I sent the men to it three
we poured wine on them from the
because I haven't got him back!' wounded. I never saw him again,
barbed wire. As the attendant at a time. The sailors tugged each
store we'd found in the cottage.
ladders - not so good for the
The killing of animals was
When I first came here 10 years
shorties, if they didn't get a
took five francs for the parking in turn into the boat, then the
When things died down a bit another matter. Of an early stage ago I found his grave in a village
ticket Walsham grinned and next three.
I went to company headquarters of the battle when Langley had churchyard
heave-up from a mate they had to
the canal,
When we came to the last I
observed, “We hadn't got to pay
swim for it when they'd got up
in the farmyard behind the cot-
where the Germans, or French,
to order his men to shoot some
last time. The attendant looked
was conscious of someone stand-
tage, where we'd dug slit trenches, horses being used
to their chins.
by the had buried him.
ing behind me, it was one of our
on with fascinated amusement as
to see if Angus had any further Germans, he comments." If there “ About 8 pm there was firing
There
navy petty
Walsham
officers with revolvers in charge
led the other two
little gunners. I said Come on,
instructions. While we were chat-
was one thing the men hated it all along the canal. I was enjoy.
on the beach, but I never saw any
veterans to the beach.”
you.' He said You go first, sir.'
ting a captain from the battalion
was killing animals." And still ing myself with a sniping rifle
panic, they were quite calm and
It all came back to him as he I said 'No, I'm here to go last. I
that had been engaged—I won't vivid in his own mind is the white when this bloody shell burst in
suppose I was thinking of a cap-
stood among the dunes and sur-
mention the name-came over to horse that suddenly appeared in a
collected, even when they came
the attic. I heard a small voice
and surveyed the miles of sand.
tain being last to leave a sinking
say more Germans were massing
down and machine-gunned us and
say I've been hit' and suddenly
ship-though it was the other way
for an attack, his men were
realised it was mine, so I called
I had a bullet-hole in the funnel.
round here. We climbed up rope
exhausted and he proposed to
Anybody been hit?' and a voice
Mind you they were all done in
ladders on to the destroyer and
withdraw.”
when they came aboard, they
We kept our Bren guns firing said 'No sir, we're all right."
6 One officer boasted of picking then we were put into the hold for
Langley interrupts his story to
With a shattered left arm and
were dirty and they stank too and
the trip back to Blighty. So I
lead the way round to the farm- all the time. When they got blood soaking his battledress,
with growths of beard. We'd get off a German and complained : never did see much of Dunkirk,
yard, where a clucking of hens,
about 200 aboard, go back to the
Langley was carried down to the
too hot we poured wine on
except for all that smoke."
"I can't put him in my game
the barking of two chained dogs
destroyer anchored some way off,
farmyard and placed in a wheel.
The canal-side cottage which
and a mixed odour of hay, manure
and then back for more. About
them from the store
barrow which two guardsmen
book. I haven't got him back "9 was the strong point for No: 3
-
and kitchen cooking momentarily
half we lifted were French — they
pushed over the fields to the
Company of the 2nd Battalion
dispels the spectres of battle. “We
regimental aid post, where his arm
knocked all our grub off in the
Coldstream Guards is much as it
were standing about here. Angus
was
splints. In
an
cabin -- we couldn't blame them
was when Lieutenant Langley
looked at the captain and said, I nearby field. “It was streaked in ambulance, with a guardsman
anyway we had no time to think “ After that first night's kip I set sprayed a Bren gun through a gap
order you to stay and fight it out.' blood and I shot it, one of the
blood and I shot it, one of the above him dripping blood, he
of eating."
some of the chaps making a trench made in the tiled roof at Germans
"When the captain said he had best shots I ever made. It sounds bumped through the night to the
It was when Hastings was com- latrine and went over to the hut. a stone's throw away across the
had orders from his colonel to callous - but it was badly beaches,
ing in for the fourth lift that a There were two staff captains canal. Now, like the picturesque
withdraw when he saw fit Angus wounded.”
“In the half light before dawn
bomb exploded in nearby ship there, bleary-eyed, I don't know town of Bergues, with its steep-
pointed over there, where that cow Most macabre of the scenes I could see sand dunes, then a
ping and he was blown from the if they'd been at the bottle, and I gabled houses round the town hall
Captain Langley: “The ethics
is, near the road, there was a big conjured up by Langley was the boat at the water's edge with a
wheelhouse into the sea. At least gave them my regiment and said square, it looks as cosy as the of warfare still obtrude
poplar tree there then. You see one that took place shortly after naval officer standing by - I
he could say that he had set foot Have you got any sailing orders background to a Flemish painting.
that tree,' Angus said. "The the shooting of the captain. This remember his dark blue greatcoat
on French sand. But it was not for me? One of them said, What was left of the battalion his pocket diary: 12 Bren guns,
moment you go beyond that tree had not dissuaded his men from with collar turned up. He said
aboard Tigris I that the return You're optimist, there's had about 2,000 yards to hold," three Lewis guns, one anti-tank we will shoot you.'
making for the beaches, and 'Can you get off the stretcher?
trip was made. Engine trouble nothing doing yet, come back says Langley, standing in front of gun, 37,000 rounds of ammunition
"The captain went back to his Germans were beginning to make and I said “No I can't' and he
forced them to leave her beached
every hour.' I told my men to stay the cottage and indicating a
and 22 Mills grenades.
men and it was not long after that a leisurely appearance on the
a leisurely appearance on the said 'Well, we can't take you back
(she was later towed back) and put and went off to do some stretch of the canal that runs like In the cottage attic tiles were we saw him walking down the road to the tree when the Cold- to England - you'd take the place
it was as a passenger aboard a
reconnaissance and to try to find a ribbon through flat fields dotted taken
from the roof through which road, followed by two men, and stream officer commanding Num- of four fit men on a stretcher. He
mud-hopper that Hastings berthed
out where the rest of the
the with trees and farmsteads. “About pointed the muzzles of two Bren then stopping by the tree. He ber Two Company paid a visit. was right, perfectly right."
at Ramsgate that night.
regiment had got to.
half of the battalion had gone on guns mounted on piles of beer stayed there quite a time and then Angus had been to Dunkirk Ten months later, after escap-
Captain Walsham had three “ There were several thousand to the beaches and our company crates. By the end of the day the began to walk on. We both raised the previous day, looking ing through France from Lille to
clues as to the whereabouts of
men on the beaches, some in was down to 37 men. But, with last stragglers of the BEF had our rifles and fired. He dropped unsuccessfully, for some men who Marseilles, Langley was back in
his bit of beach. The smoke of columns facing the sea, some just Angus in command, we felt ready passed along the canal road for and the two men ran back. Angus's had been misdirected there, and England, where he spent the rest
Dunkirk had been quite a distance sitting around. Some way down I for anything.'
the beaches.
instruction to me had been to returned with a bottle of whisky of the war with MIG, organising
away. A large sanatorium facing found a blackboard and I chalked Major Angus McCorquodale At first light on June 1 the shoot to kill, and we were both and two bottles of sherry. He now the safe return from enemy terri-
the sea had been the nearest our regiment sign on it with an looms large in Langley's recol- fields over there were covered good shots.”
told his servant to bring the tory of other escaped servicemen.
landmark. There was a coil of arrow pointing our way and placed lections. A portly Scotsman, he
.
with mist" says Langley, gazing Langley's loyalty to his com- bottles and three glasses from a Walsham's war service after
barbed wire running down the it at the bottom of a lane leading had joined the regiment in 1921 across the canal past the cottage manding officer
further table in the kitchen. He asked Dunkirk took him to the Orkneys,
beach that might have marked to the beach so that any stragglers and his total dedication to the opposite as though the tranquil tested when message came us which we would prefer and we the Middle East, Greece and Italy.
the border between France and could find us.
regiment and its traditions sug, landscape might still be enemy from the Guards officer command chose sherry. With those Germans Hastings, graded medically
Belgium.
During the rest of the day gested a throw-back to First territory. “As the sun rose and ing another company to say that
.
ing another company to say that in the background, awaiting their unfit for military service, found a
There is no coastal road between there were shells coming over
World War days. He was a man of the mist dispelled we were he could not hold out much next orders, Angus lifted his glass variety of wartime assignments
Dunkirk and La Panne and it was from the German artillery beyond few words and fixed ideas. One of
astonished
to see about 100 longer.“ Angus said "You go over and proposed a toast: To a very along the Thames, where he is still
after a tortuous drive that the La Panne and enemy bombers fly. his dictums at least had been German soldiers digging.
to him and have you got your gallant enemy.'
to be seen, at 72, in his navy-blue
sanatorium was located near the ingoverhead on their way to proved correct. Explaining why,
,
"I don't think they knew where revolver and flask?' I said Yes, Back in the cottage one of the blazer sporting the crest of the
little resort of Bray-Dunes. Dunkirk, but our biggest excite. during the Phoney War, the field they were, and they certainly my flask is empty.' He said Is guardsmen served up a chicken Dunkirk Veterans Association,
Colonel Langley was able to ment was when a flight of three training
training he had instituted was didn't know where we were. There your revolver loaded?' 'Yes.' stew he had cooked, after killing steering
steering the pleasure eruiser
point out the alterations and Stukas flew in very low. A Bofors confined to retreat and rearguard was corn where those ploughed " He said “Here's my flask. You and plucking some farmyard Kingston Royale from Turk's
extensions that had been made AA gun opened up from some- actions, he had said: “We always fields are and they were waist will order him to drink that and chickens, over a fire in the barn. boatyard to Hampton Court.
put in
an
<
a
was
a
Concerts
PURCELL ROOM
GLC South Bank Concert Halls
ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL
7.30 pm
EDWARD DOWNES
PAUL TORTELIER
Wigmore Hall
ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC
ORCHESTRA
Two concerts conducted by
Orfeon pono RAFAEL FRUHBECK DE BURGOS
Tonight at 7.30 p.m.
VERDI - REQUIEM
Thursday next 22 May at 8 p.m.
Beethoven-Symphony No. 1
ORFF - CARMINA BURANA
--
Sunday afternoon June 1 at 3:15 p.m.
SUNDAY NEXT at 7.30 p.m.
Philharmonia Orchestra
The Two Pianos of
BBC RADIO 3 presents
TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT_01-837 3774
MUSIC DIRECTOR: RICCARDO MUTI
ELIZABETH TURNBULL (viola) RAYMOND (piano)
ROSTAL & SCHAEFER
A GREAT MUSICAL OCCASION
Brahms Sonata in E flat, Op120 No. 2: Hindemith
Tuesday next 20 May at 8 p.m.
18 May Sonata; Pamela Moody Impromptu for viola & piano
7 p.m.
(1st perf)Schubert Arpeggione Sonata
GALA 10th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
$1.00, £1.50 (only)
Terry Slasberg Agency In aid of the Philharmonia Benevolent Fund
GOTHIC SYMPHONY
Popular programme includirig: CARMEN FANTASY • SWAN
CAROLINE BAZALGETTE (soprano) Clara Taylor
LAKE Ballet Suite • ON WINGS OF SONG. Selections from
General Manager: Michael Kaye
Monday (piano) Songs by Vivaldi, Haydn, Chabrier, Liszt,
RICCARDO MUTI
19 May
by
MY FAIR LADY, STAR WARS, DR. ZHIVAGO • CAVATINA
Ticket reservations only: 928 3191 Mondays to Saturdays
Poulenc & Satie; Lieder by Brahms Priaux Rainer
7.30 pm Cycle for declamation, £1.00 £1.50, $2.00
(The Deerhunter) • SABRE DANCE • LIEBESTRAUM. WIDOR
from 10am to 6pm, Telephone bookings not accepted on Sundays.
John Higham International Artists Ltd VLADIMIR ASHKENAZY
Information: 928 3002. For enquiries when postal bookings have
TOCCATA • SCHUBERT SERENADE CLAIR DE LUNE HAVERGAL BRIAN
already been made: 928 2972.
SCOTT JOPLIN VARIATIONS. etc.
S.A.E. with postal applications.
VLADIMIR KRPAN (piano) Liszt Tre Sonetti di Pet-
Tuesday
rarca; Sorkocevic Sonata in A: Bach Chromatic Fan-
20 May
tasia & Fugue; Chopl 12 Etudes from Op. 10 &
Beethoven: Overture, Consecration of the House £1.40. 91.90, $2.40, $2.90, $3.40£3.90 from box office
with 800 performers
7.30 pm
Op. 25. (Pl nt chg of artist & prog)
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4
$1 £1.30. 21.60. Helen Jennings Concert Agency
(01-928 3191) and agents.
Noel Gay, Organisation
Nino Rota: Variazioni sopra un tema Gioviale
Jane Manning (soprano)
John Mitchinson (tenor)
Wed.
VIOLET CHANG (soprano) Graham Johnson (piano)
Shirley Minty (contralto )
David Thomas (bass)
21 May Falla 7 Popular Spanish Songs: Roussel Songs from Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnole
MAURIZIO POLLINI (piano)
London Symphony London Philharmonic Cholr
London Philharmonic
Colfe's School Choir
Schumann Gesänge der Frühe, Op. 133;
the Chinese: songs by Haydn Wolf & Strauss; Chinese
Members of the
folk songs. $1.75 -2.50 (only)
Today
Ibbs and Tillett
£4.00. 5.25. £6.50, £7.50 (ALL OTHERS SOLD).
Philharmonia
Royal Philharmonic BBC Siegerchor
BBC Symphony Chorus
Fantasy in C, Op. 17:
Royal Choral Soclety
18 May Brahms 3. Intermezzi, Op. 117;
ENGLISH TASKIN PLAYERS Peter Lloyd (flute) Neil
Hampstead Choral Society
Bach Choir
3.15 pm 6 Pieces, Op. 118; 4 Pieces, Op. 119.
Thurs Black (oboe) Charles Tunnell (cello) Elizabeth Werry
English Chamber Choir
BOOKING OPENS
Tuesday 27 May at 8 p.m.
$1.00, £1.50. £2.00. £3.00. £4.00 (only)
Goldsmith's Choral Union 4
22 May (harpsichord) Sonatas and trios by Telemann; CPE
Orpheus Girls' Choir
Highgate Choral Society
Harrison/Parrott Ltd.
7.30 pm Bach, JS Bach, JCF Bach, Handel & Loeillet.
during the coming week for the following
£1.70. £2.30 (only)
Jane Gray
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Orfeon Dono
concerts in
LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Sun,
Stiarra. Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (cond), Enriqueta
DIANE JDEJIAN (piano) Scarlatti 2 Sonatas; Beet-
Tarres (sop). Alicia Nafe (m-sop). Veralno Luchetti Friday
18 May
hoven Sonata in A flat, Op. 110; Hoyhaness Madras
THE 4 ORCHESTRA SERIES
Conductor: OLE SCHMIDT
(tenor) (please note change), Simon Estes (bar).
7.30 pm
23 May Sonata Op. 176; Yardumlan Chromatic Sonata; Sham.
Verd! Requiem Mass.
7.30 pm lian Piece for piano (1st pf). Debussy 5 Preludes.
(There will be no interval during this performance)
£1.00. £2,00, £2.75. £3.50, $4.50. £5.50 Hall (01-589 8212)
$1.00. $1.60 $2.00
Peter Dyer
ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL
$3.00. $3.70. £4.40. $5.20 (all others sold) RPO Ltd
Wagner: Overture, Die Meistersinger
Tickets from Royai Festival Hall Box Office (01-928 3191) & Agents
& Agents.
Sat.
CLARINET LIEDERBOOK Marie Angel (soprano) Martin
ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY London Symphony Orchestra
Management: VICTOR HOCHHAUSER
Brown clarinet) Daniel Saunders (piano) An extra- George Lloyd: Symphony No. 8
Meredith
24 May
Davies (cond) Sheila Armstrong (sop)
Dvorak:
7.30 pm vaganza for Queen Victoria's birthday, £1.00. £1.50 $2,
Cello Concerto
LONDON
Alfreda Hodgson (cont) Richard Morton (tenor)
Ruth Ticher Concert Management
Haydn
Thur
Symphony No 101
Mon. Stephen Roberts (bar)
SYMPHONY
(Clock)
£1.40.22.10£3'00£3.70, £4.40, 45 20.
19 May Elgar The Music Makers:
THE RANELAGH CONSORT Saint-Saëns Une Flute In-
19
André Previn Beethoven Piano Concerto No 1
8 pm Milner The Water and The Fire (1st
London Sunday visible; Gaubert Soir Paien: Martin Trois Chants de GEORGE LLOYD will be Interviewed by Michael Berkeley in the
25 May
performance
Noël; Perona-Wright Songs of Despair; works by Faure.
Waterloo Room at 7 p.m. --entrance 50p
Strauss
Radu Lupu
Also sprach Zarathustra
June
£1.40, $2.10. €3.00, $3.70. £4.40 95 20
7
p.m. Debussy, Edmunds, Elgar, Arnold & Purcell.80p.
91.40, £2.10 8. £3.70 £4.40,
Royal Choral Society
£1.20, £1.50
Beresford Lewis Ltd.
8.00 pm
London Symphony
$5.20
Thursday 29 May at 8 p.m.
Orchestra Ltd.
AVAILABLE 19 MAY
Manager: William Lyne / Mailing list £1 a year
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA
Tickets from Wigmore Hall, 36 Wigmore St, W1
Arts Council
Riccardo Muti (conductor) Vladimir Ashkenazy (piano)
Beethoven Overture. The Consecration of the House
Tues.
MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS
01-935 2141 or Keilh Prowse and other agents of Great Britain
20 May
Piano Concerto No. 4; Nino Rota Variazioni sopra
LONDON
John T. William, Flute Concerto
un tema gioviale:
SYMPHONY
Sun
8 pin
Ravel Rapsodie Espagnole. In aid of Philharmonia
Just back from a highly-acclaimed tour of Spain
ALICIA DE LARROCHA
SIMON VAUGHAN baritone. STEWART NASH piano.
Beethoven Piano Concerto No 1
Andree Previn
Today
Benev Fund
22
Mussorgsky: Songs and Dances of Death; Songs by
18 May
Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra
Radu Lupu
$4, £5.25. 96.50, £7.50 (all others sold)
3.30 pm
Borodin, Ravel, Grieg and others.
June
£2.20. $1.70, 41.20.80p.
Peter Lloyd
VIENNESE GALA CONCERT Halle Orchestra James
Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 2
$1.40, $2.10. $3, 43.70, £4.40,
£5.20
Loughran (cond) Kathryn Stott (piano) Reznicek Ov.
3.15 pm
ST. GEORGE'S CANZONA. John Sothcott dir.
Schumann: Piano Concerto
London Symphony
Donna Diana: Schubert Exc. Rosamunde;
A Tapestry of Music for the Black Prince. 14th Century
Mozart
Orchestra Ltd.
Tonight
AVAILABLE 22 MAY
Wed. Piano Conc
English, French & Italian music played & sung by John
in A. K. 488; Strauss Ov, Die
Sibelius:
Symphony No. 5
18 May
21 May
Sothcott, Rosemary
Fledermaus: Die
Harrison, Derek Harrison,
Banditten, Feuerfest. Thunder &
7.30 pm
Ray
Attfield, Mike Oxenham, John Grubb.
8 pm
Lightning & Pizzicato Polkas: Blue Danube Waltz:
21.40. 62.10. 23.00, £3.70, £4.40, only.
Tik Tak Galop.
PHILHARMONIA Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden
£2.00 22.20. 21.80. $1.20.
Tapestry Music
Sun
£1.40, 42.10, 93. £3.70, £4.40. £5.20. aid of
Avatlable from RFH Box Office (01-928 3191) & Agente,
Gesellen
KATHLEEN WILDER sop. JANE METCALFE mež.-sop.
National Children's Home
22
Lorin Maazel
Mahler Das Lied von der Erde
Mon
Stephen Wilder pn. Le due Sorelle. Songs and duets by
Julia Hamari
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA Orfeon Dono
Mozart, Berlioz, Lambert, Brahms, Haydn, Stanford,
19 May
June
$1.40, $2.10. £3. £3,70. £4.40,
Kenneth Riegel
Stiarra Southend Boys' Choir: Rafael Frühbeck de
Warlock, Purcell, Schumann, Rossini.
7.30 pm
HAYDN-MOZART SOCIETY, WEDNESDAY, 28 MAY at 8
£5.20
Thurs.
£2.20, £1.70. $1.20. 80p.
Burgos (conductor): Jennifer Smith (soprano); Robert
7.30 pm
22 May
In the presence of The Rt. Hon. Edward Heath, M.P
London International Management
Tear (tenor): Thomas Allen (baritone)
Philharmonia Ltd.
AVAILABLE 22 MAY
8 pm
Beethoven Symphony No. 1:
ROBERT AITKEN flute. LINN HENDRY piano.
Orff Carmina Burana
HARRY BLECH'S
Tues Prokofiev: Sonata Op 94 & works for flute & plano by
£3.70, $4.40. £5.20 (all others sold)
RPO Ltd
20 May Paganini, Callimahos. Boehm & Doppler. Solo works by
7.30 pm
Morthensen, Marais, Bozza, Aitken.
LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$2.20, $1,70. $1.20, 80p.
Jane Gray
Friday
Riccardo Chailly (coductor
70th Birthday Gala Concert
23 May
Claudio Arrau (piano)
TAKOYOSHI WANAMI violin. GEOFFREY, PRATLEY pno
Wed
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 (please note change):
in aid of the Endowment Fund Appeal
8 pm
21 May
Beethoven: Sonata in F Op 24 Spring : Bartok: Solo
Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony
LSO Ltd
Allied Artists Presents
LONDON MOZART PLAYERS
$2.50. 93.50 4.50, $5.50. $6.50 (only)
7.30 pm
Sonata; Takemitsu: Hika (Elegy): Ravel: Sonata (1927)
$2.20, £1.70, $1.20, 80p.
Tbibs & Tillett
RICHARD BAKER PRESENTS
APOLLO'S BANQUET with PATRIZIA KWELLA soprano.
Phyllis Sellick (piano) London Concert
RADU LUPU piano
Orchestra
Thur
Monica Hugett & Çathy Welss violin. Jan Schlapp viola,
Choir of the King's School, Canterbury. Milton Glee
sitar
Timothy Mason cello. Alison Crum bass viol, Philippa
Club, Paul Neville (conductor)
Friday 30 May at 8 p.m.
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 in B minor * Unfinished
22 May
Accompa Ued on tabla by Manikrae Popotkar
7.30 pm
Davies fl. Sophia McKenna ob, Nicholas Kraemer hpschd
24 May
An Evening of Music and Song
Works by Bach & Handel
7.30 pm
Programme includes popular light classics. In ald of
MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 18 in B flat, K.456
KIRILL KONDRASHIN
NORTH INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC
£2.80. £2.20. $1.60, $1.
Magenta Muslo
John Grooms.
MENDELSSOHN: Overture, The Fair Melusine
$1.50. £2.10 £3, £3.70, $4.40. £5
ANDRE de GROOTE piano.
Assoc. for the Disabled/Jane Gray
ELISABETH LEONSKAJA
PURCELL ROOM, SATURDAY 31 MAY at 7.30
MOZART: Symphony No. 36 in C "Linz"
Fr
Ravel:
Valses nobles
Gilestincky
et sentimentales;
£2.00, £3.00, $4.00, $5.00 £6,50. £8.00 Hall (01.928 3191)
& Agents
Tkts. £2, £1.50, £1,
23 May
Lacrymosa (1st Lon perf): Dutilleux: Sonata (1949)
Full details in RFH panel. Box Office 01-928 3191.
7.30 pm
Schumann: Davidsbündlertänze Op 6.
REH Box Office (01-928 3191) & Agents.
£2.20. 01.70, $1.20, 80p.
Liesl Stary Artists Management
TOMORROW at 8 p.m.
VICTOR HOCHHAUSER presents
Wigmore Hall
THE DUKE ELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Today
The Midnite Follies Orchestra Will Gaines (tap dancer)
An association with the New Symphony Orchestra.
WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL
18 May
A
of
programme compositions by Duke Ellington
Basil Douglas Ltd. presents
ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY
7.15 pm
MW Promotions
£1.50 €2.00 £2.50 -2.75 £3.25.
SATURDAY, 31 MAY, at 8
TUESDAY 17 JUNE at 8 p.m.
FIRES OF LONDON P. Maxwell Davies (cond) Bach /
Mon.
London Symphony Chorus
Maxwell Davies 2 Preludes & Fugues; Boulez Fiute
Conductor MEREDITH DAVIES
19 May Sonatine; Weir King Harald Sails to Byzantium (1st Ld
7.45 pm
pf); Maxwell Davies Vesalii Icones (stgd).
London Symphony Orchestra
$1.00 £1.50 £2.00 £2.30 £2.80 Fires of London
ELGAR: The Music Makers
Richard Hickox: Sarah Walker/Neil Jenkins/Michael Rippon
AMADEUS QUARTET Peter Frankl (piano)
Tues.
Haydn Quartet in B minor, Op. 64 No. 2: Verdi Quartet ANTHONY MILNER: The Water and the Fire
FRIDAY, 6 JUNE, at 7.36 p.m.
20 May
in E minor; Dvorák Piano Quintetin A, Op. 81.
7.45 pm
£1.50 $2.25 £3.50 £4.00 (ONLY). Ibbs & Tillett
Quartet in c minor, Op. 18 No. 4; Quartet In Op. 135
SHEILA ARMSTRONG
RICHARD MORTON Overture: Russian and Ludmila
GLINKA
Quartet In E minor Op. 59 No. 2 (Rasumovsky)
GERAINT JONES ORCHESTRA G. Jones (cond/hpschd)
W. Roberts (vin) N. Black (ob)
V. Black (hpschd) ALFREDA HODGSON STEPHEN. ROBERTS Piano Concerto No. 2. in C minor RACHMANINOV
SATURDAY, 14 JUNE, at 7.30 p.m.
Scheherazade
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Wed. Bach Hpschd Conc, BWV 1053; Ob d'am Conc in A;
$6.50 £4.50. $3.00, £2.50 $2.00, £1.00 (standing) from
Quartet In A Op. 18 No. 5; Quartet in F minor Opx 95
21 May Conc. for 2 hpschds. BWV 1062: Vin Con. BWV
LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Polovtsian Dances from “Prince Igor" BORODIN Cathedral Bookshop, Ambrosden Avenue, S.W.1, personal and
Quartet In C sharp minor Op. 131
7.45 pm
1041, Conc. for vln & oboe.
postal applications 7 days a week 10 a.m.-5. p.m., or telephone,
£1.00 £1.50 $2.00 £2.50 £3.00.
£1.40, $2.10. £3, €3.70, $4.40, £5.20, Hall (01-928 3191).
Kirckman Concert Soc. Ltd.
NEW SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Box Office 01-236 6943 (Mon.-Fri, 10 a.m.-5 pm)
TUESDAY, 17 JUNE, at 7.30 p.m.
Concert sponsored by Hogg Robinson Group.
JAN CERVENKA COLIN HORSLEY
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
with SIMON ROWLAND-JONES viola
ERIC PARKIN (piano) Schumann Kreisleriaa. Op. 16;
Quarist in B flat, Op. 18 No. 6
Thur. Brahms Variations & Fugue on a theme of Handel:
SUNDAY NEXT, 25 MAY, at 3p.m.
$1.75. £2,50. £3.00. £3.75, $4.25, £4.75, Hall (01-928 3191)
Quintet Op. 104; Quintet in C Op. 22
22 May Ireland London Pieces: Barber Excursions, Op. 20;
& Agents
7.45 pm Gershwin/Parkin A Song Sequence.
Tickets: €3, 52.40, €1.80, $1.20. Subscriptions (by post only)
$1.00 $1.40 £1.80 $2.10 £2.50.
Ibbs & Tillett
Office 2141de
ANTHONY J CHARLTON Kensington.SW72AP 27.20, 26, £4.50, 93 from Box Omce (01-935 mi) e agents
LONDON SINFONIETTA David Atherton (cond). György
Frl.
BOX OFFICE: Monday to Saturday - open from 10 a.m. to 6p.m.
Pauk (vin) Paul Crossley (pno) Schreker Chamber
FRIDAY, 6th JUNE 1980, at 8.00 p.m.
Chamber Symphony No. 1:
(01-589 8212) Sundays - open for bookings for that day only.
Symphony: Schoenberg
23 May
Wigmor Hall
7.45 pm
Berg Chamber Concerto.
Alexander Zivkovic Presents
Manager: William Lyne
£1.00, £1.50 $2.00, £2.50. £3.00.
Sinfonietta Productions Ltd.
Wigmora Master Concerts
VICTOR HOCHHAUSER presents
Sonata in D, Op. 109; Sonata in E flat, Op. 7;
Wednesday 28 May, at 7.30 p.m.
Sat, 24
STRAUSS IN VIENNA J. Strauss Orch & Dancers (in
Sonata in C minor, Op. 111
& Mon
costume J. Rothstein (dir/vin) K. van Poznak (sop)
26 May
G. Stephenson (choreo) Strauss in the Ballroom Thunder £100, £2.00. £3.00. £4.00, $5.00 Hall (01-928 3191) & Agents
7.45 pm
& Lightning & Pizzicato Polkas: Radetzky arch. etc.
Management: IBBS & TILLETT
$2.50 €3.50 2.50. Raymond Gubbay/Royal Fes Hall
Ingpen and Williams International Ltd. presents
THURSDAY NEXT 22 MAY at 7.45 p.m.
HAYDN:
Emperor Quartet
JANACEK:
Quartet No. 1 “Kreutzer "
MOZART:
Clarinet Quintet in A with JULIA
With MARGARET BARBIERĪ, MARION TAIT,
RAYSON
piano
DAVID ASHMOLE, ALAIN DUBREUIL 23.50, 3.00, £2.50, €1.50 from Box Office (01-935 2141)
Suite" Coppelia"
Kreisleriana, Op. 16
SCHUMANN
- Dellbes White Swan Pas de Deus from
Carmen Suite
Bizet The Swan Lake?' Tchalkovsky
Ballet Music from Faust
Can Can from Boutique Box No. replies should be addressed to THE SUNDAY
Variations and Fugue
SUNDAY NEXT, 25 MAY, at 7.30 p.m.
Gounod
Fantasque
Rossini
BRAHMS
on a theme of Handel
Suite from 'The Sleeping Beauty Pas de Deux from
Flower TIMES, New Printing House Square, Gray's Inn Road,
London Pieces
IRELAND
with Pas de Deux Tchaikovsky Festival in Genzano " Helsted London WCIX 8EZ, unless otherwise stated. No original
Excursions, Op. 20
BARBER
MOZART: Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter
NEW SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA,
testimonials, references or money should be enclosed.
A Song Sequence GERSHWIN/PARKIN
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique
Tickets: 22.00. £3.00, £4.00, £5.00. 26.00£7.00
Conductor: GRAHAM BOND
from Royal Festival Hall Box Office (01-928 3191) and Agents | 80p, E1.25, £1.75. £2 25. 52.75. £3.50, £4.00 (01-589 8212).
21.00, £1.40, £1.80. 12.10. £2.50 Hall (01-928 3191) & Agents,
€10.00 £12.50, £15.00 (all others sold)
Entertainments also appear on Pages 37, 38 & 39
from Hall (01-928 3191) and Agents.
6th May
Open today 10 a.m.
Management: IBBS & TILLETT
PURCELL ROOM
MAHMUD MIRZA
9
QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL
EVENING OF
RUSSIAN MUSIC
Chilingirian String Quartet
BEETHOVEN SERIES
BERLIOZ: TE DEUM
Durufle: Requiem
ROYAL ALBERT HALL
GENERAL MANAGER:
WILHELM KEMPFF
BEETHOVEN
PIANO SUMMIT
TONIGHT AT 7.30
MUSIC AND DANCE
FROM THE BALLET
MELOS QUARTET
OF STUTTGART
ERIC PARKIN
GIULINI
Los Angeles Philharmonic
CECIL TAYLOR
TEDDY WILSON
TOMMY FLANAGAN
ADAM MAKOWICZ
** La
99
YVENI
IPSWICH: FREEPOST,
CHCE SIMPI Bank loans: Ipswich P4 IBR. (Tel: 213861)
LEEDS: FREEPOST,
Personal Loans: No security required.
Leeds LSHYY. (Tel: 457495)
LEICESTER: FREEPOST,
£200 to £2,000 with a choice of fixed re- Leicester LEI 7ZB. (Tel: 538046)
payment periods from 12 to 48 months. LIVERPOOL: FREEPOST,
Liverpool LI TAB. (Tel: 708 7275)
The interest rate is fixed and a 7 day
MANCHESTER: FREEPOST,
service is normally possible,
Manchester M2 3DE. (Tel: 228 6833)
NEWCASTLE: FREEPOST,
Homeowner Loans: Secured on your Newcastle-on-Tyne NEI IBR. (Tel: 610316)
home, even if you already have a
PORTSMOUTH; FREEPOST.
Portsmouth P03 5BR. (Tel: 691441)
Mortgage. £700 to £5,000. Fixed interest
READING: FREEPOST,
rates and repayment periods from 48 Reading RGI IBR. (Tel: 586666)
to 84 months. No fees whatsoever.
ROMFORD: FREEPOST,
Romford RMI IBR. (Tel: 23833)
Continuous Credit: Up to £1,500. Un- SHEFFIELD: FREEPOST,
secured line of credit 30 times an agreed
Sheffield SI LAY. (Tel: 737621)
TWICKENHAM: FREEPOST,
minimum monthly subscription, with
Twickenham TWI IBR. (Tel: 891 0995)
cheque book and £50 cheque guarantee WATFORD: FREEPOST,
card. Interest charged monthly. Can be
Watford WDI 8FP. (Tel: 42333)
even more flexible than a credit card!
Open 9-5.30
Monday to BOSTON
Saturday,
Free COUNTDOWN' membership with all loans.
TRUST &
Send coupon now for full details of the loan
SAVINGS
you want. (Please tick). Personal Loan.
Homeowner Loan.
Continuous Credit.
670
Name
said the Brigadier, get
sue, the
nightning thrusts of
out of his car and striding acı
panzer
divisions, the raking fire of
to the seated men, exhaus
,
bombs and bullets from Stukas
after 30 miles of marching, A
along roads congested with panic-
telling them the good news
striken refugees fleeing their Brigadier gave some par
homes for nowhere in particular.
advice on how to
deal v
Walsham's 60-pounders had been
Stukas. “Stand up to them. Sh
among the first to fire on enemy
at them with a Bren gun from
concentrations in Belgium but shoulder. Take them like a b
now, ringed around the chateau pheasant. Give them plenty
grounds, such
lead. Remember, five pounds
guns were
redundant.
any man who brings one dow
With 35 men in three 30-cwt
Number 15 Platoon's fight
lorries Walsham joined the chaotic retreat from near Brussels, y
procession towards the coast some
the Germans hard at their hd
60 miles away, with army vehicles had already been full of incid)
of every description and files of Dug in on the banks of a ri
mostly leaderless infantrymen they had confronted a spearh
shouldering their way through the of German infantry at po
stream of refugees, many with blank range and accounted
horse-drawn carts loaded with pos-
a number of them. After Lang
sessions.
had supervised the blowing
Outside Ypres a military police of a bridge, attempts by
man ordered him to abandon the Germans to cross the riverluog
lorries in a field, where they would inflated rubber boats had Huu!!
be burned. On the 40-mile foot- foiled. There had been a Anə!
slog that followed numbers of casualties among the Guards feme
infantrymen of the Devonshire tough and disciplined, morale bad
Regiment, without even an NCO still high.
to guide them, asked permission
of 100 he led down a track and lections of the final slogaeme
to join his group. It was a column Langley's predominant reiuem
Confusion and utter fatigue duo
saw the sea.
“It was late evening. We could now out of touch with the
Dunkirk. Towards the end. Sem əų
far distance. There were no ships on to an abandoned threeled pue
see the smoke of Dunkirk in the of his company, he got his Buruinq
in sight this end. But it was a nice lorry, to find himself running
area, soft sand with grass growing of petrol as he drove into to you
lo
M
Smile
JO
Address
OM
Post Code
a
Phone
APPLICABLE MAINLAND U.K. ONLY.
ISTAIP
090
भा
JO
ua
-12
dn
ә
181
чо
-P
se
01
JəWO
e puno.
597
CC
dn
an
se
“ The Town of Coldstream, because
it the honour to make it the place of
some time, hath given title to a sma)
1 made the instruments
who
and

thronged Wid
unshaven trooi
ships that has
them, the air re
and crunch of
and the stutter
from diving Str
schmitts, the sk
pall of black sm
the burning towi
tanks behind the
During the ni
evacuation, from 1
sq uor
аnоqаец xəйит əqalər.
JOJ peay 07
sdrus 2011!
JO SAY 241 jo ǝuo Sem I SUSIL
' jinoy uordweh 01 101sSury wolf pue uorzɔnijsəp pre 1
sdịu joj pədweis 'punoj vəzej sem Uryung uəyməwij e 01 Pieq 13
əəs e I
итәләч
Дuәм I »
Дилош әЦ}
UMOJ 17111
-
feəjəp jo ysinue əyi ijevə. 11!!s uey səmə
S
pro
Nai
“No Dishonourable
Name"
99
Compiled and Edited
by
D. C. QUILTER
LONDON
WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS LIMITED
LITTLE NEW STREET, E.C.4
First published 1947
PRINTED AND BOUND IN GREAT BRITAIN BY
WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES
FOREWORD
As in 1914, the First, Second and Third Battalions of the Coldstream were engaged in the Second World
War from the opening days. This book is an intimate record of the Second and Third Battalions from
September 1939 onwards. They started the war respectively in France and Egypt, and the end found them
together on the final objectives in Italy after they had fought and bled along the northern coasts of Africa.
The authors tell—not without some humour—of gallantry, hardship and the stress of battle together
with comradeship of a type which is known and properly valued only by those who have fought and
endured together.
The reader, whether soldier or civilian, will be given a clear insight into the atmosphere of war. He will
see that Coldstreamers of the present day—in many cases by giving their lives—have upheld in no dis-
honourable way a great name gained by their forbears on many fields since Monk—the first Colonel—
formed his Regiment nearly three hundred years ago.
H. C. Tryd
25th COLONEL, COLDSTREAM GUARDS
5
PREFACE
This Volume is not an official regimental history. My aim has been to present an illustrated record of the
Second and Third Battalions Coldstream Guards during the Second World War, based on the diaries,
letters and personal reminiscences of Officers and Men, in the hope that it may provide for those who
served in these two Battalions some memories of the more notable actions; and that it may recall a few
;
of the less conspicuous and more human incidents which are the background of war.
In a compilation of this nature, derived as it is from so many different sources, it is almost inevitable
that odd errors in names and details will be found in the text, despite all checks. I will therefore ask the
reader's indulgence with regard to the few inaccuracies which may appear, trusting they will not be imputed
to undue haste or carelessness—still less to deliberate misrepresentation.
My thanks are due to the Central Office of Information and the Speed Press for permission to reproduce
a selection of their official photographs ; to the “unofficial” photographers and the many authors of
both Battalions who have so kindly supplied me with material for these pages; to Mr. H. J. Sparrow, who
drew the maps of Longstop, Monte Piccolo and the Argenta Gap; to Gdsm. R. W. G. Mackway and
Gdsm. D. T. Marshall, who between them typed most of the original MS. in No. i Company Office in
Trieste; to Miss R. Matthews, who completed the final draft with incredible speed; to Superintending
Clerk H. C. Norman, ORQMS H. Port, ORQMS J. Ward and the staff of Regimental Headquarters,
for their invaluable cooperation; and in particular to Simon Phipps, who has helped me in so many
ways, not least in the reading of the proofs.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Messrs. William Clowes & Sons Ltd. for giving
me the benefit of their generous advice and enthusiasm whilst this book was in preparation and to Mr.
J. H. Hayward, their Head Reader.
D.C.Q.
Except where otherwise stated, the inscriptions under all group photographs read from left to right.
A theatre of war and date (i.e. CMF 2.3.45) beneath the portrait of an officer indicates the day
on which he was reported killed in action.
6
CONTENTS
PAGE
FOREWORD by General Sir H. Charles Loyd, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., D.S.O., M.C.
PREFACE
5
6
II
13
19
37
40
42
50
PART I THE SECOND BATTALION
CHAPTER ONE. FRANCE AND BELGIUM, SEPTEMBER 1939-JUNE 1940. By Colonel L. Bootle-
Wilbraham.
“SITZKRIEG”
“BLITZKRIEG”
CHAPTER TWO. THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA, NOVEMBER 1942-FEBRUARY 1944
JUNE 1940-NOVEMBER 1942
THE COLDSTREAM AT LONGSTOP. By Lt.-Colonel E. R. Hill
STEAMROLLER FARM. By Bob Windsor-Clive
THE FALL OF LAMPEDUSA. By Bill Harris
A WAR-TIME BOAR SHOOT IN TUNISIA. By Tom Jackson
THE SECOND BATTALION FINDS A VIP GUARD. By Henry Green
CHAPTER THREE. THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY, FEBRUARY 1944-FEBRUARY 1945
THE MOVE TO ITALY, AND THE BATTLE OF ORNITO. By Bob Windsor-Clive
CASSINO. By Henry Green
THE BATTLE OF MONTE PICCOLO. By John Bowker
PICCOLO TO PERUGIA. By Henry Green
PACCIANO. By Arthur Farnell-Watson
MONTE BATTAGLIA. Extracts from the Diary of Elston Grey-Turner
MONTE PENZOLA. By Ian Fraser
56
64
67
71
71
75
84
87
90
95
97
III
II2
.
PART II THE THIRD BATTALION
CHAPTER FOUR. THE DESERT
JULY 1940-APRIL 1942. By Colonel J. Moubray
A YEAR IN THE DESERT. By Malcolm Pleydell
133
CHAPTER FIVE. KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK. TUNISIAN VICTORY. MAY 1942-SEPTEMBER 1943 141
KNIGHTSBRIDGE. By Mervyn Griffith-Jones .
142
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK. Extracts from a letter by Roddie Faure Walker
145
THE Box AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE
151
SYRIA
153
FROM SYRIA TO TRIPOLI. By Lt.-Colonel Sir Terence Falkiner, Bt.
153
With No. 3 COMPANY AT MEDENINE. By Christopher Bulteel
157
THE BATTLE OF THE HORSESHOE, MARETH. By Lt.-Colonel Sir Terence Falkiner, Bt.
160
WADI AKARIT. Extracts from the Diary of David Helme
162
ENFIDAVILLE. Extracts from the Diary of David Helme.
164
THE DRIVE ROUND TO JOIN THE IST ARMY. Extracts from the Diary of David Helme 167
THE Axis COLLAPSE. Extracts from the Diary of David Helme
168
PANTELLARIA. By David Helme.
170
7
CONTENTS
.
198
201
PAGE
CHAPTER SIX. THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY, SEPTEMBER 1943-FEBRUARY 1945
173
SALERNO. By Christopher Bulteel
175
WITH THE ANTI-TANK PLATOON ON THE NIGHT OF 13-14 SEPTEMBER 1943. By Corporal
K. Fellows
180
AWARD OF THE VICTORIA Cross : CSM Peter Harold Wright
181
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE THIRD BATTALION. By Michael Howard
182
CAPUA TO TEANO. By Alan Davidson
188
THE FIRST BATTLE OF MONTE CAMINO. By Mervyn Griffith-Jones
191
THE SECOND BATTLE OF MONTE CAMINO. Extracts from the Diary of David Helme 195
THE UNVEILING OF THE MEMORIAL PLAQUE ON MONTE CAMINO
BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AT TRIMONSUOLI. By Simon Phipps
199
FAREWELL TO OUR QUARTERMASTER. Extract from the Diary of Simon Phipps
No. I COMPANY AT RIONERO. By David Quilter
TAKING OVER FROM THE POLES. Extract from the Diary of Simon Phipps
204
THE SUMMER OFFENSIVE. Extracts from the Diary of David Quilter
205
THE BATTLE OF MONTE DOMINE. By George Burns
214
With No. 1 COMPANY AT THE BATTLE OF MONTE DOMINE. By Michael Kinchin-Smith 215
REJOINING THE THIRD BATTALION. Extracts from a Letter by Michael Howard
217
THE VILLA DEL OMBRELLINO, FLORENCE. By Simon Phipps .
224
NORTH OF THE ARNO—THE GOTHIC LINE
229
THE BATTALION AT MONTECATINA. By Bobs Herschell.
229
THE VALLEY OF THE SETTA. By Michael Howard
232
DEPARTURE OF COLONEL GEORGE BURNS
246
“SALLY.” By Guardsman J. Evans
246
THE “Two TYPES”. By courtesy of "Jon"
247
202
PART III
THE AMALGAMATION AND AFTER
.
CHAPTER SEVEN. THE LAST PHASE, FEBRUARY-MAY 1945. AMALGAMATION AT SPOLETO 253
THE THIRD BATTALION SIGNAL PLATOON. By Simon Phipps
259
FORLI
261
THE SPIT BETWEEN LAKE COMACCHIO AND THE SEA. By Simon Phipps
264
THE ARGENTA GAP. No. 4 COMPANY'S ATTACK A MILE NORTH OF FILO. By David Toler. 269
THE BATTLE OF CHIESA DEL BẠNDO. By Ashley Ponsonby
273
THE ADVANCE TO PORTOVERRARA. By David Toler.
277
THE ADVANCE TO THE PO
278
TWILIGHT OF THE GODS. By Sammy Clowes
281
CHAPTER EIGHT. FRUITS OF VICTORY, MAY 1945-SEPTEMBER 1946
293
GORIZIA. By Henry Green
295
ROMANS D’ISONZO—BORIANO. By Dick Stratton
297
TRIESTE. By Dick Stratton
305
THE LILYWHITE CLUB. By Guardsman J. Panter
309
SESANA. By Paul Mortimer
317
PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE OLD SOLDIER OF THE SECOND BATTALION, SGT. W. LARBEY, THE
MASTER COOK
324
HONOURS AND AWARDS
325
THE ROLL OF HONOUR
329
MAPS
THE SECOND BATTALION ROUTE, MAY-JUNE, 1940
TUNISIA
ITALY
Inset facing
71
OPERATIONAL ROUTES OF THE SECOND AND THIRD BATTALIONS
104, 105
20
38
8
PART I
THE
SECOND BATTALION

IO
Back Row:
THE OFFICERS AT ALDERSHOT BEFORE EMBARKING FOR FRANCE, September 1939
BILLY SMITH BOB WINDSOR-CLIVE GEOFFREY BRITTON CECIL FEILDEN CAPT. MORRISON (MO) PETER MACFARLANE JIMMY LANGLEY CHARLES BLACKWELL EVELYN BOSCAWEN
GERRY FEILDEN PETER FLOWER SHAMUS MCGILL Вов СомВЕ EVAN GIBBS RICHARD PILKINGTON RAOUL ROBIN JACK BOWMAN JOHN PIGOTT-BROWN CHARLES FANE
ANGUS McCORQUODALE BILL BLACKETT REGGIE BATT COL. GUY EDWARDS LIONEL BOOTLE-WILBRAHAM PADDY CHICHESTER Pop WYATT BUNTY STEWART-BROWN H. P. MARTIN (QM)
Centre Row:
Front Row:
CHAPTER ONE
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
September 1939-June 1940
By
COLONEL L. BOOTLE-WILBRAHAM

The battalion arrives at Cherbourg in high spirits, 20.9.39
II

10
22
II
19
20
D/M
THE SERGEANTS AT ALDERSHOT BEFORE EMBARKING FOR FRANCE, September 1939
Top Row: I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
II
12
13
14
Sgts.: GRAY STOKES
MOORES GILL
MAUGHAN
HUNTER
SPOONER ELDER CLENNELL ESCOTT HENLEY LYDIATT PATTERSON
1
2
3
4
5
6
7.
8
9
ΙΟ
II
12
13
14
15
16
17
Sgts.:- HORTON COLLINS
TUCKER SIDEBOTTOM MOBES WINTER BARR SWINBURN MANDERS SOWERBY BARNARD CALLAGHAN GREEN BROOMFIELD TODD
18
19
20
21
23
LONGHURST WILSON SHEWAN WILLCOX CHARLTON
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9.
ΙΟ
12
13
14
Sgts.:- DUNFORD GREENWOOD
WHITEHEAD BURNS CHIDLEY FOWLER PORTER BECKETT BROWN SMITH JEFF TOMS DAWSON MIDDLEDITCH
I
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
II
12
13
14
15 16
17
18
Sgts. &
CQMS CQMS CQMS CQMS CMS CQMS
COMSS:- WARREN ALCOCK REILLY MORSE RODGERS CRICK SIMPSON KEYES CURLING BIRTLES TOWERZEY GURNEY HOOPER TELFORD LYNCH TAYLOR SWEET CALVERT WAKEFIELD PICKLES
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
12
13
15
17
18
19
FSM
PSM
PSM PSM PSM
CSM
CSM
CSM CSM CSM
CSM PSM PSM PSM PSM PSM
PSM PSM
SGT.
KNIGHT PATTERSON ROBINSON ELLIS MALONEY HEWITT SAWDON ASHMORE WOOD ROBINSON ROBERTS BOAG TIMBRELL AYLEN DORE MONUMENT DANCE COURT HARRISON
І
2
3
4
5
6
7.
8
9
II
12
MAJ.
D/SGT.
LT.-COL.
RQ.MS
LT.-GEN.
RSM
COL.
D/SGT.
BRIG.
CAPT.
CAPT. (QM)
CAPT.
W. S. STEWART-BROWN BARKER L. BOOTLE-WILBRAHAM, READING SIR JOHN DILL, JONES G. J. EDWARDS, COPPN. B. BECKWITH-SMITH, HON. A.P. S. CHICHESTER H.P. MARTIN, R. G. FEILDEN
M.C.
C.M.G., D.S.O.
D.S.O., M.C.
D.S.O., M.C.
M.B.E.
Bottom Row.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
ΙΟ
II
13
14
Sgts.: GREIG
JARVIS FENWICK AUTY ALLEN HODGSON HOUGHTON O'DONNELL LYCETT ANDREWS WILMSHIRST LIGHT PEACOCK HARDWICK
ΙΟ
II
14
16
ΙΟ
I
12
I2
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
“SITZKRIEG”
DO
We left Conlie for Arras on the 28th September. There
seemed to be strangely little hurry for the BEF to meet
the enemy. Fantastic rumours reached us that the ist
Battalion had been badly bombed on their arrival in France
with the 7th Guards Brigade, and later we were to hear
that they had heard the same stories about ourselves. Early
in October we moved up to the Franco-Belge frontier to
Templeuve. We were met at the station by H.R.H. The
Duke of Gloucester and Lord Gort, the Commander-in-
Chief.
URING the summer of 1939 the 2nd Battalion had
been stationed at Albuhera Barracks, Aldershot, and
was undergoing the routine training programme. In
view of the European situation a number of reservists
had been called up in two batches to undergo three weeks'
training, but as a kind of glorious bluff the regular soldiers
had to give up five valuable weeks to the Tattoo and its
rehearsals. In August the battalion went into camp at Bentley
for a month. Some seventeen potential officers for the Emer-
gency Reserve joined the battalion in camp and were given
a short course of training by Bunty Stewart-Brown, the
second in command. Not the least important operation
practised by the battalion during this month of August was
the lifting of all the marching personnel in the battalion MT
over a short distance. This was called “truck-scuttling”, so
that when war was declared on the 3rd September and the
battalion was ordered to mobilize, the battalion truck-
scuttled back from Bentley to Albuhera in the shortest
possible time. The process of mobilization took a week, after
which the companies were billeted in the suburbs of Alder-
shot until such time as we were told to embark. The ist
Division, to which we belonged, was to be the spearhead of
the Expeditionary Force. Even so, just to show that no two
world wars could be alike, it was a fortnight before the ist
Guards Brigade was ordered to move to Southampton. In
World War I all three battalions of the Regiment had been
in contact with the enemy in northern France nineteen days
after the declaration of war.
The battalion embarked at Southampton in the Maid of
Orleans on the 19th September, arriving at Cherbourg,
more or less self-contained, on the following morning. The
day was spent in bivouacs outside the station until we
entrained at ii p.m. The following day we reached
Sillé le Guillaume, near Le Mans, and marched to our
assembly area at Conlie, where we spent a pleasant week.
It was here that we were joined by Louis de St. Genys,
who as Agent de Liaison was to make himself universally
popular with all ranks of the battalion. From the hour of
his arrival to the day when he was taken away from us on
our return from Dunkirk, he proved an invaluable asset, not
only in our relationship with the French population and units,
but also as a delightful companion and intimate friend.

A good billet at Conlie
13
ONO DISHONOURABLE NAME''


Cecil Feilden and some of No. 1 Company enjoy a well-earned rest
Boot repairs for Sgt. Maughan and CQMS Keyes


PSM Patterson (with his inevitable pipe) takes a hand at draining
operations
Charles Blackwell returning from digging with Headquarter Company,
Bachy, Autumn 1939


Sgt. Allen (right) and the Hooper brothers show what the Drums can do
Drummer Miles has a haircut at Bachy station
14
FRANCE AND BELGIUM

90
Sgt. Larbey and Gdsm. Marsh serving up the “duff” at Bachy station

EN
Adjutant's parade at Bachy station
15
ONO DISHONOURABLE NAME''
a
For two nights Battalion Headquarters were located in were expected to invade Belgium. We were put at four
the little red and white château at Fretin which had been hours' notice to move on the 13th November, and again
the Duke of Marlborough's headquarters during the winter on the 13th January; but the scare only lasted a few days,
of 1708. Billy Smith and Angus McCorquodale took their after which we reverted to normal routine life.
companies to relieve the French 201st Infantry Regiment, In mid December, at long last, we sent the first leave-
and Reggie Batt, with No. 4 Company, reinforced the party home, and that certainly helped to raise everyone's
Customs Police on the frontier from Wannehain to Bai- spirits. About the same time we sent a representative party
sieux. On the roth October the battalion moved to the of officers and NCOs to the 3rd Infantry Brigade, which
little scattered village of Bachy, there to construct a defence had been sent to the Saar, to gain experience in contact
line behind the frontier. Billets were very poor for all with the enemy in front of the Maginot Line under the
ranks, but the inhabitants, generally speaking, were most command of a French Division. The party returned to the
friendly and co-operative, although work on the platoon battalion and gave an account of their attachment which
posts involved extensive drainage operations and interfered was uninspiring
considerably with the cultivation of the land. For the next After Christmas, when we were allowed forty-eight
three months the battalion was largely engaged in con- hours' relaxation and festivity, the battalion moved to the
structing a defensive line. All ranks wallowed in mud. The villages of Athies and Feuchy, near Arras, for a fortnight's
one real advantage of this period of suspended animation training. These villages had been well known to the Guards
was that every man in the battalion learnt the technique Division in the spring of 1917. In January 1940 the country
of digging. Every section could dig a post to a pattern was white with snow and completely icebound, so training
handed down from the experience of the old 4th Pioneer was restricted by the arctic conditions. Shortly after our
Battalion of World War I.
return to Bachy the ist Guards Brigade had a warning
In the late autumn Pip Blacker suddenly turned up with- order to go to the Saar on the 5th February, and after a
out notice to take on the job of RMO. He had served as a leisurely journey the battalion arrived at a little village
combatant officer with the 2nd Battalion during the last year outside Metz. Lorie les Metz was dirty and unattractive,
of World War I, and it had been his ambition from the time and the inhabitants had taken a hearty dislike to our pre-
war was declared to rejoin the Regiment in any capacity. decessors—not without cause. The weather conditions
He was, of course, over age to be an RMO and it was con- remained arctic, and an influenza epidemic prostrated a
sidered eccentric for an F.R.C.P. to want to hold such a number of officers and men in the battalion. Charles Fane
position; but that did not deter him, and in the end his was taken into a French hospital in Metz with pleurisy.
importunity defeated all authorities until he got what he The Brigade was to take over part of the line in the neigh-
wanted. For the next three years he was to be a very potent bourhood of Waldweistroft for a fortnight's tour of duties.
stimulus to morale in the battalion.
It was to come under command of General Hassler and
During the autumn months many distinguished visitors was to be supported by French artillery.
came to see us in our part of the line. In October the The French system of holding the line was quite different
Commander-in-Chief brought the Duke of Windsor and from anything within my experience. The three battalions of
the Duke of Gloucester round the line. Towards the end of the Brigade were each disposed in different defensive posi-
November the CIGS came to luncheon at Battalion Head- tions, which gave great depth to the Brigade front but
quarters and was pleasantly indiscreet. On the 5th December allowed no support between one unit and another. The unit
His Majesty the King came to see the battalion and had frontage was about 4,000 yards. The three lines of defence
luncheon in the Café de la Gare, which was normally used as were the “ligne de contacte”, “ligne de receuille” and the
the sergeants' mess. The battalion lined the road by which “ligne d'arrêt”. The ligne de contacte was more or
the King arrived and gave him three cheers. It was one of less in touch with the enemy. On this particular Brigade
the coldest days of a very cold winter. Later in the month front it meant that there was a no-man's-land of 600 yards
the Prime Minister, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, paid a on the right and 2,000 yards on the left. This no-man's-
fleeting visit to the ist Guards Brigade. From time to time land was patrolled by both sides at night. Apart from the
Sir Philip Gibbs, an old friend of the Regiment, would patrols, no movement was allowed during the hours of
bring some of his brother Press representatives from Arras darkness outside the platoon and section posts, which were
to visit the battalion. They brought us news and opinions poor in construction and very badly wired. Special patrol
.
from the outside world which were always interesting and platoons had been selected within each battalion of the
became increasingly depressed as the winter wore on. It Brigade and were now concentrated in the ligne de con-
seemed to us that the correspondents suffered more than tacte and received their orders for patrol activities from
we did ourselves from a feeling of frustration. Our partici- the Commanding Officer. This meant, in effect, that though
pation in the war seemed to be absolutely nil and we saw each battalion of the Brigade only held the line for five
no reason why it should ever come to an end. Every now and days, the patrol platoons were in the front line for the
again there were alarms and excursions when the Germans whole fortnight, which put considerable strain on them.
16
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
On the other hand, it gave them a greater opportunity of we were visited by the Duke of Windsor, who took a keen
becoming familiar with the ground.
interest and talked with all ranks of the battalion.
About three miles behind the forward posts came the It was while we were at Kedange that a small party of
ligne de receuille, sighted with long fields of fire over officers was taken round a typical section of the Maginot
undulating country. Houses and villages were half deserted, Line. The defences consisted of a continuous anti-tank
though the fields appeared to be cultivated. This position obstacle covered by a line of fortresses with intersecting arcs
was some miles east of the Maginot Line. The ligne of fire. These forts were of four designs, the largest holding
d'arrêt appeared to be the Maginot Line itself, of which a garrison of about one battalion with machine-guns, mortars
more later.
and artillery in support; the smallest held a platoon. This
On the roth February the battalion began its tour of line ran continuously from the Swiss frontier to Luxem-
five days' duty in the ligne de receuille, with Battalion bourg. Our guide was René de Chambrun, who later became
Headquarters at St. François Lacroix. The period was a notorious Vichy representative in the U.S.A. He spoke
without incident. Continued frost made it impossible to English smoothly and was eloquent about the invincibility
dig, and it was with the greatest difficulty that a certain of the Maginot Line, which had cost thrifty France one
amount of wire was erected. On the 16th February we thousand million pounds to build, over a period of ten years
relieved the 3rd Grenadiers in the ligne de contacte, or so. The forts themselves were beautifully constructed
where we had an uneventful five days until relieved by and were several stories deep into the ground. They held
the 2nd Hampshires on the 22nd. On one occasion three large reserves of food and ammunition and elaborate anti-
Germans were seen by No. 1 Company, running into a gas devices, and should have been able to stand a siege of
small village between the lines. A few enemy shells fell in three months without relief. Personnel of the garrisons
3 Company's area but did no damage. Nightly patrols lived in the neighbouring villages with their families. Each
failed to locate a single enemy post. The most successful fort was able to support those on either flank, but at no
operation was when Jimmy Langley shot four well-fed and point of the anti-tank obstacle could the forts bring down
semi-wild pigs in front of his platoon post and took out a concentration of fire comparable with the barrages which
a patrol after dark to retrieve their carcasses. So No. 3 were developed in 1916, 17 and 18. Asked what would
Company fed off roast pork on their return to the ligne happen if the enemy managed to penetrate between the
d'arrêt. As far as the battalion was concerned, the ligne forts in darkness, fog or smoke, de Chambrun explained
d'arrêt meant a hutted camp and comparative comfort that any penetration would be dealt with by the Army of
behind the Maginot Line at the village of Kedange, where Manæuvre. There was no question but that our guide
No.

The visit of H.M. the King, 5.12.39
2
17
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
had absolute faith in the impregnability of the Maginot endless digging in the mud and for a short time shook us
Line. I felt slightly ashamed of not being sufficiently im- out of our feeling of frustration. It made us realize that
pressed.
somewhere there really was an enemy to fight.
The lessons learnt in holding the line at Waldweistroft The thaw set in during the last week of February, and
were purely negative. From the beginning we should have the surface of the countryside turned rapidly to mud and
taken up a much more aggressive attitude between the lines. slush. So we left the Saar as the mirabelle plums were in
Experience of the static trench-warfare of World War I bud and arrived at Pont-a-Marcq on the last day of the
showed that a good formation always dominated the neutral month. Pont-a-Marcq was a welcome change from the
territory of no-man’s-land. A purely passive defence was interminable digging at Bachy. The billets were infinitely
damaging to morale and encouraging to the enemy. Each better and living conditions were much improved. Battalion
company should have been allowed to patrol its own sector Headquarters were located in the Ferme d’Aigremont, one
and should have tried to locate the enemy posts on its own of the old Spanish farms which dated back to the years
front. Instead they were confined to their posts by night of the Dutch resistance to the Duke of Alba. A number
and were allowed to exert no initiative. The patrol platoons of men in the battalion were allowed to work on the land
were handicapped by having to work under three successive to help the local farmers, and at least one Guardsman in
Commanding Officers, none of whom had time enough to No. 3 Company mastered the art of ploughing with a pair
become really familiar with the terrain and all of whom of horses controlled by a single rein.
worked on different plans. So it was that, in each period of During the next two months the days were devoted to
five days, sufficient information had not been gleaned to training, which began with young NCOs courses and ended
stage a raid on an enemy post.
with a number of battalion exercises. Winter developed
During the period the battalion spent in the line only into spring. The latter half of April saw the arrival of
negative information about the enemy was obtained. nightingales and blackcaps, which sang in every bush and
Certainly no enemy post was located. After all the excite- tree by night and day.
ment which had been generated before we went into the On the 9th April the Germans invaded Denmark and
line, the reality came as an anticlimax. The value of placing Norway and we were again put at four hours' notice to
a British Brigade under command of a French Division to move. On the 12th April we were given sufficient details
work within the structure of the formation must be doubtful. of Plan “D” to work out the orders for the battalion to
The system of training and organization was so different move into Belgium. The intention was that the BEF should
as to make a happy amalgamation in a short space of time advance to the line of the River Dyle east of Brussels.
quite impossible. Passive defence is not a good introduction By May 1940 the battalion had been mobilized for eight
to battle. “Live and let live” seemed to be the dominating months, seven of which had been spent in France. Apart
policy in this part of the line. But the trip to the Saar was from five days in the line in the Saar it had had no contact
not entirely unfruitful. It broke the long monotony of
with the enemy at all.

Ou
F
The combined Corps of Drums of the Grenadiers and Coldstream at Arras, January 1940
18
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
“BLITZKRIEG”
The Blitzkrieg found me in England on ten days' leave.
I had flown home from Amiens on the 5th May and had
spent four happy days with my family when I heard, on
the eight o'clock wireless, that Hitler had marched into
Holland and Belgium. I was lucky to get a seat on an aero-
plane to Amiens, so that by the evening I had reached
the battalion at Pont-a-Marcq. The orders for the move
remained as we had worked them out some weeks before.
Only the starting time had been put back several hours,
and we were not due to leave until 8 p.m. the following
evening, Saturday, 11th May.
Bill Blackett, who had commanded No. 1 Company
since our arrival in France, had gone to hospital with
jaundice, so Cecil Feilden took over the company. Pip
Blacker was on leave, and an MO was sent to us from
3rd Field Ambulance to take his place.
The officers with the battalion were as follows:
Sat. 11 May, 1940
The plan was for the BEF to advance to the line of the
River Dyle, which runs north and south through Louvain
about ten miles east of Brussels. Ist Guards Brigade was
to move in two columns. All marching personnel of the
three battalions were to move by march route under my
command to the neighbourhood of Vert Marais. All MT
and carriers were to move under command of Brigadier
Becky.
The marching route was: Pont-a-Marcq, Templeuve,
Genech, Sartine (where we crossed into Belgium), Rumes,
Esplechin, Froidment, La Croix de Piere, and then a
number of road junctions which took us round Tournai
to Vert Marais. The distance was twenty-one miles.
Taking into account men who were on leave (no one was
recalled) and other casualties, I think the battalion marched
over a hundred men under strength. First-line reinforce-
ments had been absorbed into companies and were in no
way kept separate.
The march went according to programme, the only inci-
dent of interest being when I found an ammunition truck
loaded with 25-pounder shell burning outside Tournai.
The bombadier in charge was calmly unloading the ammu-
nition and stacking it by the side of the road while the
driver went off to collect fire-extinguishers from other
vehicles in the column. I admired the sang froid of the
bombadier as I hurried by his blazing lorry.
Dawn broke while the column was moving round Tour-
nai, but the Luftwaffe had more important objectives than
this old town and we were undisturbed.
Commanding Officer LIONEL BOOTLE-WILBRAHAM
Second in command BUNTY STEWART-BROWN
Adjutant
PADDY CHICHESTER
Signal Officer
CHARLES BLACKWELL
Intelligence Officer RAOUL ROBIN
Carrier Officer
CHARLES FANE
MT Officer
JACK BOWMAN
Asst. MT Officer
CHRISTOPHER DEVON
Quartermaster
MAURICE JONES
Padre
PADRE PRICE
Agent de Liaison
LOUIS DE ST. GENYS
OC Headquarter Com- RODDY HILL
pany
No. 1 Company: CECIL FEILDEN, EVELYN BOSCAWEN, RONNIE
SPEED.
No. 2 Company: Pop WYATT, BOB COMBE, GEOFFREY BRITTON,
JOHN BLACKWELL.
No. 3 Company: ANGUS McCORQUODALE, JOHN PIGOTT-BROWN,
JIMMY LANGLEY, MICHAEL BRODRICK.
Sun. 12 May, 1940
The 13/18th Hussars, the Divisional Cavalry, were re-
ported on a line east of the River Dyle about Tirlemont,
while the 2nd and 3rd Infantry Brigades were both digging
in on the line of the river. The battalion was to take up
a position on the left of the Divisional Reserve Line, with
the 2nd Hampshires on our right and a unit of 3rd Division
on our left. The battalion frontage was about 3,000 yards,
from the southern corner of the wood called Weeberg
No. 4 Company: RICHARD PILKINGTON, EVAN GIBBS, BOB
WINDSOR-CLIVE, JULIAN WARDE-ALDAM.
a
John Blackwell had a poisoned arm, and had to be
evacuated.
19
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''
HOLLAND
NORTH SEA
BRAYAOUNES
FURNES
BELGIUM .
DUNKIRK
LES MOÈRES
YSER
SCHELDE
OYLE
ESCAUT
POPERINGHE
LYS
canal
canal
BERGUES
BRUSSELS
LOUVAIN
LEEFDAEL
DUYSBURG
RUYS BROEK
TIRLEMONT
LOTH
DRANOUTRE
NEDERBRAKEL
KERKHOVE
NINOVE
canal
ROUBAIX
PECQ
RENAIX
LEERS
LILLE
• VERTMARAIS
TOURNAL
IBACHY
TEMPLEUVE
DENDRE
~ SECLIN
PONT à MARCQ
SCALE
FRANCE
10-3
20-6
41-2
MILES O
1
t
+
INCHES 0
2
3

ARRAS
The 2nd Battalion route, May-June, 1940
20
FRANCE AND BELGIUM

Bosche to the main Louvain-Brussels road, both inclusive.
There was no alternative but to have all four companies
up. We had not then become accustomed to the wide
frontages which were forced on us later. Raoul Robin went
off to find the unit of the 3rd Division which we expected
to have on our left flank, and discovered that their Divisional
Reserve Line was very much farther forward. Battalion
Headquarters were established in the hamlet of Schreiberg,
in a farmhouse which was not at all prominent and away
from the main road. Later on we were to get a platoon of
the 2nd Cheshires (MG) and a troop of anti-tank guns in
support. After a quick recce I returned to Duysburg, to
find Louis de St. Genys wrestling with the billeting problem.
a
Lt. the Hon. E. F. V. Boscawen BEF 20.5.40
and all Belgian soldiers were to be sent to Brussels at
once. A small detachment of sappers was to blow up
some houses at St. Veronique to give No. 4 Company a
field of fire, and they were to help in loop-holing the
houses. The first consignment of barbed wire arrived.
Mon. 13 May, 1940
The battalion debussed west of Brussels and had a twelve-
mile march through the town to Duysburg. It had not
been easy for the companies to find their way, as all the
signposting which had been organized by the APM was
obliterated by the welcoming crowds.
At 6 p.m. the battalion moved three miles to the village
of Leefdael, and No. 2 Company bivouacked in the wood
at Weeberg Bosche. Late in the evening I got an order that
the carriers had to go out and form a protective screen
and that digging should begin at once. I protested that the
men would dig very much better after a night's rest and
the work would be much better done in the daylight. So
I was allowed to compromise, and one platoon per company
was to dig by night and the rest of the battalion were
to be on the work by 5 a.m. next morning. Brigade Head-
quarters opened in a convent in Ijzer, but moved later to
some convenient cellars under a school.
a
Wed. 15 May, 1940
A very quiet day spent in digging, putting up more wire,
and administration. Everywhere one heard the distressed
lowing of unmilked cattle, so Roddy Hill was told to collect
all the beasts in the village, whilst Louis de St. Genys went
off to the Ministry of Agriculture in Brussels to get disposal
orders for them. The task of collecting the beasts proved
very much larger than I had anticipated. There were
something like five or six hundred head of cattle. Gdsm.
Potter, Charles Fane's carrier driver, milked eighty cows
that afternoon. D/Sgt. Robinson was put in charge of the
collective farm. .
Tues. 14 May, 1940
This morning we had our first experience of bombing.
Some whistling bombs and incendiaries were dropped on
the east end of the village. They fell on No. 3 Company
Headquarters and blew the cooker and the men's dinners
to bits. Fortunately, the company was digging in, but
CQMS Fenwick was killed with one of the cooks, Gdsm.
Seymour, and another man was wounded.
During the afternoon we had our first gas alarm. The
companies had gone into the village to collect their kits
before moving out to live in their positions. Two lorry-
loads of Belgian soldiers in gas masks ploughed their way
recklessly through the refugee traffic. There were shouts
of “Gaz” from the civilians and for the moment it looked
as if there might be a panic. There was, of course, no gas
at all.
In the evening we heard that the 13/18th Hussars had
withdrawn from Tirlemont, which was in German hands,
and that the bridges over the Dyle had been blown. So
the BEF was now in contact with the enemy. Civilians
were to be evacuated from Leefdael by 8 a.m. next morning
Thurs. 16 May, 1940
In the afternoon I was summoned to Brigade Headquarters,
where the instructions I got were fairly startling. We were
to withdraw to the line of the Brussels-Charleroi Canal.
There was no definite information as to why we were to
withdraw and there was some doubt as to whether the line
of the canal was then being held by the 48th Division.
The battalion was to hold the line of the river and canal
from Loth to Ruysbroek. The Hampshires were to be on
our left and the Grenadiers in reserve. One anti-tank
platoon and one machine-gun platoon were to come under
my command in the new line.
The route we were to take was: Vossem, Tervueren,
Andeghem, Champs de Manoeuvres, Bois de la Chambre,
to Zuen. It was a seventeen-mile march. The orders
were conditional. The code word for the withdrawal was
“Goliath”. “Samson” would mean we were to remain
in our positions.
21
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

to the right route. At first the narrow roads were fairly
clear, but later they became choked with the refugee traffic.
I had to harden my heart and divert this traffic into fields
by the side of the road so that the battalion should not
be interfered with. There were many pathetic sights—old
women and young children trudging disconsolately along
the road carrying large bundles of blankets and personal
treasures. Farm wagons piled high with household goods
and drawn by Flemish horses lumbered along, blocking
the narrow track.
Capt. C. N. Fane BEF 21.5.40
Later Roddy Hill, who had become liaison officer,
brought me the order to move (“Goliath”), but no move-
ment was to begin before 9 p.m. So the campaign was to
start in the traditional British manner, with a retreat.
The battalion marched off at 9 p.m. Brussels seemed
strangely deserted. On the way back the black-out was
complete. We reached Zuen as day was breaking.
Sat. 18 May, 1940
We marched on through the night. The men had had very
little sleep during the last forty-eight hours, but they
marched well, arriving at Ninove in the early morning,
where we found the Grenadiers on the line of the River
Dendre. The battalion arrived in the rest area at io a.m.,
but had not to be in position on the line of the canal until
9 p.m. A Brigade of the 50th Division would hold the
line until then, with the 7th Queens on the right and a
battalion of the Inniskilling Fusiliers on the left. Raoul
went off to get in touch with the Queens in Eychen. In
the afternoon Roddy brought me modified orders and I
went out to do my recce.
In the evening there was another conference at Brigade
Headquarters, where I got orders for a further withdrawal.
We were to hold the line of the river until 10 a.m. next
morning. I remember being appalled at the idea of with-
drawing by daylight across the bare face of the hill under
enemy observation. On my way back from Brigade Head-
quarters I saw a Lysander in trouble with four or five
Messerschmidts. It turned and twisted to avoid them, but
they inevitably shot it down, and it crashed in a column of
black smoke near the Hampshire Headquarters.
My problem was to decide how best to withdraw over
the open fields of a convex hill. It seemed likely that the
enemy would be on the river by first light. The alternative
was to slip away to a flank under cover of some trees and
a village which were in the Hampshires' area. The carriers
were to be brigaded under command of Glaxo Murray,
with an anti-tank battery and machine-gun platoon under
command. They were to form the rearguard to cover the
withdrawal. Charles Fane was given command of the three
carrier platoons.
The route of the withdrawal was to be : Eychen, Voorde,
Nederbrakel, Heeveld, Renaix, De Klyve, Quaremont,
Berchen, Kerkhove, Avelghem, Bossuit, Varchoing, Pecq.
There we were to take up a position on the River Scheldt.
During the withdrawal we were promised special air pro-
tection, whatever that meant.
Fri. 17 May, 1940
The companies marched straight on to their positions. On
this occasion Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Companies were on the line
of the canal, while No. 4 Company was in reserve near
Battalion Headquarters. There was a double obstacle on
our front, where the River Senne ran to the east of the
canal. In our area there were seven bridges to be prepared
for demolition. The men were in good heart and showed
no signs of weariness. As soon as they had dug themselves
in they were allowed to rest, so many men per section at
a time. A constant flow of refugee traffic over the bridges
made it difficult to decide exactly when to blow them. One
could never be sure that there were no British troops on
the wrong side of the river. However, by 5 p.m. the bridges
were blown.
During the afternoon Roddy brought us orders for a
further withdrawal to the line of the River Dendre at
Ninove.
The route was to be: Volsen, Ellinghem, Pepinghem,
Leerbeek, Oude Plaats, Dende-Windeke, Ninove, Molen-
hoek.
The canal bank was to be finally abandoned at midnight.
Our route took us by tortuous and narrow roads and tracks.
Raoul did his best to picquet it with cyclists and such DRs
as were available. So, after seeing the battalion pass the
starting-point, I went ahead in my car to help the guides on
2
Sun. 19 May, 1940
By 8 a.m. there was a great deal of air activity, but we
saw no signs either of our own fighter planes or A/A fire.
Just as the battalion began to withdraw the enemy bombed
22
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
the village of Eychen, and one of the signallers was killed. and two in reserve. No. 1 Company was to be on the right,
Platoon by platoon the battalion came out of the line and No. 3 Company on the left with the responsibility for
passed down the main road towards Renaix. It was with a covering the approaches to the bridge. All their section posts
sigh of relief that I saw the last platoon of No. 1 Company. were to be right on the canal bank, covering the obstacle.
Cecil Feilden told me that there had been some firing from In reserve No. 2 Company was to be on the line of the
the neighbourhood of a lock gate as they left the river. As Pont-a-Chin road, and No. 4 Company was to hold the
we got on to the main Ninove-Tournai road we found that roads leading into the village.
all three Brigades of the ist Division were using it for the It was about 5 p.m. when Brigadier Jack Whitaker,
same purpose, and so the column of tired soldiery became Commanding 7th Guards Brigade, visited my Headquarters.
continuous. Later there was a message to say that a bus For a very short time his Brigade was on our northern
column in the neighbourhood of Nederbrakel would carry flank; but they were relieved that evening, which denied us
the marching personnel as far as Quaremont. We found it the opportunity of seeing something of the ist Battalion.
outside Heeveld and packed the men thirty to a lorry and Jack gave me news of how they had fared in Louvain, where
got away, leaving sufficient to lift the Hampshires.
there had been heavy fighting and some casualties. Poor
So we travelled to Renaix, where we passed a flaming Freddie Cambridge had been killed and Paul Mortimer was
truck, recently bombed. There were unpleasant sights on missing. He also told me about fifth-column activities in his
the way. Refugee columns had been strafed, leaving a debris Brigade area, and he advised me strongly to clear Pecq of all
of carts, dead horses and human bodies strewn along the civilians. While we were talking a very excited gunner
road. In some mysterious way the road had been cleared officer drove up in a PU. He said the Germans were just
of civilian traffic and we had an uninterrupted run to the on the other side of the river and that enemy AFVs were
debussing point. From there there were still sixteen miles advancing in our direction. He was quite hysterical. I tried
to march over pavé roads before the battalion was to reach to shut him up and sent him on his way.
Pecq.
Jack left and Brigadier Becky came to see me with further
My notes show that the original orders were for the modifications in our orders. The companies came in at about
Ist Guards Brigade to hold the line, inclusive, Pont-a-Chin 6 p.m., and after their dinners the men got down to sleep.
to, inclusive, Pecq, with the Grenadiers on the right, Hamp- I took the company commanders round their positions
shires in the centre and the Coldstream on the left. Later this and made certain that all the officers and senior NCOS
was modified, the Brigade front being held by the two Guards knew where to go in case of alarm. Jimmy Langley took his
battalions with the Hampshires in reserve at Estaimbourg. platoon down to the bridge, and the sapper officer reported
The village of Pecq seemed quite attractive when I that it was ready for demolition. The responsibility for
arrived there in the sunlight of the early afternoon. The giving the order to blow the bridge was delegated to Jimmy,
houses were mostly of red brick. There was a square in the whose platoon took up a position on the approaches.
middle of the little town from which the main roads led off A gunner liaison officer joined me in the evening and
parallel to the river, and across from the direction of Lille established an OP in the roof of the house which I had
to the one bridge which sappers were already preparing for selected as Battalion Headquarters.
demolition. Most of the inhabitants had already fled. The
whole position was dominated from the enemy side by
Mont St. Aubert, a big hill in this flat landscape. I wondered
at the time whether it would not have been possible to hold
it, but I imagine that all other considerations had been
subordinated to the holding of a substantial anti-tank
obstacle. The Scheldt provided this and we were all grateful
for it. The river had been canalized and formed a con-
siderable obstacle about thirty yards across. On our bank
there were no approaches to the stream other than the road
to the bridge in Pecq. The water meadows in the valley were
intersected and drained by large dykes which in themselves
formed substantial anti-tank obstacles. They would limit
the free use of our own carriers.
I did not think at the time of making a recce of the far
bank. It seems the obvious thing to have done, but I was so
anxious to get the battalion fed and rested and for all the
platoon commanders to see their part of the line that I
hastened back from my recce to a rendezvous in Pecq. I had
decided to hold the position with two companies forward
Major A. McCorquodale BEF 1.6.40

23
“”
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''

cripples. In the late afternoon contact was made with the
Germans, who tried to do a recce of the bridge and were
quite reckless in exposing themselves. But while light
remained no Germans got down to the river bank. No
enemy activity was reported from No. 1 Company's front.
2nd Lt. R. D. E. Speed BEF 1.6.40
a
Mon. 20 May, 1940
At 2 a.m. there was a shattering explosion which broke
every pane of glass in the village. I wondered whether the
Germans were on us. Obviously the bridge had been blown,
and I could think of no other reason for it. The companies
stood to at once in their fighting positions and began to dig.
Investigation showed that the sapper officer had persuaded
Jimmy to allow him to blow the bridge at a time when there
was an appreciable gap in the refugee traffic—an important
consideration. I felt that any serious attempt by the Germans
to cross the Scheldt on the battalion front must be directed
to seizing the approaches to the Pecq bridge. The dykes and
ditches elsewhere would make bridging operations very
complicated. There was only one solid approach to the
canal bank on our side. Tired as they were, the men had got
down to the digging really well and within a couple of hours
the section posts were quite substantial. A solid breastwork
of pavé stones and bricks was built on the western approach
to the ruined bridge.
One of No. 4 Company's platoons moved on to the canal
bank, and Battalion Headquarters were moved to an un-
named château on the road to Lille. A section of machine-
gunners planted themselves in rear of No. 1 Company. As
usual, they did not report to me before taking up their
positions, but acted quite independently. Later in the day
No. 4 Company took over a big tannery in the northern
outskirts of the village of Trieu-del-Sart. Charles Blackwell
got lines out to all companies, and a wireless truck arrived
from Brigade Headquarters.
The weather was superb. There was a cloudless sky and,
apart from our own activity, there was nothing to show that
we were at war. By the evening the whole battalion was well
dug in. Louis had made arrangements to evacuate a school
of orphans to Lille and for the removal of some aged
Tues. 21 May, 1940
During the night Evelyn Boscawen was killed. He had been
visiting the Grenadier company on our right and was shot
on return to company headquarters. It was a tragic accident
and began a run of bad luck which pursued No. 1 Company
throughout the short campaign. The battalion could ill
afford to lose him, and he was a serious loss to his company.
At about 1.30 a.m. I was visiting No. 3 Company. As I
3
arrived at the bridge there was a great deal of excitement and
firing. Angus McCorquodale joined me at the barrier, and
we remained there some time. We could see nothing of the
enemy on the far bank, so I got on to the gunners and asked
them to fire on the enemy approaches to the bridge—and then
the excitement died down. In the dawn a heavy ground-mist
lay on the canal and in the water meadows. It gave me a
feeling of insecurity, but as nothing had occurred by 6.30
a.m. I was reassured and went back to the new Head-
quarters in the château. Quite suddenly the enemy artillery
opened up on Pecq. By ten o'clock it was obvious that the
enemy were trying to cross the Scheldt, and I thought the
attempt would be made on No. 3 Company's front. A
confused account reached Battalion Headquarters saying
that No. 3 Company was being heavily shelled; later that
3
one of the platoons had been driven back from the river
bank, but that the reserve platoon had counter-attacked.
This, in fact, had no word of truth in it.
At about midday the MO came back, saying that quis-
lings had got on the roof of the seminary and were throwing
bombs on the RAP. Now the seminary was on fire and the
RAP had to be moved. It was at about this time that we
heard that the Germans had crossed the river on the right
of No. 1 Company, and some stragglers from the right-hand
platoon were picked up on the road near Battalion Head-
quarters. Paddy Chichester and Roddy Hill rallied them and
set them to dig an all-round defensive position at Head-
quarters. Charles Fane took up the carriers to some rising
ground on the right flank of No. 1 Company with alterna-
tive rôles of forming a defensive flank and getting into touch
with the Grenadiers. Ronnie Speed arrived at Battalion
Headquarters and said that the Germans had crossed the
river to the right of the company. In the meantime Charles
Fane had reached his position and had given orders for the
carriers to take up ground action positions. Just after getting
out of his own carrier a shell pitched beside him and killed
him instantaneously. About the same time a message came
from the gunner armoured OP to say that the building in
which No. 4 Company Headquarters were lodged had been
blitzed and that there could not be any survivors. I sent
a
24
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
I
a
up Charles Blackwell at once to investigate and take over Staffordshire Regiment. I wondered where the latter came
command of the company if necessary. He arrived at from. Pop Wyatt told me that Bunty had been a fine example
company headquarters to find everyone hale, hearty and to everyone in his calmness and disregard for danger.
cheerful and rather enjoying the battle. The platoon in the By 7 p.m. I was able to report to Brigade Headquarters
tannery was having a first-class shoot from the windows that the situation was normal. I moved Geoffrey Britton's
and claimed to have killed a number of Bosche, but I did platoon of No. 2 Company to fill the gap between the
not know that until an hour or so later.
Grenadiers and ourselves. Thus ended the battle of Pecq-
In the meantime a gun had opened fire to our right rear the first encounter that the battalion had with the Germans.
and shells from it were landing a hundred and fifty yards In the evening I went round the line again and found
north of Battalion Headquarters. I could not help wonder- everybody quite cheerful. No. 4 Company, in particular,
ing whether the Germans had not succeeded in getting an had had a good shoot at the enemy. Gdsm. Swaby, who had
infantry gun across the river and working their way up at one time been an excellent officers' mess waiter, had shot
between the Grenadiers and ourselves to Estaimbourg. fourteen Germans to his own rifle while Sgt. Eastwood had
Bunty Stewart-Brown went forward to take command of been marking for him from the windows of the tannery.
Nos. 1 and 2 Companies and the carrier platoon. Some time After Charles had been killed Christopher Devon came up
later he reported that the Pecq-Pont-a-Chin road was held from B echelon to take command of the carriers. One had
and that there did not appear to be any enemy between the been shot up by an anti-tank gun on No. 3 Company's front
road and the canal. M. J. had just arrived at Battalion as it took a box of SAA to a section post. The crew had got
Headquarters with the dinners, which were distributed to away along a neighbouring dyke without harm. The ashes
the men in their posts. For five minutes the road to the of the burnt-out camouflage net were still glowing when I
château was searched by a battery of medium guns. There saw it in the evening. Evan Gibbs took over command of
was one direct hit amongst the pioneers and a number of No. 1, so now there were only two officers for duty in each
men were killed and wounded, the latter including CQMS of Nos. 1, 3 and 4 Companies.
Burnett. One of the signallers, a very young boy, burst into It was, I think, during the battle that we received an
tears : not so much from fright as because two of his pals Order of the Day from the Commander-in-Chief in which
had been killed and he was spattered with their blood. That he said that the British Army had to withdraw through no
was the climax of the battle. From then on things improved. fault of its own and was now to stand and fight on the line of
Charles Blackwell returned to say that No. 4 Company the Scheldt.
was in good order. A message from Angus said that No. 3
Company's front was intact and that there were no heavy Wed. 22 May, 1940
casualties. John Pigott-Brown had been wounded. A bullet
The night passed quietly. John Currie sent me a gunner
had gone through his tin hat and had cut a parting through
liaison officer to remain at my Headquarters. No. 3 Com-
his curls. He was quite cheerful, but had to be evacuated;
pany reported that enemy bridging materials were being
as also was Michael Brodrick, with a shell splinter in his arm.
Brigadier Becky and John Currie, who commanded the
2nd Field Regiment in support of our Brigade, came up.
He recognized at once that the solitary gun whose shells
were falling a hundred and fifty yards to the north of
Battalion Headquarters was one of his own, so he went off
to the battery to let them know what he thought of them.
The position on No. 1 Company's front was still obscure,
but No. 2 Company had not yet been involved in the battle.
About 3 p.m. I took Ronnie Speed with me in a carrier to
recce the situation on our right flank. We got to company
headquarters without difficulty, and there appeared to be
no Germans on our side of the canal; so Ronnie picked
up the stragglers from the company and reoccupied the posts
on the canal bank. There he found that PSM Court's platoon
had had a wonderful shoot, but that the PSM had been
killed. Sgt. Hardwicke, in his section trench, had also done
great work.
On our way up we found a mixed garrison lining the
ditch of the Pecq-Pont-a-Chin road. In addition to a few
men of No. 1 Company, there were Grenadiers, a company
of the Hampshires and a number of men of the North
2nd Lt. C. A. Blackwell BEF (Approx.) 1.6.40

3
25
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?

(2nd Cheshires) reported to me and came into action near
Battalion Headquarters at Le Buisson. A echelon transport
and the carriers went on to Trieu-de-Carihem. The com-
panies got down to digging at once. Raoul went off with four
trucks to collect what he could in the way of wiring and
revetting material, and Louis evacuated two truck-loads of
civilians to Lille. A sapper section of 238 Company R.E.
was put under my command and laid anti-tank mines on
the Leers road and the tow-path of the canal which was our
left boundary. They erected some sort of obstacle across
the canal to catch any little boats that might try to use it.
For some reason the sappers worked on the canal as a
priority task, when all my anxieties were centred on the
Leers road. A gunner OP was established in the chimney
of a briquetterie and was almost certain to become an
aiming mark for the enemy. The cross-roads in Leers was
cratered. It was not a very effective demolition, as it was
not covered by fire from the forward posts of the battalion.
M. J., with the help of a drill sergeant, collected the usual
farmyard around Battalion Headquarters and the market
Capt. E. L. Gibbs BEF 1.6.40
gardens in the neighbourhood furnished the battalion with
fresh vegetables.
assembled in some trees on the road to the bridge, and we
The day passed quietly. In the late evening the officers of
called for concentrations at this point.
No. 2 Company flushed two German soldiers in the crops
We buried Charles Fane and three men of Headquarter
near the anti-tank ditch. The Germans were apparently
Company in the garden of the château. He was a very great
unarmed and ran away, but the officers were too slow on
loss to the battalion. His vitality and joie de vivre had
the draw to get a shot in. During the night I was ordered to
stimulated everyone who came in contact with him and had
send forward one platoon per company at first light as a
been invaluable during the deadly months of the Sitzkrieg.
standing patrol to occupy the high ground in Leers. I
In the evening we got orders to withdraw to the line of
represented that I would be much happier to hold the high
posts and block-houses which the BEF had been working
ground, but it was considered advisable to stick to the old
on through the winter. The withdrawal involved a march
line of the anti-tank ditch.
of six miles only. The route was by Belva, Leers and Le
Buisson.
Fri. 24 May, 1940
The standing patrols went out at first light. No. 4 Com-
Thurs. 23 May, 1940
pany's platoon, on the right, had no adventure and did not
When we arrived at the new position there was a thick mist meet the enemy. No. 3 Company's platoon, under PSM
which prevented one from seeing more than twenty-five Maloney, went forward to the Leers cross-roads. The sec-
yards. We had expected to find it ready for occupation, but tions encountered no opposition, but PSM Maloney
when we got there there was not a vestige of a trench. A disappeared. It seems he cut across between the houses
line of French wire about knee high and three yards broad while visiting the sections and was taken prisoner. There
stretched along our front. Three French-built pill-boxes was no runner with him. On the left PSM Simpson's
were designed to take anti-tank guns, and there was a platoon ran straight into an enemy post. Out of a strong
rather unconvincing anti-tank ditch which did not look at all platoon only four men, including the PSM, got back to the
a substantial obstacle. Even in the mist it was obvious that company. It was difficult to get a coherent account out of
the whole position would be overlooked from the higher them, but they had undoubtedly bumped up against strong
ground of Leers. I remember feeling profoundly depressed opposition and had been shot up by LMGs and mortars.
and apprehensive. In our previous positions we had had a Brigadier Becky came up to walk around the line. He told
substantial anti-tank obstacle in front of us, but here we had me that when he had been visiting a neighbouring battalion
very little protection and would be overlooked at close a German DR had come up the road and run straight into
quarters by the enemy. .
their party but had been able to turn round again and make
The line was to be held with No.4 Company on the right, good his escape without having been shot at. He brought me
No. 3 Company in the centre, No. 2 Company on the left good news in that my line was to be shortened, so I was able
and No. 1 Company in reserve. The mortar platoon had a to withdraw No. 4 Company from the right of the line and
task to shoot on the village. One section of machine-gunners put it in support of No. 2 Company on the left.
a
26
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
The day passed quietly enough. A few shells dropped orders to withdraw to the coast, there to embark for
near No. 2 Company, but there were no casualties. In the England. Brigadier Becky looked very serious as he came in
evening I was somewhat startled to hear from the gunners to the conference. His opening remark showed how bad the
that, for defensive fire tasks, they were rationed to fifty situation was. We were told “to arrive as a fighting forma-
rounds. I asked if this meant fifty rounds per gun and was tion in the area Hondeschoote, Killem, Warhem, about ten
told that it was the total allowance for the whole battery for miles from Dunkirk”. A look at the map showed that it
twenty-four hours. It was not until then that I fully realized involved a march of at least sixty miles. The withdrawal was
the seriousness of our position.
to begin at 10 p.m., covered by rearguards; the line was
finally to be abandoned at midnight. We were to march to a
Sat. 25 May, 1940
staging area in the neighbourhood Locre, Neuve Eglise,
Mariebourg—names familiar to anyone who had been in the
This was another ominously quiet day. The companies
Ypres Salient in World War I.
consolidated their positions and strengthened the wire.
The route was: Lebreucq, Croix Laroche, Lambersart,
The ammunition allotted to the battery was reduced to
Verlinghem, Perenchies, Houplines, Ploeg Street, Romarin,
twenty rounds, and we were put on half rations, which
Neuve Eglise, Dranoutre, Locre, Westoutre, Poperinghe,
showed clearly that our lines of communication and supply
Rousbrugge, Hondeschoote.
had been cut. The ration situation did not worry me as we
The 42nd Division was to hold the line of the River Deule.
had plenty of fresh meat and vegetables, local produce which
Each battalion was to detail an officer to report when the
was carefully controlled by M. J. and D/Sgt. Robinson.
battalion was across. The withdrawal orders to march
During the night a patrol from No. 3 Company reported
sixty miles without any suggestion of carrying transport
that the enemy were working on the crater in Leers. It
seemed to me to be a desperate measure. What had hitherto
worried me that I could not ask the guns to put down a
been a comparatively orderly withdrawal might well become
concentration on them, but I felt that all ammunition must
a rout. The march to the staging area alone involved a dis-
be conserved to meet an SOS task.
tance of twenty-eight miles. Though I could not give every
platoon commander a map, I was determined that every man
Sun. 26 May, 1940
in the battalion should know his destination and that every
Another quiet day for the battalion, which put in a lot of
NCO at least should have a route card. Paddy had a large
hard work. The platoon posts were beginning to be con-
quantity run off on the roneo, and they were issued to all
nected up and alternative positions were taking shape. A
NCOs and to all drivers of vehicles. A echelon MT was
routine based on the old Guards Divisional Trench
organized to carry as many men as possible and was put
Standing Orders, of which Brigadier Becky had given me
under command of Raoul Robin, with Charles Blackwell
a copy, was put into force. I visited Brigade Headquarters
to help him. Geoffrey Britton was to be in charge of the
in a princely château belonging to an industrial magnate of
cyclists. One truck was retained with each rifle company to
Roubaix. There was Louis XV furniture in the rooms and
Lancret and Watteau paintings on the walls. Malcolm
Erskine offered me the freedom of the bathroom, where I
revelled in the unexpected luxury of bath salts and scented
soap. At an excellent luncheon Brigadier Becky warned me
of the possibility of a further withdrawal ; and in fact, later
in the day we got orders to hold the line of the River Lys
between Le Touquet and Pont Rouge. In the evening the
enemy bombed Trieu-de-Carihem, killing and wounding
about twenty civilians.

Mon. 27 May, 1940
Another quiet day. I could not understand why the Ger-
mans had not occupied the high ground overlooking our
positions, from which they could see our every movement,
but I was grateful for the respite and for the rest, which the
battalion needed.
In the afternoon I went to Brigade Headquarters for
a conference. John Currie, who had all the news hot
from the CRA, told me the worst. He said that all lines of
communication were cut and that we were about to receive
Major E. T. Wyatt BEF 2.6.40
27
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

comparatively orderly, there was a mass of French horse-
drawn vehicles which were quite uncontrolled. The streets
were filled up with MT and carts before any of the drivers
knew whether they could get out at the other end. It was
impossible to move against the stream of traffic except on
foot. I found a young sapper officer trying to clear the
debris on a bridge over the canal, which was the main cause
of the traffic block. It had been cratered in two places. He
told me that, if only the traffic could be controlled, he would
be able to get the road through quite quickly. So for about
two hours I stood in front of the bridge trying to control the
traffic. My French had never been so fluent.
I stayed with the sappers until the battalion came through
and then went on ahead of them to the Proven road. Just
to the north of Poperinghe Brigadier Becky stopped me and
told me that a number of lorries would meet the battalion
south of Proven and would lift us to Hondeschoote. I was
indeed grateful for this. We embussed outside the Château
de Couthove. There were then three lines of traffic abreast
BEF 2.6.40
on the Dunkirk road.
IZ
andy
Capt. R. T. Combe
carry relays of men changing over at the hourly halts. We
withdrew from our front at midnight without any difficulty.
Tues. 28 May, 1940
There was no halt until the last man was across the River
Deule. Dawn broke to admit a cold, wet, grey day in har-
mony with our mood. The rain came in gusty showers and
made an admirable temperature for marching. There was
remarkably little traffic on the roads until we reached the
neighbourhood of Neuve Eglise, where long columns of
artillery began to pile up. There was no cover at the staging
area, either from the weather or from the air, so I went on to
look for a more suitable place and eventually selected a site
a
of a little wood behind the crest of a hill between Dranoutre
and Locre. It meant making the battalion march another
four miles before the long halt, but I thought it was worth
the extra security which they would have during their rest.
As I waited for the leading company to arrive I listened
to the midday news on a no. 9 set which was posted close
to the road. The King of the Belgians had given in and the
Belgian army was no longer fighting. That was the explana-
tion of this precipitate flight. Soon after the battalion got in
the enemy bombed the village of Mariebourg and the roads
heavily. I was startled to hear shells exploding in Locre. It
meant that the Germans were a great deal closer than I had
thought.
We continued the march at 6 p.m. On the route from
Westoutre to Poperinghe and Proven the roads were
blocked with traffic, so I diverted the marching personnel
down the railway line from a level-crossing. I myself went on
to Poperinghe, where the confusion was indescribable. The
town, which I had known so well in 1916, had been very
badly bombed and many of the streets were blocked with
debris. In addition to the British army traffic, which was
Wed, 29 May, 1940
The column had been moving desperately slowly and
jerkily, with frequent halts along the road. At Rexpode the
battalion, or rather that part of it which was still with the
column, debussed. It had not been possible to keep the
column together, and a number of lorries had become
separated and had gone on in the traffic stream to Dunkirk.
It was neither the time nor the place to analyse what had
happened, but there were serious deficiencies in every
company in the battalion. We had taken four hours to move
little more than six miles. That is some guide as to the
condition of traffic on the road. Most of us were drunk with
fatigue.
I went on ahead of the battalion to recce our new
positions on the Bergues Furnes Canal. There I found
Reggie Batt standing on one of the bridges with his revolver
in his hand, preventing any vehicles from crossing. He said
that Dunkirk was full of abandoned vehicles and that the
orders were that no others should be allowed inside the
perimeter. On reaching the canal all ranks, except wounded
in ambulances, should march.
The battalion was to hold the line of the canal from
the bridge at 329780 to the railway bridge at 375784,
both inclusive. The Hampshires went into reserve in the
neighbourhood of Uxem, with two companies at Krommel-
hoeck. On our right was a North-Country regiment
recently arrived from England. On our left was the 3rd
Infantry Brigade. The Grenadiers had left the ist Guards
Brigade and had been transferred to the 5th Division. Most
of Battalion Headquarters, including the whole of the signal
platoon, had been seized by some alien staff officer to defend
a bridge west of Houthem. This party was under Raoul
Robin's command and had with it Jack Bowman, Charles
Blackwell and M. J. As it included all my administrative
28
FRANCE AND BELGIUM

3
N
1
po
66
Soldiers wading up to their necks in the sea to get to the various craft which had come from England to pick them up'
(By courtesy of the “Daily Graphic")
29
a
“ “NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''
”
and signal personnel, I was particularly anxious to get them
I
officers and one hundred and twenty other ranks of the
back to the battalion, which was now not more than two Lancashire Fusiliers. I divided them into two platoons and
hundred and twenty strong. I sent Angus off at once to put one each under command of the flank companies.
Dunkirk to collect up any of the battalion he could see and
bring them back to their companies. He spent some four Thurs. 30 May, 1940
hours there, but found no one. The place was pande-
monium. There was no organization and no control. He
A quiet night without alarms. There was so little traffic
going over the bridges now that I gave the order to blow
had little doubt that, once the troops had got into Dunkirk,
them. Patrols were sent some 400 yards south of the
they would be directed to the Mole and the beaches, there
canal to give us warning of the approach of the enemy.
to be embarked pell-mell in anything that could float.
We had a front of 2,200 yards to cover, with two impor-
It was a lovely sunny day. The sluices were opened and the
country flooded. The water rose steadily in the fields north
tant approaches and bridges over the canal. No. 1 Company
of the Digue des Glaises. I tried to take a direct line across
was on the right, No. 3 Company right centre, No. 2 Com-
3
the fields from No. 1 Company to Battalion Headquarters
pany left centre and No. 4 Company on the left. Battalion
Headquarters were badly placed in a little farmhouse to the
and suddenly found that I had to swim across a dyke.
Another battery of medium artillery came under my
south of the windmill at Krommelhoeck. The mill was used
command, and I heard that Raoul's party were to be re-
as an OP and was an obvious landmark in this flat, open
lieved of their bridge. Raoul was told that they could make
country. The canal was a reasonable anti-tank obstacle;
their way to the beaches and try to get away to England,
a second canal, called Digue des Glaises, ran parallel to the
but I ordered the party to rejoin the battalion and divided
front, about 400 yards behind it, and there was yet another
them up to equalize the four rifle companies. Charles
canal behind Battalion Headquarters by the windmill. A
road ran along the south bank of the Bergues Furnes Canal.
Blackwell went to No. I on the right, and Jack Bowman to
No. 3 Company. During the afternoon a unit on our right
Trucks and lorries had been abandoned along the whole
was supposed to take over the defence of the bridge from
length of it. They contained a certain amount of useful
stores in the way of rations, ammunition and even weapons.
No. 1 Company. They only sent one platoon to hold a
company position, so I told Evan to keep the company
The vehicles themselves had been immobilized, which
where it was. In view of the floods the Bosche were certain
made it impossible for us to move them. They would and
to go for the bridges, and I was afraid for my right flank. In
did afford cover for the enemy approaching from the south
the afternoon orders came from Brigade that we were to
and made it possible for them to get right up to the bank
form the rearguard of the BEF and that we had to fight it
without being seen. Angus and Pop each had his head-
out in our present positions until we got orders for the final
quarters in one of the little farms to the north of the canal;
withdrawal and embarkation. I was to send certain specialist
Richard Pilkington got into a farm by the side of the Krom-
personnel to the beaches and anyone who was non-com-
melhoeck road; Evan, on the right, preferred a slit trench in
a
batant; so the Padre, Louis de St. Genys and Cecil Feilden,
a field outside his small village. In spite of their fatigue the
whose hand was badly burned, left us. The armourer
men got down to digging at once, and they were entrenched
sergeant should have gone, too, but he wanted to stay with
by the afternoon. By the evening, too, every section had two
the battalion and take his place in the line. He was killed
Bren guns and every platoon two anti-tank rifles, with a
on the following day.
great store of ammunition scrounged from the material
About 6 p.m. Evan reported the presence of the enemy
abandoned south of the canal.
All day long British and French troops straggled over the
on his company front. I went up to visit all the company
headquarters after dark. There was a great deal of small-
bridges into the perimeter. Two platoons of the Welsh
arms fire. It astonished me to find the Germans using tracer
Guards were the only units who marched across in forma-
with their light automatics, which gave their positions away.
.
tion, looking like Guardsmen and remarkably clean and well
The line of the canal was illuminated with the flame of
turned out in comparison with the rabble which was shuffling
burning lorries, to which we had set fire before the arrival
along the roads. Both the platoons were lost and had no idea
of the Bosche. The fire spread to a little estaminet and lit
up
of what had happened to the rest of the battalion. The men
the whole neighbourhood. Furness, my runner, went off on
were cheerful, if weary. It did us good to see them.
an errand while I walked over to see Evan on the right. He
M. J. came to see me during the day, having scrounged a
large quantity of rations. He gave me news of Raoul's party,
was very cheerful. I gave him a rough idea of how I proposed
to withdraw the battalion when that should occur.
which I badly needed to rejoin the battalion. A territorial
gunner joined me and established two OPs in the battalion
sector. I asked him how much ammunition he had and
Fri. 31 May, 1940
whether he was restricted. He told me he had 2,000 rounds Another lovely day. During the night the water had risen
for the battery, which gave me a certain amount of comfort. and was now almost continuous on either side of the road
In the evening Brigadier Becky sent me a party of two to the Digue des Glaises. There was desultory firing from
30
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
the canal as I set out to visit the unit on our right, en- wading up to their necks in the sea to get to the various
deavouring to find an alternative route of withdrawal for the craft which had come from England to pick them up.
two right-hand companies. Uxem was being shelled inter- Improvised dressing stations could not cope with the
mittently. A French 75-mm. gun had been put under my wounded. The road leading to the beach was choked with
command and had been placed as an anti-tank weapon to transport of every description. During the hours of daylight
cover the two roads that led to Battalion Headquarters. I Stukas came over and bombed and machine-gunned the
had no doubt that the enemy had spotted it, for we were crowds on the shore and the shipping standing by. Those
shelled soon after my return. The gun crew were all killed, who could swim were sent off to get to the craft as best they
as were some of the men in Battalion Headquarters. Paddy could, while the non-swimmers were organized into queues
and M. J. looked after the wounded, which included CSM waiting patiently for boats to take them out to the larger
Hewitt, and got them away to the MDS at Bray Dunes. A ships, as they might have waited in peacetime outside a
final shell hit the farm itself and set it on fire. The wounded cinema on a Saturday afternoon. I heard, too, how Perrot,
had been evacuated, and I felt that we would be in more the splendid CRE of the ist Division, improvised two piers
trouble if we stayed near the windmill. So Paddy went off out of trucks and lorries. Later, that when he himself
to recce a new Headquarters.
reached England he found there were less of his sappers
I had had no opportunity of getting back to the beaches, there than he thought had been evacuated, and so he came
but M. J. and Raoul described the scene to me. It must have back to Dunkirk in the next destroyer to find out what had
been quite chaotic. The seashore was seething with soldiers happened to them.

wiele
We
情​和​金钱
​10*428.MARNE 對
​وو
“On the sands ... groups of men queued up, waiting for ghostly boats to carry them out to the ships lying off-shore
(By courtesy of the “Daily Graphic”)
31

“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
Bunty suggested to me that I should give out an antici- about 400 yards away, and Reggie proceeded to move
patory order of withdrawal, so a company commanders' Brigade Headquarters there. The Hampshires, whose
conference was ordered at No. 4 Company at 4 p.m. Just Headquarters were next door, also decided to move to the
as I finished the conference a DR arrived with a message same farm. As we walked over to the new site some more
from Brigade Headquarters saying that Brigadier Becky shells landed beside us, and Humphreys, the Hampshire
had taken over command of the ist Division and that I was Adjutant, got a shell-splinter in the bottom. We had a poor
to take over command of the ist Guards Brigade forthwith. reception from the owner of the farm and his wife.
It seemed to be the wrong moment to leave the battalion,
when they would undoubtedly have a difficult time before
they could get out of the line. But Bunty was well in the
Sat. 1 June, 1940
picture, so Landing over to him was only a formality. The ist June ushered in another lovely day. Early in the
I motored off to Brigade Headquarters at Uxem, where morning I visited the Brigades on either flank and found
the Germans were shooting at the church spire. There I Scipio Miles on the right having a Commanding Officers'
found Malcolm Erskine, Brigade Major, Reggie Batt, Staff conference. On our left I found Val Wilson in a large and
Captain, and Tavy Hamilton Russell, the 10. Malcolm put gloomy cellar. He looked very depressed. He told me that he
me in the picture and told me what units were under com- had a front of about 8,000 yards and that all his battalions
mand of the Brigade. I had hardly sat down since dawn and were below strength. Could I do anything to help him? He
I lay on a bed to have a rest before dinner, wondering a asked if the carrier platoon which had been sent to help the
little if there would be any. A shell landed outside our house Ist Loyals could be put under command, but I said that I
and the window was blown in on my recumbent body. would want them to cover our withdrawal.
It was high time to move. There was a convenient farm In the afternoon I went off to Divisional Headquarters to
" Then the bombers came
(By courtesy of the “Daily Graphic")
32
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
get orders for the final withdrawal to the beaches. The No. 3 Company. The men had been rallied by the officers
3
French were to hold the line of the Canal des Chats as far as of No. 3, which had then been outflanked. Angus had been
Bergues. During the night the remainder of the BEF was to killed when his bit of trench was enfiladed. Jimmy Langley
embark. Embarkation would continue until all were evacu- put up a magnificent fight in a cottage on the canal bank,
ated or the enemy prevented it. FDLs were to be denied to which came under fire from the German infantry guns. He
the enemy until 10 p.m. Mobile rearguards would finally continued to fire his Bren until he was put out of action with
withdraw at midnight. All available personnel not essential a broken arm and a head wound. It was Nos. I and 3
were to be withdrawn forthwith to embark between Companies that had borne the brunt of the attack. Nos. 2
the west end of St. Malo and the Mole. Troops awaiting and 4 Companies had had a comparatively easy time and
embarkation were to be dispersed in small parties and to dig few casualties.
in in the sand. The route for the ist Guards Brigade was Jack Bowman brought out the remainder of the much
by Uxem, Leffrain-Coucke, to the beaches. One troop per reduced right half of the battalion. He had had great diffi-
battery was to remain in the line until midnight, the culty in getting the order to the sections to withdraw, but
remainder to withdraw at 10 p.m. Commanders were to after 9 p.m. the battle died down and the enemy no longer
embark when approximately three-quarters of their force pushed home their attack. The battalion was allowed to slip
had been embarked. Brigadier Becky stressed that all away in the darkness, and they were not followed up. There
sections were to embark armed with Brens and anti-tank was no moon. .
rifles. Subsequently, at the Brigade Conference, Bunty The first officer I met was Bob Combe, boisterously
asked me whether he could withdraw the battalion from the cheerful in spite of the casualties. I had seen him earlier in
Bergues Furnes Canal to the Digue des Glaises. By then we the day, and his heartiness and confidence had been very
knew that the unit on his right had gone and that there was stimulating. Then came Jimmy Langley in a wheel-barrow,
а
a big gap between No.4 Company on the left and the Loyals. his body all limp, a bloody bandage on his head and an arm
It seemed to me to be a very dangerous operation to under- tied across his chest. Ispoke to him and he answered me, but
take in the daylight and I said it could not be done. There I could not understand what he said and I doubt if he was
was obviously great anxiety for both flanks of the battalion, conscious. I also saw Paddy and Bunty. No. 2 Company
but the Divisional Commander did not approve of this came out of the line in very good order. Malcolm and I
preliminary withdrawal. It made me desperately anxious went to the Brigade check point, where we were too late to
for the battalion.
see the Hampshires go by. The night was inky black and
In the evening a message came through to Brigade Head- there were a few spots of rain. No sound of firing came from
quarters that the enemy had attacked the battalion and had the line we had abandoned. Only the oil-tanks in the docks at
crossed the canal on their right. Angus McCorquodale and Dunkirk blazed, the flames and smoke billowing high into
Evan Gibbs had been killed, and probably Charles Blackwell. the sky. An occasional shell moaned its way across the black
There were no details—just the bald fact. It was so short a bowl of the night till it burst somewhere in the direction of
time since Angus had helped me to run a “Young Officers' the Mole. Malcolm and John Nelson were with me as we
Fortnight” just before we had marched into Belgium. He was made our way through Malo-les-Bains down to the sea-
an outstanding company commander. The endless trouble shore. A salvo of shells whistled overhead and burst not far
which he took with the men amply repaid him when they
from us.
came to fight at Pecq. The officers of his company were well On the sands, about a quarter of a mile away, I found
trained and there was that general air of self-confidence and groups of men queued up, waiting for ghostly boats to carry
knowing what to do that is the sign of a happy and efficient them out to the ships lying off-shore. We went from group
company. Poor Evan had taken over a battered company to group, trying to distinguish any Coldstreamers or Hamp-
which had been very unlucky. Already, during the few days shires, but units had become split up on the beaches and it
that he commanded it, he had raised their morale. Charles was impossible to find any one. More than half of each
Blackwell had been a live wire and an excellent signal battalion had got away during the night. Along the high
officer. It was a tragic waste of a young Coldstreamer. embankment which led to the Mole a long line of patient
I was at the battalion check point soon after 9 p.m., and figures was silhouetted against the glare of the burning
there I heard disjointed details from officers and men about docks. They moved infinitely slowly and embarked on some
the fighting on the battalion front. The Germans had out- unseen ships on the far side of the Mole. From time to time
flanked No. 1 Company, having got across the canal where there was a ripple down the ranks as wind passes over
our neighbours had abandoned their positions. The three standing corn. There was no shouting or confusion.
officers of the company had been killed-Evan, Charles
Blackwell and Ronnie Speed. The warrant officers and
senior NCOs had been killed, including PSM Dance
Sun. 2 June, 1940
and Sgt. Hardwicke, who had done so well at Pecq; and At 3 a.m. the eastern sky began to lighten. Queues of men
then the leaderless company had been forced back on to were standing knee-deep in the water in their anxiety to
3
33
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME',


2nd Lt. J. F. Boughey. At sea, 31.8.40
“Muddied but unbowed.” Malcolm Erskine and Lionel Bootle-
Wilbraham at Aldershot after their return from Dunkirk
embark. There seemed to be very few boats and there were
interminable periods between their return journeys. In the
first grey light of dawn the long line on the Mole halted and
then began to surge backwards. Malcolm went to find out
what it was all about and came back to say that the Senior
Naval Officer had announced that all embarkation would
cease until 9.30 p.m. We had been told that embarkation
would continue until such time as the BEF was evacuated
or enemy action made it impossible. It was a poor prospect
for
us, with eighteen hours to wait through the day. We had
little faith in the resistance which the French were likely
to put up, and we had only rifles and Brens to fight with. My
immediate anxiety was to get any groups of men well dis-
persed before enemy dive bombers could come over. A
gunner major came to me and asked for orders, but apart
from the necessity for dispersion, I had nothing to tell him.
It was humiliating and I felt at a loss what to do.
Then the bombers came. There were not a great many of
them and they did very little damage. Daylight showed a
number of ships and one destroyer sunk quite close in-shore.
The destroyer had a great attraction for the Stukas because, ,
I suppose, having been abandoned there was no A/A fire to
oppose them. It was highly satisfactory to see the bombs
falling on so valueless a target. Only one man within my
view was made a casualty of this first attack. He was running
across the beach when the first bombs dropped. The closest
could not have been nearer than fifty yards to him; but a
splinter must have got him, for he fell motionless till his
friends carried him away.
Some small sailing yachts lay at anchor off-shore, so I
told John Nelson that, if he liked to swim out to one, he
could slip away in that. He stripped and gave me his gold
cigarette case to look after in case I should get back to
England. Malcolm and I watched him as he swam out about
300 yards to the yacht and scrambled naked aboard. Three
other people joined him, and they hoisted sail and departed
into the channel. So Malcolm and I set out to find what was
left of the ist Guards Brigade.
There was a horrible sight on the Mole, where the queue
had been hit by some enemy shelling. A wounded man,
livid from loss of blood, asked me for water. Farther along
the Mole I found a dressing post, and I sent an orderly to
look after the wounded and to take them water. Subse-
quently M. J. did yeoman work for them. Bunty was by the
Mole with what was left of three companies of the battalion.
Richard Pilkington had a number of men dispersed in odd
funk-holes on the jetty. The battalion, now some one
hundred and twenty strong, was collected on the embank-
ment of the old fort and dug in in preparation for a last
stand. Trenches would give them protection, too, against
enemy bombing.
It was then that I heard the unhappy news about No. 2
Company. As they had marched down the road through
Malo-les-Bains a salvo had caught the head of the company,
killing some men outright and causing about a dozen
casualties. Pop Wyatt, Bob Combe and Tavy Hamilton-
Russell, who was with them, were all hit. Pop died on the
boat on his way over to Dover; Bob died on the beaches in
the early morning before he could be embarked; and Tavy
was killed outright. It was a miserable catastrophe to happen
to a company which had got through so well.
I found that Reggie Batt had established a Brigade
34
FRANCE AND BELGIUM
Headquarters post in the old fort. He and M. J. were a large suitcase between them. I led the Brigade on to the
collecting bully-beef and tea to distribute to the troops. Mole and watched the 2nd Battalion embark in HMS
Water was one of the more important deficiencies in the Sabre. I followed them on board myself and lay down
town, as the mains had burst.
amongst the troops on the deck. Shortly after nine o'clock
About midday a strange figure in French peasant clothes, we weighed anchor and headed for England. Never have I
and speaking English, was brought in under escort to been so grateful for the British Navy.
Divisional Headquarters. He said that he was a pilot who There is a sequel to this story which should be told. The
had been shot down some ten days before near Abbeville. small party of Coldstream wounded at the MDS, which
He had baled out, and a French farmer had given him some included Jimmy Langley, were in due course sent to a
clothes. He had made his way across country to Dunkirk. hospital at Lille. When the people of Pont-a-Marcq heard
He said that the Germans were not making any attempt to of it they sent regularly gifts of vegetables, fruit, butter,
break into the perimeter, that on the road by which he had cheese and wine to the hospital for their old friends. Jimmy
come into Dunkirk they had only the equivalent of a Langley had been visited in Lille by the old lady who had
platoon position; all their columns were pushing on to the owned No. 3 Company's officers' mess in Pont-a-Marcq.
3
south and towards Paris. I believed his story, and for the She had brought him a bottle of champagne and, meeting
first time I felt that we should be allowed to get away from by chance the German doctor, had told him exactly what
Dunkirk.
she thought of all Germans. Jimmy escaped from the
During the afternoon we got orders for the embarkation hospital shortly after his arm had been amputated, but he
that evening. Only walking wounded were to be taken with spent many weeks in Occupied and Vichy France before he
us, and all stretcher cases had to be sent to an MDS in reached England.
the outskirts of the town, there to be left until the Ger- During the short campaign the battalion casualties
mans should take them over. I felt very bad about Jimmy amounted to:
Langley, but when I had seen him he was obviously a very
Officers Other Ranks
8
serious stretcher case. With him we had to leave some thir-
Wounded
teen Coldstreamers at the MDS. Altogether there were
Prisoners of War
Missing
about one hundred and twenty men of the battalion left.
The rest had got off during the night from the beaches. The This brief account hardly does justice to the spirit of the
afternoon seemed interminable, and about every two hours battalion. A repeated withdrawal, with little explanation for
the Stukas came over to bomb the beaches or the little the necessity, may well become demoralizing; but at their
town. They did not, however, appear to do very much weariest, when short of sleep after long hours of marching,
damage.
all ranks of the battalion remained cheerful and responded
At 8.30 p.m. the British rearguard, about seven thousand to every call put upon them. The morale was high, so that
strong, began to form up. With the remains of ist Guards there was none of the wild alarmist rumours and spy fever
Brigade heading the column, they marched down to the which such conditions breed. It was unfortunate that on
Mole, there to embark. All Coldstreamers and Hampshires both occasions that the battalion was attacked it should
made a point of taking the Bren guns and anti-tank rifles, have become outflanked. There was little opportunity for
with which they had fought, on board with them. There aggressive action, yet we know from the account of the
were at least two Brens per section and two anti-tank rifles local inhabitants that the Germans buried a large number
per platoon. As we marched down to the Mole we saw a of dead opposite our posts on the Bergues Furnes Canal.
group of horses on the rocks surrounded by the rising tide. In such a campaign it is the least spectacular administrative
They were terrified and would undoubtedly have been rôles which are most important. Paddy Chichester and M. J.
drowned. Raoul asked my permission to shoot them, and I rose to every emergency. Their forethought and untiring
allowed him to do so.
energy, combined with a full response from all ranks of the
General Alex and Monkey Morgan came down carrying battalion, made the task of command simple.
Killed
3
62
92
30
6
35
CHAPTER TWO
THE SECOND BATTALION
IN NORTH AFRICA
November 1942-February 1944

Medjez el Bab, 11 Dec. John Ponsonby watching shells burst on a wood to which German tanks had withdrawn. Fourteen of them, the leading
ones bearing American markings, had advanced down the Tebourba road, but were driven back by fire from American Shermans in the wood
north of Medjez station
37
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

B
с
D
E
A
F
G
je
3
SICILY
wotnym
To Cagliari 180 M
Bank
Becaker BIZERTA
90 AP
1
TUNISIA
pen
Pantelleria de
Chara
ferryville
Merbillon
Sportofarina
Bor
Mateur
Gulf of
E laonana
Crosa
CR
Bugcasa!
- Abiod
Pne Tunis
Bône
Labelle
Tabara
Mr and
Va Marsa
Dedeida
Tizoghrane
Blandar
Carthage
Meliha
Morris
AirDrahan
Tabourer
TUNISI
Moulette
Jammu
telart
Rand
Beja
Oumboul Menzel Ternime
Selepon
Pentheon
Solimar
Mondo
Ozarga
San
Prona
la Nohamed
Menze bonus
*Calliem
Medjez elBab
Grombalia
Heliopolis
Testos
Gohellar
korba
Lam
Dummer
Omelia
Guelmu
Tebourrouka
Depian
vabeul
Vattar Lavendum
Chandanion
Aroussa
Loghouan Manmamet
Souk And
Medew
Cafour
S Nouesa
Bon Ficha
Zanpur
Gulf de
Gambetta
Lakefa
Hammamet
Sentrala
Entidaville
Montesquia
Sahne
De oma
Jama
2
QA
to Hatta dom
12
To Pembe хвала зом
e de faglige
P
Chamoniae
A Mestour
source Diana
Militar Kesa
nosal.
Mendi
Vorsou
Kairouan
*Kalau Djerda
Piction
Nekat
Susa
Monastir
Msakert
Djandaal
Teboulha
Moline
Si ber Nour
Mahdia
fourEssar
3
Thala
Fogdouk
3
Lampedusal.I.)
Tebessa
Moderne
Yast Allah
ocene
Sida
*
des Soussa Djem
Cheb
ad
Thasmine
Melou
Sadaqa
Sibouti
Bowl
la Renda
Bir Tobruk
Berana
Brahim
alerg
Thaga
Whaba
AUST
El Kera
Bireler
Agarebe
Sfax
Chergill
lles kerken
Kour.Quich
Menteri Zebbus
Meine
Rhart
4
4
Naknass,
. Meer
Circa
Negrine
Gafsa
Mahares
Tamera
El cuetar
Medaoui
Stekhin
le Mdilla
PEL
Gull de Qabes
Ch. el Fudad
Metha
Tozeur
Dierball
Herunt.
You
al Hammas
Qabes.
Chalt
Djerid
11
Okebili
D
Aghir
el kantana
of
Bou
Graro
Chemlak
bourne
Parram
5
5
Djemna
Matmata
Behenne
Tanamed
Jouane
daris
Douz
bi Me
Cheyutin
Melameur
touta
ВОладеш
Medenine
Pahrten
to Malta195
Bal Mad)
Buah
*hsar Kandacht
Choniaemsen
Acar Ruane
Ghemmed
Bar Candan Adjen
+
inanmest
Taget
Zelim
2uara
TRIPOLL
Reglat
Sabmlha
Kar Norra
Zawu
Agarba
Park
notou
El Agelar Sorman
no
UR
Barat
oui Tathoune
Douinar
Wachaula
82
16
6
Bizie
UR
alatyasa
& Jaiara
Ranta
.cdrala
& Kameure
E Chanen
Erromata
omdb
Shu
& Oum Sourh
• Bassrut
BA
Belut
"Gharyan
Chechou
Befren
kla
B. Remour
Barache
TUI
Dette
exaen
Giose
bGlado
an
38
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA

EZ BAB
017
The RAP at Medjez Station

4.
Gdsm. Wolfenden escorting a
German prisoner away from
Bn. HQ at Medjez
39
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
'
T
June 1940-November 1942
HE main body of the 2nd Battalion, consisting of After a summer of further embarkation scares, raspberry-
Lt. Col. Bootle-Wilbraham and some seventy officers picking and gruelling exercises, the battalion mobilized
and men, arrived at Dover from Dunkirk in June 1940. under the command of Lt. Col. W. S. Stewart-Brown, who
The battalion collected at Wakefield in Yorkshire and then took over from Lt.-Col. S. A. Forster; and November 1942
moved to the Lincolnshire coast to spend the summer con- found it sailing down the Clyde in H.M.T. Nea Hellas.
structing beach defences. Early in 1941 combined operations The plans for the North African landing were revealed
training started, the battalion leaving Lincolnshire and the during the voyage.
Ist Division to join Field-Marshal Alexander's Force 110 The battalion disembarked at Algiers on the 22nd
near Glasgow; and in September it moved to Dumfries, November, heavy bombing having prevented a landing at
which owing to the excellent wildfowling on the Solway and the Port of Bone. Owing to this change of plan, no trans-
the generous hospitality of the local inhabitants, proved to port had been arranged for the 500-mile journey from
be one of the most popular stations of the war.
Algiers to the battlefront, so for ten days the battalion sat
In April 1942, there was a fresh move to Blairgowrie, near disconsolately in a tangerine grove just outside the town,
Perth, when the ist Guards Brigade became part of the 78th hearing nothing but wild rumours which drifted back from
Division, the assaulting division of the ist Army in North the hard-pressed brigades fighting in Tunisia. Eventually
Africa. In May, amidst much secrecy, the ist Guards Brigade sufficient trucks were assembled for the two-day journey
was rushed down to Norris Castle in the Isle of Wight, where, to Medjez el Bab, where many members of the battalion
after ten days' hard training, the battalion boarded an as- heard shots fired in anger for the first time : for as they
saulting ship for a raid on the French coast. However, bad moved into Medjez railway station to take up positions,
weather put a stop to this expedition at the last moment, four or five German tanks pushed their way into the out-
and the battalion returned to its old billets in Blairgowrie. skirts of the town to test the defences.
THE ORDER OF BATTLE BEFORE LONGSTOP
Commanding Officer Lt.-Col. W. S. STEWART-BROWN
No. 2 Company
(wounded and awarded D.S.O.)
Company Captain the EARL OF
Second in command Major E. R. HILL
Commander DEVON
Adjutant
Captain F. W. P. CORBOULD
Second in Captain W. B. HARRIS
(wounded first phase)
command
Platoon
Lt. M. R. HOLLINGS Wounded first phase
HQ Company Com- Captain B. G. BRITTON
mander
Commanders Lt. J. W. B. COLE Wounded second
phase and P.O.W.
Signal Officer
Lt. W. L. BAXENDALE
Lt. A. N. WATNEY
Intelligence Officer Lt. A. D. A. BALFOUR
CSM
WALKER
Second “I” Officer Lt. C. R. MUIR
Anti-tank Officer
Captain R. M. CHAPLIN
No. 3 Company
Lt. the LORD LEVESON
Company Captain A. H. G. FOR- Wounded some days
Carrier Officer
Captain R. C. WINDSOR-CLIVE
Commander TESCUE, M.C.
before the battle
Asst. Carrier Officer Lt. the Hon. D. C. CHICHESTER
Second in Captain C. O. JANSON Acting Coy. Cdr.,
Mortar Officer
Lt. R. E. PHILLIPS (M.C. second
command
wounded second
phase)
phase
Platoon
Lt. J. A. PONSONBY Killed second phase
Pioneer Officer
Lt. J. D. G. FORTESCUE
Commanders Lt. D. M. de L. CAZE- Sick and not present
MT Officer
Captain S. V. S. HOWARD-STEPNEY
NOVE
Quartermaster
Lt. J. SAWDON
Lt. J. N. AGNEW
Medical Officer
Lt. E. GREY-TURNER
CSM
SMITH
RSM
F. TIMBRELL
ROMS
H. BIRTLES
No. 4 Company
D/Sgt.
A. RAMSDEN
Company Major C. HARFORD
ORQMS
F. WHITEHEAD
Commander
ORC
Captain the Hon. R. J. L.O.B.
F. WARD
Second in
command
PALMER
Platoon
Lt. T. F. COLVILLE
No. 1 Company
Killed second phase
Commanders Lt. H. R. B. CALLANDER
Company Major the Hon. A. P. S. Died of wounds after
Lt. R. J. SOUTHEY
Commander CHICHESTER
first phase
CSM
LYNCH
Killed second phase
Second in
Captain the Hon. P. L. Wounded second
command
KINDERSLEY
phase and P.O.W.
Platoon
Lt. F. P. CROWDER Sick and not present
Reinforcement Company
Commanders Lt. M. PHILIPS
Wounded second Company Captain Sir JOHN PIGOTT- Killed second phase
phase
Commander BROWN, Bt.
Lt. T. R. E. JACKSON
Second in
Lt. R. L. SECONDE
CSM
CALLAGHAN
Killed first phase
command
40
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA

Longstop Hill from the direction of Medjez el Bab


Lt. Col. Bunty Stewart-Brown
Roddy Hill, second in command
41
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
“
THE COLDSTREAM AT LONGSTOP
December 1942
By LT.-COLONEL E. R. Hill
By courtesy of the Publishers of the “Army Quarterly''
*
and to hand over before dawn to a battalion of a United
States combat team. The Guards battalion was then to
march back twelve miles to an assembly area south-east of
Medjez, so as to be ready to take part in a subsequent phase
of the battle for Tunis. Our preliminary contacts with the
Americans were most satisfactory. Reconnaissance for the
attack was carried out from Grenadier Hill, a dominating
feature south-east of Medjez and some seventy miles from
Longstop. Djebel el Rhar was unfortunately not visible
from here, or from anywhere else where we could have gone,
and thus we failed to realize its tactical importance or even
its existence. The battalion plan was for No. 4 Company to
4
seize the col at the west end of Longstop Hill and for No. I
JEBEL
EL RHAR
HILLS
BASIN
THE HALT
ICOL
The Ground
Towards the end of December 1942, the 2nd Battalion
Coldstream Guards was holding the defensive position at
Medjez station about one mile north of the town of that
name, and looked away north-east down the valley of the
river Medjerda. On the left bank of this winding river ran
the railway to Tunis and the road to Tebourba, the latter
place—made famous by the stand of the 2nd Battalion of the
Hampshire Regiment—being about eighteen miles farther
on. The valley was dominated on the right by the Bou
feature, later to be captured by the 24th Guards Brigade,
and on the left, at a distance of about five miles from the
station, by Longstop Hill, ultimately to be captured by the
36th Infantry Brigade. As far as could be seen and as far as
the French maps showed, Longstop Hill was one regular
isolated feature some two miles in length and rising to a
height of about 3,000 feet, being separated from the high
ground to the west by a low col and from the high ground
to the north by what looked like a basin. One mile south-
west of the col was the village of Chassart-Teffaha. Between
the station, this village and Longstop Hill the ground was
perfectly flat, though dotted here and there with small
copses and farm buildings. Apart from the main road, which
ran alongside the railway line, another road branched off
left to Chassart-Teffaha about one mile east of the station.
None of the roads marked on the map was more than a mud
track and some of them were never located at all. It will help
to explain subsequent events if I say now that the one
feature which was not appreciated, because it was not known
to exist, was the Djebel el Rhar which formed a distinct
feature at the north-east end of Longstop Hill. Longstop
Hill was, in fact, a double feature, the part that we could see
on the ground and which was marked on the map being
called Djebel el Ahmera, with Djebel el Rhar separated
from it by a deep gully.

00
LONGSTOP OR JEBELEL AHMERA
காயாகாவாலயாயாய
XXX
MINCS
N.
IMPASSABLE
ju FOR M.T.
MILES
써
​A
R. MEDJERDA
AND
PLAIN
PLOUGH
CHASSART
TEFFAHA
-> TEBOURBA
WINDMILL FARM
图
​MEDVEZ
++++++++
R.MEDJERDA
Plans
The Corps plan was for the Coldstream Guards to seize
Longstop Hill during the night of 22nd-23rd December
ORIG. BN. POSN
42
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA
Company then to pass through and clear the top. Meanwhile up the American headquarters with our own, which had
No. 2 Company was to attack the known enemy locality moved up the right-hand road, on which were also our
at the Halt, which was situated just where the railway line guides for their company. Such a link-up, in fact, was never
passed the east end of Longstop Hill. No. 3 Company was
3
made, although the American Commanding Officer himself
in reserve, and was to remain with the Battalion Command
was persuaded to take the right-hand road past the Halt.
Post on the south side of the feature. They moved in the Unfortunately he missed the guides, who were expecting to
rear of No. 2 Company up the main road towards the Halt meet a company and not an individual. Soon afterwards he
before turning off left-handed across country to the south came under enemy machine-gun fire and was pinned for
side of the hill.
several hours. Finally he extricated himself and got in touch
with the Coldstream Commanding Officer at his Command
The First Attack
Post. Meanwhile the Coldstream attack had apparently
The attack started off according to plan; there was yet gone well. No. 4 Company had occupied the col without
little moon and a great deal of cloud. One field artillery opposition and No. 1 Company had cleared the top without
regiment fired concentrations for twenty minutes on the few suffering undue casualties, although the company com-
known enemy localities, and all proceeded satisfactorily. mander was mortally wounded.
Meanwhile the moon came up and the American battalion No. 2 had seized the Halt, had been strongly counter-
due to relieve us began arriving at Medjez station. The plan attacked and had then lost most of its reserve platoon,
had been for two of their rifle companies to proceed to which in trying to stabilize the position had advanced into
Chassart-Teffaha and then to go up the main road towards an undetected anti-personnel minefield. However, as we
the Halt. At each place guides had been arranged to lead appeared to have secured Longstop Hill, possession of the
them on to the position occupied by our companies, while Halt was no longer vital, and the Commanding Officer
their Battalion Headquarters were to follow the right-hand decided not to commit the reserve company to a counter-
road. When the battalion arrived, however, their Command- attack to regain it. This was the situation which faced the
ing Officer decided that his Battalion Headquarters should Americans on their arrival. Their two companies, which had
move with the heavy weapons company on the left-hand come up by the Chassart-Teffaha road, rapidly took over
road. Despite this change of plan, they were confident that what both the Coldstream and U.S. Commanding Officers
the commander of this company would be capable of linking thought was the whole of the high ground. The night,

8 a.m. 23 Dec. after the night attack on Longstop. Men of No. 3 Company withdraw after handing over their positions to the Americans.
Sgt. Winter leads his section, followed by Gdsm. A. Smith and Gdsm. Tindall
43
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
a
though moonlit, was cloudy and the existence of Djebel el Company forward, its task being to clear the top of the
Rhar was still not realized by any one. This no doubt ridge and dominate the Halt at its eastern extremity;
explains why both Commanding Officers thought the situa- No. 3 Company, in support, was to consolidate on the top,
tion to be well in hand. The American colonel then told and No. 1 Company to be in reserve. No. 2 Company, sadly
the British that he was happy for them to leave him alone depleted since the first attack, was to provide carrying
on the hill and the order to start withdrawing was given. parties. Thus the attack was to be made from the west to the
It did not prove possible for the Coldstream to reach east with the object of clearing the ridge for the second time.
their rear assembly area by dawn, as had been planned, and Zero was at 5.30 p.m., i.e. two hours before dark. The
it was about 8 a.m. on the morning of the 23rd Decem- attack was successful, but when No. 4 reached the final
ber before the tail of the last company approached Medjez peak they saw in the failing light what had never previously
bridge. Here an attack was made on them by German been appreciated—Djebel el Rhar staring at them across
aircraft, which caused no loss. By 10 a.m. most of the the gully. They thereupon inclined to the left and gallantly
battalion were having breakfast, having fought all night and attempted to deal with this new objective. It was found,
marched twelve miles back from the battlefield. The rain, however, to be strongly held and to be a much larger area
which had previously been intermittent, now started to fall than one company could possibly cope with. In the darkness
in earnest. Before breakfast had been finished word suddenly the platoons inevitably lost touch with one another, and,
came from Brigade Headquarters that the Americans on with most of the leaders killed, this attack failed and the
Longstop Hill were in difficulties and that one company with company withdrew to a position slightly behind the left
carrier and mortar platoons were to return at once and place of No. 1 Company, where they gave some depth to the
themselves under the command of the American colonel. position. No. I were now on the eastern end of Longstop
By the time they got there it was found that the Americans Hill, with No. 3 slightly in front and to the right of them.
had been forced off all the high ground, except at the west Soon after this the rain abated and the moon rose, to
end, and were now on the lower southern slopes. The disclose the three forward companies struggling to dig in
Coldstream company was placed in the area of the col where on the eastern slopes of Djebel el Ahmera and overlooked
they had been the previous night.
by the Bosche, who still held Djebel el Rhar. All that night
By midday the rain had reduced the roads to such a state these companies were subjected to accurate German mortar
as to make it impossible for any wheeled vehicles (other fire, which made the task of digging in on the almost solid
than four-wheel drive, of which we had one) to get beyond rock extremely difficult for very weary men.
Chassart-Teffaha; even track vehicles could only just get
through the mud as far as the col. We had no mules. By the
The Night of 24-25 Dec. 1942.
afternoon the Commanding Officer and another company The administrative position of the battalion was now far
had been sent for to assist the Americans, and later a third from happy. No wheels could get within 5,000 yards of the
company. The rain continued with unabating fury all that forward companies and no vehicles of any sort within 3,000
day and night. Early on Christmas Eve the Brigade Com- yards. Ammunition had therefore to be brought from
mander made a new plan. The rest of the Coldstream were Chassart-Teffaha to the col by carrier and thence by hand;
to return to Longstop, the Commanding Officer assuming while casualties, which were occurring all the time, had to
command of all troops on the hill, with his second-in- be evacuated by the same painful process. To make things
command to help in coordination.
worse, the whole of Longstop Hill was covered by sopping-
wet, knee-high rosemary and coarse heather. It was not
The Second Attack
therefore surprising that by dawn the remains of No. 2
The American Command Post was not easy to find, and Company, who had been carrying these loads, were com-
their interpretation of “liaison” proved to be different from pletely exhausted. Communications too were difficult. Rear
our own in that two enlisted men were detailed for this duty, link to Brigade was in the only four-wheeled drive vehicle
but only knew the location of their company headquarters. there was, which had got up as far as the track at the col;
They were, in fact, only the equivalent of our “runners”.
” thus a part of Battalion Headquarters had to be there, as
As was to be expected in such circumstances, the situation that was also the place where ammunition was transhipped
was obscure. At noon the Americans appeared to be from carriers to men, and casualties, in turn, from stretcher-
holding on to the southern slopes of Longstop Hill, facing bearers to carriers. Owing to the screening effect of the hills
north, while portions of the excellent heavy weapons com- no wireless set would work from this point to the forward
pany were occupying the top in one or two places somewhere companies, and thus the Battalion Command Post had to be
about the middle of the ridge. The fighting portion of the located half-way along the top of the ridge, where radio
Coldstream battalion was now concentrated at the west end speech was possible to the col and the forward company.
of the Hill with a few carriers, as no wheeled vehicles could During the night the first reinforcements arrived. They had
get beyond the village of Chassart-Teffaha, about one and a not been seen since the battalion left England, and they were
half miles away. Our plan was to attack again with No. 4 now hurried into the battle with only sufficient pause to
a
44
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA

24 Dec. The second attack on Longstop. No. 4 Company, followed by No. 3, move up to the start line. The German positions are over the crest.
An American mortar detachment is in right foreground
dump their big packs. But, despite this help, as the night
wore on it became apparent that more troops still and
considerable artillery support would be necessary to com-
plete the job next day. The only troops available were one
company of French native troops, with no English-speaking
officers and with horse transport. They were sent up, and
before dawn were in position on the northern slopes of
Longstop Hill. The artillery problem was less satisfactory,
as the observation posts had been withdrawn at dark, and
owing to the state of the tracks were unable to get back
until after dawn.
The German Counter-Attack
By first light on Christmas morning many Coldstream
leaders had either been killed or wounded. Despite all the
carrying parties' efforts, ammunition was short and such
3-in. mortars as their detachments had managed to get up
had been unable to deal with the German mortars, owing
to being outranged. As dawn broke, what was thought at
first to be German tanks were seen approaching down the
Tebourba road. They swung to the west and disclosed them-
selves as four eight-wheeled armoured cars firing something
like a 0.5-in. bullet. Without difficulty they were able to
manæuvre along the north side of Longstop Hill and shoot
up the French company, who had not by then been able to
dig themselves in and could not reply effectively with their
rifles. Accordingly the native troops withdrew. As the light
got stronger it was apparent that a strong force of German
infantry had also been brought up and was attacking the
Americans on the southern slopes of Longstop Hill from
the direction of the Halt, and also from the south. They had
worked into the thicker country at the foot of the hill before
the light got strong enough for those on the top to see them.
Meanwhile the German mortar and artillery bombardment
on the Coldstream and on some of the Americans was
intensified and the work of our carrying parties became
well-nigh impossible. Casualties continued to mount and
ammunition to grow less. By 10 a.m. it was clear that
Longstop Hill could no longer be held. Meanwhile a
battalion of the Grenadier Guards had been brought up to
a position on the high ground between the col and Chassart-
Teffaha, and the Coldstream were ordered to withdraw
through them and take up a defensive position west of the
village. By the time this position was occupied the battalion
was without Commanding Officer and Adjutant, both of
whom had been wounded, and with only one officer left out
of four in either No. I or No. 3 Companies; three company
sergeant-majors had been killed or wounded and only one
of the twelve original platoon sergeants was left. Other
junior leaders, both commissioned and non-commissioned,
had disappeared in a like ratio. The American survivors,
of whom there were tragically few, fought with great
45
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

At tea-time a sharp battle suddenly started, German tanks
attacking unexpectedly. A certain amount of pandemonium
followed, in which I could not really make out what was
happening. Seven casualties were brought in, including
Arthur Fortescue and one man very badly wounded yet
walking.
I am writing this by the faint light of an improvised petrol
lamp, while Dawson and Farrar, who are with me, are
brewing tea.
a
a
Mortar carriers bringing up ammunition and rations before the Second
Battle of Longstop. Sgt. C. Bloomer is driving the left-hand carrier.
Sgt. O'Rourke, M.M., is sitting beside him
Chassart-Teffaha, Thurs. 24 Dec. 1942
We arrived at this large château at about midnight and
installed ourselves in a cellar, by permission of M. de Ligne,
the proprietor, a prosperous printer, formerly of Cambrai.
Hard work getting sorted out, then a few marvellous hours
of sleep, which did me a world of good. The guns round
here opened up on the German positions this evening, and
then the battalion put in an attack. The fighting was hard
and all night I was busy treating the wounded and helping
with liaison matters. During the evening the French
medical officer gave me excellent help. I went to the
American MO's RAP, where he was gallantly helping us.
The battle went only with difficulty and the Brigadier came
up to see how things were. A French company was sent up
to help and our first reinforcements arrived in great style,
with Ernie Pigott-Brown and Reggie Seconde. I was very
sorry for them, arriving at this extremely difficult moment.
courage right until the very end, particularly the machine-
gunners in the heavy weapons company. The Coldstream
had lost about two hundred men killed or wounded and
the Americans three hundred.
Christmas Day, Fri. 25 Dec. 1942
At about 5 a.m. Roddy arrived and asked for someone to
come forward and give first-aid to the wounded. I went up
Conclusion
Thus was fought and lost the battalion's first major
engagement since it had helped to hold off the Germans
from Dunkirk on the ist June, 1940. It is easy to be wise in
the light of more recent experience, but at any rate four
major lessons were learnt from our misfortunes. First,
although gunner observation posts may not be able to see
in the dark, they must remain with the forward troops
throughout the night. Secondly, in the hill country it must
be realized that, if mules cannot be provided, one man in
every four will have to carry and so will be lost to the fight.
Thirdly, although the British and Americans speak the
same language, cooperation on the battalion level in battle
is
very difficult on account of differences in organization and
terminology. Fourthly, it would appear to be asking the
impossible of a battalion to order it to carry out an attack
and then hand over in the same night. This creates special
difficulties for those who are taking over and are expecting
to remain the next day.

a
Extracts from the Diary of ELSTON GREY-TURNER
Medjez el Bab, Fri. 11 Dec. 1942
A thundering good sleep while the Americans were re-
tiring through us all night. Moved to new RAP. The dirt,
damage and waste of war are well illustrated amongst these
once pretty little houses. Saw the first graves of the war
dead. Some air activity.
24 Dec. Watching the battle from rear Bn. HQ at Medjez. Artillery
preparation has started and shells can be seen bursting on the hill
46
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA


Sgt. Stewart and RSM Timbrell with captured weapons
Capt. Sir John Pigott-Brown, Bt. North Africa 25.12.42


COLDS
Lt. J. A. Ponsonby North Africa 25.12.42
Sgt. Sumner, M.M.
47
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”



*
Major the Hon. A. P. S. Chichester
North Africa 23.12.42
Lt. T. F. Colville North Africa 25.12.42



STRENGURUS
North Africa
Lt. 7. H. Chaworth-Musters
12.4.43
Lt. H. W. Sarsons
North Africa 4.5.43
Lt. A. B. Williamson North Africa 4.5.43
Lt. A. N. Watney North Africa 15.5.43
48
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA
CC
myself and got up to Advanced Battalion Headquarters on Near Robaa, Thurs. II Feb. 1943. Sunshine
the top of the ridge, which we had just captured. The men
Valley”
were dead-beat. I saw the sun rise over the Medjerda and
Awoke to find heavy snow falling and a piercing wind. An
meditated on the strangeness of this Christmas Day.
appalling day, cold and heavy rain. Walked along the road
Almost at once the Germans began a mortar bombard-
towards our forward positions and saw the mountains of
ment and machine-gun fire and a counter-attack. It was
Tunisia enveloped in snow and cloud. Petre Crowder and
hell for a time, and soon the Americans were forced to fall
Mark Philips are back to-day.
back. Roddy was magnificent, standing boldly on the ridge
and rallying the troops. I thought the whole thing pro- Near Sbiba, Fri. 19 Feb. 1943
foundly tragic and disturbing. Strangely enough, I was not
I
Heavy rain all morning. About noon the Germans attacked
the least bit frightened, although for the first time I found
with tanks and infantry, and a brisk battle raged the rest of
a
myself in the midst of a modern battle.
a
the day. We gradually got the better of them, with very low
After a time Roddy ordered me back to Battalion Head-
casualties on our side. The only real tragedy was two of our
quarters, and I withdrew with my three corporals, slowly
tanks getting hit-four casualties from this, all very badly
going down the hill as No. 2 Company was coming up to
wounded
help to hold the ridge. All the way we were under heavy
machine-gun and mortar fire. At the bottom of the hill I
Near Sbiba, Sat. 20 Feb. 1943
found Charles Harford gallantly forming a few remnants
into a line of defence. He ordered me back to Chassart,
A hazy, sunny day. The Germans attacked in the morning
where I found enormous numbers of casualties in the RAP.
with infantry, mortars and shells. Repulsed with heavy
We dealt with these while the German mortars opened up on
losses. Our casualties very light. Watched the German
Chassart. Geoffrey Britton was hastily organizing some sort
infantry lying on a ridge about 600 yards away while our
of defence here, and the Grenadiers were coming up. At
guns were giving them stick. A sniper fired several times at
about eleven I was ordered to evacuate and go to the con-
people near the RAP.
centration area beyond Medjez.
I myself had a remarkable escape. A shell fell a few feet
We arrived at the concentration area just in time to deal
from me. I did not hear it coming—I only remember a great
with casualties from a carrier which had just blown up,
bang and a wave of pressure, a sudden pain in the right heel
causing great carnage. What a day! Then we sorted ourselves
and left buttock, a sickly feeling that I had been “got”,
out and had just set up a new RAP in a cowshed when we
reeling about in choking smoke and dust, something
were ordered to move again, this time to a farm on the
peppering my scalp. Poor Cpl. Hall, who was equidistant
Teboursouk road from Medjez. So we did, and arrived in
from the shell on the other side, was killed outright.
bright moonlight after getting our ambulance stuck in the
mud and having to find another. Reunion with all the
Near Sbiba, Sun. 21 Feb. 1943
officers in a dirty Arab house; and bed.
A busy day. This morning shells fell slap on No. 1 Company
What an appalling Christmas Day!
Headquarters, killing three and wounding seven. I went up

BRIGADE FARM.
THE CAVES.
be
COLDSTREAM ALL
NR. MEDJEZ-EL-BAB. JULY 5 H. 1943
-
ARABHUTMENIS
On 26 Dec., after Longstop, the battalion first took up the Coldstream Hill position, which overlooked Medjez. This shows the
two reserve Company positions, Nos. I and 4 (Drawn by Gdsm. Leaf)
4
49
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
with an ambulance to a forward position to pick them up. That took me all the morning. After lunch a lovely wash
There was a sniper active on the road, but he did not worry and shave. After that Bobby Hyde's platoon went on seven
us. Only one of the wounded was serious. I went back a Churchill tanks on a recce in force. We all felt that it was a
second time and up to Bill Harris's headquarters, where I doomed party, and we heard any amount of German fire.
did what I could for a man who was very badly wounded. After a very short time the tanks were back, bearing a
Bill was marvellous, considering the ordeal. Saw some sick number of fairly badly wounded, of whom only one was
on the way back. Watched Alastair Coats trying to blow out a Coldstreamer.
the sniper with grenades. Chat with Desmond Fortescue.
STEAMROLLER FARM
28 February 1943
By Boo WINDSOR-CLIVE
Steamroller Farm is on the road that runs north and south
from Medjez to El Aroussa behind, or west of, the feature
known as Grandstand Hill. After the ist Guards Brigade
had left the Kasserine Pass and had been baulked, for the
umpteenth time, of its promised period of rest, it found
itself in the area of El Aroussa. The Germans, in the shape
of parts of the Hermann Goering Jaeger Regiment, had
made their way over the Grandstand Hill feature and had
cut the Medjez-El Aroussa road.
On the morning of the 28th February my own company
(No. 3) was ordered to pile on to a squadron of Churchill
tanks and advance up the road towards Medjez. The object
was to clear the road and link up with a reconnaissance regi-
ment that was making its way southward. When the force
was within about 1,000 yards of Steamroller Farm it came
under HE and AP 88-mm. fire. We dismounted from the
tanks with some speed and continued the advance on foot.
Before the company had got very far they came into very
open country and under accurate spandau fire, which caused
a few casualties. Before long Sgt. G. Hodgson, of the mortar
platoon, appeared and proceeded to bombard the farm
fairly effectively with his two 3-in. mortars. Meanwhile the
Churchill tanks continued to advance with great gallantry
down the road, in spite of considerable 88-mm. fire, which
caused them several casualties. Eventually two or three
tanks succeeded in getting through and behind the enemy,
causing a great deal of damage and destroying three enemy
tanks and an 88-mm. Towards the end of the proceedings
No. 2 Company (Desmond Fortescue) arrived with the
Senior Chaplain of the 6th Armoured Division, the Rev.
G. P. Druitt, who was of the greatest assistance with the
wounded. At dusk the whole force withdrew to an area
about a mile north of El Aroussa, astride the road. The
casualties suffered by No. 3 Company were two killed and
3
seven wounded—the latter including Ralph Anstruther, who
was subsequently awarded the M.C. for this action.
On the following morning the Divisional Armoured Car
Regiment (Derbyshire Yeomanry) discovered that the
enemy had withdrawn, leaving about half-a-dozen com-
mando prisoners-of-war in Steamroller Farm. The road to
Medjez was now clear. Hardly had No. 3 Company heard
3
this news than, to their rage, they saw from their defensive
position a column of Grenadier 3-tonners, headed by
Colonel Algy Heber-Percy and closely followed by Desmond
Chichester and his carriers, on their way to Steamroller
Farm to see what was going. Several good things were
collected, including a naval duffle coat by Desmond and a
15-cwt. by the carrier platoon. This was driven “surplus
to all establishment” by Gdsm. P. Lee for the rest of the
African and throughout the Italian campaigns.
Extracts from the Diary of Elston GREY-Turner
Sakiet Sidi Youssef, Sat. 3 April, 1943
Spent all day inoculating the battalion again. To-morrow
we move off for battle. Consequently there was an almighty
“blind” in camp, both the sergeants' mess and officers'
mess being broken up, until the Commanding Officer
closed down the proceedings.
50
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA

Battalion exercise at Sakiet, end of March 1943

A Coldstream carrier at Steamroller Farm
51
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
Overlooking Kairouan, Sat. 10 April, 1943
Special Order of the Day
A thrilling day. Soon after dawn we got orders to advance
through the pass of Pichon, which we then did in bright
HEADQUARTERS
sunshine and strong wind, with clouds of dust and sand
18th ARMY GROUP
around the column. The pass was well in our hands and we
21st April, 1943
were advancing on Kairouan. There was a huge and im-
pressive column of guns, lorries, tanks, TCVs, etc., almost
head to tail on the road. There was bags of air protection,
SOLDIERS OF THE ALLIES
but in spite of that we were bombed twice and the battalion
had some casualties. We passed the Americans and also 1. Two months ago, when the Germans and Italians were
lorry loads of German prisoners going back. All day we attacking us, I told you that if you held firm, final victory
was assured.
advanced in stages, while the armour was fighting success-
fully outside Kairouan. At night we stopped and took up
2. You did your duty and now you are about to reap its full
reward.
positions overlooking Kairouan.
3. We have reached the last phase of this campaign. We have
grouped our victorious Armies and are going to drive the
En Route from Sbiba to Kairouan, Mon. 12 April, enemy into the sea.
1943
We have got them just where we want them—with their
backs to the wall.
Left our old location at 4 a.m. and drove in convoy through
4. This final battle will be fierce, bitter and long, and will
the Holy City of Kairouan, with its domes and minarets, at
demand all the skill, strength and endurance of each one
present held by an American Division. Turned north.
of us.
Occupied a cactus grove just evacuated by the Germans,
But you have proved yourselves the masters of the battle-
with German newspapers, letters and some equipment field, and therefore you will win this last great battle which
lying about. At sundown we returned in convoy to our old
will give us the whole of North Africa.
position overlooking Kairouan, passing units of the 8th 5. The eyes of the world are on you—and the hopes of all
at home.
Army moving north. They are to take over the coastal plain
while we are to make a thrust farther inland. This Division
FORWARD THEN, TO VICTORY
has taken 2,000 prisoners in three days.
HR. Alexander
By the Salt Lake, Easter Monday, 26 April, 1943
The most appalling day of my life. Last night a thick fog
descended on the area and the transport column speedily
got split up and completely lost in the plain. I found myself
General.
Commander, 18th Army Group

DJEBEL
TROZZA
34 U.S.DIVISION
138. INF. BOL [3RD WELSH GOS!
FONDOK
OKSI
TONDOUK - PICHON PASS TORCED BY VIE ARMOURID DIVISION 9TH APRIL 1943
The battalion took no part in this battle, but it had a grandstand view of the 3rd Welsh Guards and the 26th Armoured Brigade forcing the gap. The
battalion was later committed in the advance to Kairouan, where the ist and 8th Armies joined up (Drawn by Gdsm. Leaf)
52
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA
a
in charge of one of the lost portions and spent the entire 3-tonner riddled with bullets. The Padre (who had been a
night struggling to find the battalion. During this, German tower of strength) and I went back to have a cautious look
planes dropped bombs near us. At dawn General Keightley at the inferno. Later in the day the battalion gradually
found us, and we married up with the other party, also collected up, feeling very depressed. In the night Charles
completely lost, and made our way to the battalion.
Harford and I went out to look for stragglers. The trucks
We had just got all the transport parked and the RAP were still blazing in the distance.
established in a gully, where there was a lot of abandoned
German clothing, when the mist lifted and revealed that we
Near La Mornaghia, Fri. 7 May, 1943
were in a small hollow surrounded by high hills. In a few Spent the night out-cold and wet. This morning at dawn
seconds the Germans on these very hills opened up on us moved down to the main Medjez-Tunis road and along to
with mortars, rifles, machine-guns and anti-tank guns. Furna, where the battalion was located right beside the 3rd
We were caught in a trap. Our little hollow was like an Battalion. The Germans appeared to be in full retreat. I was
inferno—never have I felt so frightened. Soon the wounded called to Massicault to attend a wounded Frenchman, a
came pouring in and we had to treat them as best we could wounded Arab and a French woman in labour. The French
with mortar bombs dropping all around and machine-gun were all delighted to see us. The general impression I got
bullets whizzing into the RAP. It became so intense that the about the Germans was that they had not been brutal, but
wounded would not stop in the RAP. We felt trapped, had taken everything from the country-furniture, food,
bewildered.
beasts, etc., etc.
After a time the companies started withdrawing. Eighteen It was exhilarating, bumming along the main Tunis road
trucks were blazing. We were advised to clear out and leave with our guns firing, a continuous air umbrella overhead
our trucks, but I was determined not to lose the kit and (air protection had been marvellous) and tons of men and
ordered the drivers to get the trucks out. This they did, and material moving up the road.
two ambulances full of wounded, in a hail of shells and We occupied some low hills practically without opposition
bullets. The trucks sped across the plain, potted at by the (a little sporadic shelling). The French told us that the
mortars. Right over by the lake, in amongst the ist Germans had retired in disorder, and that was evident by
Armoured Division, they were nearly hit by shells. How- the state of the billets they had left. It was an exhilarating
ever, the only serious damage was the radiator of the advance, but we had the feeling that it was all achieved by

24 Apr. Men of the battalion
advancing north of Bou Arada
53
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
the planes, guns and tanks, and that all we did was to Hammam Lif, Sun. 9 May, 1943
occupy ground and take prisoners.
The Germans were holding grimly on to the gorge between
We found some Frenchmen who had been doing forced
the hills and the sea at Hammam Lif. They had some tanks
labour for the Germans.
overlooking the approaches and our armour could not get
At about 4.30 p.m. news came in that the Derbyshire
through. The 25-pounders battered them all morning, with-
Yeomanry were in the centre of Tunis. Great gladness every-
out effect, so another battery of mediums was brought up and
where. Delighted that it should be the Derbyshire Yeomanry,
pasted them. We ourselves were shelled and had casualties,
who got so near to Tunis away back in November.
including Ian Skimming, shot through the wrist. This was
Heavy rain came on in the evening and we moved off in a
the first time we encountered the Nebelwerfer.
battalion column with full supporting arms to cut off Ger-
At about four o'clock, by a very clever stratagem, the
mans retreating from Pont du Fahs. I have the impression
Lothians got through along the beach. They did not do it
that the Germans have cracked completely. Another night
without loss, but it was a great stroke. The Germans were
without sleep, and we are done out of the entry into Tunis.
then forced to withdraw while the armour chased them. We
immediately moved up, the Grenadiers leading. Another
unforgettable drive, the main road crammed with 6th
Near Hammam Lif, Sat. 8 May, 1943
Armoured Division, civilians evacuating, our planes over-
After a night on the roadside we moved off at dawn to head and our guns firing. In Hammam Lif, outside the
Oudna. We crossed a great plain on which we passed a Bey's palace, his bodyguard, gaudily uniformed, was being
huge Arab caravan heading for Medjez. We saw the disarmed. In the town itself were many Germans, some of
Carthaginian aqueduct, and pressed on through Oudna in them sniping at us. A Coldstreamer was killed by one of
stages, meeting no opposition and taking many prisoners. them, an insolent young Nazi. He was marched off by three
At La Mohammedia we passed the huge Arab ruins and pioneers ... to the POW cage.
called in to a large tented Italian military hospital, where I We spent the night in a cement works at Hammam Lif.
found the whole staff respectful and rather frightened. At The views of the sea, mountains and cities here are thrilling.
my request they gave me a box of dental instruments.
From the hill we caught our first glimpse of Tunis and of
Carthage in the distance and of the blue, blue Mediter-
Grombalia, Mon. 10 May, 1943
ranean. This was a great thrill. We stopped for a time near Walked about Hammam Lif in the morning sun, saw the
Nassen, and an Italian commander surrendered with his Bey's palace (which was being looted by his bodyguard) and
battalion. I drove quickly into Tunis with Farrar and walked down to the sea. A battery of mediums was firing
Walker. We drove down the beautiful main boulevard, while from the town and kicking up a terrific row. At midday we
the crowds swarmed round us, cheering, clapping, throwing moved on along the main Sousse road, which was crammed
confetti and flowers, shouting English slogans, kissing the with British kit moving forward. We passed a lot of German
troops, waving British and French flags. The people looked kit and guns which had been defending Hammam Lif,
very nice and they certainly gave us a great welcome. obviously a key-point. Our column was held up for a while
The battalion moved on in the evening towards Hammam by an 88-mm., while the Germans were blowing up their
Lif (where the Bey lives). Here the Germans were resisting dumps round Soliman. We entered Grombalia abreast of
firmly, and during the night we attacked some hills over- the tanks and before the Germans had stopped resistance.
looking the town. Few casualties.
Bivouacked near the town. Hordes of prisoners, Italian

HILL OCCUNED BY NO.4.
COY ABANDONED LATER
DJEBEL BOV KOUKNINE
GERMAN LOOK
OUT POST. THRO'
OUT THE WHOLE OF
THE DAYS BATTLE
NO.1
COY,
NO 3 COY
N°2 COY
TATER
N° 2COY AT FIRST
*
POSITION OF BH
TRUCKS BURNED
TRAP
WM
CENTRAL WADI
UNE OF WITHDRAWAL
SCENE OF BATTLE AT DJEBEL BOU KOURNINE
EASTER MONDAY 1943:MAP REFERENCE.7616
(TUNIS SHEET 5)
After a very long night march in a fog, the battalion arrived on its objective as shown. Shortly after dawn the fog lifted and the battalion came under very heavy
fire from an OP on Djebel Bou Kournine and some Mk. VI tanks, losing a great deal of transport and suffering heavy casualties. During the morning the
battalion was ordered
to withdraw. No. 1 Company and the Co—Lt.-Col. W. S. Stewart-Brown—could
not get back till dark (Drawn by Gdsm. Leaf)
54
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA
and German, poured in. Walked through the town in the We were fed up at still having to fight, but we arrived to
evening and watched 201 Guards Brigade and supporting find white flags dotted on all the hills—the armour had won.
arms roll on towards Hammamet.
This last unit to hold out was the goth Light German
Division, a crack formation, one of the two original Divi-
sions of the original Afrika Korps. I had to conduct
On the Shores of the Mediterranean, near Bou German doctor over to the Divisional Headquarters and
Ficha, Tues. 11 May, 1943
there, in the dusk in a dip in the hillside, I had the thrill
Another astounding day. Vast hordes of prisoners, including
of seeing the staff of a crack German Division surrender.
Numerous very smart German officers, smart uniforms,
very senior Italian officers, handed themselves up with all
their transport at Grombalia. We moved on during the
smart staff cars, plenty of orderlies, heel-clicking, etc., etc.
morning, the road absolutely choked with British troops
They were pretty offhand towards Charles Harford and me,
moving up (6th Armoured) and prisoners coming back,
so we were pretty offhand towards them.
By the battalion location was a German CCS. This I
great hordes of them. We pressed on without difficulty till
visited, saw three British wounded, who said they had been
we met the Mediterranean again near Hammamet. Took
well treated, and spoke for a long time with charming
up position along the road at Bou Ficha. The famous goth
Light German Division is now encircled by the 8th Army
German doctors. We slept with great numbers of German
and us. Meanwhile Cape Bon has been reached by British
prisoners all round, singing their songs—one had a lovely
tenor voice—and with a German CCS functioning at our
troops.
door. How curious is war!
Ain Hannouf, Wed. 12 May, 1943
The night was disturbed by British gunfire. À quiet
morning, during which I visited Hammamet. This is a
pretty white village on a little harbour by the dazzling
Mediterranean, with marvellous views of the Central
Tunisian mountains. But it is peopled by surly looking,
black-clothed Arabs, very obviously not at all pleased to see
Near Sousse, Thurs. 20 May, 1943
To our extreme disgust and at only twenty-four hours'
notice, we have been transferred to the ist Division in
exchange for the 24th Guards Brigade. We have been trans-
ferred to them for “special operations”, which means an
invasion of somewhere. All of this depresses us enormously.
That part of the battalion which was not doing the
victory march in Tunis to-day consequently left Nabeul
and drove down here. Sousse looks a jolly town, but is, of
course, out of bounds.
us.
After lunch we moved south to the last pocket of German
resistance, in the hills between Bou Ficha and Enfidaville.

30 Apr. Just before the final break
through. Men of the signal platoon
bathing near El Aroussa. Gdsm.
Clegg is in the right foreground
55
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME
THE FALL OF LAMPEDUSA
June 1943
By Bill HARRIS
Pantelleria surrendered during the afternoon of the 11th June.
The battalion, the leading battalion of the Reserve Brigade,
was still on board the Misoa, some miles from the island,
and had the gloomy prospect of returning to Sousse that
evening, taking no further part in operation “Corkscrew".
Unexpectedly No. 1 Company was ordered to embark on
LCI No. 161 (Lt. “Bill” Fletcher), which came alongside.
During the embarkation five Focke-Wulfs broke the air
cover, dived at the Misoa and released their bombs at about
500 feet. The nearest bomb fell thirty feet away, violently
shaking both ships. The LCI's gyro and compass were
seriously damaged and she sprung a small leak on the port
side. Later her tanks had to be pumped.
The LCI cast off and on orders reported to HM
Destroyer Trowbridge (Capt. Jupiter). “Lampedusa Ex-
press—we will put another island on the map”, came over
the blower, so our destination was settled.
Lampedusa, eighty miles away, looked very small on the
chart. There was no map, nor any information, nor any
description of the island. The ship's book of reference
merely stated that it was eight miles long and from three
to one mile broad. It had belonged to many nations.
The Turks had established a penal settlement and the
population busied itself in fighting and gathering sponges
which they sold at Sfax.
At first light on the 12th Lampedusa was sighted. The
Trowbridge, which we had followed 1,000
yards astern all night, was still altering
her course at sharp angle every two min-
utes. No ship could have been more
considerate or kind to the little LCI
plodding behind her. Several times she
came alongside and inquired of our
health and if there was anything she could
do to make life more pleasant. Certain
commodities were asked for and she sent
a launch most generously filled, which
was received with loud applause by the
company. The captain and ship’s com-
pany of the 161 also could not have been
more hospitable, and the happiest co-
operation and friendliness between the
Navy and the Army existed throughout
the expedition.
At 6.30 a.m. orders were received
that we were to steam up and down the
island east to west, five miles off-shore,
altering course every half an hour till
the island surrendered.
Since the fall of Pantelleria the huge
Allied Air Fleet had turned its attentions
to Lampedusa. All night long heavy
bombing had gone on and we saw many
formations dive on to their targets. The
A/A was practically negligible.

No. 1 Company on LCI 161
56
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA

During that morning naval actions
played a considerable part. There
were present four cruisers, HM ships
Newfoundland (Admiral Harcourt),
Penelope, Orion and Aurora, with
the accompanying destroyers, which
included the Lookout, Queen Olga,
Tartar, Nubian, Jervis and Palladin.
The cruisers opened up at close range.
No sight could have been more im-
pressive than the intrepid Newfound-
land, full steam ahead, firing broadside
after broadside in quick succession at
about 2,000 yards. A few rounds from
the shore batteries came in response,
two of which appeared to land un-
pleasantly close to the Newfoundland.
The great ship turned savagely upon
the guns who dared to fire at her. No
doubt they were blasted to hell ;
anyway that battery never opened up
again.
I was told that the LCI had been
fired on, as the captain quickly altered
course, but the missile fell at least 700
yards short.
The sea was not kind. There was a
On board the LCI. Included in the group are:
distinct swell, which in normal times
Gdsm. Crowe (wounded on Ornito) Gdsm. Wilby (killed on Battaglia)
Cpl. Guest (killed on Ornito)
would have produced domestic dis-
comfiture, but the victims were few,
every feeling being subjugated to the enthralling naval and granted. A system of SOS signals and a fire plan were
air engagements. Lavish “brews” were on, and “Q” was arranged with the destroyer, and the last message which
busy with the tin opener, preparing food so liberally supplied came, “Go to it, good hunting, Second to None”, was
by the Navy. The voice of D/Sgt. Knight drowned any received.
counter-noise—“Mess-tins” was clearly audible.
A launch came alongside. Taking the drill sergeant with
So the day passed quickly. At last the expected news came me as bodyguard and to impress the Italians, we went
that a white flag had been seen in the port. We altered ashore, leaving the company, which eventually landed an
course and steamed "flat out” after the Trowbridge, which hour and a half afterwards.
was ordered to lie off the port.
The harbour was small and shallow, and many smashed
About 6 p.m. the welcome order came :
craft stuck out of the water. The port, which once must have
“The Coldstream company will land. You will get the been rather attractive, was now terribly damaged. Vast
terms of the surrender signed:
craters pitted the ground. We stepped ashore and the
1. Immediate cessation of all hostilities.
launch returned.
A few hundred yards away, across piles of debris, stood
2. Unconditional surrender of all armed forces (includ-
ing armed Fascist militia), who were to become
a group of Italian officers. On approaching, the Governor
of the island stepped forward—a short, middle-aged naval
prisoners of war.
officer, with rows of decorations. I could not help wondering
3. All war material, supplies and equipment of every
description to be handed over undamaged.
how many were gained for social or athletic events, although
he had served in the last war. Next to him was the second-
4. All shipping and craft to be turned over undamaged.”
in-command, who resembled Garibaldi, but a small piece of
I repeated the terms, and further asked if the 161 could macaroni with tomato sauce held my attention, so cleverly
remain in the harbour to form a link in communications. entwined in his masterly beard. The colonel of the main
The company's one “18” set and three “38” sets would garrison strutted forward—a conceited turkey-cock. The
hardly reach the destroyer, certainly not Sousse. This was others stood in a huddle behind. The Governor, whom I
57
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''

0
1 -
1,
The harbour on Lampedusa
a
mentally called the “Admiral”, which name stuck to him
later, talked good grammatical French, but his pronuncia-
tion I found difficult. My French, although poor, was
enough to cope with the situation. Nobody could be found
who could speak English. The terms, which were submitted
where we stood, were turned down flat. The refusal was
zoologically accompanied by the satellites, and the monkey-
house was difficult to quell—the first of many such occa-
sions.
The Admiral talked of white flags appearing without his
orders (he must have been a bit rattled : this later proved
quite untrue). He wanted the soldiers paid; endless talk of
full military honours to himself, etc., etc. Time was getting
on. Something had to be done. With as much authority as I
could muster, he was told that unless he signed the terms
as given to him, immediately, I had only to give the pre-
pared signal and a thousand bombers would arrive in
twenty minutes, and that wave after wave would go on till
he did sign. Also, the Mediterranean Fleet would shell
their defences unceasingly. He asked for a pen, which
was produced by Garibaldi, and the drill sergeant, un-
prompted, held out his butt, upon which the document was
signed.
During this escapade Bill Fletcher was very skilfully
maneuvring the LCI alongside. An Italian pilot, who had
been ordered to help, proved hopeless, and the harbour-
master later got hell from the Admiral for the display of
inefficiency.
While the LCI was berthing I gleaned some information.
There were 4,600 armed personnel on the island, as well as
2,500 civilians. Three German technicians were in charge
of the RDF station. There was an aerodrome. The hospital
was functioning, but casualties were unknown. The reason
for this became evident later. The majority of officers had
left their troops during the bombing and had hidden in the
command post, some 120 feet underground, near the
Admiral's house. One officer admitted that he had been
down there two days without seeing the light of day. The
rough location of various things of importance on the island
was discovered, although I still had no map.
The following orders were then issued to the Admiral,
who gave me his word of honour that they would be
disseminated and obeyed:
I. All officers were put on their parole to return to their
barracks and maintain order and discipline.
2. All troops of all services were to return to their
barracks and remain there.
3. Officers were responsible for the “Q” side of their
units till further orders.
4. The food, ammunition and water points were to be
handed over and would be guarded by British
soldiers.
58
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA
5. All wireless and any communication with the outside Admiral was told that the arms were to be centralized there.
world would cease forthwith. I explained that the (Eventually Mark Philips erected a plaque, “Coldstream
British Admiral of the Fleet and C.-in-C. had Square”). We reached the car, a guide was left with Bill, and
taken precautions as to this and had the means of I bumped off with the Admiral and his adjutant. Fires were
detection if this order was not obeyed!
still burning on the island and explosions still taking place. I
6. All officers were to parade outside his house at 9 a.m reminded the Admiral of the terms of surrender. We arrived
next morning, after which there would be a con- at a stone erection, far from viceregal, which would accom-
ference of all officers i/c units.
modate a bachelor for a week-end; or perhaps the Italian
7. All small arms, portable ammunition and any gun mind would include another. This was the Admiral's house.
capable of being moved should be concentrated in a Trouble started: an air raid. Bombs dropped, A/A, etc.
place to be decided later.
The Admiral was off like a scalded cat. The garrison, who
At this moment the harbour-master reported. The three were loafing around, vanished. The adjutant disappeared,
Germans, who had also been sent for, could not be found. and even the car driver was nowhere to be seen. Abandoning
I fear that they were busy blowing up the RDF station at all officialdom, which I was trying to assume, I shouted to
the other end of the island. It was not until next morning the Admiral to stop. Obviously there was nothing for it; I
that they were in the guardroom. The LCI had berthed and followed in hot pursuit. A minute later I found myself in
I sent for the platoon commanders—Tom Jackson, Arthur the command post. The Admiral was about to descend a
Farnell-Watson and Bill Birkbeck.
very steep and, as far as I could see, a never-ending flight
The platoon commanders, who already knew the SOS of concrete steps. The place was packed with armed
signals, got the scantiest orders, and the greatest credit goes officers and troops. The smell was appalling. The flight was
to their initiative. They were told the little I had learned. checked by grabbing hold of the Admiral. A violent argu-
The harbour-master was given to Tom and Arthur, who ment ensued. He maintained that the British had begun
were responsible for the port and town. Company head- bombing again. His side was taken up most energetically
quarters were left on the quay. Bill's platoon, the Admiral by the host who lined the walls. It crossed my mind that I
and myself then started walking to the Admiral's house, was all too single-handed (I had failed to take a runner). In
some two miles away. The further end of the main street a parade ground voice I inquired if there was an officer who
was the nearest the Admiral's car could come. The town could speak English. The interpreter was bidden to tell the
was very badly smashed, with enormous craters and piles of Governor that, unless all this argument stopped, my armed
rubble in the road. We passed the church, or what remained troops would clear the place, and further that it was defi-
of it, but the square in front of it was reasonably clear. The nitely an Italian aircraft, which was bombing British ships.

LIS
73
D/Sgt. Knight walking down the
main street on Lampedusa
59
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
m
If the Governor wished, he could come down to my ship, patrol by rowing-boat across the bay and arrested an offend-
where he could wireless Rome and stop the aircraft. This ing officer who had obviously been blowing up his company
was relayed. The officer asked if it was really true that the ammunition. In a weak moment I said he was not to be
Governor could get through to Rome. “Tell the Governor shot. The odds were not quite in our favour-95 to 4,600.
that of course it was true. Why should he be given the A launch came from the Trowbridge. “Q”, electrical and
opportunity if it were not true?”
ordnance experts were asked for. Information was given
At this juncture Bill and his platoon turned up. All about the aerodrome. It was made clear that there were not
further argument ceased. Perhaps they really thought that sufficient men for all the guards.
the bewildered Guardsmen, who had been skilfully led by The Trowbridge left that evening, but before sailing
Bill with guide in tow through about a quarter of a mile of flashed the message : “Au revoir and good luck. Many
underground passages, were going to turn them out. Bill thanks for the Rabbits.”
was told to take the Admiral back to his house and he him- The Admiral was more concerned about the guard of
self to stay with the Admiral. Double sentries were to be honour, which had already been explained to him, for the
posted on the house and two lots of double sentries down hoisting of the Union Jack upon the roof of the house in
the 120-foot command post to look after the telephones, which he was sleeping. He himself had other ideas; in fact,
which numbered about fifty. The area was to be inspected. very big ideas. He wanted the 4,600 to march past, he
The night air was refreshing and I left for the port to see taking the salute. The British guard was to present arms to
how Tom and Arthur fared. They had done wonders and him. He was troubled about his dress. One portion of his
all was in order. On returning to the ship a message was full dress was missing. His adjutant was sent for, but all
flashed to the Trowbridge : "Everything under control. efforts failed to find the missing link. Other problems of
Second to None.”
grave import grieved his mind, but all issues were success-
The “18” set was then netted in to the ship's wireless fully glossed over and left undecided.
and, together with Bill Fletcher and the signallers, we All was ready. At 9 a.m. the multitude assembled, plus
started for the Admiral's house.
an astonishing number of armed Italian troops (who had
The Admiral had gone to bed, all seemed well in the not been invited). The Admiral evidently intended to have
command post and the “18” set was established. The rest a good parade.
of the night was spent in a fruitful search for maps, docu- In front of the Admiral's house was a small enclosure,
ments and objects of importance.
bounded by a low wall. Inside this the British guard formed
The Admiral was roused early, as explosions were still up—the naval ratings (in their spotless white) on one side,
taking place. Runners were eventually despatched who gave and the Guardsmen (in their spotted KD, sullied by four
further orders as to the cessation of the destruction of war days' strenuous wear) on the other. The Italian forces
material. Tom and Arthur had already taken a fighting stood “below the salt”: officers in front (100 or more) and


1
The main square, showing the vast assortment of weapons and
ammunition collected there by the prisoners
Another view of the main square. Included in the group are
Sgt. Marshall, CQMS Mulligan and Sgt. Struthers
60
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA

The hoisting of the Union Jack
a
the other ranks arranged in orderly rows behind. The
Admiral, with his personal staff, clustered in the middle.
After many false starts the colonel of the garrison gave
words of command to the Italians; the troops presented
arms and the officers saluted. The British guard presented
arms. The Admiral took the salute. Full military honours
had been given him; his face beamed with pleasure.
After a suitable pause the Union Jack was hoisted. The
present sounded excellent—the Italians were impressed.
The Italian officers saluted. When the order arms was
given, the guard was handed over to the drill sergeant and
was dismissed.
The conference started. A table had been put outside the
Admiral's house. Three large plush arm-chairs suitably
encased the Admiral, Bill Fletcher and myself. On the
flanks were seated, on hard chairs, the colonel of the garrison
and the adjutant. Garibaldi was overcome with emotion and
joined the senior officers, who stood in front. There was a
pleasant breeze and the Union Jack fluttered contentedly
over the proceedings.
Many things were discussed, the most important
conclusions being :
1. A nominal roll was promised. (This was furnished by
the next day.)
2. All unit commanders signed their names, stating their
regiments and the number of men under their
command. The Admiral countersigned these. (This
was to be a cross-check of the nominal roll.)
3. Unit commanders were to hand in their requirements
of food for their formations. This requisition was to
be countersigned by the Admiral, whose staff was
to keep the books. It was then to be brought to me
on the ship. Ration drawing was to be at a specified
time. (In practice, Tom and Arthur were food
controllers, who knocked off one third of all
demands for safety's sake.)
4. The main roads were to be cleared.
5. The hospital was to be under Italian control.
An official inspection of the island was attempted. It was
delayed and curtailed through endless visits of all manner
of persons, who presented diverse problems. Nevertheless,
enough was seen to realize the great strength of the defences.
Bill Fletcher went to the RDF and wireless stations. He also
found Cala Pisana, a small harbour in which a new jetty had
been built and which was suitable for LCIs and LCTs. It was
mined, but this and other minefields he ordered to be lifted.
Later he charted and took soundings of the harbour, and
soon our ships were alongside. It was re-named Clive Bay.
Bob Windsor-Clive's company took it over.
Tom had resuscitated an ice-cream bar, which became
famous for the ices and fancy cakes served free to all
Guardsmen.
61
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?
STUS
62
Mike Wilson and Peter Perrott
Mike Hollings, John Baxendale,
Ashley Ponsonby and Reggie
Seconde
H



Peter Perrott
Gdsm. Ryder
Ray Crouch
Alastair Coats



The officers' mess!
Petre Crowder
John Baxendale


Bone. Ben Faller, Arthur Farnell-Watson and Tom Jackson
Reggie Seconde and Roddy Sheridan at Constantine, Winter 1943
62
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA

No. I Company. Coats, Lewis,
Sgt. Oakley, Smith, C., Rudd,
Bird and "Joe" Soaper
CQMS Mulligan, No. 1 Company,
issuing clothing at Constantine
Bill Birkbeck, Robin Bering and Bill Harris on leave near Algiers
OFFICERS LATRINE
MAISON FORESTIERE NB.
CONSTANTINE
1
A new use for an aeroplane wing! (Drawn by Gdsm. Leaf)
63
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
The next morning was spent in “interior economy” and stores. He also saw that the women on the island were well
further excursions in the island.
cared for. Elston Grey-Turner (MO) ruled the hospital,
During lunch with the Admiral (who did himself ex- and at last the patients took a decided turn for the better.
ceptionally well) news came of the arrival of Colonel Bunty NOIC Commander Dale, apart from his official duties,
Stewart-Brown, Nos. 3 and 4 Companies and part of Head- added greatly to the festivities of the island.
quarter Company. Battalion Headquarters were soon set up Brigadier Stewart-Forster arrived with Willie Makins and
near the Admiral's house and the Home Office was estab- spent a busy day on the island, although he found time to
lished. The island became properly organized. Nigel dine with No. I before sailing. The Admiral went on the
Nicolson from Brigade amassed in a short time a great same ship with a large consignment of prisoners, all of
amount of information. The Home Secretary, Petre whom, in turn, were shipped to captivity. Garibaldi sobbed
Crowder (2nd i/c No. 1 Company), soon got the “Q” side and kissed the Admiral before leaving.
running smoothly and efficiently. He re-opened the school, Each company was given an area of the island. Windsor
established a law-court and jail. Robin Muir carried out Castle and Clive Bay came into prominence, and Palmer's
missions for the Commanding Officer and, with his intelli- Cove, with “General” Toler's Point, became famous for
gence section, beat unceasingly on typewriters. Mark its fishing. No. I receded to Port Harris, but we still
Philips, residing at Philips Bay, was in charge of battalion guarded Coldstream Square.
A WAR-TIME BOAR SHOOT IN TUNISIA
a
By Tom JACKSON
By courtesy of “The Field”
It was very pleasant to wake up on the 16th December with its moments for us as well as for the pigs. There were
the prospect of a whole day's shooting before me. I had eleven guns in all—four of them, officers, had tommy-
come a long way to shoot one of the wild pigs which abound guns. Four rifles were taken out and these changed hands
in the hills all over North Africa, and would have been very between the soldiers who had come out to help the Arab
disappointed had the day been a grey and rainy one, as it beaters. The head keeper, employed by the French Govern-
might have been at this time of year. However, it was ment, was armed with a 16-bore of incredible age, and
cloudless from dawn to dark.
another Arab also had one; but as he only had two cartridges
We met the keeper and a few of the beaters at eight- I did not consider him a serious menace. Cartridges are
thirty at an old quarry at the head of a very lovely valley. terribly short out here, but the Arabs very cleverly extract
We took them on board the truck and drove up a fantastic the cap after it has been struck and put in a match head.
track, steep and twisting, and very rough on the springs of They sometimes tap the cap straight and replace it. The
our truck. The scenery was wonderful. There was a dam cartridges when reloaded are
across a narrow part of the valley, which formed a large very slow, but effective if
though narrow lake about two miles long. The whole one's follow-through is cor-
effect was very like parts of the Caledonian canal. The rect. I was armed with an
track ran about 100 feet above the water and stones from Italian submachine gun of
our wheels fell into the lake. A mile or so of this was enough smaller calibre than a tommy-
for us, so we stopped at a place where the truck could turn gun, but much lighter and
round, and went on on foot. The lake degenerated into a better balanced-it also has
thin trickle of a stream running over a wide, muddy bed, a 40-round magazine as op-
and the path led down towards it. Soon we turned right- posed to the 20 in a tommy-
handed off this path and headed up-hill along a steeper and gun.
narrower track than the one we had left. We had left the The first drive was not a
beaters where we had turned off the main track, and we success because the beaters
soon started lining out along this twisty path for the first all went in different direc-
drive. I realized then what I had guessed the moment I saw
I
tions, owing to the roughness
the country and the guns, that the shoot promised to have of the hill-side, and their line Desmond Fortescue

64
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA
did not face the line the guns had taken up, which was backs and wings and white bellies; their wing tips and
roughly up and down hill. No gun could see his neigh- heads were black—but they were too far off to observe
bour or even estimate his position, so much did the accurately. There were a good many small birds about,
path twist about. The path was about seven feet wide and none of them very remarkable except for their lack of song.
heavily overgrown with scrub, which covers the hill-side. There was one little brown warbler that had quite a pleasant,
We stood opposite small runs that the boars used to get but monotonous, call. I saw a blue-tit eating the red berries
about, and it did not seem likely that we would see the and a great many partridges exactly like our red-leg. There
boars farther than ten feet away. The scrub is about ten were several different kinds of butterflies about—they were
feet high and consists of several different kinds of ever- mostly ones I knew: Red Admirals, Brimstones, some
green, all of which look rather like bay-trees, but are Wood Whites I had not seen before, and a good many
shorter, with a vivid green smaller leaf with a very strong of the inevitable Painted Ladies, which seem to be about
and rather unpleasant smell. Some had very dark red berries all the year round and sometimes in the most immense
about the size of a cherry, with tiny rough seeds covering numbers.
them. They are said to make good jam, but I found them The next beat was the best of the day. The guns lined up
rather tasteless.
along a cool, overgrown path and the beaters lined up along
When we saw odd men and Arabs wandering up the hill the crest of the hill and drove the pigs down-hill. They
we walked to a spot where they had all gathered to wait for would be going fast, and as they move very silently for such
us. A violent argument, the first of many, then took place big beasts it was obviously going to be difficult shooting.
between the Arabs. I think perhaps my using the word Soon after the beaters had started I heard a crash in the
Arab may give a false impression. The North African undergrowth, followed by a shot, then more crashing, so
Arab is known to everyone as a “Wog”. The great mass of I supposed one had got away, which indeed it had. The
Wogs are the most miserable specimens of humanity one beaters were now getting close and there was a good deal of
will ever see. They are clothed in filthy rags stitched noise, when again I heard something moving in the under-
together to form a sort of blanket which they twist round growth in front of me. An enormous boar jumped over the
their bodies—one cannot see where the thing begins or path about ten yards away and went tumbling into the
ends,
thicket below me. I emptied a 40-round magazine into the
After an interminable discussion, it appeared that we
were waiting for another Wog with a dog, and we lay about
on the shady path eating tangerines. It was quite cool, as
the sun had not yet reached our side of the hill. We were
glad of the rest after the climb, and still had another 1,000
feet to go to the top where we expected to find most
pigs.
The next drive was along a ride which was knee-deep in a
kind of heather. After a short wait the dog started giving
tongue in the distance. It came straight towards me, but
stopped just out of sight in the thicket. I could hear the
boar grunting and expected it to appear at any moment, but
it turned off down the hill, hotly pursued by the dog.
However, the dog was well trained and succeeded in
turning the pig back up-hill. It tried to cross a narrow path
and was shot by a soldier—a very good effort, as he only
had a rifle. It was a sow, about two years old, black and
covered with thick hair, and had a most revolting smell.
From the sporting point of view the next drive was a
failure because the beaters walked through the middle of the
wood they were going to drive, talking as usual at the top of
their voices. We were about 2,000 feet up and had a
glorious view in the faultless clear air. Opposite me, on the
other side of the valley, were hills higher than the one we
were on and covered with the same vivid green woods.
Any view in this country takes one's breath away for its
sheer vastness, and on a fine day in winter the air is wonder-
fully clear. There were some eagles soaring about over the
top of the hill we were on. They were big birds, with buff
Tom Jackson during the boar shoot

5
65
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

*********
***
Constantine
bushes but never touched it, I heard it crashing its way
down the steep slope long after the magazine was empty.
It was now about three-thirty and we moved off to take
our places for the next drive. This time we all stood in a
line up and down the hill—the right of the line was in a
grassy meadow which sloped down to a thick patch of
coarse heather where the left of the line stood. I was in the
centre, on the bottom edge of the meadow, which was
studded with big brown bulbs just sprouting thick leaves,
very like Lilium amaryllis, which they might have been—I
have seen them often, but never in flower. The flowers on
the whole were very disappointing, as there were hardly
any except a coarse sort of daisy. I had hoped to see some
Iris, which are common almost everywhere in this country.
A lot of our ordinary hot-house flowers are common, but
grow in miniature.
One pig was shot during this drive, but it got away—it
came and had a brush with the dog not far from where I
was standing, and then moved off without showing itself.
The whole party then collected by the pig that had been
shot in the previous beat and two of the Wogs started
gutting it with a table-knife. They had to use a rock to get
through the bone, but they made quite a good job of it.
One of them had been carrying an old rough basket all

The end of a successful hunt
66
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA
day. We had wondered what he had hoped to put into it, still, not a breath of wind, and the Wogs had ceased their
and were interested to see that he collected all the offal shouting for the day. We passed a few of them riding
except the blood. It turned out that he wanted to make scruffy donkeys, covered with sores. When we arrived at
sausages with the skin.
our truck it was getting dusk—the lake was motionless
By this time the sun was getting low, and we descended except for a few fish rising, and away up at the other end
with it—the pig on a pole following us, the man with the we could see a few duck on the water. There was some tea
offal in the basket going in front, fouling the air beyond all on the truck, which we drank slowly, reluctant to hurry
endurance until we sent him to join the pig. The leaves of away from such a peaceful and lovely scene. And so fifty
the shrubs, which had smelt unpleasant in the morning, miles home through a moonless night—I wondering how
now gave off rather a pleasant, exotic scent. It was dead many people had enjoyed the day as much as I had.
a
THE SECOND BATTALION FINDS A VIP
GUARD
By HENRY GREEN
December 1943 found the 2nd Battalion in a tented camp
about five miles outside Constantine, where we were
training fairly hard. It was cold and not at all comfortable;
in fact, had we not realized that we were very lucky com-
pared with the 3rd Battalion which was fighting hard in
Italy under the most appalling conditions, we should have
been more depressed than we were.
Suddenly a very welcome change came from out of the
blue. At tea-time on the 2nd December a message arrived
at ist Guards Brigade Headquarters detailing them to
find a guard of three hundred and fifty all ranks to be
commanded by not less than field rank, and this guard was
to proceed to Tunis as quickly as possible. As both the other
battalions were very fully employed, there was no argu-
ment over the choice, and the 2nd Battalion was selected to
find the guard.
That evening there was a terrific rush to get out orders
for the move and it was decided to send a detachment from
all companies, with the exception of No. 4, which was away
training. Very early on the 3rd December a small advance
party, consisting of myself and RQMS Birtles, set off for
Tunis—a journey of some two hundred and sixty miles.
The remainder, commanded by Colonel Hugh Norman,
who was determined not to miss the fun, left at a slower
pace later in the day.
The advance party arrived at Tunis District Head-
quarters at 4.15 p.m. on the same day. Instructions had been
delightfully vague and it was presumed that this would be
the right headquarters at which to report. However,
Tunis District knew nothing, but suggested our trying some
American headquarters, which they gathered lived at
Carthage, although nobody knew what their function was.
By this time David Sells, the battalion liaison officer at
Brigade Headquarters, had arrived at Tunis and joined the
advance party, which now moved on to the American
headquarters at Carthage. This proved to be a forward
post of AFHQ, which was still in Algiers at this time.
The Americans greeted the advance party with their
usual terrific hospitality, and it was soon obvious that the
guard we were to mount was on a person of the highest
importance. However, in spite of every known form of
“snooping", it was impossible to break the security and
find out who the person might be. On the 4th December
the advance party made a recce of the area to be guarded,
the focal point of which was a large square white villa
overlooking the sea-strangely enough called the White
House. Colonel Hugh arrived after lunch and the remainder
of the guard at 5.30 p.m.
From the 5th December the whole guard was confined
to its billet area, and on that day further recces were
carried out; companies were allotted tasks and digging and
wiring commenced. Compared to Constantine the weather
was perfect, and everybody was glad to be in shirt-sleeves.
The more foolhardy even ventured to bathe in the sea,
which proved to be not as warm as had been hoped.
The 6th December was full of rumours, but no sign of
anybody who wanted to be guarded. Elston Grey-Turner
ran a sweep on who would arrive, and every conceivable
name from Hitler to the Aga Khan was put in the hat. It
was a lovely day and we were all in a holiday mood; the
dismal wood at Constantine seemed many miles away.
At last, on the 7th December, something happened. At
4.15 p.m. President Roosevelt arrived with his son, Colonel
Elliot Roosevelt, General Eisenhower and other members
a
67
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
of the U.S. Delegation who had been taking part in the Service Department. Compared to this, our own welfare
great Anglo-American-Soviet Conference at Teheran. Our system seemed very second-rate and tawdry.
guard had just started when Colonel Hugh called an O In addition to the more sedentary pastimes of watching
Group and said that the President was leaving at crack of films and playing darts, there was plenty of football and
dawn the next day and that we were to find a Guard of cross-country running for the active. The football was
Honour for him. By this time it was after dark, and as the played in a small yard some thirty yards by fifteen and
guard had to be mounted by 7 a.m. the next morning, this resembled the type of game played in house yards at
meant more than the usual shouting, detailing, swearing school. This yard was in an old, disused French coastguard
and shining. However, all went well, and the guard, com- fort which had become No. 3 Company's billet for our stay.
manded by Bill Harris and consisting of Desmond The games were fast and furious, but in spite of many strong
Chichester, Alastair Coats and a hundred NCOs and men, challenges, No. 3 Company was still unbeaten at the end
got on parade in time. The President seemed delighted. of our tour. The unbeaten team consisted of Desmond
He stopped his car and congratulated Colonel Hugh on the Chichester, Ray Crouch, Alan Pemberton, CSM Telford
turn-out and bearing of the guard.
and myself. This football proved to be almost as
We were mistaken in thinking that our party was now dangerous as a battle, resulting in Bill Harris spending two
over, for owing to bad weather, the President, who had gone months in hospital, Ray Crouch many weeks with his arm
to Italy to inspect the American forces fighting there and in a sling and ending in hospital, while Elston was given
who had intended to fly westwards from there on his way such a rough handling in one game that he found it ex-
home, was forced to return to Carthage and our care for tremely difficult to heal himself!
another night. The 9th December saw the President leave On the 17th December Mrs. Churchill joined the Prime
for the second time, but on this occasion there was no Minister, and on the 20th Colonel Hugh and Bill Harris
Guard of Honour, and, the weather proving favourable, he took her to see the Medjez area, including Longstop. On the
wended his way home.
latter date and while Colonel Hugh was still away escorting
Later that day we were warned to stand by for yet Mrs. Churchill, Major-General V. E. Eveleigh, who had
another VIP party. This time there was no need for a just taken over command of the 6th Armoured Division
sweepstake and would-be punters were not able to get a from Major-General Charles Keightley, arrived in the
fair price about the favourite. There was a time-lag of two battalion area. The General said there was a “flap”
days, when nothing much happened, although we were because the “I” boys had reason to believe that the Prime
still confined to billets, and then early on the morning of the Minister's whereabouts had been given away to the enemy.
IIth December the favourite duly obliged. The Prime As the result of this, General Eisenhower, as Supreme
Minister, accompanied by his daughter, Sarah, together Allied Commander, had put General Eveleigh in command
with the CIGS, General Sir Alan Brooke, General Eisen- of all the defences of the White House!
hower, Sir Horace Wilson and a whole retinue of retainers, It was fairly obvious that the only way the enemy could
arrived at the White House.
attack the White House was from the air, and when he
Those who watched Mr. Churchill arrive noted that he heard that this possibility had been suggested, Air Marshal
looked more than usually tired; thus we were not surprised Tedder, who was in command of the RAF in the Mediter-
to learn that he was to rest at Carthage for a day before ranean, was furious that anybody should dare to think that
returning to London. The 12th December, however, the German Luftwaffe could penetrate the RAF screen,
brought the news that the great man was in bed with a let alone drop parachutists near the White House!
cold, while news on the 13th and 14th was no better. On When Colonel Hugh returned he had a conference with
the 15th we were told that the Prime Minister definitely General Eveleigh, at which it was decided to send a motor
had a touch of pneumonia, and therefore we were likely to company of the Rifle Brigade and a squadron of 17/21
remain for some time. It was obviously impossible, for Lancers. The General reckoned that the latter would take
security reasons, to relieve the guard by another battalion, some time to arrive, as the tank transporters were in short
and in any case we were enjoying ourselves.
supply and it was too long a journey from Philippeville to
With the prospect of a fairly long stay, almost certainly Tunis for them to make by road. In fact, the company of the
over Christmas, arrangements to amuse everybody had to be Ioth Battalion Rifle Brigade arrived on the 22nd December,
carefully looked into. Our activities were restricted, because but the tanks did not arrive until the day before Mr.
we were not allowed to leave the billet area; but thanks to Churchill left! However, the Germans never came, so it
the Americans, we were seldom dull. In a very short time could not have mattered less.
an American film unit arrived with a series of the latest By Christmas Day the Prime Minister was definitely on
films, one or two of which had not then been shown in the the mend and we heard that he was likely to leave the
West End of London. Footballs, boxing-gloves, darts, White House within the next few days. Our church
baseball bats and balls arrived from everywhere, and we services on Christmas Day were attended by Mrs. Churchill,
soon saw something of the truly magnificent U.S. Special Sarah Churchill, General Alexander and many more of the
68
THE SECOND BATTALION IN NORTH AFRICA

AU
IN MEMORY OF OUR COMRADES WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE.
2nd BATTALION COLDSTREAM GUARDS.
TUNISIA. DECEMBER 1942 MAY 1943.
Cdsn. F. ANDREWS Gdsn. W. CROWTHER Sgt. W.FINCH
Gdsn. W.HINDLE
Gdsn. CMCCONNELL iSgt. E SCRIMMINGERE
L. BAILEY
L. DALTON Col. J. FORREST
J. HOLROYD
A.MSRAE
Gdsn. T. SURTEES
F. BBSELL
Søt. H. DALTON Cdisn. N. FORSTER
USgt. H. HODGSON
F. MORLEY Set. J. SWEET. D.CM
W.BROAD
Gen. A. DALZELL
G. FOULKES
A.HUTCHINSON COMSF. NEWSOME Gasn. M. TATLER
1. BROWN
H. DAVISON
R. GARRATLEY
Gdsn. W. HUTCHINSON Gdsn. E. NURSE
usgt. W. THOMAS
J. BULL
LCpl. J. DEAN
H.GARWOOD
yCpl.R.IVIN
UCpl. A. PATTENDEN Cdsn. F. THOMPSON
A. BURDEN
J. DUGMORE Sgt. A.GEORGE
Gdan. T. JEFFERSON Usgt.). PATTERSON
J. TURNBULL
J. CAMPION Gdsn. T. EDGE
Gdsn. W. COMM
UCpl. S. JONES
Gdsn. E. PATTINSON Cpl.J. WALKER
1. CARSWELL
Z. ELLIOTT UCpl.C GREEN
L. KERR
C. PILBEAM
H.CHAPPELL
Cdsn. J: WARWICK
HELSWORTH Sgt. J. GREY
Gdsn. J. LANE
C.S.M.C. POTTER
C. WATKINS
Lieut.J.H.CHAWORTH MUSTERS C. EMMERSON UCpl.S. HALL
Sgt. A.LUSH
usgt. J. POW NALL Lie LAN. WATNEY
Major The Hon. APSCHICHESTER K.EVERETT
J. HAWKSHAW
CSM.D.LYNCH
Gdsn. H.CLAYTON
Sot. C. RODGERS Gdsn. G. WESTBROOK
G. FAIRBAIRN
D. HAMMOND
Sgt. J. MASSEY
E. COOK
L/Cpl.H. RUBERY
A.FIELD
H. WHARTON
Gdsn. W.HEEL
Gdsn A.MATTHEWS Lieuth.W. SARSONS
T. COOK
Sgt.E. WILKINSON
LieulA.B. WILLIAMSON
T. COULSON
CSM.B. WILMSHURST
Gdsn. E. WOLFENDEN
Prime Minister's staff. We were not able to have as big a
Christmas "do” as we should have liked, for all our live-
stock that were being fattened for Christmas were in the
battalion area at Constantine, and it was too big a move-
ment to transport geese, turkeys, sheep and chickens to
Tunis. It was therefore decided to wait and eat them on
our return, and to make do with what we could buy from
the Naafi in Tunis. Needless to say, we did not do too
badly!
In the evening Colonel Hugh and the company com-
manders were invited to a cocktail-cum-fork supper-party
at the White House. This was brilliantly organized by
Sarah Churchill, who made even the lowly company
commanders feel at home in the midst of a terrific gathering
of VIPs, which included Generals Alexander and Maitland
Wilson, Admiral Andrew Cunningham, Harold Macmillan,
and for a brief moment, Mr. Churchill himself, who had got
out of bed to wish everyone a Happy Christmas,
On the 27th December the Prime Minister was well
enough to leave for Marakesh, where he was to spend a few
days recuperating. A Guard of Honour was mounted under
my command, and, even at the early hour of 8 a.m.,
Mr. Churchill, dressed in RAF uniform, insisted on walk-
ing round and inspecting it.
The Prime Minister asked whether all those who were
entitled to it had received the medal ribbon of the Africa
Star, and he was glad to know that we had just received our
quota a few days before. Before he left Mr. Churchill
decreed that the whole guard should have five days' leave
in Tunis before returning to Constantine, and there is
little doubt that this was enjoyed to the full by all
ranks.
On the 29th December a service was held in St. George's
Church in Tunis, where the Battalion War Memorial to all
those who had fallen in the North African campaign from
November 1942 to May 1943 was unveiled. The service was

ALSO IN MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING, STILL MISSING
WHEN THE BATTALION LEFT TUNISIA IN AUGUST 1943.
CG
Gdsn. J. ALLSOPP
L/Sgt. J. BOOCOCK
Gdsn.). BRIDGLAND
C.S.M.T. CALLAGHAN
Gdsn. J. CLATWORTHY
E. COSTER
Lieut.T.F. COLVILLE
Gdsn. S. DAVIES
L/Sgt.D. DRAKE
Gdsn.H. FURSEMAN
A. GARRATT
R.GRAVES
W. HARRIS
J. HERD
T. HODGKINSON
H.HOLMES
S. MORRIS
J. NEWBOULD
Sgt. 1. NOBES
Capt.Sir). PIGOTT-BROWN, Bt.
L/Sgt. W.PILLINER
Lieut.J.A. PONSON BY
Gdsn. W.SHIPLEY
W.SMALLMAN
H. TURNER
J. WADKIN
69
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?
conducted by Padre Hughes, who, although normally on reaching Souk el Arba, we were greeted by the news
with the 3rd Welsh Guards, had been lent to us for our that the pass over the mountains was snowed up! This
stay at the White House. Three hundred and ninety meant a diversion via Bone, although it was then too late
Guardsmen crowded the small English church. The to proceed farther that day. We made Bone on the 2nd
Memorial, which was in white marble, had been made by January, and on the 3rd we arrived back in Constantine
the battalion pioneer platoon, and had all the names en- after a month's tour of duty. The battalion had been
graved on it, surmounted by a Coldstream star.
greatly honoured during this period, and we shall look
We left Carthage on the ist January after a somewhat back upon it as one of the most enjoyable episodes of the
hectic New Year's Eve party. All went well for a bit, but
war.
70

ON
LE
ve debussed and
rth bank. After
or the rest of the
is fine, but cold,
the company
ground for this
next day. Even
t, as the enemy
area, which had
rs were eating a
reery, the Corps
h that the attack
2/4 KOYLI that
ve moved on to
pany command-
itions. However,
ck together with
om reaching our
nmanding No. 1
ir miss.
xhausted after a
I be remembered
th an Armoured
z in TCVs rather
i the companies
tch and the rain,
'he tracks we had
to climb were steep, soon becoming little more than bogs,
and the guides lost their way in the dark. Our ignorance of
the way made progress very slow and we often despaired of
It is difficult to give out orders to platoon commanders
under such conditions.
On the afternoon of the 7th February the battalion moved
71

14
8
16
inn
ITALY
2. Brenz
A
D
at
Interlaken
ST
$ 6890
Splügen UNE
cornic Aro
tapaupoma
Julian Alps
Etsel
Stelvio
Bormio Boxed
9040
0
ZO
cing
20
30
29 mites
40
30
Pieve
R
an
Adda
aw na n ken
koji su propias de pagamentin
50
100
150
Rhone
HR
HAD
Doplos
Matterhorn
44705
Rosa
Varen
Save
15 Maggiore
criard
st Bernard
Gorizialdria
7080
Chatillon
Alo
Losea
Dşeo
aruda
R
Legnano
Trieste
Kulay
when
Treviglio
Ogli,
6810
Site
Dara Ripara
chiuso Vercelli
Chien Casale Kalenza
Pie Giveno
Legnago
warino
Adige
Voghera
Cooria
eglia Movi
pTortono
Marengo
Placenza
•Goñitago
SU
Novi Te Rrjedor
261.5
Bia
Sauglice
lanare
Remo
Quarnero
And
nosso
regenta De Comacchio
Cuneo
samui
160
w
ceno
Sassuolo
A
remien
Secchia
܀ܬܢ
Savan
RUCSL di Tenda
Bosna
Nolik
i
San
Levante
VIM 643
SED
-0.
.
Finale,
Genoa
779
D
Imperia
(Pto Maurizio)
Wantimalli Bordighera
JAlbenga
Theniers
Chiavari
Suzana
44
3.2950
ce
Bugojno
SC Mele!
a
D_San Remo
R
Levanto
| Spezia
Gof Spezia
an
bo
Viareggio Lucca
Villefranche
Nice
brantibes
LONCRETO
vesole
SEX
m
M
Serchio
Arnor
Empoli
Satu Mauato
7
warno
a
99872
Cannes
šībacina
382
"
A
372 to Brindisi
Narenta
Brasza
اثر
From Marseilles 200
Barcelona
843
y coloraja
T
Sabbioncello
18
E
R 12
G
M
А 14 N
Y
10
Neuchatek
Lucerne of Lucerne
Brenner
Tamsweg
2Berne
Graz
Neuchate Thum
Alfort
S
W IT
Chur
Lienz
ER
Wild Spitz Vipiteno
Sachseltburd
Than
N
Scale 1: 4,500,000 ( 72 miles -1 inch)
Lausarme
Gotthard P.
Klagenfurt
Maano
Briren
Villach
Maribor
Statute Miles
L of Geneva
100
69467
Ortler
St Moritz
Boland
lombbe
Drave
Kilometres
Brico
Chuv im Bernina
Maria
Simplon P.
Gemona
Cilli
W 6,600
Bellinzona
Krainburg
Railways Shipping Routes
A Domad Ossola, Locarney
Sondrio
46
Martigny
Turand
Belluno start 3faporetto
Canals Heights in feet
Chaтoi.c
Lugno Colice altelli Adamello Trento
Udine
Ljubljana
Boundaries of Administrative
REBNO
SI1663
1.67 Como
Pallonza
:nonee
a.
piktorten onderzone
M Blang
Gurkfelda
divisions (Provincie)
Zagreb
15780,
Bellagio
Lowo
Laveno
Riva
Lecco mi
Aosta DOC
(Agram)
Boundaries of Historical Divisions
Lontol <<Vareso Como
Rovereto
Lovere
Grailisca
(Compartimenti Territoriali)
mi Arona
Bergamo
Schio
Bussum Oderzo Parto
Montatcones oZirlenitz
grud0000
Postumia
Towns giving their names to the Administrative
Busta Arsario Lomb af di
Gran
Treviso
divisions are underlined
Selo Gordio Cittadella
Gottscheel
Biella Magenta
Marze
Vicenza
Ivrea
Sissek Projection: Conical with
Caprino
Brescia
Mestre
Pirantos capodistria
two Standard Parallels
Novara
Rivarolo
Santhia
MILAN
Verona
Karlstadt
Fiume
Modone
Lanzo,
Peschiera
VigevanoMgrignane
Padua
Nenice
Is tibia
Solferino Villafranca Este
Brod
Sušak
Gulf of
Mt Cenis
Kostajnica
Habbazia Portoré
Save
Mortara
Tiodida Martin
Pavia
Chioggia Parenzo
Susa lur 1
Ogulin
Bisino
Gradiska
Venice
Dervent
Samacy
d mont
MGenèvre
Cremona
Strádála
rona
Rovignore
Rovigo
Alessandriy
Brčka
6100 P Pinerolo
oZengg
Borgo. Casal
Maestra pt
Ast
Doboj
S: Domtrio maggiore Guastalla
Cherso
Bihatz
M! Viso Racconigi
Otoca
Banyaluka
Ferrara
Atba
Novi
Partão Correggio finales
Bobbio
C.Promontore
Tuzla
Fornovo
Reggio Paritos "Patat
Y U G0 SLA V 14
umSaluzzo
Tesar
Petrovac
Fossimo
Modena
La Bosetio
Carlopago
m
1 a Budrio
Lussin
Pago Gospich
Bologna
Mondovi
Ravenna
Jajce
а
Pali
Rare
Castel S Pietro Ligga
Gračao
Bo
Imola Faenza
Travnik Zenica
M Cimone
Vergato
Cervia
Forli
Novigrad
Bara
Tenda
Puget
44
Corradinin menafbrat
Cesena
Rimini
Siti
Kriny
Lunga
Massat,
Sarajevo
I.
G of
Pastoja Borgo S.
Pesaro
Livno
Marino
Eino
Gen à
Prato
Metauro
Incoronala
Grasse
Konjica
Urbino
Sinj
Sebenik
FlorenceValborg
Senigallia
Foca o
Ancona
Zuri
Pontedera
S. $epolare
Split
Spalato)
Legborn
fagli
Jesi
Votternd
Gorgona o
Arezzo
Loreto
Macarsca
Mostar
Vadad
Trus cany
Gubbio
Recanati
Macerata
Cecina Sienas
Cortina
Fabijiano
Civitanova
LIGURIAN
Stolac
Umbertude
Asciano
SEA
oReugia. Camerino Fermo
Lissa
Trasunand
Lesina
retković
o Capraja Musa
C. Corse
45673
Moodlano
S. Andrea
Amumubola
Piombine
Chiušia Pieve
Curzola
Piombird
Monti
Foligno
Portoferraio
Follonio Amatas
Umbria
Giulianova
Bastia
Norcia
Orvieto Spoleto
Lagosta
Grosseto
Elba
Teramo
Pital)
Calvis
Pitiglianº
Bolsena Warto
Gion Susso
Orbetello?
9580
Perne
Pelagosao
1. Monte Giglio
Aquila Chieti
Itaw
Cristo
Fiora Vicos
o Panosa
Giamuri
u Civita
Castellinas
Tremiti Is
42
C. Feno
Maisonaccia
Moli se
Viesti
Tivoli
4
Subucola
da tiglione
Vico Testa del Gorgano
Fiumicino
Mt Gargano Monte S. Angelo
Aragna
Castel in Sangio Larino
S Severo. Marco
Aladi Sora
Campobasso
fanfredonia
Isania
pFrosinone
Lucera
G. of Manfredonia
"Cassino
dioggia
Littoria
S'Bartolomeo
Piedmunte
Troja
Porto
Anzio
Pontinia
Maddalena
C.Testas
Cerreto
Sabaudia
Teatro
Caprera
C.Circeo
Corato
Aruyo
Sessa
C. Ferro
serta
Beneverito
Grumo
G. of
డబ్వుతూరు.
Terranova
Pontine IS
Aversa
C. Figan,
S. Angelo
Rionea- Gravina Putignano
Palmarola,
T'empió
fyllinto
Ahamura
c. Coda Caallo
Sitio Avigliano
Gioja
Vesuvi
Brindisi
Sassari
Ventolenes
Ischia
Campagno Potenzi Triduuo
Mesdore
Eboli
Alghero
Lucania
Taranto
C.Contino
Manduria Lecce
Sala
Nuoro
Pisticct
Consthindortete
Metaponto
C. Marrargiu hobosa
Yorosei
Agri
Tarvi
Vallon
Otranto c.Otrando
Macomer
M Urtial
G. of Orosei
Lagonegro
40
C.Mannu
40
Soggimo
Conte Santo
un gia
M Gerhargertu
Taranto
st Maria
Tortoli
di Leuca
Oristeno
G.of Cristano
T Τ Υ
YR
R
H Ε Ν Ι Α
N I
N
C. Frasca
Isilico
Corigliano
Terralba
C. Sferra Cavallo
Belvederele s Marcom
Cariati
Rossano
C. Palmeri
Pecora
Samassi
Alice Pt
Paola,
(Iglesias
Villaputzi
S E A
Cosckza
Guvarma
RoglianeNeto
Cagliari C. Ferrato
Amantec
S. Pietro
Cotrone
Carbonia
C. Colonne (Nau)
S. Antioco
G.Sarbonara
Nicastro
Catanzaro
C. Rizzuto
Stromboli
30900
Ustica
Lipari IS
Pomaria
Filicudi Salina
Wierteza
Alicudi o
Lipari 3
olurlarwva
Pura della
s! Florent
Str:
I
month
MONTE
NEGRO
Trebinje
Ombrore
Snillini Ascoli Tronto
215
5688
С
Meleda
Оes sənbTV шолу
Piano Castiglione
Bemorra Terni
1193 to Alexandria
Sabine
Viterboy Orte
Rieti
med
Corte
Dubrovnik (Ragusdk
Pesara
Salto
Irtona
Me Argentarios
S
bir uzzi Manciano
Castelnuovo
G.of Cattard
Kotor (Cattaro
ostsi
Marto
VOTRE
42
E
Civitavecchia Bracciano
Sangro
Pana pt
Vasto
Trigno
Tamoli
popote
Avezzaria pSulliuina
and
í hinara
Topera
"G. of Ajaccio faccio
Fortore
Lesina
3 ROME
2003
116
po Vecchio on
campagna
Tibet ma
Albani
Aproba. Peletai
acco
Flentino
m
pło Caprara
Genoa
Salpi
Strait Bonifacio
Marseilles to Naples 456
to Messina
ucing (
1
Bor
Ofantotdria
Cetimola
Barletta
Bari
Gapuso mo
e
Meln Spinazzola
Canosa
Asinara
C.Falcone 7 Asinara
Porto Torrest
C. Argentiera
Ruvo
u
Gaetde
Goof Gaeta
Sarigliano
Mola
ochwersano
bigopoli
ahasano
Volturno
Ponzas
101 Prociday
Pozuoli
Acertas
***
esturi
492
VOUCIUS
Melonio Morera
Kastellanda
Over
28
Ba cento
F. Said 925
30
Massufra dreville
Coghinasy
d n
Castellchen Porno
Capri
Agropoli
80
Sorrento y trentin
Amalton
Salerno
Teggiano
Maruggio
Nardo Galati
OST
G. of Salerno
Sele
C. Licosa
Sini
Gulf of Gallipoli
RE
61290
Pisciotta
OTE
plastroillori
Cassanoº Buffaloria
Ristola. P!
Nor
Infreshi P
G.of Policastro
Castrocwood
Songs
C. Altano Portosciso
Messina to Brindisi 283
Cagliari to Naples 268
Naples to Messina 178
Sila
169
(G of Cagliari
&c Profor
G.of San Eufemia
Monteleone Pizzu
G.of Palmas
G. of Squillace
Squillace
976
C. Spartivento
4176
Naples C Teulada
C.Vaticano
Gibraltar to
New York
Palmi
Faro pt
Stilo C
M
168
.
126
Barcellond
C.S.Vito
E
Castellammaren
1264
G. of Castellammare
e. Gallo
Geras
Trapani
Levonzos
Carit
Palermo
CXaffaruno
Temini
Partinico
Soullon
maybog
Milazzy
c.a
ørlaruto
pe calava
Rocellá o B. 305
Messina
38
promonte
Cefalu
38
Reggio
sto Stefano
Caronia
is. Agata
Patti Castroreale
Bianco
Catania
Egadi 13
Marirping
Melito
SWITZERLO
T
MESK Laormina
ITALY
IN 1914
Favignana
Marsala
C. Boco
Tipgubuglossa
Giarre
Gomori
Lombardy
of Messina
E.
784
0
BAéipéale
venetia
Piedmont
45
Mazzarda
FRANCE
Emilia
363
A BORTATIO
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
R
Montreale
Alcamo Mariticom
Mistretta in
Caccamo Castelbuono
Salemi Scorte KOVNe buro del Mt Ema
Partanna
Nicosia
am 10870
*Lercard
Menti
Villoroso Adorno
"Bivond
Paterydo
Enna
Ribera
Caltanissetta
"Väiguarner Catania
சம Pirians
G of Catania
Artherna
Tiending
Militello
C.S.Croce
Caltagirone
Vizzine Perla Augusta
Siracusa
C. Murro di Porco
A
Medico
Pantelleria
(Ital
Naples to Port Said 115
Genoa
1426
Castelvetrano
C.Granitola
s MO
Farana
SK
G. Farina
Tuscany
R
Platarring
Marches
Umbria
Canioatti
C. Bon
G. of
Tunis
Abruzzi
Molise
pto Empedocles
Ragusa b Avola
Corsica
SEA
TUNDS
C. Mustapha
Roge
Rome
Palmal
Licata
Salso
bela
Vittorios Comiso
Moto
a
N
Rosolini
Apuli
a
97
c. Passero
E
Basili
C. Scaramia
22pagna
Nalbel
.
Sardinia
cata
A
40
no
Zaghwan
Hammainet
Regilione pt
N
M. to 3.83
S
E A
G. of Hammamet
36
MEDITERRANEAN
Gozog
Coming
(Brit.
Malta
Susa
Sicily
Yaletta
Linosa
(Ital)
Monastir
To Port Said 936
Tunis
SEA
Malta(Bp.14, 15
12
10
Lampedusa
Cial)
16
Longitude East 14 from Greenwich
18
Copyright, 1943. George Philip & Son, itd.
The London Geographical Institute,
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY GEORGE PHILIP & SON,LIMITED.LONDON
HDC
CHAPTER THREE
THE SECOND BATTALION
IN ITALY
February 1944-February 1945
-
THE MOVE TO ITALY, AND THE BATTLE
OF ORNITO
a
By BOB WINDSOR-CLIVE
N January 1944 the 2nd Battalion was training at Con- off in TCVs to the river Garigliano, where we debussed and
stantine in Algeria. The weather was fine, we were in a started to climb the mountains on the north bank. After
happy Division, 6th Armoured, and in fact morale was as climbing about a thousand feet we lay up for the rest of the
high as it can be when one is away from home. We knew that night in freezing cold. The next morning was fine, but cold,
sooner or later we should have to go to Italy and do some and after breakfast Colonel Hugh took the company
fighting, but it came as a bit of a shock when we heard after commanders off to have a closer look at the ground for this
dinner on the 30th January that we were to leave 6th attack, which was probably to take place the next day. Even
Armoured Division and move to Italy as quickly as possible. then we could not get much of a look at it, as the enemy
Everything moved in double quick time, and in spite of a were still in possession of our forming-up area, which had
monumental party given by the Ayrshire Yeomanry to bid to be cleared for us by another Brigade.
us farewell, and from which three company commanders That afternoon the company commanders were eating a
were lucky to return with whole skins, we moved to snack at a supply dump when General McCreery, the Corps
Philippeville on the 3rd February. There we embarked on Commander, arrived and told Colonel Hugh that the attack
the Ville d'Oran, sailed the next morning and arrived at was off, but that we were to take over from 2/4 KOYLI that
Naples by midday on the 5th February.
night on the Ornito feature. After this we moved on to
From Naples we had a most uncomfortable journey by KOYLI Battalion Headquarters and the company command-
train to Capua, from where the company commanders were ers collected guides to go and recce our positions. However,
raced on ahead injeeps to meet Colonel Hugh Norman at Sessa we didn't get far, for an enemy counter-attack together with
Aurunca for orders. It was cold after Africa and we felt miser- some very heavy shelling prevented us from reaching our
able. The only orders we got that night were that we were to go objective, and Petre Crowder, who was commanding No. 1
on a reconnaissance the next day at crack of dawn and that a big Company, had a narrow escape from a near miss.
attack, all part of a plan to help the Anzio beachhead, which At dusk the battalion arrived, pretty exhausted after a
was not going so well, was coming off in the next few days. long climb carrying all equipment. It should be remembered
The battalion arrived at Sessa soon afterwards in TCVs. that we had been training as infantry with an Armoured
It was after I a.m., it was freezing, we slept on stone floors- Division and had done most of our moving in TCVs rather
in general we felt unhappy. However, it was nothing to the than on our feet.
discomfort of a few days later.
As darkness fell it started to rain, and the companies
The recce on the 6th February was rather a farce, as we moved off to take over. It was black as pitch and the rain,
were shown our objective from OPs some four miles away. after a warm day, produced a thick mist. The tracks we had
It is difficult to give out orders to platoon commanders to climb were steep, soon becoming little more than bogs,
under such conditions.
and the guides lost their way in the dark. Our ignorance of
On the afternoon of the 7th February the battalion moved the way made progress very slow and we often despaired of
71
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME
I
a
getting into position at all; but eventually, in the early hours the battalion right, on Monte Cerasola, under equally
of the morning, we completed our task and took over, appalling conditions.
having climbed for nearly five hours !
The next few days no particular action occurred. There
The battalion was deployed with No. 4 Company, were continual bursts of shelling and mortaring, and in
commanded by Bob Palmer, on the right, holding the Ornito forward company areas sniping and patrol clashes. There
feature; No. 2 Company, commanded by Ian Skimming, in was a constant drain of casualties, including Bill Birkbeck
the centre on Pt. 719; No. 3 Company, commanded by from No. 1 Company, and great physical discomfort for all.
Henry Green, on the left on Pt. 711. No. 1 Company, On the 17th February there occurred what was to prove the
commanded by Petre Crowder, was in reserve.
heaviest day's fighting during this tour of duty in the line.
The Germans did not give us long to settle down, for at The brunt of the fighting fell on No. 4 Company and the
dawn on the 9th February Ian Skimming found them ample shoulders of Bob Palmer. It was mostly a short-
sharing his forward section posts. No. 2 set about the enemy range battle of grenades and tommy-guns, with No. 4 on
and saw them off without much difficulty, but in doing so one side of Pt. 711 and the enemy close up on the other side.
Mike Hilton-Green was killed. Later in the day Bobby The mortars and artillery did a good deal to discourage
Hyde was wounded in the arm while trying to locate a the enemy on the forward slope, but were unable to get
sniper, who unfortunately saw him first.
close enough to No. 4 Company, for reasons of safety and
The rest of the day was uneventful and we managed to dry crest clearance, to be really effective. No. 2, however, were
out. As can be imagined, we were feeling the cold a bit after able to shoot across from Pt. 719 with some effect. The
Constantine, where we had been training in shirt-sleeves ! smoke from No. 2 Company's 2-in. mortars was par-
After dark that night there was a bit of a flap. Alan ticularly effective, enabling No. 4 to charge over the crest
Pemberton thought an enemy patrol had infiltrated between and disperse the enemy. This was done on at least two
the right of No. 3 Company and the left of No. 2, as the occasions, led by Stephen Whitwell and David Toler
result of which we expended quite a lot of flares and respectively, causing heavy casualties amongst the enemy.
ammunition. The Germans must have laughed. We were During the evening platoons from Nos. 1 and 2 Companies
still very inexperienced after a long rest since Tunis.
went out to the assistance of No. 4, and Ben Faller from
The roth February was much more active, and in the No. I and Roddy Sheridan were wounded.
early afternoon No. 2 Company saw about sixty Germans After dark D Company 1/4 Hampshires came under
crawling up the blind side of No. 3 Company's position on command and took over from No. 3 Company near Battalion
Pt. 711. This was followed by some very heavy mortaring Headquarters, and the remnants of Nos. I and 3 were
of the whole battalion area and an attack in company amalgamated under Henry Green. No. 3 Company, 3rd
strength on No. 3 on Pt. 711. For a short while things Battalion Grenadiers, commanded by Peter Maclean, came
looked awkward. No. 3 had a few casualties, including under command during the same evening. On the evening
CSM Edgehill, who was very badly wounded, and they of the 18th it took over from No. 4 on Pt. 711.
also ran out of 2-in. mortar ammunition.
At dawn on the 19th the enemy put in the largest attack
The wireless then became red hot with calls for artillery of all with some six hundred men. The brunt of this attack,
support. The gunners said they hadn't registered and might however, fell on the 3rd Battalion Welsh Guards on Cerasola.
fall short; however, the company commander said he would In spite of their own troubles the Welsh Guards were able to
risk that, but they must fire—and quickly. They did, with de- fire on to the enemy climbing Ornito. These were finally dealt
vastating results, and when Michael Hollings, who was really with by No. 2 Company from Pt. 719 and a bayonet charge
the machine-gun officer, wandered up from somewhere to by D Company 1/4 Hampshires. Ashley Ponsonby from
help organize and lead a charge over the top of the crest, the No. 2 was wounded during this attack; he was narrowly
only enemy to be seen were either dead or very frightened. missed by a sniper, whose
But the attack had taken its toll. Alan Pemberton and bullet hit a rock a few inches
Arthur Farnell-Watson had been wounded, and Tom from his head. However, the
Jackson was killed while leading his platoon most gallantly bullet appeared to disintegrate,
in an endeavour to encircle the enemy round their right and splinters of rock did him
flank. We had about thirty-five casualties in all.
some damage.
To crown this it started to snow. This later turned to icy That afternoon and evening
rain and continued all night. It really was very unpleasant. the battalion was relieved by
The Germans shelled us throughout the night and a prisoner 2nd Hampshires and marched
taken by No. 3 Company said they thought we were the down the track to Pately
Free French.
bridge, where Dick Alder-
On the following day, the 11th February, Nos. I and 4 son, commanding Headquarter
Companies relieved Nos. 2 and 3 on Pt. 719 and Pt. 711 Company, was waiting with
respectively. That evening the Welsh Guards took over on RQMS Birtles and excellent tea
CSM Edgehill

72
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY


Top left: Dick Chaplin, Bob Coates and Elston Grey-Turner
Above: Robin Muir and Dick Alderson at Casale, 20.2.44
Below: Lt. F. M. Hilton-Green CMF 9.2.44
and wads. Better still, there were many jeeps and trailers to
transport us to the village of Casale—to billets and to bed.
During all this time the problems of supplies of all
sorts, including drinking water, were magnificently
organized by Bob Coates, our second in command, in the
teeth of endless difficulties. The forward supply dump,
beyond which mules could not come, was known as Cheshire
dump, and it was a good hour's walk from Battalion Head-
quarters for a lightly laden man on a track continually sub-
jected to harassing fire. All stores were manhandled forward
and wounded carried back along this track by Indian and
African porters. The demands for ammunition of all sorts,
particularly grenades and mortar bombs, were very consider-
able in view of the constant enemy attacks. In spite of this
Bob Coates succeeded in getting the odd bottles of Italian
brandy anyway as far as the Adjutant, Dick Chaplin!
Elston Grey-Turner and Padre George Forbes were
amongst the most hard worked officers, dealing with large
numbers of wounded both at the RAP, which was in a
most unhealthy spot, and also out in the company areas,
particularly round Pt. 711.
During the period the battalion was on Ornito it suffered
the loss of nine officers and 181 other ranks, apart from the fifty
odd cases of frostbite that had to be evacuated from Casale.
The enemy during this time lost a great many more in killed
and prisoners, apart from those who may have been wounded.
On the ist April the battalion heard the names of those
who received decorations for this action. They were :
Lt. Col. Hugh Norman D.S.O. George Forbes. M.C.
Bob Palmer
M.C. Sgt. J. Kidd
M.M.
Stephen Whitwell. M.C. Cpl. Spencer
M.M.
Elston Grey-Turner, M.C. Gdsm. L. Jenkins M.M.

73
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME? '
Guards make Record Kill of Germans on Misery Mount
a
(6
By courtesy of the Editor of the “Daily Express”
(This is an account of the 2nd Battalion's activities on Ornito)
February 1944
Gdsm. Harold Smith is sitting on the flag-stoned main Then the Battalion Commander ordered an artillery
street of my front-line village to-day drawing the exterior smoke-screen to be laid on the hilltop. Through this, with
of an orphanage which is Headquarters for his unit, a fixed bayonets, the British company charged the Germans.
Guards battalion. It is the simple end to thirteen days of The Germans surrendered, and the victorious company
terribly tough fighting in the mountains.
withdrew with twenty-six prisoners.
The Guards have done magnificently, well enough for At 5.30 in the afternoon the Germans began it all over
both the Corps Commander and the Divisional General to again, crawling up the rocky slope and taking up a similar
climb four hours to their positions to congratulate them. position thirty yards away. They stayed there all night
The men began their four-hour climb at night with all lobbing grenades over. It was on this day that 25-pounders
their equipment, in snow, rain and mist, which came had to lay down a special smoke-screen to rescue stretcher-
hardly to men who had always been lorry-borne infantry. bearer Cpl. Thomas Pickford of Maswell Park Crescent,
Their discomforts were such as only perfectly trained and Hounslow, who was pinned down by machine-guns while
fit men could endure. Water bottles froze solid. Wet great- out collecting wounded and was unable to return.
coats and blankets were frozen stiff in the mornings and Pickford, a guard on the District Railway before the war,
could be stood on. Twelve cases of frostbite were reported crawled out with six other men to get the wounded. All the
in the first forty-eight hours.
men they went to get were dead, and the other collectors
crawled back. Pickford got behind a few stones within a
Cockney called it “pell’s ’illside”
yard of his man, but could not expose himself. He reached
Snow was put in mess-tins and melted for shaving and tea. out his arm and felt for the man's pulse. He was dead too.
Men called the place “Misery Mount”, and CSM John The enemy kept pouring fire at his tiny shelter the
Esterbrook, of Roman-way, Barnsbury, London, N.7, moment they saw a movement. From our lines they
cursed it with a Cockney accent as 'ell’s ’illside.
shouted to him to stay where he was and they got a smoke
Next day the Guards beat off an attack on two forward barrage laid by 25-pounders.
companies with losses of one officer killed and one wounded Under cover of that he crawled back to safety.
and six soldiers killed and forty-three wounded.
The tautness was leavened with a brand of humour which
seemed funnier because of the danger and discomfort they
No cheers, they were too exhausted
were all sharing. A story which had an added savour when Next morning the Guards got among the Germans and
passed from sangar to sangar under shellfire was about slaughtered them, and only ten prisoners came back.
D/Sgt. Arthur Ramsden, of Leeds, who walked about the On the eleventh day the Germans put in a really strong at-
front line telling men to put their hats on straight. He asked tack with 500 men. They tried to come up the valley between
one Guardsman if his company was withdrawing.
two units. This attack was beaten off, with heavy losses.
“Withdraw be blanked!” said the Guardsman.
Then the buzzwentround thatour men were being relieved
Annoyed by this impertinence, D/Sgt. Ramsden forgot within twenty-four hours. They did not cheer. They were all
about shells falling around him and said: “If I had you too exhausted to show anything but a glimmer of thankful-
down the hill, young man, I'd put something into you you ness. Altogether they had lost 33 killed and 152 wounded.
wouldn't forget."
1,080 hand grenades had been thrown at the enemy, and
So it went on eight days.
they had fired more mortar bombs in their thirteen days
At 5 a.m. on the ninth day the Germans attacked up a hill there than in the whole Tunisian campaign.
held by a company on the reverse slope and sat down on Their reward came when the Brigadier of the relieving
the forward slope. They were thirty yards apart, but
unit told the officers afterwards that he had never seen so
neither could see the other.
many German dead on a small front as they had left behind.
Now these men-many of them used to hew coal in
No one man could live there
peace days—are marching, training and being lectured;
For hours they threw grenades at each other over the top of recruits are being introduced to take the place of the men
the hill. The moment either side sent a man on top to who died, and the war diary is being brought up to date.
observe, he was killed, so it was stalemate.
Soon they will be fighting again.
74
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
CASSINO
By HENRY GREEN
From our arrival in Italy on the 5th February, 1944, the themselves with glory. They were with the 2nd Battalion
Ist Guards Brigade had been under command of 5th Army. for a year, and seldom if ever can there have been a happier
On the 25th March, however, General Sir Oliver Leese, or more successful amalgamation of two regiments.
commanding 8th Army, came to lunch with the battalion, We did not have to wait long for our tour of duty in the
which was at the time resting in a small and very dirty line, and when it came, on the 5th April, it was in a sector
village called Sorbello. The General told us (a) that we were which had already become a household word at home, in
now under his command and (b) that he realized we had the U.S.A. and in Italy as being the scene of the toughest
seen very hard fighting on Ornito and that we were reduced fighting of the war. This was Cassino. The ist Guards
to three rifle companies. Therefore he promised that he Brigade was to take over from the 2nd New Zealand
would not ask us to fight a major battle for about six weeks, Division.
but in the meantime we should have to take our turn in the Here it is worth while to take a quick look at the fighting
line. Colonel Hugh Norman was also told that he would which had already taken place in an effort to dislodge the
be given a company of Scots Guards to make the battalion enemy from the town and the even more vital Monastery
up to strength again.
Hill. This, standing like a sentinel over the town, provided
We were pleased to be going to 8th Army, not that 5th the German gunners with the perfect OP covering all
Army was a bad one-far from it—but 8th Army had the approaches.
advantage of being commanded by a Coldstream General, The first battle for Cassino took place on the 20th January,
and one in whom we had great confidence. From that day 1944, when an attack across the river Rapido was made by
things moved quickly. On the 27th March the battalion II U.S. Corps. This was in conjunction with the Anzio
moved into 8th Army area to a small town called San
Potito, in the Volturno valley. Here we were in bivouacs
with a few houses, and although it was a bit early in the
year for this kind of sport, Potito was some sixty miles
behind the line and for the first time for nearly two months
we were out of hearing of gunfire—a welcome relief.
On the 28th March the promised company of Scots
Guards arrived to make us up to strength. It was called
“S” Company. This company had not long left England,
but, unlike most reinforcements, it had been trained as a
company before leaving home and was therefore a very
definite team.
There is no need to deny the fact that the officers and
other ranks viewed the arrival of S Company with mixed
feelings. Would they muck in? Would regimental customs
cause friction? Were they up to our standard of training?
We considered ourselves experienced; how could they be?
Colonel Hugh made his wishes very plain. We were to
make this experiment a hundred per cent. success in every
way. We need not have worried. From the day they arrived
S Company became part of the battalion and on every
level they made friends, due in great part to the example
shown by their company commander, David Cuthbert,
who caused a slight furore by arriving at dinner in a grey
flannel suit plus Eton Rambler tie! There was not an action
in which S Company took part when they did not cover “I love the outdoor life." John Horlick at San Potito, May 1944

a
75
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME99
?

CASTLE held
by tps. of 78 div.
28
BA
HOTEL DES ROSES
CONTINENTAL
www
3 WELSH
GDS.
2 COLD'M
GDS.
CRYPT
.
3 GREN, GDS.
SCISSORS
ENEMY
E.D.L.
OWN
F.D.Ls.
Aerial photograph of Cassino before the Allied bombing on 15 March. The picture shows the 1st Guards Brigade dispositions
landings. However, in spite of some very bitter fighting
which lasted until the end of the month, the Americans,
although they gained a foothold in the town, were unable
to capture it. On the 4th and 10th February the Americans
tried again, but were unable to make an impression on the
enemy, who were aided by some very bad weather. After
this the 2nd New Zealand Division, supported by the 4th
Indian Division, attacked Cassino on the 15th February
following a preliminary air bombardment of the Monastery
by over two hundred bombers. Despite very gallant efforts
by the Indians, who gained a foothold on Monastery Hill,
they were forced to withdraw after several days hard
fighting. The next attack by the 2nd New Zealand Division,
4th Indian Division and 78th Division on the 15th March
was preceded by another terrific aerial bombardment, this
time directed on the town, by over five hundred bombers.
This attack lasted until the 23rd March, when it was
abandoned, our troops having suffered over 4,000 casualties.
The aerial bombardment had proved a mixed blessing.
Undoubtedly it had caused great damage to the Germans,
both morally and physically, but it had also made a shambles
of Cassino. This shambles was an embarrassment to our
side almost equal to the damage inflicted on the enemy.
The town was impassable to tanks owing to the rubble,
and in fact several New Zealand tanks were stuck in the
ruins and remained there as armoured pillboxes until
Cassino was finally captured.
It is almost impossible to describe the complete and utter
devastation of Cassino, and it is hard to believe that any
other town suffered as much damage in the whole war-
except, perhaps, Stalingrad or Hiroshima.
By the time the ist Guards Brigade was due to take over,
the battle for Cassino had died down very considerably, and
apart from artillery and mortar duels, which flared up quite
frequently with considerable intensity, there was barely
any ground activity.
76
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
It was, in fact, the policy of the Allied High Command The ist Guards Brigade plan was to hold the sector with
to let Cassino quieten down as much as possible. Patrolling three battalions up (see photograph)-3rd Welsh Guards
was almost out of the question by virtue of the state of the right, and Coldstream Guards centre and 3rd Grenadier
going, coupled with the very close proximity of the enemy- Guards left. In fact, each battalion had only two companies
in some cases only fifty yards away from our forward and an advanced Battalion Headquarters in the town itself,
sections.
with the remaining two companies and a rear Battalion
In spite of all this it was obvious to everyone in the Headquarters, commanded by the second in command, in
battalion that this would be no ordinary take-over or tour reserve east of the river Rapido. This allowed for a proper
of duty in the line. It would need the most thorough system of reliefs, which was very necessary.
preparation and briefing of all concerned. Colonel Hugh The battalion took over the centre sector from a Maori
therefore decided that our advance party of one officer battalion on the night 5th-6th April. All went remarkably
and two NCOs per company, together with Battalion smoothly; the weather was fine and there were no casualties.
Headquarters and “Q” representatives, should spend The 3rd Grenadiers and the 3rd Welsh joined us in the
twenty-four hours in Cassino with the New Zealanders to town on the evening of Good Friday, 7th April. They had
get all possible information that would help to make the been holding another sector to the south of Cassino since
battalion’s life there easier. It would return in time to brief the 29th March, with only a twenty-four hours' rest in
all concerned before they went into the line.
between.
This advance party proved invaluable, albeit they brought Once in Cassino, one day was very much like another.
back some lurid stories of the conditions, heightened by The forward sections lived either in holes in the rubble or
Ray Crouch, who had been hit third bounce by a piece of in some part of a partially demolished house. They were
“hot iron”, which produced a very large bruise and made very cramped for room, unable to move outside their
him very sorry for himself!
section posts by day. Cooking was very difficult by day. The

The aerial bombardment of Cassino on 15 March (Signal Corps Photo)
77
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?
smallest wisp of smoke brought a sharp reminder from the screen over, the weary inhabitants entrusted their lives to
German guns, whilst any light after dark had the same the Duty Officer, a signaller and the odd sentry, and took
effect. Tommy cookers were found to be essential, but were, some well earned rest.
of course, in short supply. This made hot food difficult, Space forbids the mention of many of the high-lights of
although some companies had it sent up in containers at crypt life, but it would be churlish to omit a reference to
night.
Elston's gramophone featuring Kay Kyser, the incessant
Sanitary conditions were ghastly, and it was almost brews of tea provided by the RAP staff, and D/Sgt. (now
impossible to comply with the simplest rules laid down in RSM) Ramsden's masterly handling of the porters and
the Manual of Military Hygiene. This, together with supply problems in general.
decaying unburied bodies aided by warm weather, which The two reserve companies east of the river Rapido were
increased during our time there, did not make Cassino in far better conditions. They were billeted in good farm-
resemble a scent factory.
houses in very pleasant countryside. It was spring and the
Battalion Headquarters shared the crypt of the church flowers were coming out; it was warm and there were no
with the 3rd Grenadiers. It was as safe as it was possible section posts to be manned unless there was a large size
to be in Cassino, and certainly withstood one or two 'flap”, which in fact never happened. These billets were,
resounding crumps from the heaviest of the German guns. however, in full view of Monastery Hill and everybody
Into the very small space of the crypt were squeezed knew that on this hill were plenty of pairs of German eyes
two Battalion Command Posts, a joint RAP, and a cook- glued to super race glasses, eager and ready to spot the
house. There was an elaborate telephone exchange and slightest move, which would be rewarded by a sharp stonk.


A sector of Cassino, showing the devastation caused by the Allied
bombing
The ruined town of Cassino, with Monastery Hill in the back-
ground
numerous wireless sets—including the most important
gunner net, which provided the answer to most of our
tactical problems with a timely stonk if the enemy got a bit
gay.
The heat of the crypt was often stifling, while the odours
were a mixture of fried Spam, Dettol and human bodies.
No daylight and precious little fresh air ever entered this
extraordinary “set up". It had moments of feverish
activity, especially when the supplies arrived every evening
just after dark, usually accompanied by Brigadier Charles
Haydon or Alex Wilkinson. The latter's voice would have
awakened any sleeping Kraut, a monk in the abbey or even
John Peel as it boomed out a cheery “Good evening” and
gave off the detail to some unfortunate member of his
Light A/A Regiment who had been hauled along to see the
fun.
There were also moments of masterly inactivity punc-
tuated by heavy snoring, when with the evening excitement
of dealing with the rations and the accompanying smoke
Therefore movement by day was very limited. The
companies who had already been in the town were only
too ready to rest and be thankful that they were out of it,
while those who had not yet faced its rigours were, like
most soldiers, ready to eat and sleep with the minimum
amount of exercise.
The mainstay of the whole operation was undoubtedly
the supply system. It was the very height of efficiency,
and without it life in Cassino would have been impossible.
Everything had to be carried into the town by porters, and
their task was indeed a hazardous one. Their organization
and direction by Dick Alderson, Taffy Howard-Stepney,
Jamie Leveson and Jim Sawdon were masterly. For our
first tour of duty they were all Coldstreamers; the second
time they were provided by the Divisional Light A/A
Regiment.
The drill was this : every night just after dark the supplies
were brought by truck from B echelon to rear Battalion
Headquarters. There food, water, ammunition and any
78
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY


The Command Post in the crypt. Facing the camera are Gerry
Micklem and Lt.-Col. John Goschen (Grenadier Guards). In the
foreground, with stocking cap, is Bob Coates
The Command Post in the crypt, showing the combined cookhouse,
RAP and wireless sets of the Coldstream and Grenadiers
a
other comforts, all done up in section bundles, were loaded
in rucksacks or Everest carriers on to the backs of the
porters, who numbered from fifty to eighty each night,
depending on the amount of extras required. Off they went
in single file on their journey of about one and a half miles,
during which they had to cross several broken Bailey
bridges, all of which were well registered by the German
heavy weapons.
The worst part of the journey was the “Mad Mile”. It
was dead straight and formed the last lap before reaching the
crypt. The menace of the Mad Mile was a sportsman who
had earned the name of “Spandau Joe”. Nobody was ever
”
quite sure where Joe lived, but wherever it was, he usually
managed to shoot down the Mile, causing heavily laden
porters to fling themselves on their faces to avoid the hail
of bullets. Fortunately for all concerned, Joe was either
unlucky or had been idle in laying his fixed line, for his
victims were very few. There were some nights when he did
not play, but there was always that nasty feeling that he
might suddenly decide to put on a late performance.
Portering was an unenviable job.
Once the porters reached the crypt they were marshalled


S Company, Scots Guards, celebrate the fall of Cassino with a
Highland fling
Gen. Oliver Leese and Lt. Col. Hugh Norman walking through
Cassino after the town had fallen
79
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
by the drill-sergeant-in-waiting, who linked them up with Company, commanded by Desmond Chichester, also had
their company guides. Then, when the companies gave the an unfortunate incident. One of the forward section posts
word on the telephone, the porters would move forward got a direct hit, which caused all the rubble to fall in on
through the maze of rubble to the company headquarters, the section, who were buried alive. After some feverish
dump their burdens, pick up last night's empties and return digging, which ended just before dawn, the section was
home.
recovered, only to find that two were dead and the other
Whilst this supply column was working it was necessary three very badly shaken.
for the gunners to put down a very considerable smoke On the evening of the 5th May, Bob Coates, the acting
screen to ensure the safe arrival of the porters at their Commanding Officer, was ordered out of the line to attend
respective companies. This screen, which went by the code a so-called Welfare Conference at 8th Army Headquarters,
name of “Cigarette”, caused a good deal of telephone work and I took over command in his absence. It was fairly
by company commanders giving corrections to the gunners ; obvious that Bob had gone to be briefed for the big attack
for the wind had only to be a bit strong or to change, for the which we all knew was due to take place shortly. However,
porters to be left in the open without any smoke, feeling Bob came back muffled in secrecy and would not tell
as naked as the day they were born. It was nothing for anybody anything.
the gunners to fire from 5,000 to 7,000 rounds of smoke a We did not have to wait long for zero hour for Operation
night.
“Honker", as the big attack was called, for it was at 11 p.m.
So much for life in Cassino. Our first tour of duty had on the 11th May. The plan for “Honker” was for the ist
but few incidents, apart from the very unpleasant conditions Guards Brigade to remain in a holding rôle in Cassino,
described above. The 14th April was a bad day. In the while the 2nd Polish Corps attacked round the north of the
morning D/Sgt. Walker, who was in-waiting in the crypt, town on to Monastery Hill in an endeavour to take it from
went to check some ammunition in the Nunnery; he only the north-west, while at the same time the 4th British
showed himself for a second, but it was sufficient for an Division and 8th Indian Division were to attack across the
enemy sniper. In the evening Colonel Hugh Norman had to river Gari to the south.
retire to hospital with jaundice, and Bob Coates took over After a terrific artillery preparation by seven hundred
command.
guns the attack went in, but met with fierce opposition from
On the night of the 22nd-23rd April we were relieved the enemy, who were well entrenched. The battle swayed
by the 6th Battalion Black Watch and returned to our old back and forth for over six days, in which time both
billets at Potito. Our casualties had been four killed and the Canadian Corps and the 78th Division were employed
fifteen wounded, most of them porters.
in addition to the original forces.
When the battalion returned to Potito we knew that we Meanwhile in Cassino things were reasonably quiet. We
were to have a rest and then return for another tour of duty. were told to make faces”, which consisted of a lot of
If we had hoped for a good rest we were to be disappointed, MMG and mortar fire, all of which must have added to the
for instead we had a period of the most intensive training. enemy's troubles. At last, on the morning of the 18th May,
The only bright thing in this rather exhausting rest was Cassino fell, encircled from north and south; and what
that we had returned to our old Division, 6th Armoured, remained of the German parachutists—for many had
and were training with them for what was obviously to withdrawn at the last-gave themselves up on being told
be the big summer battle to remove the Germans from to come out by propaganda loudspeakers.
Italy.
Probably one of the deciding factors was not so much the
And so, after a welter of tewts, field firing with tanks, pressure of the Cassino area, which was great, but the
village fighting and a football match in which the officers advance of the French troops of 5th Army over our old
beat the sergeants 3-1, we returned to the same sector of battle ground of Ornito. This great and rapid advance drove
Cassino and took over from the 6th Black Watch on the a deep wedge into the enemy defences and caused them to
evening of the 4th May.
quit Cassino rather than to be cut off. However, the very
The only difference in the layout was that No. 4 Com- greatest credit is due to the magnificent efforts of 8th Army
pany, commanded by Bob Palmer, was placed under com- in the Liri valley, which accounted for many thousands of
mand of the 3rd Welsh Guards and put into the “Castle”, Germans and prevented them from ever again offering a
a very unsavoury spot on the right of the Brigade sector. firm resistance for more than forty-eight hours south of the
This left only one company in reserve.
Gothic line.
Bob Palmer's company had an unfortunate accident when On the 18th May the battalion left Cassino after a four-
a shell landed just outside the Castle. Its blast knocked some teen days' tour there and concentrated behind it for a well
hand-grenades off a window-sill and they exploded, killing earned rest. Meanwhile, the main battle surged on towards
CSM Manders and wounding Ronnie Callander. No. 3 Rome.
a
80
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
Cassino Incidents
a
By ROBIN MUIR
In many cases our forward platoons were so near the Hitler's birthday fell during the battalion's time in
Germans that little more than the thickness of a wall Cassino, and as dawn broke on that day we were astonished
divided the two. Living at such close quarters, hardly any to see the enemy positions liberally bedecked with swastika
warning could be expected of a raid or attack, and therefore
а
flags. A few days later the Welsh Guards replied to this
the keenest watch had to be kept on any slight sound by finding a large portrait of the former Italian town mayor
which might indicate aggressive action by the enemy. of Cassino, giving it a Hitlerian moustache and “hair-do”,
Conversely, if we made too much noise or talked too loudly, and hanging it up on a prominent ruin facing the enemy.
a nervous German section opposite was in the habit of The correct and honourable procedure worried the latter
lobbing a few grenades over the dividing wall to disperse for some time, until all of a sudden the air was rent by
any plans that we might be making. It was under these the clatter of German machine-gun fire and the Fuehrer's
circumstances that one platoon position had always to be image parted company with its gilt frame.
supplied with Spam instead of raw bacon for breakfast, as
the smell of bacon frying invariably attracted a shower of
grenades. This was an excellent example of the German dog-
The attractions of Cassino were never fully understood
in-the-manger attitude to life: if they couldn't have bacon
by the ist Guards Brigade. However, there existed for
for breakfast owing to shortage of supplies, they would make
other people a very real and strong attraction, for each
it as inconvenient as possible for us to have ours.
night the porters were accompanied by a “gaggle” of
sightseers who had little or no excuse for being there, but
To the Germans, as to ourselves, Cassino was a vital who had, I suppose, persuaded or bribed the officer in
strategical position, and they gave the responsible job of charge to let them come along. It must have been this
holding the town to one of their most trusted parachute very same attraction which moved two GIs to decide,
regiments. These soldiers were a byword for bravery, tough-
over their cups one Saturday afternoon, that they too must
ness and artfulness, and they had a reputation for trying
see Cassino. Accordingly they left Army Group Head-
on any trick which they thought might succeed. With this
quarters, where they worked, motored up Route 6 to the
in mind, we became highly suspicious of the numerous
beginning of the “Mad Mile”, parked the jeep there and
stretcher parties which moved nonchalantly across the open
then continued their precarious and highly unsteady
spaces of Cassino in broad daylight, with heavy and bulky
journey into Cassino on foot. The mere anticipation of
loads on their stretchers. Thus, to avoid being thought
the long trek up the Mad Mile into the town, even in the
over-gullible and to enforce the Geneva conventions, we
dead of night and protected by a heavy smoke-screen,
decided to put a shot across the bows of the next im-
made the very toughest turn pale; and the fantastic idea
probable-looking party. This proved to be two bearers
carrying a single stretcher, its contents covered by a
of attempting it in broad daylight, watched by a thousand
blanket; and when it got well into the open a warning
German eyes, would never for one moment have entered
shot was duly fired in its direction. The reaction was
their heads. However, these gallant GIs, in their very
instantaneous: the stretcher was dropped, and from under
happy frame of mind, thought nothing of it. Singing and
the blanket leapt a young, athletic-looking German who
chattering one to the other, they made their way over
successfully overhauled and beat the two bearers in their the torn Bailey bridges into the town itself, where no
lightning dash for cover. After this episode the parachutists amount of catcalls from the Guardsmen crouching in the
brought in their rations and reinforcements at night.
ruins could distract them from their sightseeing intentions.
And it was not until a German soldier, realizing suddenly
that these two ludicrous characters constituted the aggressive
Viewed from the outside the joint Battalion Head-
enemy, had nicked one of them in the leg with a bullet,
quarters in the crypt were just a huge pile of rubble with
a kind of rabbit-hole entrance in the middle, out of which
that they turned slowly round and tottered back down the
the occupants used to crawl at night to rediscover the joys
Mile to their jeep. I have always hoped that what they did
of fairly fresh air. In fact, to a stranger there was nothing at
and where they went has since dawned upon these two
all to indicate that this mass of rubble was a Headquarters or
American adventurers, for what better story could any
that under the rabbit-hole sat two Commanding Officers, two
GI wish to take back to the States! That afternoon they
Adjutants and many more important people. This being so, accomplished something which, I feel sure, no member
I shall always feel sorry for the Grenadier sanitary corporal of the ist Guards Brigade would have undertaken, even
who saw the hole in the rubble and considered it an admirable though he had been offered a Congressional Medal of
place to dump the contents of his company's latrine bucket. Honour at the end of it.
6
81
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
The “Medjez Mail”
The Medjez Mail was the 2nd Battalion daily newspaper
and, incidentally, the first unit newspaper to be produced
in General Anderson's ist Army. Copy number one came
off the roneo at Medjez el Bab in December 1942, edited
by Paul Corbould, who was Adjutant at that time. From
a numerically humble beginning its fame grew and grew,
until at the end of the North African campaign an ever-
expanding circulation had topped the hundred-a-day mark,
with copies going to many neighbouring units, Brigades
and Corps Headquarters, and even to the War Museum
in London, which had asked for complimentary copies for
record purposes.
As it was only in the later stages of the war that properly
printed newspapers arrived with any regularity, the Medjez
Mail was the only organ of daily news available to the
battalion, and so its publication was eagerly awaited by
all. As a result, the responsibility of going to print at any
cost weighed heavily on the editor's shoulders, and the
burden of producing it fell even more heavily on the
shoulders of the intelligence section, led by the sub-editor,
Sgt. Tiller. On a battalion move Sgt. Morgan was fre-
quently to be seen rolling around inside a 15-cwt. truck,
attempting to pick up and write down the B.B.C. six
o'clock news, whilst Gdsm. Whitelee did his best to roneo
at night under a groundsheet with the torrential rain of
North Africa beating down upon him. Very great credit
goes to them for their efforts.
The Medjez Mail normally comprised one foolscap
sheet. On the front page was the world and local news,
and on the back page, which was often printed well in
advance during quiet periods, were a series of cartoons,
cooking hints, crosswords, and many and various local
contributions. Occasionally, at the editor's discretion,
Elston Grey-Turner (MO) was allowed a little space to
announce his forthcoming “jabbing" programmes or to
advise the use of AL 63 before and after entering “Wog"
huts. In fact, the back page was a mixture of just anything
we could find.
Although there was constant criticism from all sides as
to what should and should not be printed, and although
Taffy Howard-Stepney maintained that town names in
the Asia war news were always incorrectly spelt, it is
believed that, by and large, the whole battalion, and many
others too, thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the Medjez
Mail and felt that by the end of the war it really had become
an integral part of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards.
Thursday, 6 April, 1944. Crypt Evening Edition
Latest News
Last night our advanced elements entered Cassino, where they are believed to have gained a foothold in the forward
positions. Despite the fact that they had anticipated the full weight of the much-vaunted German army to be thrown against
them, they stepped into their rubble shelters without a single casualty. The annexe of the world-famous ury Hotel
Continental was aided in its modernization by three direct hits. It is understood that the latest tourist attraction is the
appearance of a hitherto unknown form of musical entertainment to be known as the “Tank”. Critics tell of the majestic
booming of its instruments, not unlike the tom-tom, and the pulsating rhythm produced when it is moving at speed.
Flashes
It is understood that the forward platoons of No. 2 Company had every modern convenience, including running water in
each room. The last tenants carried with them flame-throwers, with which they heated their shaving water.
Evacuations in the crypt of Cassino Church revealed three human skulls in the Commanding Officer's bed area. On
examination the M.O. pronounced all three to be female.
Further exploration produced a remarkable find in the art world. A large painting, undoubtedly by an Old Master, was
unearthed. Although valued at many thousands of pounds and saved at great peril before the destruction of Monte Cassino
Abbey, it was made a spontaneous gift to the Padre. But, being of the Modern School, he theorized on the possibility of it
being the product of some nineteenth-century American sightseer, and refused the gift.
Usually well-informed circles to-day point out that never in its history has the RAP produced so many brews at such
frequent intervals. Such a statement leads to the assumption that Mr. Churchill's words are once more fitting to the occasion.
Sports writers to-day make much of the new world-record quarter-mile which was established yesterday. The remark-
able achievement, they point out, was not the breaking of the record but the fact that it was broken by such a number of
people at the same time. “Not only this” says the critic, “others are about to challenge the title holder to-day.”
Another side of the picture is shown by the appearance last night at Advanced Battalion Headquarters of Lt. Col.
Wilkinson (late Coldstream Guards). It appeared after questioning that he was out for an evening stroll with his Adjutant
and decided to look in for a glass of something at Cassino, which he understood to be a fine sight by moonlight.
82
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
To-day's Quiz
A doctor has said that men of his profession fall into three categories : those who wipe their finger along the top of the door ;
those who feel the patient's pulse in order to find out how he is; and those who feel the kettle to see when the brew is going to
be on. Into which category does our MO fall?
To-day's Game
spy with my little eye.
I
Friday, 14 April, 1944. Crypt Evening Edition
Editorial
The Managing Director, the Editors and the many contributors to this edition of the Medjez Mail deeply regret that the
edition of yesterday, 13th April, 1944, failed to appear. A combination of circumstances made printing impossible. They are,
however, determined to make up this by an additionally small copy to-day.
Cassino
Exercise "Flurry”. Warning Order
Exercise “Flurry” will take place in the area of the Crypt (map ref. Cassino sheet 858208) every evening from 2000
to 0300 hours. Troops taking part will be as follows: all Battalion Headquarters, porters and as many telephones as
can be laid hold of. Exercise will commence with the arrival of the first visitor (probably a member of Brigade
Headquarters who has brought some apples or oranges with him). Notification for the conclusion will be given over the
air as soon as the area is cleared. Code word: "Angel Whisky”. Object. To complete with as much noise, excitement
and confusion as possible the rationing of forward companies. The object will not be achieved unless chaos is generally
prevalent. In order to assist the realistic side of the exercise, the
gunners will drop smoke on the leading companies and Brigade
will supply not less than three personnel and twenty envelopes
labelled "Urgent and Secret” each evening. As far as possible
Prontos will arrange for signal communications to fail. On con-
clusion of the exercise all troops taking part will disperse and a cup
of tea will be made available in the crypt for those who are lucky
enough. Troops will not be called upon to parade on the morning
Personal Message
following before 1100 hours at the earliest. Chief Umpire is being
detailed by Commander ist Guards Brigade each evening.
from the
We very much regret having to record the death of D/Sgt. Army Commander
Walker, who was killed by a sniper this morning. In this battalion
he will be remembered chiefly as the CSM of No. 2 Company
Great events lie ahead of us. All round Hitler's Germany.
throughout the whole of the Tunisian Campaign, when he was one
the Allies are closing in: on the East, the victorious
of the few CSMs to come through unscathed. Apart from the
Russians drive on - in the West, the British and American
mere soldiering side of life, the battalion will feel his death in the Armies are massed to invade.
loss to the entertainments. His production of the “Mad Doctor”
– Now in the South, the Eighth and Fifth Armies are
is well known at the sergeants' and corporals' messes, as well as at about to strike.
company concerts. We will remember him.
Side by side with our French and American Allies, we
will break through the enemy's winter line and start our
great advance Northwards. Our plan is worked out in every
detail -- we attack in great strength, with large numbers of
World News
tanks and guns, supported by a powerful American Air Force
Russia
and our own Desert Air Force.
The peoples of the United Nations will be watching the
The Red Army's progress in the Crimea is very fast. The Germans Eighth Army. Let us live up to our great traditions and give
them news of fresh achievements – great news such as they
and Rumanians are being driven back from the north and east.
expect from this Army.
In the north the Russians are now only thirty-five miles from
We welcome gladly to our ranks those Divisions whose
Sevastopol. They have advanced seventy miles in two days.
first fight this is with the Eighth Army. We send a special
message to our Polish Corps, now battling beside us to
regain its beloved country.
Europe
I say to you all — Into action, with the light of
More bombing by day and night. Yesterday Fortresses and Libera- battle in your eyes. Let every man do his duty through
out the fight and the Day is ours !
tors attacked aircraft factories. They shot down seventy-six German
Good Luck and God Speed to each one of you !
planes for the loss of thirty-six bombers and eight fighters.
Italy
Shiree kese
Long-range guns, such as those used across the Channel, are now
being used against us at Anzio, it is reported. It seems likely that
MAY, 1944
one of these has been sent down to the Cassino area.

-
ITALY,
Lieut.-General.
83
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
THE BATTLE OF MONTE
OF MONTE PICCOLO
28-29 May 1944
By John BOWKER
When the time came we began the advance. It was
appallingly difficult to keep control and at times my platoon
became mixed up with the right-hand one. However, we
arrived on our under-feature without opposition and
apparently without the knowledge of the Germans, for they
did nothing about us. Soon after, our own barrage came
down. One miserable gun dropped short, wounding one of
my men and frightening the rest.
The other two companies passed by on either side and
went on to the top of the hill. We heard a few bursts of
automatic fire and some grenades, though the opposition
was not very great. But Hugh Spencer was killed on the
right while attacking a German post single-handed, and
Oogie Bridgeman in the Scots Guards was killed on the
left.
The remainder of the night was fairly quiet and we
thought that all was well. But with the coming of dawn we
ITALY, 1:25,000
-
FARCE
To the south of a little place called Arce lie three hills which
command Route 6, the main road to Rome. The most
westerly hill is called Monte Grande and the centre hill is
Monte Piccolo. Having been smashed on the Adolf Hitler
line, the Germans were hanging on desperately to Grande
and Piccolo to delay our advance as long as possible. Already
a company of the Welsh Guards had been repulsed with
heavy losses from Piccolo, and later we were to find some
of their wounded still lying out where they had had to be
left.
It was decided that a Brigade attack would be put in—the
Grenadiers were to take Grande on the left and the Cold-
stream Piccolo on the right. It was a difficult attack because
we were only given an hour or two in which to arrange it,
and we barely had time to see the ground before darkness
fell. David Toler whipped his platoon commanders up in a
jeep to look at the ground, and when we arrived at the
view-point the long bulk of Piccolo was already fading into
the gloom. Two miles separated us from the objective—two
miles of inky blackness, with no moon and no roads, and
thick country over which no one had been. I wondered
whether we would get to the start line in time.
The battalion plan was roughly as follows. Piccolo was a
long, rocky hill rising to a peak at each end. In the middle
of it, and 200 yards to the south, was a small under-feature.
Our company, No. 4, was to get on to this under-feature
and thus secure the start line and line of advance. Then
the Scots Guards company, under Andrew Neilson,
was to advance on the left and take the west end of
Piccolo; and No. 3 Company, under Desmond Chichester,
on the right to take the east end. No. 2 Company was in
reserve.
We set off. It was as black as pitch, but Robin Muir did
some tremendous work with a map and compass. Occa-
sionally we had to halt and shield a torch while Robin
looked to see where we were going. We passed by a little
church, where for some obscure reason the bell was
ringing. At last we came to a small lateral road, where we
formed up, though nobody was quite sure whether it was
the forming-up place or the start line. However, it turned
out to be the former after all.

MURATA
330
GRANDE
M. PICCOLO
321
(sgotsads. 3 Coy
Cox
Route No:6
Grenadiers
Startiline
[Coates Force]
2.Coy
E.U.P.
Main Road
Tracks
ZH
++++
Railway
84
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY


2
The Welsh Guards, with tank support, move up to attack Arce, 28.5.44
The surrender of Arce, 29.5.44
w
were disillusioned. The Grenadiers had failed to attain their
objective and we saw that the Germans were still on the top
of Grande.
Thus our left flank was still wide open and the enemy
OPs on Grande could see behind Piccolo. They were not
long in taking advantage. They stonked the whole battalion
area pretty well all day and at once put in a frontal attack
on Piccolo itself. This was the critical time. The Germans
attacked with great courage, single men often infiltrating
over the saddle of Piccolo and shooting up the forward
companies with spandaus from the flank. The Scots Guards
and No. 3. Company did magnificently. In No. 4 Company,
3
200 yards behind, we could see most of what happened,
and on two or three occasions I saw Guardsmen advance
over the crest of Piccolo, throwing grenades and firing
Brens from the hip. Casualties on both sides were heavy,
and we in No. 4 Company were continuously standing-to in
expectation of a German break-through on to our position.
But it never came. The reverse slope of Piccolo was held
pany, in reserve, was shelled a certain amount and lan
Skimming was wounded. Ray Crouch, who was sent up to
No. 3 Company, was also wounded five minutes after his
arrival.
In No. 4 Company we had a number of jobs on hand.
We found several wounded Welsh Guardsmen in the area,
who had been left behind in their former attack, and they
had to be carried back. Water and ammunition had to be
taken to the top of Piccolo—the water as important as
the ammunition, because it was extremely hot. Bill Cor-
bould did most of this work with the reserve platoon-
an unpleasant task in the stonking which was taking
place.
Towards evening the battle died down; but, as it
was thought that the Germans might try again, certain
precautions were taken. A fresh Welsh Guards com-
pany was sent up on the right of No. 3, my own platoon
was sent up to the saddle of Piccolo to prevent further
infiltration, while a magnificent conglomeration of LOBs
-drivers, cooks and odds and sods generally, commanded
by Bob Coates and known as “Coates' Force”—was
sent out to protect our left flank, which was still in the
air.
Up on the saddle of Piccolo it was too rocky to dig and we
wondered if the Germans would give us time to build our
sangars. But they were never required. The Germans had
suffered heavy casualties and had had enough. The night
was quiet, and the next morning we had the satisfaction of
being able to walk over on the forward slope and watch our
armour passing through, up Route 6.
A few days later we were bivouacked within sight of St.
Peter's.
all day.
Andrew Neilson was wounded early on, but he stayed to
command his company until loss of blood made him too
weak. He did superbly. When he eventually came back he
could hardly walk. He staggered down the hill, collapsing
every two paces. Brian Rudd was sent up to relieve him and
both he and CSM Brown of the Scots Guards did tre-
mendous work in holding that left-hand peak for the rest
of the day. Once they were driven back down the hill, but
they were soon on top of it again.
We did not see so much of No. 3 Company, but they were
having an equally difficult time, and Desmond Chichester
was another man performing wonders that day. No. 2 Com-
85
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
''
Guards Night Battle for Italy Peak
By courtesy of the Editor of the “Daily Telegraph”
In a quiet vineyard on the slopes of Mount Piccolo, one of
the twin peaks guarding this important road junction, I
heard to-day the story of the fantastic and brilliantly
executed night attack of a Guards Regiment which brought
about the fall of Arce.
I sat in the shade near the newly dug graves of the
Guardsmen who fell in the battle.
It was a rush attack, quickly planned and quickly or-
ganized. Company commanders did not get their orders
until 6.30 p.m. on Saturday. They had to move 3,000
yards to their starting line at 9.15 p.m. and the attack
was timed to start fifteen minutes past midnight. There
was no time to study the ground. There was no time to
carry out a reconnaissance of the tracks over which the
troops would move.
The night was pitch dark as the Guards moved off
over the ground, which, for all they knew, might be
mined.
“I have never been so scared in my life,” a lieutenant
told me, “but it went like clockwork. There was a terrific
artillery barrage for fifteen minutes before the infantry went
in. It must have done a lot of damage, because there were
many Germans dead when we reached the top. It was tough
hand-to-hand fighting all the way ... much tougher than
when we crossed the Garigliano. We did not have a casualty
until we reached the top, and then they got to work on us
with hand-grenades and spandaus on the flanks and the
reverse slopes.”
Two formations were pushed eighty yards down the
mountain when the Germans launched strong counter-
attacks at seven o'clock next morning, but they stayed there
all day and recaptured the summit that night.
They attacked in an extended line, the men spaced five
yards apart. They went up the slopes with bayonets fixed,
throwing grenades and firing tommy-guns and Brens from
the hips.
I have seen the ground over which they fought. They
achieved what many a strategist would have regarded as
impossible.
They were firing at Germans only twenty yards away.
There were forty Germans in the original attack. The
Guards killed twenty-five.
“We used their own spandaus on them,” said CSM
Brown, who took command of his company when his
officer was killed. “We fought our way back to the crest of
the hill in about three-quarters of an hour, but we lost
about fifteen men doing it.”
Sgt. Joe Copland, formerly a Bristol policeman who hails
from Aberdeen, told me how one officer and twenty Ger-
mans were coming towards them with their hands over their
heads shouting “Kamerad”. One of our sergeants went
forward to guide the surrendering Germans in. The next
minute he was dead. With customary German treachery he
had been fired on from the flank and the bullet went through
the back of his neck. The German party quickly dispersed
and ran down the hill.
These Guards were enraged. Their laughter ceased when
they told of this incident. Their faces became grave and
determined and they swore oaths that the Germans would
get no quarter next time they were in action.
Then Captain D. C. Chichester, of Alresford, Hants,
company commander who attacked on the right, took up
the story. “The only opposition when we reached the top
came from spandaus,” he said. “One machine-gun nest was
giving trouble and one of my platoons went forward to
silence it. The platoon commander got within five yards and
threw a phosphorus grenade. It lit up the sector. Two
Germans in the nest fired a burst which killed the platoon
commander. Then they abandoned their spandau and ran
down the slope.”
“We killed them with a Bren as they ran,” he went on.
“That was just before two o'clock in the morning. It was
all quiet then until about seven o'clock, when the Germans
threw in their counter-attack. They infiltrated among my
forward platoon and wiped out a section of eight men. They
killed three and five are missing ... prisoners, I hope.
There was a gap of about three hundred yards between the
other Guards and my company, and the Germans started to
infiltrate there."
One of their officers, Lt. J. S. Wilson, of Kennington
Road, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs., learning that one officer
had been killed and two wounded, hiked to the company
yesterday afternoon. He had purposely been left out of the
battle, but he was determined to get there when he learned
that his company had lost three of the officers with which
it started the attack.
86
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
PICCOLO TO PERUGIA
June 1944
By HENRY GREEN
us the Germans had gone and we advanced some four miles
that day. This was not very swift against no opposition, but
as the tanks had been held up by a fault in the road which
required sapper attention, Colonel Hugh very wisely would
not loose us farther into the blue without proper support.
On the 4th June we halted by Lake Caderna and spent
two heavenly days bathing. Then we heard that Rome had
fallen, and on the 6th June we moved to a harbour area
within sight of the dome of St. Peter's.
Moving on slowly on the 7th and 8th, we arrived in
For three days after the battle of Piccolo the battalion re-
mained resting in that area. There had been a number of
casualties which required replacing, and the main changes
in the order of battle were that Bill Harris took over com-
mand of No. 2 Company vice Ian Skimming, who had been
wounded, and I came back from hospital and resumed
command of No. 3 Company. This company had lost all
its subaltern officers at Piccolo, for Hugh Spencer had
been killed and both Ray Crouch and Peter Whaley had
been wounded. Their places were taken by Humphrey
Fitzroy, Arthur Farnell-Watson and Victor LeFanu. David
Cuthbert resumed command of S Company, having been
LOB after Cassino.
The weather was now very hot and we were, of course,
wearing KD. This form of dress did not prove to be very
good camouflage in Italy and so the ist Guards Brigade
adopted the following order of dress for battle : American
khaki shirts, denim trousers and, on top of that, a camou-
flaged smock.
The battle was now moving at a brisk pace, and although
the battalion was not required to fight, we had to move on to
keep in touch with the leaders. On the 1st June we moved
from Piccolo to Ceprano, and very early in the morning of
the 3rd we moved on again to a harbour area just south
of Alatri, arriving there at 5 a.m. By 9 a.m. the company
commanders were on a recce and we were obviously going
to be involved in a battle that day.
The recce party moved through Alatri, which was a
shambles, and on to a road looking towards Fuomone. Here
there was supposed to be a battle in progress between a
Brigade of 78th Division and the enemy, but as nothing
much seemed to be happening the recce party moved on and
the battalion was ordered up to Fuomone about 11 a.m.
When we arrived Fuomone was en fête and we were
greeted with cheers, smiles and vino by the locals. The
battalion arrived on the scene, and having extricated it from
the peasants who were offering it red wine on the hottest
day of the year, we proceeded to advance into the blue on a
two-company front (Nos. 2 and 3) supported by the tanks
2
of the Lothian and Border Horse. Our first objectives were
two large-looking hills, which had they been defended
would have proved formidable tasks. However, luckily for

Lt. H. H. Spencer CMF 28.5.44
87
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME” '
a
a harbour just south of Monterotondo, north of Rome. The only people who could have been pleased were the
Here the 3rd Grenadier Guards and the 3rd Welsh Guards Germans, who proceeded to stonk No. 3 Company for the
had a bit of a fight, and on the morning of the 9th June we next twelve hours; and there was little doubt that they had
passed through them, supported by 17/21 Lancers. That plenty of ammunition.
day was uneventful until late in the evening, when Nos 4 The ioth of June was a very bad day for the battalion, for
and S Companies came under increasingly heavy artillery the enemy shelling, which became more intense and wide-
fire in the area of Poggio Mirteto.
spread as the day went on, took a heavy toll of Battalion
After dark that night, and with no previous recce of any Headquarters, which had moved up behind Nos. 2, 4 and
sort, Nos. 2 and 3 Companies were ordered to push on through S Companies. One direct hit on Battalion Headquarters
No.4 and S Companies and advance across about 2,000 yards killed Dick Alderson, Sgt. Melbourn, the signal sergeant,
of flat ground on to some more hills. These companies had an and several others, while Colonel Hugh Norman and Dick
approach march of some three miles, and by the time orders Chaplin were very badly wounded; in fact they took no
had been given out, they did not start until after I a.m. further active part in the war. Bob Windsor-Clive was also
Even with no mishaps or opposition, it was questionable wounded, but, as usual, he was back at duty before long.
whether these companies would have made their objectives That night the Germans withdrew and the 3rd Grenadier
before daylight, and when, owing to the fact that the Guards and 3rd Welsh Guards were pushed through us. It
ground was completely unreconnoitred, the leading platoon had been one of those days when the enemy, finding them-
commander, Humphrey Fitzroy, found himself looking selves in an excellent defensive position with plenty of
over a precipice, company commanders had to think again! ammunition which had to be fired, made full use of it to
By this time it was getting light, and now that a good OP hold up our advance. In fact, the only physical contact
was available, the obvious thing to do was to have a look and
a
made all day had been one very small enemy patrol, which
make a proper plan. However, such was the urgency to was seen off by No. 3 Company.
advance that No. 3 Company was told to proceed with all
3
On the 11th June, consequent on the previous day's
possible speed and take the line of a road some thousand casualties, a number of changes had to be made to the
yards in front of the leading companies.
battalion order of battle. Bob Coates took over command;
a

첨
​ellett. el
POGGIO MIRIETO
MAP. REF- 8705- 144,1V LEKE
40 miles N. of Rome. The battalion spent a few days here after the shelling on 10 June, when Bn. HQ received a direct hit (Drawn by Gdsm. Leaf)
88
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
Billy Steele, who had been living at B echelon for a few days 2 and 3 Companies, which were to lead the advance, moved
as a spare, became second in command; Michael Hollings off to their forming up places. Advanced Battalion Head-
became Adjutant; I took over Headquarter Company; quarters moved forward, but failed to find the leading com-
Desmond Chichester took over No. 3; and Jamie Leveson panies, although they could speak to them on the wireless.
Support Company.
David Toler, who was commanding No. 4 Company, failed
For the next few days we followed on at the tail of the to make contact with them during the night! They had gone
Brigade and the only things of note were the lovely weather, on in advance under John Bowker and were lying up so well
some bathing in a river near Narni and Bob Palmer winning concealed that David couldn't find them.
the sweep on the Derby. The fact that we were able to hear Throughout the night the Brigade Commander was con-
both the Oaks and the premier classic on the wireless did much stantly asking for news of the advance on the rear link and it
to raise the morale of keen followers of the Sport of Kings. was extremely difficult to give it to him accurately. Brigadier
On the 18th the weather changed for the worse. We Charles, although very anxious for results, remained calm
moved on through Todi and, by the afternoon, found our- and collected until, owing to the operator falling asleep
selves about four miles south of Perugia, with the thankless and the rear link officer being absorbed in an Edgar Wallace
task of having to send out patrols that night without anybody thriller, the rear link went off net. Hearing the well-known
concerned having had a look at the ground. These patrols strains of “Tiger Rag” coming through the headphones
found the opposition very much on their toes and showing this officer realized that all was not well, and by galvaniz-
no signs of handing over Perugia to us without a fight. ing the operator into life we were soon back on net, only
On the 19th the 3rd Grenadier Guards were involved to be greeted by an irate Brigadier who proceeded to dish
in some brisk fighting on the outskirts of Perugia, and that out a rocket which would have made any self-respecting
night we were to go through them and capture the southern V2 pale!
outskirts of the town.
Eventually, towards morning, the battalion managed to get
The night of the 19th-20th June was like a pantomime, together again. The advance continued and we captured
and it is doubtful if the production could have been bettered Perugia without opposition amidst much cheering from the
by the “Crazy Gang”. It was very dark and wet when Nos. populace.
a

***
MONTE
PACCIANO.I.
(Drawn by Gdsm. Leaf)
89
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
PACCIANO
June 1944
By ARTHUR FARNELL-WATSON
After a certain amount of skirmishing on the southern out-
skirts of the town, Perugia was entered early on the 20th
June. The 3rd Welsh Guards were passed straight through
to occupy the hills to the north-west and the same evening
S Company made its way up Monte Pacciano, the main
feature to the north-east, where, having contacted the
enemy on the top, they dug themselves in 300 yards
down the reverse slope. The following afternoon No. 4
Company under David Toler moved up the hill and estab-
lished itself in a wooded gully to the left and slightly below
S Company. The leading platoon was accurately mortared
whilst still digging and had the great misfortune to lose
Peter Gale, killed in almost his first action with the battalion,
together with one other rank and six others wounded. On
the 22nd Bill Harris brought up No. 2 Company in reserve
to the Grey House (the large building in the centre of the
picture on previous page), half-way up the hill, from where
they relieved S Company the following night. John Lumley
and two other ranks were wounded by mortar fire not long
afterwards.
No. 3 Company relieved No. 4 on the night of the 24th,
and it was now firmly believed by some that the top of the
hill had been vacated by the enemy, since the Derbyshire
Yeomanry were able to take their tanks right round the bot-
tom without meeting with any serious opposition. Chris-
topher Carlisle took out a large patrol the next day from
No. 3 Company, but they were ambushed at close range and
only four out of the ten returned to give evidence that the
top was in fact still held by the Germans, though it was still
uncertain in what strength. Of the rest of that patrol it was
later discovered that only Christopher and one Guardsman
by some miracle survived and were taken prisoner. Colin
Dalrymple, S Company, took another patrol out soon after
on the same day, but they were fired on immediately and
were forced to retire without gaining any information as to
the fate of the first patrol. That night a platoon from S
Company occupied without opposition the White House
out on the right, a place from which they had previously
experienced a certain amount of trouble.
It was now considered essential to take the whole feature,
since the enemy were still using their OP on the summit for
shelling the town. The attack went in at 9.30 p.m. on the
26th. No. 4 Company moved forward on the right; No. 3,
now reduced to two platoons, advanced in the centre under
Desmond Chichester; and a company of the 3rd Welsh
Guards attacked west of the Wooded Gully. The flanking
companies were the first to draw fire, but were able to reach
their objective and dig in without undue difficulty. Enemy
DF mortar fire was brought down, but caused no real
trouble. Meanwhile, No. 3 Company in the centre was able
to approach much closer before attracting attention. It
then came under very intense cross fire from spandaus,
which killed four and wounded six of the leading platoon.
Fire was returned and grenades thrown and the fighting
continued for half an hour. A flanking movement by the
second platoon proved impossible, the whole company
retired 100 yards to a convenient ditch, and later dug in on
the left of No. 2 Company.
Wireless communication having failed during the fighting,
the situation was not clarified until early next morning.
When it was known that both flanking companies were
firmly established No. 2 Company was ordered forward at
first light to clear the top, but the Germans had had enough
and the summit was found clear. Only one German body
was found—that of an Unteroffizier who may well have
commanded the defending force. No. 2 Company soon
built themselves excellent sangars on the very top of the
hill.
The enemy had, in fact, withdrawn completely and
nothing more took place save a sudden shelling as soon as it
was light, which fell for the most part on elements of Sup-
port Company; and one heavy gun began to shell No. 3
with alarming accuracy, but by this time it was safely under-
ground.
S Company and No. 3 were withdrawn into the town for
a rest and the latter was soon after disbanded. Nos. 2 and 4 .
Companies continued the advance on the 29th, and on the
30th Brian Rudd's platoon and a section of carriers dis-
tinguished themselves by patrolling right forward and sur-
prising the Germans in broad daylight, taking five prisoners
from a farmhouse. For this patrol Brian Rudd was awarded
the M.C.
a
90
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
Extracts from the Diary of Elston GREY-TURNER Villa San Mezzano, Wed. 9 Aug. 1944
Frightful thunderstorms and rain to-day. Battalion moved
Cortona Station, Thurs. 13 July 1944
to this gigantic and extremely vulgar villa in reserve
Still here. The attack on Arezzo has been most carefully positions.
planned from aerial photographs, aerial flights and recce
from distant hills. We are very gloomy, as we appear to be
Near Renacci, Sat. 19 Aug. 1944
up against four battalions of Krauts. It will be interesting to
Holiday atmosphere in camp. The Grenadiers' Band gave
see how this goes, with careful preparation; most of our
two concerts to-day, first class, and their swing band played
operations have had hardly any preparation at all.
in the sergeants' mess this evening, where there was the
most monumental party in all history. Well primed at the
officers' mess, we moved on and joined the most unparalleled
Marzupina, Sat. 15 July 1944
carouse with the sergeants. Everybody very gay, very
The attack went well in the night. The New Zealanders and matey, very happy. Like old times, only better. Ended up
Grenadiers took their objective. Then the latter were with everyone dancing reels, congas, gallops on floor, tables,
counter-attacked, helped by us. A hard day's fighting, but everywhere. Bob Southey had to put me to bed.
good progress. Moved the RAP forward up these appalling
hills; almost killed me. This is the filthiest house the RAP
has ever occupied.

St. Andrea, Sun. 16 July 1944
The Germans retired in the night, and to-day the rest of the
Division went through the Olmo gap to Arezzo. In the
evening we marched down the hill back to this area. Church
bells ringing
Cancelli, Sat. 5 Aug. 1944
Some shelling in the morning, fairly heavy. Our house got a
direct hit-clouds of dust and rubble; fortunately no one
hurt, though I was scratched. Then some casualties from
the Scots Guards, who had been mortared. The afternoon
was quiet, but now, as I write, the most monumental stonk is
going over-tanks, 25-pounders, mortars, MGs, mediums,
heavies and A/A guns all firing at the German OPs and guns
which have held us up.
Lt. P. M. Gale CMF 21.6.44
Villa Bonsi, Sun. 6 Aug. 1944
Moved up to this huge villa at midnight, in preparation for
an attack by Skimbo. It was an awful night; no sooner had
we fixed an RAP in a cellar than casualties began coming in
(Bob Southey is looking over my shoulder as I write—he
keeps amazingly cheerful). We were hard at it all night.
Consuma, Tues. 5 Sept. 1944
This evening the Grenadiers' Band played for two hours.
It must be very rare for a Regimental Band and a first-class
а
swing band to play in the front line.
Carraia, Mon. 7 Aug. 1944
A very noisy morning, with tanks firing their guns and the
Germans replying with heavy shelling. Tac HQ moved
down here at night. This place is less exposed.
We heard to-day from some prisoners that Peter Perrott
was killed during his recce patrol to Santa Agatha on the 4th
August. It is a sad blow to us, for we were all very fond of
him.
Near Arezzo, Sun. 24 Sept. 1944
Yesterday evening a party consisting of Billy Steele, Bob
Southey, Bob Palmer, Bill Harris, Richard Coke, Denys
Percy, David Toler and myself mobbed up the stuffy
officers' club in Arezzo and got very merry.
Another good party at Brigade Headquarters to-night.
91
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
?


Bob Southey, Elston Grey-Turner and Jamie Leveson

Lt. R. P. J. Perrott CMF 4.8.44

000
Humphrey Fitzroy

Billy Steele in festive mood
San Mezzano
92
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
Τ


Lt. A. B. M. Long CMF 12.1.45


Lt. B. R. Rudd, M.C. CMF 7.8.44
The RAP
The group includes George Forbes, Elston Grey-
Turner, Sgt. Dawson, Sgt. Perrin, Cpl. Spencer
and Gdsm. Pearson, Shepard, Farrar and Black-
more
No. 2 Company at San Mezzano, Aug. 1944
Gdsm. Thiel leads the queue and behind him is Gdsm.
Hargreaves (8 sec. 12 pl.)
93
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''

, . ,
No. 16 PLATOON, No. 4 COMPANY. Rome, Summer, 1944
Back Row: Gdsm. Eskins Gdsm. Walker Cpl. Tamkin
Cpl. Waring
Italian Interpreter
Gdsm. Laming
Third Row: Cpl. Walker Gdsm. Brooks Gdsm. Willbye Gdsm. Parr Gdsm. Bennett
Second Row: Gdsm. Jones Gdsm. Camwell Gdsm. W ainhouse Lt. Mayes Gdsm. Brook Gdsm. Riley Gdsm. Brown
Gdsm. Stockam Gdsm. Birrell Sgt. Fairbanks
Gdsm. Norbury Gdsm. Toes Sgt. Kidd, M.M. Gdsm. Metcalf Gdsm. Dobbs
Front Row:
94
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
MONTE BATTAGLIA
Extracts from the Diary of ELSTON GREY-TURNER
Monduzzo, Mon. 2 Oct. 1944
Left our pleasant billets this morning to drive sixty miles
in pouring rain north-westwards to take over from 88 U.S.
Division. It was a big climb over the pass and through the
Gothic line again. A very steep climb from the debussing
point up to here, in rain and appalling mud. How I wish we
could get out of these bloody mountains.
a brisk battle and straight ahead, plainly visible, the great
plain of Lombardy—seen at last! This was a great thrill.
At dusk we moved forward a long way over appalling
tracks. A small battle was raging round Monte Battaglia and
we were narrowly missed by our own shells. The Americans
were very tired, and altogether we had a ghastly night.
Wed. 4 Oct. 1944
A busy day clearing up, etc. Heavy shelling in the afternoon,
with consequent casualties. The Grenadiers took over their
sector to-night and were also shelled. Altogether this is a
very unpleasant mission, the most uncomfortable we have
had since Cassino.
Tues. 3 Oct. 1944
After a good night in the straw we moved up after lunch to
Valmaggiore. Lovely views to the west and north. On the left

Sat. 7 Oct. 1944
.
We are having a very miserable time. Rain awful, tracks
almost impassable and, worst of all, persistent mortaring
and shelling. Our morale is being hard hit, the chief reason
being that we just have to sit in our holes and wait for the
shells and can do nothing about it.
Mon. 9 Oct. 1944
A quieter day. Relieved this afternoon by the Welsh Guards
and then struggled back along those perfectly ghastly tracks,
scarcely able to drag one's feet out of the mud, which was in
places up to our knees. Quite incredible, and made me very
miserable. How I long to get out of these wild mountains.
We heard later that Tac HQ had been shelled and attacked
after I had left-can you beat it?
No. 3 Company HQ north of Battaglia after the hill was taken
3
Wed. 11 Oct. 1944
Further news of bad luck up at the front. Douglas Berry was
killed in the attack on Tac HQ, and yesterday a shell hit the
RAP and killed Dai's servant, Sparks, and another. Then
last night the Grenadier Tac HQ was attacked again in
strength. The Krauts were beaten off and later seventy-five
and an officer handed themselves up! In this battle John de
Rutzen was killed. Do hope that George Forbes is all right;
I know he will be a great comfort to all up there.

Sat. 14 Oct. 1944
Moved up this morning to Valmaggiore with the RAP, only
to find that I was not wanted, as the Grenadier RAP had
moved forward. Had a discussion with Colonel Bob Coates,
the Brigadier, Johnny Buchanan, Bill Harris, Mike Hollings,
Big Palmer, etc., etc. Came down past the worst diversion
I have ever encountered (six hours' delay sometimes !). Tea
at Brigade.
The Battaglia position. A view of the Castle from the mule track,
where it passed in front of the old American HQ
95
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''

Monte Battaglia. A view from the Castle
looking back along the mule track. This was
under observation by the Germans in day-
light and supplies had to be brought up by
night
RA
The Humpbacked Bridge at Castel del Rio, over the Santerno river. This
picture shows men of ist Guards Brigade on the first stage of the journey
up to the Battaglia position via the Valmaggiore trail. Oct. 1944
The Brigade will always remember Lorna Twining, with her delicious
"tea and wads
Vicchio, Tues. 14 Nov. 1944
We held our Veterans' Dinner to-night in Florence--those
of us still in the battalion who sailed from the Clyde exactly
two years ago. There were present: Bill Harris, Michael
Hollings, Bob Southey (just out of hospital), myself, Reggie
Seconde, Desmond Chichester, Desmond Fortescue, Bob
Palmer and Jamie Leveson. The only absentee was Bob
Windsor-Clive, who left this very day for a month's leave
in England on a new scheme. But he was made up for by
Paul Corbould and Humphrey Fitzroy from Brigade Head-
quarters.
We had tea at the villa, then drinks at the Savoia and the
Excelsior. Then a very jolly and noisy dinner at the officers'
restaurant, where we bribed the band and enjoyed our-
selves enormously, finishing up with Bill Harris on the piano
and me on the drums. After which we went back to the villa,
where John Pope had laid on a good band for us and three
girls. I had the whale of a time. My colleagues, Bob Southey
and I drove back in appalling rain, getting here at 3 a.m.
96
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
MONTE PENZOLA
4-5 December 1944
By Ian FRASER
а
By November the Germans on the central Italian front had
retreated down the Apennine valleys and taken a stand on
the Vena del Gesso, a chalk fault running transversely across
the alternate valleys and ridges. Early in November 78th
Division had got a foothold on the Vena del Gesso on the
left bank of the Santerno river by capturing, after a bloody
slaughter, Monte del Aqua Salata and Monte del Verro.
Monte Penzola is a chalky crag dressed up like a miniature
Matterhorn between Salata and the river and commanding
Fontanelice and a considerable stretch of the Santerno
valley. In the middle of November ist Guards Brigade took
over the feature from 78th Division. After three weeks of
static defence on Verro and Aqua Salata, the Coldstream
were ordered to take Penzola as a preliminary to a push by
the Rifle Brigade on the other side of the valley. The attack
might have been a tactics problem at Sandhurst. It was to be
small, it was isolated, there was unlimited time to prepare
it. Intelligence was complete and there were plenty of high-
ranking officers to tell you if the plan was a good one. The
hill was held by two companies of 715 Division and it was
reported by the Lothians that there were Schu mines on the
track to the west.
The plan was for No. 2 Company under Arthur Farnell-
Watson to occupy the heights to the west of Penzola ; No. 4
Company under Jamie Leveson to pass through, go round
behind and establish itself on the lower slopes at the back
of Penzola; and S Company to assault from behind. The
whole operation was to take place by night under a barrage
of 30,000 shells and slightly fewer machine-gun bullets
contributed by Reggie Seconde.
S Company was withdrawn to a church called Madonna
del Rio on the 2nd December to drink rum, examine maps
and photographs and, for all the slightly desecrated atmos-
phere, pray. The hill was examined photographically from
all angles and all sides by all members of the company, and
on the evening of the attack everybody examined it in the
flesh from the brow of the next hill. After countless recces
made by all ranks from the major-general down to thirty
number-two-on-the-Brens, which must have persuaded the
Kraut, had he seen it, that he was being attacked by at least
an Army Corps, the battle began. A stonk which seemed big
enough to blow the top off the mountain descended every
few minutes, causing, we discovered later, quite as many
bomb-happies among the Germans as it did on our own
side, but not drawing a drop of blood.
No. 2 Company got into position without any difficulty,
but No. 4 went off the air after it had been gone about an
hour. Richard Coke, however, led off with S Company,
expecting to see something of No. 4 in the bright moonlight
in front of him; however, the only sight or noise was that of
a few discouraged spandaus on our far left and the rather
tired note of Reggie Seconde's Vickers, which had by now
shot away their flash sacking (if they ever had any) and rather
resembled half a dozen very inexperienced morse signallers
using searchlights.
S Company unluckily went straight into an enemy DF
task and suffered about ten casualties, mostly in No. 10
Platoon, the rest of whom jumped so quickly into a deep bog
that Gdsm. Proctor was nearly drowned and had to be ex-
tracted by three of the stoutest of the platoon. The hilltop
was assaulted after a shattering climb by John Inskip and his
platoon, whereupon the Germans surrendered gladly, except
for an officer, who killed a sergeant and wounded John in the
eye. The rest of the company came up and Sgt. Perkinson
took a party to round up another dozen Germans. The
company then dug itself into the vertical reverse slope,
feeling more like mountaineers than square-bashers, yet
conscious that they were safe from anything except a direct
hit from a British 7.2.
The Germans rained over their month's ration of shells
and mortar bombs, but it all went "zumph” into the other
side of the crag or "wheeo-dong” into the valley behind.
At about 4 a.m. a counter-attack arrived after a climax in the
shelling, but they were discouraged by a stream of (neces-
sarily) unaimed tommy-gun fire and showers of grenades.
The Germans, too, sent over lots of rifle grenades, which
wounded several, including CSM Young, D.C.M. After the
attack had been repulsed an SOS of unbelievable volume
arrived from the Ayrshire Yeomanry, but it was far
more frightening to the gallants of S Company, who felt
their backsides rather bare, than the German attack had
been. However, that, too, was repulsed by Richard Coke
W
7
97
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

single-handed with a wireless set, and we settled down to a
peaceful night scratching away at the chalk and listening
contentedly to the “wheeo-dongs”.
Next day brought two things : mist and a force of Ger-
mans which we had missed the night before. Sgt. Dudgeon,
D.C.M., under cover of the mist, made a recce down the
ridge to the east and made excellent practice with his
tommy-gun on a German who was chatting to his friend
about 300 yards from S Company's new positions.
It was discovered that No. 4 Company the night before
had encountered some opposition at the rear of Penzola, in
the course of which their wireless had gone out. Later in the
night John Lumley had taken a patrol from No. 2 out in
front, had had casualties and was himself wounded. John
later died in hospital.
On the night of the 6th, after one moderately uneventful
night, S Company, now suffering from dizziness and lack of
sleep, was relieved by No. 2 Company, who showed their
inexperience in Alpine matters by having two men fall off
the hill and nearly break their necks at the bottom.
Extracts from the Diary of ELSTON GREY-TURNER
Lt. J. H. Lumley CMF 6.12.44
Fontanelice, Wed. 20 Dec. 1944
After a final fling in the mess last night we left Strada at
5 a.m. to-day to return to the line. We have had a very
gay and wild seven days—really much too hectic and
noisy and alcoholic. But after long periods in these
bloody mountain positions one has to release pent-up
emotions.
The Germans have launched a counter-offensive against
the American First Army on the Western Front. It is un-
fortunately going very well and they have reached Liège. I
expect this is causing consternation amongst the super-
optimists in England and America.

келу
Aqua Salata, Thurs. 21 Dec. 1944
Took over this bloody position to-day. Mud, filth, dugouts
again. Heard a couple of German rocket guns firing as we
left Fontanelice. A terrifying noise.
Aqua Salata, Christmas Day 1944
These last two days there has been snow and frost, and
everything is now very seasonal. Christmas was as cheerful
as we could make it. I ran a sweepstake on who came to
visit us, which was a huge success and excited a great deal of
a
interest. We had a lot of visitors, from the Brigadier down-
wards. The front was very quiet all day. Some of us heard
the King's excellent broadcast from London. The only thing
that marred the day was a man in No. 4 Company blowing
up on a mine in the evening.
Brig. C. A. M. D. Scott and Peter Wills crossing the river Santerno by
the cable. This was erected soon after the occupation of M. Penzola
to simplify the evacuation of casualties. The cableway was in full
view of the Germans on Vena del Gesso, approximately 3,000 yards
away, and it worked under protection of the Red Cross flag
98
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY
>
Aqua Salata, New Year's Day, 1945
Strada, Wed. 17 Jan. 1945
It appears that at midnight, all along the whole German line, Officers' Christmas Dinner was held at Battalion Head-
an A/A barrage of tracer went up in a gigantic firework dis- quarters mess to-night. Great causes for celebration:
play. A typically semi-romantic, semi-defiant German action. 1. Richard Coke has got a D.S.O.
The German counter-offensives in Luxembourg and Italy 2. Bob Clive is just back from U.K.
are now either stopped or in retreat.
3. The Russians have started a huge new offensive which
A quiet day. I wonder what this year holds in store for us?
has captured Warsaw and is crashing on.
The Brigadier and Freddie Archer were guests. Heavy
Aqua Salata, Tues. 2 Jan. 1945
drinking, enormous scoff. Christmas pudding delicious as
At first dark a hell of a racket started up-heavy German usual. Speeches, songs, etc., by everyone. “Cuirassiers ”
shelling, A/A tracer, spandau fire, etc. I feared the worst. was played, the Commanding Officer leading magnificently.
This went on with great intensity. Information came in that Richard's piper played. I couldn't help thinking of last
our forward position had been attacked and a small battle year and Tom Jackson.
was in progress. Eventually the Krauts were seen off. They
took two prisoners and we killed one Kraut and wounded
Aqua Salata, Fri. 9 Feb. 1945
9
another, who came through my RAP. There was also a Up this wretched mountain again for the sixth time.
Coldstreamer wounded.
Pouring rain and thaw, making the mud appalling; streams
The German barrage was the heaviest I have ever heard. of rushing water everywhere. Thank heaven, the new RAP is
I expected at least a battalion attack, and cannot believe it in service. I mustn't complain, having been out fourteen days.
was only meant to be a raid.
Aqua Salata, Sun. 11 Feb. 1945
Aqua Salata, Sat. 13 Jan. 1945
What gets me down in this life is the filth. Filth on one's
Heavy snow. There is about a foot everywhere, and much boots, on one's clothes, on one's hands, on one's face. Mike
more in places. Bitterly cold, but our windproof suits and Hollings and I spent the morning digging sodden duck-
mountain equipment are good.
boards out of greasy, slimy mud.
a

אילאיות ההיא
Grenadier stretcher-bearers bring in a casualty across the country overlooking Fontanelice. Jan. 1945
99
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME” "


The company position on the right of Bn. HQ on Aqua Salata
CSM Pickles and Jamie Leveson on their way


Pt. 508 from Pt. 473. The cemetery is in the foreground


40
15303445
Maj.-Gen. Murray, commanding 6th Armoured Division
up to Aqua Salata
Left : Verro-Tac HQ. Right : Aqua Salata
Pt. 473 from the right of Pt. 508
I00
THE
SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY


Ian Skimming and Barry Till (No. 2 Company) on
Aqua Salata
On Aqua Salata ; D/Sgt. Esterbrook, Bob Southey,
Reggie Seconde, John de Burgh, Michael Hollings
and Lt.-Col. Bob Coates

S COMPANY SCOTS GUARDS
Back Row: Woodward, Lauder, Muir, Clements, Ivany, Shepherd, Smith, W., Proctor, Thomson, Holton, Kirkham, McFadzean, Currie, ,
Rigby, Smythe, M.M., Goosey, Wilson, C., Lindsay, D., O'Connor, Oliphant, Rennie, Burch, Shearer, Morrison, Caldwell,
Tinlin, M.M.
3rd Row: Osborn, Allen, McDonald, D., Gourlay, Simpson, L., McKenzie, R., Paterson, W., Gardner, Young, Nixon, Woodward, McCool,
Robertson, Bruno Salvetti, McFarlane, Walle, Miller, Craig, Hill, S., Park, Millward, James, McLeod, Durno, Adam, Brown, M.,
Harris, Ogilvie, W.
2nd Row: Dilling, Stewart, McHardy, St. John, Sheret, Addie, Brown, W., Toye, Henderson, Cormack, Cpl. Gourlay, Cpl. Heap, M.M.,
Cpl. Morrison, Cpl. Thackray, Cpl. Bell, Frew, Firth, McKinna, Griffiths, Graham, Davie, Jackson, Bennett, Devine, Galloway,
, , ,
Piper Watson
Front Row: Cpl. Smith, Cpl. Moore,
Cpl. Wilson, Sgt. Moir, M.M., Sgt. Sutherland, Sgt. Dudgeon, D.C.M., Sgt. Nicolson, Sgt. Sangster,
Sgt. Parkinson, Sgt. Copland, CSM Taylor, M.M., Lt. P. H. Bartholomew, M.C., Capt. the Hon. C. J. Dalrymple, Major R. L. Coke,
D.S.O., M.C., Lt. 1. 7. Fraser, M.C., Lt. J. S. Wilson,
I.
Lt. J. S. Wilson, CQMS Keddle,
COMS Keddle, Sgt. McPhail, M.M.,
Sgt. McPhail, M.M., Sgt. Mallen, Sgt. Allardyce, M.M.,
Sgt. Livingstone, Sgt. Ions, Cpl. Gresty,
Cpl. Gresty, Cpl. Angel, Cpl. Harwood, Cpl. Holme
IOI
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

ITALY 1944-45
PET
OUTR
10
NONI
IKE
CASSINO
ADV TO THE
GOTHICLINE
TO
IN APPRECIATION OF THE EXCELLENT FIGHTING
SPIRIT AND SPLENDID RECORD OF"S COMPANY
AND IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO HAVE
FALLEN WHILST FIGHTING WITH
2 xD BN COLDSTREAM GUARDS
GOTHIC
ZINE
PICCOLO
ND
LT - COLONEL
COMMANDING
2ND BY COLDSTREAM GDS
PERUGIA
MBATTAGLIA
D.5.0
M.C
MAI.R.L.COKE .M.C.LT.H.CHARTERIS
CAPT. A.S. NEILSON.
D.C.M
2753247 C.S.M. T.BROWN. 2692927 C.S.M.W YOUNG
M.M
1425345L/CPL DOWNIE .W.2695216 L/sa McPHAIL. A
2694876L/SGTJONES R, 14207537 GPS MUNDAY, F
2701323GDSM LINGWOOD.J . 2699001 GDSN. RUSH T
2697263L/CEL MC MINN .A.2701534 LSMYTHET
2694369 GDSNTINLIN.R.
.
MLIGIVAND
MPENZOLA
102
THE SECOND
BATTALION IN ITALY

Bing Bovill, Dick Stratton and John Stilwell
John Pope, Aubrey Lincoln, Bob
Southey and Elston Grey-Turner
outside the officers' mess at Strada
Bigger and Bigger”
(Bob “Big” Palmer)
D/Sgt. Esterbrook, RSM Ramsden and D/Sgt. Jack. Strada, Feb. 1945
103

5°
10°
15°
20°
35°
25°
30°
PM
Ꭱ 0 U
M A
Ν Ι Α
Sea of
Azov
À-
RIVER
Crimea
45
PO
45
O S L A
SWITZERLAND
VILLACH-KLAGENFU'RT
GENEVA
UDINE
SESAÑA
LYONS
MILAN
PTRIESTE
JULY 1945-SEPT. 1946
PADUA, VENICE
TURIN
FLUME
EPOLARIS
GENOA
ARGENTA
BOLOGNA
M.! SOLE MBATTAGLIA,
NICE
WINTER 1944-5
EPISA.
FANO
TFLORENCE
LEGHORN
SOMARSEILLES
SIENAS AREZZO
TOULON
PERUGIA
ORVIETO
SPOLETO
MARCH 1945
Corsicas
ROME
Dalmatia
L
BI LACK
А К
SVEA
ooo
I A
BULGARIA
АВСЕ,
RIONERO
O BARCELONA
St16
MI ORNITO A CASSINO
TURKEY
TEANO
CAPUA
E
ALBANIA
M! CAMINO SNAPLES FEB.1944
Capri I
SALERNO
SEPT. 1943
С
E
Sardinia
40]
E
40
Balearic
Islands
R
T
U
R
K
E
Y
D
EME
E
PHILIPPEVILLE
Morea
FROM ENGLAND
NOV. 1942
FEB 1944
TUNIS,
C. Bon
R
ALGIERS
NOV. 1942
T
Sicily
BIZERTA
BONE
LONGSTOP X *
Pantellaria
JUNE 1943
PENFIDAVILLE
SOUSSE
Malta
Lampedusa I.
JUNE 1943
SFAYA
SRhodes
ALEPPO
SY RIYA
Ꭱ
CONSTANTINE
MEDJEZ'el BAB
KASSERINE
359
Ering
135
ALGERIA
KAIROUAN
E
Crete
YPALMYRA
Cyprus
SBİBA
FONDOUK
A
N:
BEIRUT
SEPT. 1943
Es
GABES
MARCH 194376 MARETH
MEDENINE
z
E
.DAMASCUS
QUATANA CAMP
WINTER 1942-3 IRAQ
DERNA
HAIFA
1943
TRIPOLI
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Jordan
BENGHAZI
GAZALA
TOBRUK
MECHILIM
1942
BARDIA
!
IS
SIDI BARRANI
MERSA BREGA
F? CAPUZZONI SOLLUM
PALESTINE
H-AGEDABN
MSUS
FEB. 1943
MERSAH MATRŪH
ALEXANDRIA
1941
L24
JAFFA
E
JERUSALEM
Dead
PORT SAID
Sea i
STRANS-
QASSASSINA EBITTER JORDAN
LAKE
CAIRO
SUEZ
Y P. T
BUQYBUQ
BAGUISHDABA
ANTELAT
3097
AGHEILA
HALFAYA PASS
30
ALAMEIN
O
50
490
100
300
Scale in miles
290
L
B
Y
A
SOFÁRFI
E
G
A R A B I A
OPERATIONAL ROUTE of the 3rd BATTALION
SEPTEMBER 1939 - MARCH 1945
RIVER
%......
*......
oCAIRO.....
• JAFFA
Major Engagement
Mountain or Pass
Large Town
Small Town
Village
OPERATIONAL ROUTE of the 2nd BATTALION
NOVEMBER 1942 - SEPTEMBER 1946
37IN
R E DE
DERNA..
FS
EFA
5°
10°
15°
20°
25°
30°
35°
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'

se
lan
3-690
..
SUPPORT COMPANY SECOND BATTALION COLDSTREAM GUARDS. February 1945. Taken at Cintoia, near Strada, Florence
Back Row: MacDonald, Babbs, Rhodes, Wharton, Hewins, Johnson, Jonas, Crow, Hassett, Fellows, Gregory, Palmer, Raftery, Picton, Emmett, Terry, Allen, Driver,
Simms, Darby, Stringer, Bays
4th Row:
Dodds, Jackson, Brown, Pigott, Cpl. Isitt, Cpl. Clarke, Cpl. Rossiter, Cpl. Knight,
Cpl. Knight, Cpl. Johnson, , Cpl. Buttery, Cpl. Mausley, Cpl. Davies, Cpl. Howe,
Cpl. Robson, Cpl. Geddes, Cpl. Foster, Cpl. Frodsham, Goddard
3rd Row: Taylor, Marshall, Coldwell, Houseman, Pearce, Miller, Parker, Kerman, Sgt. Arnott, Sgt. Oliver, Sgt. Lowe, Sgt. Pattenden, Sgt. Crickmoore, Sgt. Christie,
Sgt. Fraser, Bentley, Pearce, Hall, Bell, Swingewood, ,
Hall, Bell, Swingewood, Allen, Hamer, Cpl. Harwood, Lunn, Evans
2nd Row: Hinton, Sgt. Barber, Sgt. Mars, Sgt. Heard, Sgt. Brian, Sgt. Nunn, Lt. R. Crouch, CSM Allen, Major R. C. Windsor-Clive, CQMS P. Grainger, Lt. R. L. Seconde,
Sgt. Parks, Sgt. Hakes, Sgt. Till, Sgt. Staniforth
Front Row: Griffiths, Holmes, Roper, Rushforth, Tanner, Outterside, Oakley, Rhodes, Clay, Inge, Jenkins, Watts, Thomas, Powell, Dawson, Morris, Smith, Baker,
Collins
106
THE SECOND BATTALION IN ITALY

THE OFFICERS. Strada, February 1945
Back Row: Lt. O. M. Bovill, Lt. T. D. Makeig-Jones, Lt. D. W. Shenton, Lt. J. Wilson (S.G.), Lt. M. W. Severne, Lt. B. D. Till, Lt. G. V. LeFanu
3rd Row: Lt. M. A. F. Newton, Lorenzo Battaglini, Lt. R. L. Seconde, Capt. S.J. Whitwell, Lt. A. V. Farnell-Watson, Capt. the Hon. C. R. L. Dalrymple (S.G.),
Capt. W. J. Birkbeck, Capt. R. J. Southey, Capt. A. C. G. Ponsonby, Lt. R. Crouch
2nd Row: Capt. E. Grey-Turner, Lt. and QM H.W. Hewitt, Major the Hon. R. J. Palmer, Major I. E. B. Skimming, Major R. C. Windsor-Clive, Major J. B. Pope,
Lt.-Col. R. E.J. Coates, Capt. M. R. Hollings, Major W.B. Harris, Major R. Coke (S.G.), Capt. D. A. H. Toler, Capt. the Lord Leveson, Capt. G. F. Forbes
Front Row: Lt. J. T. F. Patrick, Lt. R. J. Stratton, Lt. P. Bartholomew (S.G.)Lt. J. B. Stilwell
107
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”


A Company officers' mess, Halfaya Pass, Sept. 1940. Stonewalling by
CSM Holbrow (No.4 Company). Fly-proofing and timber from Sollum

Company “ admin.” near Sollum, Aug. 1940


Early days in the desert, when the battalion still wore topees. Tony Hay
and party prepare a “dud” for demolition on the shore near Sollum
Men of HQ Company near Sollum. We can recognize Sgt. Toole,
Gdsm. Bird, Drummer Appleby and Gdsm. Joynes
Sgt. Wood of the signal platoon near Sollum. It was soon found
that motor-cycles were a liability in the desert
Drum-Major Dobbs in the battalion intelligence dugout near Sollum,
Aug. 1940
108
PART II
THE
THIRD BATTALION
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”


At No. 3 Company. David Forbes, Sgt. Masterman, Sgt. Smith, Mr.
Anthony Eden and Gdsm. Royle


Victor Balfour outside the first Bn. HQ officers' mess at Matruh. The
floor was well dug down because of bombing


The battalion pioneers digging the new officers' mess under the super-
Mr. Anthony Eden visits No. 4 Company during his tour of Matruh
fortress, Oct. 1940. In the group are. Lt.-Col. John Moubray,
Mr. Anthony Eden, George Pereira, CSM Marchant, Sgt. Branch,
Cpl. Hayes and Gdsm. Jameson
Sollum village and bay, and in the distance the Escarpment about
Halfaya Pass. This was the scene of many incidents in the surge to
and fro of the desert war
Working on the defences at Matruh, Autumn 1940
vision of PSM Cowley (nearest camera), Oct. 1940
ΙΙΟ
CHAPTER FOUR
THE DESERT

of
CSM Doxford (No. 3 Company) supervising practice with the Boyes anti-tank rifle, a new weapon for the battalion when it first went to the
3
desert. It was better than a green and white flag—but not much!
III
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
July 1940—April 1942
By Colonel J. MOUBRAY
T
Garrison Life in Alexandria
HE declaration of war in September 1939 found the
3rd Battalion in Egypt nearing the end of the two-
year tour of foreign service which was normal for
battalions of the Brigade of Guards during the period be-
tween the two world wars. The time had passed pleasantly
in Alexandria, except for the Munich flap in the autumn of
1938 and the subsequent six months hunt for rebels in
Palestine; although even these evils had their compensations
in that they formed good training in adaptability and the
mobile rôle. And now the battalion-bronzed, fit, and all
comparatively old soldiers—looked forward with a certain
justifiable confidence to taking part in stirring events in the
near future.
In this hope we were to be disappointed. Nothing was
forthcoming for a considerable time, and we had to content
ourselves with news of the ist and 2nd Battalions fighting
in Belgium and France, and with the performance of
interminable security duties necessary to the protection of a
vital strategical base largely populated by enemy aliens. The
reverse of the coin, however, showed a much valued
comradeship and spirit of liaison with the many ships of the
Royal Navy in the harbour, which, combined with the
sympathy of the European residents, did much to dispel the
feeling that we were missing the party.
The importance of the security task was to prove useful
protection against all those who now assailed the battalion
with a view to denuding it of its best men. Nevertheless,
Headquarters in Cairo took most of the battalion signallers
for transfer to the Corps of Signals; a useful draft of warrant
officers and NCOs, headed by RSM Yardley, left for home
to help with expansion in that quarter; and a gentleman's
agreement was come to with that old friend of the battalion,
Colonel Herby Milward of the Provost Staff, over a regular
quota of Coldstreamers for the CMP. In addition, Guards-
men were demanded for every kind of duty and were soon

VATA
QUI
SERGEANTS' MESS OFFICIALS AT THE BATTALION SPORTS. Alexandria, Autumn 1939
Standing : Sgt. J. Crabtree (HQ Company) PSMJ. Bone (HQ Company) CSMG. Hughes (3 Company) D/Sgt. R. Spry (HQ Company)
CSM C. Bradley (2 Company) CSM F. Holbrow (1 Company) PSM S. Cowley (HQ Company)
Sitting : CQMS G. Marchant (4 Company) Sgt. G. Hamilton (Drums)
II2
THE DESERT
to be found driving trucks to Turkey as well as reviving now visited us with the exciting news that we were to be-
regimental history of the time of Monk by sailing the high come motorized in order to lend a hand on the frontier.
seas for weeks at a time in the guise of boarding and escort There followed two weeks of feverish re-equipping, or
parties in neutral ships.
rather improvization and borrowing, organized down to the
The task of keeping a fighting team together seemed well- last detail by Tom Bevan and Tipper Davis, the Quarter-
nigh insuperable at times; but at last, in June 1940, after master, and abetted by another old friend of the battalion
the agony of listening to Dunkirk on the wireless, came who was now AQMG at Divisional Headquarters—namely,
relief through one of the major miscalculations in history: Colonel N. McMicking, lately commanding the Black Watch
the Italians, joining what they thought to be the winning at Talavera Barracks in Jerusalem, from which unit the
side, opened their war by bombing Alexandria. As a result battalion had received much hospitality two years previously.
of this and because of the liability they might prove to a A small party reconnoitred the forward area on the 4th
weak garrison, the military families were evacuated to August and were shown round Sollum and Halfaya by that
Jerusalem at the end of the month.
master of desert warfare, Colonel “Strafe” Gott. He finished
by taking them to the Headquarters of the 7th Armoured
The Italian Campaign in the Desert,
Division on the coast at Buq-Buq, where they met Major-
July-December 1940
General O’Moore Creagh, another indomitable leader for
After carefully storing the remaining peacetime kit and after whom the battalion was to gain a great respect in the months
final mobilization measures had been taken, the battalion that followed.
entrained at Sidi Gabr station late in the evening of the 26th Before the move westwards was made, the battalion lost a
July and travelled through the night along the coastal desert pillar of strength in the person of Tipper Davis, for many
railway to Mersah Matruh. Short of Matruh next morning years the popular and superb Quartermaster of the battalion,
we were met by Tom Bevan, who had gone on with the who was now required to organize a new Octu, forming in
advance party and who advised the battalion to lose no time Cairo. No. 2 Company, under Tim Sainthill, had also to be
over detraining and assuming a dispersed formation on detached as a small reserve for Matruh Garrison and was
arrival. It turned out that Cpl. Pepper, who was employed left occupying an area prone to bombing in the centre of the
in the Quartermaster's office and was also one of the advance town, which did not suit their book at all.
party, had been killed in an air raid on the previous day. On the 16th August the battalion covered by road, for
This was bad luck and a depressing start. The battalion the first but by no means for the last time, the 110 miles
bivouacked in an area near the coast, about three miles west to Buq-Buq and took over on the following evening
of the town, and was put to work on the defences.
from the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade on the escarpment
Digging anti-tank ditches and bathing was to be our lot above Sollum and Halfaya Pass. Only by the roads at these
for the next three weeks while the numerous and rather two places in this area could MT negotiate the steep
ineffectual air raids passed us by. We were now in the 22nd 600-foot rise from the coastal plain to the plateau beyond
Infantry Brigade of the 6th Infantry Division. The latter the escarpment. The latter was a continuation of the
was commanded by Major-General Dick O'Connor, under line of coastal cliffs south of Bardia, and curved inland and
whose fearless leadership we had served in Palestine, and he southwards from the sea at Sollum as a vehicle-proof
barrier for many miles, with only the Halfway House
Pass as a possible third means of ascent until Sofarfi was
reached.
The battalion was now attached to the Support Group of
the 7th Armoured Division, under the command of Colonel
Gott, and had on its left flank the ist Battalion 60th Rifles,
which covered some twenty or thirty miles of the frontier
to the south. Our front was only some seven miles in extent
the edge of the escarpment, and the battalion task was
to “observe and report on the enemy”, who lay three to
five miles distant beyond their frontier wire. We were to
harass them whenever possible, but were not to become
pinned down. We could not hope to hold the edge of the
escarpment above us against any serious attack; however,
the enemy were content at this time to confine their offen-
sive action to desultory shelling and air attacks, while we
Sidi Gabr station, 26.6.40. The evacuation of the families from replied with the fire of a field troop and a section of two
Alexandria to Palestine
60-pounder medium guns, together with fighting patrols at
Facing camera: Mrs. (QM) Davis and Lord Gilford
Backs to camera: George Pereira, Mrs. Tim Sainthill and Tom Bevan night.

along
8
113
(NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”)


Col. Elliott, CRA Matruh, Victor Balfour and Christopher Soames
try out a 2-pdr. anti-tank gun with Sgt. Peers after the first issue of
these weapons to Matruh fortress. Sgt. Richardson is standing on
the extreme left


Men of the battalion moving stones to hide an emplacement in the
defences, and in the background a comprehensive view of Mersah Matruh


Sick parade at the RAP, Nov. 1940. Desert sores caused most of the
work for Capt. Mervyn Archdale, RAMC, a New Zealander who
was deservedly popular in the battalion. Gdsm. Parkin on extreme
left, Sgt. Hamilton on extreme right
with its brilliant blue sea and snow-white sands
No. 1 Company improvises an effective oven in a fig grove known as
Jesmond Dene, Autumn 1940
Ronnie Dawnay (Bde.-Major) and
Guy Knight (No. 1 Company and
later Bn. LO at Brigade)
Martin Sanford (No. 1 Company)
Ralph Lucas and Bartle Bull arriving at Geneifa with a draft from the U.K., Autumn 1940
114
THE DESERT

To many people who have not experienced desert war-
fare, much of the early fighting must have appeared in-
nocuous, because it savoured of the tip-and-run variety.
This, if one reasoned it out, had to be the method adopted,
due to the general lack of cover and obstacles and the fact
that not until much later in the war could a closed flank be
even temporarily obtained by the laying of mines. A helpful
analogy is to regard a motor battalion in a forward area as a
flotilla of destroyers in a naval engagement: for the battalion
to try to stand its ground and fight it out in order to stop
the enemy would be on a par with our destroyers anchoring
on the Dogger Bank in order to stop the German High Seas
Fleet gaining the Channel. Yet it seemed to some of us that
there were occasions in the war when this limitation was lost
sight of by those who should have appreciated it; pre-
sumably they lacked imagination as well as the practical
experience.
The three motor companies of the battalion were ably
supported by an MMG company of the 1st Battalion
Northumberland Fusiliers under Major Forbes Watson, a
troop of 4 RHA under Captain Geoffrey Goschen and some
anti-tank Bofors guns of 3 RHA. These, together with the
3
two 60-pounders under a redoubtable commander named
Sam Hall, gave the Italians as little rest as possible. It was
at night, however, that we counted on shaking them up
most by offensive patrolling. Every night there were one or
more patrols out, all subalterns and other ranks gaining
invaluable experience in this highly specialized work. But
success was hard to come by for three reasons: the long
distances to be covered, even after an approach in MT; the
lack of cover, especially when there was a moon; and the
fact that the enemy became very alert and light on the trigger
after their first losses.
Julian Llewellyn-Palmer, PSM Armour and fifteen men
of No. 4 Company had the credit of drawing first blood.
North of Fort Capuzzo one night they charged a large
working party of Italians, about one company in strength,
with most satisfactory results. They brought in seven
prisoners, but said that this bag was nothing to what they
had left on the ground.
Another time Guy Knight, PSM Stannard and twenty
men of No. 1 Company attacked Fort Capuzzo and inflicted
heavy casualties. Guy got a bullet through his ear at very
close range, but did not let it worry him. There were also
night escorts to OP parties which intended to lie out for the
day. In one such operation Victor Balfour, the battalion
intelligence officer, was nearly captured trying to save a
truck and had to find his way back on foot along several
miles of dangerous coastal rocks from Bardia.
Early in September No. 2 Company from Matruh relieved
No. 4 Company under George Pereira, and within a short
time Battalion R Groups had finally completed recces of a
succession of rearguard positions along the coast to a depth
of 100 miles in rear. On Friday the 13th, after a short
artillery and air bombardment, the enemy attacked on our
Tipper Davis (QM)

Lt. (QM) F. J. McGee Middle East 15.9.40
115
UNO DISHONOURABLE NAME”


OWN ANDRE
1
Sgt. Rowlands, NCO i/c Regimental Police, on duty at Bn. HQ at
Matruh, Nov. 1940
Gdsm. Mitchell at Matruh surmounts the usual difficulty over
laundry work in the desert

Ralph Lucas, No. 3 Company. The dazzling and unstable sands of Matruh were like snow and provided a possibility of skiing
116
THE DESERT
W
ز
front with three Divisions. Mike Wills did well with his Campbell rose to his feet in an exposed OP, threw his cap
platoon above Sollum, but was ordered to give ground. By in the air and holloaed at the top of his voice—a more
1.30 p.m. No. 1 Company had received orders to quit exhilarating display than that which necessarily followed,
Halfaya, and the road demolition was blown. The one on when the select party of spectators with him had hurriedly to
Sollum hill had been blown several days earlier. The find an alternative position! It was on this day, too, that three
battalion, covered by patrols, took up a position some twelve members of the Italian Press obligingly paid a call with their
miles to the east and spent a quiet night. Early next morning driver on No. 1 Company—a proof, if one were needed, that
the intrepid Geoffrey Goschen, with a motor platoon as under the Duce the pen was more dashing than the sword.
escort, took a section of his guns forward and knocked hell Soon the enemy tank group of some fifty to eighty AFVs
out of a column of large Italian lorries jammed up at the was outflanking us to the south, so a withdrawal was ordered
demolition on Halfaya Pass. It was this target which evoked at about 1.30 p.m. to the next position at Sidi Barrani.
again that now famous but highly irregular order: “Gunfire We were no sooner in this position than the tanks appeared
till I tell you to stop”. In any case, the resulting shortage of much closer on our left flank and threatened our only line
ammunition caused our force to withdraw about midday of withdrawal along the coast. Our orders allowed of only
after verifying that the enemy were following up with the one course of action in such an emergency, which was to go
support of a tank group on the landward flank.
while the opportunity still remained—although the tempta-
The next position was at Buq-Buq, where we were joined tion to indulge in another shoot was ruefully abandoned by
by Lt.-Colonel Jock Campbell (later V.C.) and a few more of Jock Campbell. An echeloned withdrawal for the various
his 4 RHA guns and also a motor company of the Free troops of guns was hurriedly organized, and we just got
French on their first sortie in the field. Late the same night clear to our next position down the coast before the trap
Brigadier Gott paid us a welcome visit from his column closed. At Km 103 on the Matruh road we spent the next
twenty-five miles to the south. In the gap between us he day in a very trying khamseen. Only recce parties of the
placed a squadron of the 11th Hussars under command of enemy came on, and some of these we captured.
the battalion, so that now we were becoming a force of all That night the battalion was ordered to withdraw the
arms. Next day, from that excellent position, the RHA remaining sixty-five miles back to Matruh, so it was with
inflicted heavy losses on the enemy vehicles; and then again, regret that we parted with our friends of the RHA and the
when they had fired their limited number of rounds, we Free French. The former went south to rejoin the 7th
withdrew in the evening to an even better position at Alam Armoured Division; and our Allies, having proved that they
el Hamid.
were good, keen soldiers, trundled off in their extraordinary
All through this withdrawal our casualties were negligible, collection of Parisian and other motor-buses to a rendezvous
but on this day the battalion suffered a great loss in the death beyond our ken. Thus ended a small operation of the type
of the newly appointed Lieutenant and Quartermaster,
,
that would have gladdened the heart of any pre-war promo-
F. J. McGee. Previously he had been RSM, and in either tion examiner and which justifies very amply the now
capacity he set a very high standard of quiet efficiency and unfashionable military axiom that “Time spent in recon-
was universally popular. He was killed when his truck ran naissance is seldom wasted”.
on to an enemy thermos flask mine, a type which they were On arrival at Matruh in the middle of the night we were
in the habit of dropping from aircraft into the deep dust of most hospitably welcomed by our good neighbours of long
the tracks.
standing, the South Staffordshire Regiment. The so-called
The following morning the shooting was so good that Jock Fortress was now under command of Brigadier Selby, a
large and energetic Australian, and the battalion occupied
and lived in the half-dug defences of “B” Sector on the
western side of the perimeter. Apart from work on the
defences, training and bathing, nothing of interest was to
happen for the next two and a half months, except a number
of quite heavy air raids and a much appreciated visit from
Mr. Anthony Eden, who was then Secretary of State for War.
Early in December the battalion was again put on wheels,
in any kind of vehicle that could be borrowed, a necessity
due to the great shortage of all equipment with which the
ME started the war. On the 5th, under an impenetrable
shroud of secrecy, a force comprising No. 3 Company
(David Forbes) and No. 4 Company (Buster Luard), under
the command of Tom Bevan, was spirited away on an un-
known mission. Two days later the remainder of the
The Coldstream Cemetery at Sidi Barrani
battalion followed, supposedly on a training exercise, and

117
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?

Tim Sainthill (No. 2 Company), David Forbes (No. 3 Company), Willie Forbes (HQ Company) and Victor Balfour (Bn. 10). Taken during
the battle of Sidi Barrani, Dec. 1940

भ
Italian prisoners captured at Sidi Barrani waiting for transport beside the main road. John Loyd is on the extreme right
118
THE DESERT

4
Sidi Barrani, Dec. 1940.
Left: Ralph Lucas. Centre: John Loyd, signal officer, testing his line.
his diary or the latest edition of “The Times” (3 months old)
Right: Willie Forbes getting to work on

The “town” of Sidi Barrani with all timber removed for fuel by the Italians, who boasted, when they captured it, that they had restored the
services of the cinemas and the trams
119
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

Lt. Col. John Moubray (above) and Lord Gilford, the Adjutant
(below), relaxing beside the officers' mess lorry after the battle of
Sidi Barrani. Hebron coats proved invaluable for the winter in
the desert, and the battalion claimed to have popularized them
following their experiences in Palestine
ALCI
ing
“Our Victorious Army”. Willie Forbes and David Watts-Russell in
high spirits after the battle of Sidi Barrani, Dec. 1940
U tu
8
Part of Sollum barracks. On the left Italian prisoners after the attack on Bardia can be seen making for Sollum harbour, Jan. 1941
I20
THE DESERT
joined them just south of the large Italian camp of Maktilla,
situated on the coast some fifteen miles east of Sidi Barrani.
On the night of the 8th-9th December this camp was bom-
barded by the heavy guns of the Royal Navy, assisted by
parachute flares dropped by aircraft. The following evening
the Brigadier sent some of the battalion forward under Tom
Bevan to contain the landward side of the camp, but the
,
almost entire absence of supporting arms coupled with bad
going over difficult country did not allow this to be com-
pleted. The project of sealing the camp on the west side that
night did not materialize either, owing to No. 1 Company
having administrative difficulties.
Dawn patrols on the roth reported that the birds had
flown, leaving chaos behind them, so the Brigadier ordered
a piecemeal pursuit towards Sidi Barrani, which went well
until the day deteriorated into a bad sandstorm. It was
during this pursuit that we were treated to the unforgettable
and endearing spectacle of Willie Forbes, whose truck had
broken an axle, being towed into battle backwards with his
faithful servant, Maguire, sitting perched up beside him!
No. 1 Company was soon under heavy fire in a position
which their commander could not describe and no one else
could locate; but No. 4 Company gained contact with the
enemy astride the coast road about six miles east of Sidi
Barrani, and the battalion came to a halt. In the meantime
flank columns of a company of the DLI on the right and of
the South Staffordshire Regiment on the left were doing their
best to get forward. Lack of supporting arms was the diffi-
culty, as the force could only be spared a section or two of
field guns, and in order to deceive the enemy had had to
equip itself with some very realistic dummy ones. These,
however, would not help us on to an enemy position; and,
owing to the lack of transport, the battalion had even been
ordered to leave its mortars in Matruh.
At 3p.m. two squadrons of 6 RTR (cruiser tanks), under
the command of Lt.-Colonel Harland, turned up from the
south and brought good news of the progress of the 7th
Armoured and 4th Indian Divisions. They immediately
undertook an attack on one strongly held position, and
supported by the carrier platoon and some of No. 3 Com-
3
pany, obtained the impression that the enemy would crack
if kept under pressure. This they proceeded to maintain by a
moonlight drive that night into another enemy position,
which caused a magnificent display of fireworks. The next
morning the tanks, now down to one squadron, attacked
successfully with Nos. 3 and i Companies and the carrier
platoon. The attack with No. 3 Company was completely
successful, but that with No. 1 fizzled out because the tanks
came to the end of their endurance and the company was
left under heavy fire. In the meantime a sandstorm was
getting up and visibility was deteriorating. No. 3 Company,
having been recently redirected westwards by the Force
Commander, ran into a circle of strong enemy positions at
point-blank range. Several trucks were set alight, nine men
killed and five wounded. Bartle Bull, amongst the latter, was
saved by Ralph Lucas, who had the rare experience of
killing three of the enemy in hand-to-hand fighting with
three successive revolver shots.
The company was extricated by the timely help of No. I
Company and a machine-gun platoon of the RNF, after
which there was little more the battalion could do except to
press the enemy while the 16th Infantry Brigade of the 4th
Indian Division closed on Sidi Barrani from the south-west.
By nightfall all the enemy positions had surrendered and the
Matruh Force of about 1,700 strong had captured over 6,500
of the enemy. The battalion casualties had been thirteen
other ranks killed and one officer and eighteen other ranks
wounded. The battalion had weathered successfully an


*********
Unloading supplies at Sollum jetty for the attack on Bardia, Jan.
1941. In the centre, with the blackthorn stick, is Willie Forbes, who
was made town commandant at this time in order to sort out the mess
Sollum harbour, showing part of the village and the road near the
demolition (foreground). This was the scene of much night patrol-
ling in 1941
I21
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
indefinite and strange type of battle-strange both as flap. Though tired, we were therefore glad when warned to
regards the numbers of the enemy and their primitive take the same road back early next day to defend Sidi
positions as well as the composition and handling of our Barrani. Having assumed our dispositions there, we were
force. Much credit was due to Julian Palmer, Sgt. Toole and then ordered to report to Brigadier Gott at the foot of
the men of the carrier platoon, who showed great dash and Halfaya, ten miles from our starting-point, where we
were almost continuously out on sorties throughout the arrived at 4 a.m., having covered approximately 280 miles
five days' engagement.
in forty-eight hours for the doubtful pleasure of sleeping
The next job was to collect the spoils of war. We did this one night in Matruh!
in Matruh and on the battlefield-guarding prisoners and On the 15th the battalion was briefed to attack a company
sorting countless weapons and ammunition. During this or more of Germans which was reported by the DLI to be
period of reaction after the battle, that old campaigner Tim holding the Egyptian barracks above Sollum. Although we
Sainthill was ordered to take his No. 2 Company in support were to have the support of one of Jock Campbell's batteries,
of the first commando venture on a destroyer to Bardia, it was a hazardous night task involving difficulties over
which was then under siege; but information proved at transport, a rocky and unknown approach, changes of
fault and the operation was called off, although one sub- direction with no recognizable landmark and a start from a
marine was claimed to have been sunk on the return trip. purely imaginary line. The order of batting was for No. 2
Company to lead and make a silent attack on an isolated
Interlude in the Delta
enemy post on the edge of the escarpment; then for No. I
No mean attempt was made to celebrate Christmas, in spite Company (now commanded by Douglas Home) and No.4
of the uncomfortable conditions in Matruh, and then our Company to carry out a supported attack on the barracks.
next objective was to dislodge the 2nd Battalion Scots Finally, Battalion Headquarters and a platoon of No. 3
Guards, commanded by Lt.-Colonel Ian Erskine, from Company (Tony Hay) were to follow up, and the latter was
Kasr el Nil Barracks in Cairo. They hung on tenaciously to be left to man an OP near the barracks. There was to be
until well after Hogmanay, but we eventually ousted them fifteen minutes' intensive artillery fire on the barracks to
by the 21st January, when they went off to train near the help Nos. I and 4 Companies in the final approach.
Canal. Even with war-time garrison duty, we found this a All went fairly well, but the difficult ground over a dis-
pleasant change, and during the next two months we tance of some eight miles put us behind time; No. 2 Com-
received a large draft of young (and middle-aged) officers pany was put out of the running when it struck a wrong spur
and other ranks. On the 11th March the battalion moved by in the labyrinth of wadis at the edge of the escarpment; and
train to Qassassin, near the Canal, and the 22nd Guards the artillery bombardment started before we required it
Brigade came into being under the command of Brigadier because, although the signal had not been given, it was past
Ian Erskine. Thereafter, with the Buffs finding the third the expected time for it. After these slight setbacks, Nos. I
battalion, we carried out a month of intensive training in and 4 Companies made hard for the barracks, but they were
combined operations in conjunction with three “Glen” unlucky enough to find an entire German battalion “stood
ships anchored in the Bitter Lake. Long afterwards we to” in its positions some distance short of the objective.
learned that Rhodes was to have been our objective; This encounter soon developed into a good old roughhouse
but, perhaps luckily, fate and Rommel decreed otherwise. which raged furiously for a considerable time.
On the 14th March we were very depressed by the sudden
death of Lt. W. A. R. Codrington from an obscure com-
plaint in a hospital in Cairo. He had joined the battalion in
November and was well liked by everyone. He was a great
loss.

The Spring and Summer Campaign against the
Axis, 1941
By the 7th April we were back in Matruh, the whole bat-
talion having been recalled off draft leave in Alexandria.
Three days later we were lifted in RASC transport 150
miles farther west to defend the water and supplies at
Bardia and Fort Capuzzo. Meanwhile the newly arrived
Afrika Korps was sweeping through Cyrenaica and our
own troops were passing us in a constant stream east-
wards. Then the Germans were reported in Bardia, and we
were ordered back to Matruh in a very bad sandstorm—to
find the garrison without information and in a great state of
Lt. W. A. R. Codrington
Middle East 14.3.41
a
122
THE DESERT
a
Our force rallied in Sollum about dawn, since the DLI position on Halfaya, and Brigade Headquarters
enemy were still too thick on the ground to allow an OP ordered the battalion to withdraw. We took up a position at
party to be left out. After a hard struggle our casualties in Km. 103 on the Matruh road at 9.30 a.m. next morning,
the two companies were heavy and depressing—one officer after a most trying all-night drive with no lights in a sand-
а
and seventeen other ranks killed or taken prisoner; and storm. On the 5th May the battalion was ordered eastwards
one officer and eighteen other ranks wounded. They in- to Daba (145 miles) to join the Brigade. The sand blew all
cluded a high proportion of fine NCOs, as well as the day on the 6th, and on the 7th the Brigade moved westwards
popular and boisterous John Fox-Strangways, who had again to Charing Cross (85 miles) just beyond Matruh. Here
been taken prisoner because he was too badly wounded to be we spent several days while the hot sand billowed unceas-
moved. Mike Wills was also wounded after he and Cpl. ingly; and David Forbes headed a recce party west of
Kuhns, with several other kindred spirits, had wreaked Sofarfi. Mervyn Archdale, our excellent New Zealand
tremendous havoc. As far as the enemy were concerned, doctor, was posted away during this lull, and his place was
this was the first real taste of hand-to-hand fighting the taken by Malcolm Pleydell, who soon made himself equally
members of the Afrika Korps received in Libya, and it was popular with the battalion.
evident that they did not like it. Their casualties were On the 12th we were ordered to move up to Sofarfi (120
conservatively estimated at well over seventy.
miles), but a flap arose owing to enemy activity, and we took
For the next few days the battalion held the position at up positions of all-round defence in three different areas
the foot of Halfaya Pass, with the DLI holding the top, and before arriving at Sofarfi on the 14th. (During the course of
night patrolling became all the vogue again. The gallant these antics Willie Forbes, who like everyone else was be-
Bartle Bull, having fought his way back to the battalion after coming a trifle exasperated, was heard to murmur: “So
receiving a wound four months earlier which would have near and yet Sofarfi!”) Just after midnight on the 15th the
killed most people, was soon stirring up trouble on the road Brigade started a forty-five miles night advance, supported
above Sollum. David Watts-Russell, now the battalion by “I” tanks, to attack the area Sollum-Fort Capuzzo at
intelligence officer, Cpl. Eggleston and Gdsm. Wodehouse dawn. The battalion was in reserve, so we could watch the
did well when they lay up for twenty-four hours on a flat armour and Scots Guards take the Germans completely by
roof in Sollum Barracks and were able to watch and listen surprise at the top of Halfaya Pass, as they evidently did not
to the many members of the German goth Light Division expect an attack along the top of the escarpment from the
who occupied and surrounded the building all day.
south. Five hundred prisoners were taken, and the DLI
Late in the evening of the 26th the enemy attacked the seized Fort Capuzzo. The 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade
was still attacking the Germans who were holding out at the
foot of the Pass, and here the battalion provided some telling
mortar support which eventually made them pack in. We
also helped to mop up a number of prisoners. Meanwhile
the DLI had been heavily counter-attacked by tanks at
Capuzzo and forced to fall back a short distance.
That night the remainder of the Brigade withdrew to the
foot of Halfaya Pass, while the battalion was ordered to hold
the summit. The next evening the remainder of the Brigade
withdrew right back to the Sidi Barrani area, and we
resumed much the same position at the top and bottom of
the Pass as we had held ten months previously. For the
next nine days the Germans were constantly probing our
positions with their armour. At one time our gunners and
tanks (one battery of the 31st Field Regiment under Major
“Tubby” Renton and a squadron of 4 RTR under Major
Miles) had at least eight German tanks disabled in front of
our position. Every effort was made to destroy them, but
with only one or two successes. Ralph Lucas and others took
out night patrols on several occasions, but could never locate
them on the broken ground during this moonless period.
By the 25th the enemy were seen to be bringing up
reinforcements and were ranging with 105-mm. guns. By
the next afternoon the shelling had begun in earnest, and an
attack by twelve tanks and four hundred infantry captured
Sgt. Middleditch, No. 1 Company, survives a near miss in hand-to-
hand fighting at Sollum Barracks on the night of the 15-16 April, 1941 Pt. 190, one of our vital OPs at the top of the Pass. A

123
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

counter-attack just before dark by a platoon of No. 3
Company under Sgt. Masterman, supported by all available
tanks and artillery, failed to recapture it. Only two out of
seven of our tanks were now effective at the top of the Pass.
In the course of the afternoon Jack Younger, the battalion
carrier officer, was wounded by a shell at Battalion Head-
quarters.
The hopeless nature of the situation—the enemy rein-
forcing and the battalion extended over a four-mile front
which was completely overlooked, with its left flank in the
air—was reported during that night, but the reply came
back that we were to hold on. To add to our difficulties, the
excellent drivers of our RASC troop carriers had been
relieved without warning the night before, and the wretched
relief drivers, who were not British, did not understand the
situation and left during the day. They were retrieved after
a time, only to absent themselves again at the crucial A welcome mess-tin of tea for the officers of No. 2 Company after
the night attack on Sollum barracks, 16 Apr. 1941
moment on the 27th. A suspicious character, dressed up as
Left to right: Rodney Nicholls, Tim Sainthill and Robin Gurdon
a major in the Tank Corps complete with a WD Ford car,
was the other highlight of the evening. He gave out a number
of misleading instructions and was even supposed to have
distributed doped drink; but nothing could ever be
established regarding his origin.
At 6 a.m. on the 27th the attack opened again with
redoubled vigour—as it was quite evident it would. A force
of sixty to seventy large German tanks, supported by several
infantry columns, started to converge and outflank No. 1
Company's position at the top of the Pass. The company
and their supporting forward gunners were literally being
blasted off the face of the rock; but they held on nobly for
an hour, the section of the 31st Field Regiment and some
guns of the 260th Anti-Tank Battery (Norfolk Yeomanry)
doing great execution until they themselves were knocked
out.
After an hour Douglas Home received the order to with-
draw, and the remnants of his force had to scramble down CSM Clift demonstrates that a large area can be washed from a
mess-tin. Gdsm. Nash, on the right, seems much amused
the steep slopes on foot. A troop of the 3rd Hussars and two
“I” tanks out of seven were the only vehicles to get down.
The heavy shelling on the rocky ground had caused all line
communication to go, including the line to the demolition
on the Pass; therefore it can be understood that, taking into
account the shortage of transport and the complete domina-
tion of our remaining positions by the enemy's tanks and
guns, the orders to withdraw which were now received
from Brigade were not easy to implement.
Before 8 a.m. the enemy were swarming down the
Pass and Nos. 2 and 4 Companies at the bottom were having
a bad time while trying to get clear. Guy McLaren, tem-
porarily commanding No. 4 Company while Buster Luard
was on leave, was wounded and taken prisoner, Buster once
again living up to his nickname of “Lucky Luard”. CSM
Marchant, also of No. 4, an indomitable soldier and for a
long time the popular organizer of battalion entertainments,
was killed. In No. 2 Company, nearer the coast, a gallant
Robin Gurdon's servant and P/Sgt.-Gdsm. Vaughan and Sgt.
young officer in the person of Tony Magniac, who had only
Wright


124
THE DESERT


Food for the prisoners
Gdsm. Morrison, HQ Company, guarding the battalion's first German prisoners at
Bn. HQ near the foot of Halfaya Pass, Apr. 1941


Cpl. Grant, No. 1 Company, having his leg bandaged at the RAP
in a wadi south of Halfaya, Apr. 1941
Sgt. Thomas adjusting a sling at the RAP near Halfaya, Apr.
1941


bo
Dossing down after a night on patrol. This was the only comfort
many of the battalion knew for months at a time
Halfaya Pass, scene of much bitter fighting. Except for the loops in
the road, no idea of the height and the gradient can be gained.
These were, in fact, considerable. It will be noticed, however, that
the position dominates the coastal plain
125
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
been with the battalion two months, was last seen surround- replaced the DLI, attacked Fort Capuzzo. Both objectives
ing himself with loaded weapons and preparing to fight it were taken without difficulty, and we were told to consoli-
out. We discovered later that he was fatally wounded and date on ground which was mostly solid rock. During the
died shortly afterwards in German hands, in spite of night the Scots Guards attacked successfully beyond us
medical attention. It was his first battle, and he set the and took Sollum Barracks with four hundred prisoners.
finest of examples.
On the 16th June the Buffs in Capuzzo drew counter-
A section of the battalion carriers under Sgt. Wright attacks of tanks and Stukas, and during their resistance to
(later V.C.) was sent forward to help in the extrication of these they lost their Commanding Officer. Meanwhile our
Nos. 2 and 4 Companies, and the German account of the own tanks were fighting fiercely round the Hafid Ridge and
battle, which was captured later, gave great credit to this the enemy were still holding on at Halfaya Pass. Our
“dashing action of the armoured cars”. This praise was well Australian A/A gunners shot down their first Stuka during
merited; but even so, everyone, especially one troop of the the day, amidst much jubilation, but that evening twelve
31st Field Regiment, had the greatest difficulty in pulling others returned and gave Battalion Headquarters a heavy
out, and a very ugly situation was averted—as we learned pasting. When the aircraft were seen coming for us, Julian
afterwards—only by the enemy's extreme shortage of petrol, Llewellyn-Palmer and Ralph Lucas were concerned about
which prevented them from exploiting their success. As it getting their men under cover on the hard ground. They
was, the force had over one hundred casualties. The bat- were both caught by the shattering blast and killed instantly.
talion withdrew during the day to what was now becoming It was due to their selfless act of heroism that the battalion
our spiritual home in the desert-namely, the area on the had practically no other casualties. Julian, as a young regular
coast at Km. 103 on the Matruh road. Here we stayed officer, had impressed everyone, from the C-in-C down-
awhile to recuperate.
wards, by his soldierly qualities and charm of manner. In
Early in June Willie Forbes took on the organizing of the his death and in that of Ralph the Coldstream lost two of
newly formed 22nd Guards Brigade anti-tank platoon, while its finest and most lovable officers, and their going cast a
briefing and recces were again being undertaken for another gloom over the battalion for many days to come.
attack. There followed pep-talks from Major-General In the middle of the next morning the Brigade received
Messervy of the 4th Indian Division; and also from sudden orders to withdraw to Buq-Buq by Halfway House,
General Beresford-Peirse, commanding Western Desert which was twenty-three miles to the south. The battalion
Force. And the night of the 13th June found us bumping was to await and escort a battery of the 31st Field Regi-
back to Sofarfi on that nightmare drive of dust and darkness. ment from Capuzzo. The wait was an anxious one, as the
The next day was spent in liaison with 7 RTR with whom situation was obviously critical and we were the last in the
we were to operate, and the same evening the Brigade field; but at length we connected up and set forth, and
formed up with its supporting gunners in one enormous were lucky enough to squeeze through the narrow gap
dispersed formation. The stage was now set for Operation west of Halfaya without sticking in the large areas of
Battle Axe, with the
treacherous ground.
relief of Tobruk as
That evening we
its object.
consolidated in the
At 5.40 a.m. on
familiar
of
the 15th this ar-
Buq - Buq, while
mada set sail, and
Nos. I and 2 Com-
after travelling
panies were de-
some fifty miles
tached to protect
westwards, arrived
dumps and wells
as planned at
near Sidi Barrani.
Boundary Post 43
On the 18th we
the frontier
visited by
with five minutes in
Brigadier Gott, and
hand. At 3.30 p.m.,
two days later, after
while our support-
a low-flying attackin
ing tanks were
which Cpl. Eggles-
heavily engaged
ton showed great
elsewhere, the Bri-
bravery, the posi-
gade attacked. The
tion was taken over
battalion made for
by the 25th Field
Bir Wair; and the
Regiment (Lt.-
Lt. A. C. O. Magniac Middle East
Lt. 7. Llewellyn-Palmer, M.C.
Buffs, who had now
27.5.41
Middle East 16.6.41
Colonel C. Eastman)


area
-
on
were
126
THE DESERT


cal
Wounded prisoners on the escarpment above Sollum, May 1941
Sick parade at the RAP, June 1941
and we again found ourselves back at Km. 103 on the Matruh
road. On the night of the 24th-25th the battalion was ordered
to move into the Maaten Baguish Box, approximately one
hundred miles to the east. There we took over some re-
markably dirty defences, from which we were glad to move
on the 2nd July to a camp on the coast at Daba alongside
the Scots Guards and Brigade Headquarters:
It was now decided that the Scots Guards and ourselves
were to become regular motor battalions instead of the
variety of improvisations we had been up to date; thus
hard training and re-equipping was to be the order of the
day for the next two or three months. Time passed agree-
ably, although bathing was rather at a discount owing to its
unpleasant associations with the poor fellows who had been
killed off Crete, many of whose bodies we now had to bury;
however, there was a much-prized bath house—probably
the only one in the Western Desert at this time—where the
officers collected each evening to enjoy a shower under
brackish well water, while the men had the use of it through
the day. There was also a wonderful variety of rag gym-
khanas and sports, organized by Tom Bevan for our enter-
tainment after training. There were visits and hospitality
from neighbouring units, including a fine battalion of the
Transvaal Scottish; and meanwhile a large number of new
people joined the battalion, amongst them Ronald Lunt,
who came to relieve Padre Antony.
John Loyd, did great work bringing on our own operators.
On the 14th we were being given a formal inspection by the
Brigade Commander when he was called away to Buq-Buq,
where the Scots Guards were holding the front. There had
evidently been one of the seasonal flaps, and a rumour later
suggested that there had been some trouble over the water
supply! At the end of the month most of the Commanding
Officer's O Group left in a party for Sofarfi to take over
from part of the 2nd Rifle Brigade, and the battalion
followed a few days later.
By the ist October we had taken over the main position
known as “Big Brother”, nine miles west of Sofarfi; and
also “Little Brother”, which was the name given to the
column which acted as outposts some fifteen miles farther
to the north-west. The 9th Rifle Brigade, now the third
battalion in the 22nd Guards Motor Brigade, duplicated
the same layout on our left with Big Sister and Little Sister.
For the next few weeks the battalion lived in an attractive
area on the edge of the rocky escarpment, but ready to man
Big Brother at short notice. We enjoyed glorious autumn
weather, and everyone felt fitter on the high ground inland.
There was plenty of defence work to be done, but this was
seriously handicapped by the shortage of compressors to
deal with the rocky ground.
Meanwhile the company and gunners finding Little
Brother Column were hard at it harassing the enemy. This
was accomplished by devising ambushes for them, shelling
them, and sending out fighting patrols at night. Mervyn
Griffith-Jones, Robin Gurdon and Guy Knight were par-
ticularly persevering, among many others who featured in
this latter respect, but distances and the very open ground
made success difficult to achieve. Working in support of us
.
was the 4th South African Armoured Car Regiment, under
the command of Lt.-Colonel Newton King, as well as the
2/7 Field Regiment Australian Gunners. Both were mad-
keen and knowledgeable fighters, and with the former we
were to have a close comradeship for many weeks to come.
a
The Autumn and Winter Campaign against the
Axis 1941-1942
By mid-September we were beginning to feel that we were
a motor battalion at last. Wireless operators were one of our
main shortages, because even before the war we had always
aimed at training every man as a driver. So far we had had
to rely largely on men of the Royal Corps of Signals for our
W/T, and no praise can be high enough for the service they
rendered. Now Sgt. Tyack and John Blackwell, following
127
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'


The Rag Pageant at Daba, Aug. 1941
Left to right: Lt.-Col. John Moubray, Tom Bevan, Lord Gilford,
Ronnie Dawnay (Bde.-Major) and Sgt. Delamore
Tom Bevan and Lt.-Col. John Moubray watching the Pageant at
Daba, Aug. 1941


Another picture of the Rag Pageant


Sgt. Worthington posing as the local Dictator in the Rag Pageant
at Daba, Aug. 1941
*****
The Signal Platoon
Relay race, Daba, Aug. 1941
128
THE DESERT
a
Early in October Brigadier Ian Erskine was admitted to astride the route we should have taken. Our job was then to
hospital, and on the 21st Brigadier John Marriott arrived to extricate them to the area of El Gubi, and this was effectively
take his place. We were all sorry to lose an old friend, but accomplished on the 6th by three carrier platoons and three
we welcomed a successor renowned for such a cheerful troops of anti-tank guns under the command of Martin
personality—a characteristic which was more than ever Gibbs. The remainder of the day was a bad one for the
appreciated at this stage of the campaign.
battalion, because our guns were all away at first helping the
Early in November the battalion was visited by General Indian Brigade; and then, when they did return to us, they
Auchinleck, the C-in-C M.E., Lt.-Generals Cunningham were almost out of ammunition. An enemy column of all
and Godwin Austen, Major-General Messervy and Brigadier arms, including twenty-nine tanks, had been shooting at us
Shearer. This arrival of the mighty in one party, although since dawn from the north-west, and throughout the day an
recognized as a great compliment, made it clear to all attack was expected to develop at any time. But at last the
ranks that something else was in the wind; and sure evening came—and with it, of course, fresh supplies of
enough, on the 13th, we were relieved by a battalion of ammunition!
the Royal Sussex under the command of Lt.-Colonel Evans, During the 6th and 7th we were opposed by the fifty to
and then moved thirty-five miles south to an area of virgin sixty tanks remaining to the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions,
desert. Shortly afterwards we received our orders for the and reports said it was due to our gunners mortally wound-
part we were to play in the forthcoming big attack, named ing the commander of the 15th Panzers, General Neumann
Operation Crusader, the first object of which was once again Silkow, on the 6th, that no attack by the enemy ever
the relief of Tobruk. The battalion and the 9th Rifle Brigade materialized. On the 7th Mervyn Griffith-Jones was
were to have reserve rôles in the initial stages, our tasks wounded by a bullet from an armoured car which chased
being to protect forward landing grounds and supply depôts. him on the way out to an OP; but the location of his wound,
To help us we had a battery of the 51st Field Regiment under being consistent with retreat, was not very serious.
the command of Lt.-Colonel “Friar” Tuck and a battery of All through this advance the RAF was in greater strength
the 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, commanded by Lt.-Colonel than we had ever seen it. The enemy had had it all their own
Hickey. We set off at 6.30 a.m. on the 18th, and after way for so long that the sight of our close-support squadrons
travelling forty-five miles in open formation we hit off the passing over several times a day was most heartening; we
correct boundary post on the frontier near Madalena to were also thrilled to see many spectacular kills by our
within five hundred yards—a very fair achievement, since fighters. For the next few days the battalion made a suc-
this is a long way without any recognizable feature by which cession of moves and counter-moves, with company columns
to check one's route. We then turned north-west, covering detached. On the 11th Guy Knight was wounded for the
another fifty miles before deciding that we had reached the second time, on this occasion by a low-flying attack. A few
point where the FSD should be and consequently could days later the Scots Guards rejoined the Brigade from the
laager for the night.
7th Armoured Division, and the 9th Rifle Brigade went
For the next three weeks we entered a phase of highly off in their place. The 11th Hussars and a squadron of
mobile warfare where the situation remained fluid. We Gloucester Hussars in Stewart tanks also joined the
generally had one or more company columns operating and Brigade, which now concentrated in an area twelve miles
the remainder of the battalion was usually made responsible south of the Acroma-Bir-Hacheim and Trigh Capuzzo
for the safety of an FSD. Rommel had crossed our front crosstracks. Even so there was no time for everyone to carry
with a column of sixty tanks and two thousand vehicles, out much-needed overhauls in preparation for the future,
driving east on his famous dash to the Wire, so the future since No. 4 Company was sent off on a protective column
seemed full of possibilities. On the 25th, for instance, an forty-one miles to the west and only returned on the 18th.
enthusiastic FOO ordered our guns to open fire at a rapidly On the 20th the Brigade was off on its short-cut across
approaching column of twenty AFVs and one hundred Cyrenaica. We were an enormous formation, with the
vehicles. After thirty rounds at a range closing from 8,000 Armoured Car Regiment, the three types of gunners, and
yards, they were found to be a party of the 11th Hussars and the Stewart tanks on transporters. Fortunately the enemy air
9th Rifle Brigade in rather an abusive frame of mind! never seemed to think of us, and we completed sixty-nine
Fortunately there were no casualties.
miles west-south-west the first day without incident.
On the 2nd December, the 7th Support Group (Green- Professional navigators (the Wise Men of the East) were
jackets) having fought a valiant but costly action at Sidi loaned to us to shoot the stars and put us on the map each
Rezegh and Brigadier Jock Campbell having won his V.C., night. On the 21st the battalion covered ninety-seven miles,
we were briefed for a similar party east of El Adem. The but stony ground forced us to halt fifteen miles short of our
only difference this time was that we were to have only half objective—a small enemy post called Antelat. However, the
the number of supporting guns that had been allotted to the Italian garrison fled on hearing that Major Wainman and
Support Group. Fortunately this venture was soon called his squadron of 11th Hussars were approaching, and he was
off, as the 11th Indian Infantry Brigade was heavily engaged there to welcome us next morning.
9
129
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”



Maggie Gibbs looking well sunburnt after afford-
ing valuable support to the 4th Indian Division
at El Gubi, Dec. 1941
George Jellicoe being treated for a slight bullet
wound by Sgt. Noble. He was hit by the
Senussi during his trek of eighty miles after
he and his patrol had been cut off by the
enemy while on OP near Agheila, Jan. 1942
Maggie Gibbs finds a friend in the desert. These
monitor lizards, and chameleons too, became
favourite pets where months could pass with
hardly a sign of animal life



John Blackwell (SO) and Malcolm Pleydell (MO)
Charles Willis
Oliver Breakwell enjoys a drink in the desert
130
THE DESERT

On arrival on the 22nd two columns of Nos. 3 and 4
Companies were immediately sent out with supporting
arms to harass the enemy, who were supposed to be beating
an ignominious retreat. No. 3 was directed to Beda Fomm
and No. 4 to the south-west. The RGH were ordered to
reinforce No. 3 Company Column, which had shot up a lot
of enemy vehicles and was now being threatened by tanks ;
but they could not gain contact with it before dark. At dawn
next day twenty to thirty tanks, supported by lorried
infantry, attacked and overran the troop of field guns with
No. 3 Company, setting alight three of the latter's vehicles.
Five of the enemy tanks were destroyed, and the RGH
arrived in time to cover the withdrawal; but they were not
heavy enough for the German tanks, and during a gallant
covering action their Commanding Officer, Major Reinholt,
was killed.
This same enemy force came on and occupied Antelat
for a short while, and that portion of the battalion which was
Lt.-Col. John Moubray, Lord Gilford and Robin Gurdon beside the
lunch wagon at El Gubi, Dec. 1941
present had to withdraw four miles to the east until the
pressure from our converging columns forced the enemy to
retire, thus enabling us to return once again. It was bad
luck that, during our temporary absence and owing to some
misunderstanding, Julian Warde-Aldam should come in
with a standing patrol from the south. He was dismayed to
find himself reporting to the wrong kind of company
commander, only his W/T truck managing to get away to
tell the sad tale of the capture of the rest of the party.
On the 24th a column consisting of the squadron of the
IIth Hussars, No. 1 Company under John Loyd, and sup-
porting gunners—the whole commanded by Major Darling,
RA—tried to push south for Agedabia, but was temporarily
obstructed by some enemy armoured cars and vehicles,
which were engaged. On Christmas Day, which was a cold
and uncomfortable affair for everyone, No. 1 Company
Column advanced twenty-three miles south from Antelat
and came up against the defences of Agedabia. An attack led
by six Stewart tanks of 3 RTR (Lt.-Colonel Ewin) was met
Drawing water from a native well, Dec. 1941
by heavy gunfire in depth and fizzled out. No. 4 Company
moved up to support No. 1, and the remainder of the bat-
talion moved sixteen miles south from Antelat. That night
John Harley took out a patrol and destroyed a post of ten
Italians. Gdsm. Simpson considered four a fair Christmas
allowance for himself!
At midnight on the 31st December streams of tracer and
A/A fire were seen being hose-piped into the air over
Agedabia—presumably an attempt on the part of the Axis
to tone up their morale for 1942—and at 7 a.m. on New
Year's Day three enemy vehicles came bumping out from
the same direction. They were allowed to come within our
screen of armoured cars before being challenged, whereupon
they put up a good exhibition of dodging, being fired on
heavily wherever they turned. They surrendered finally, and
were found to contain five German officers and eight other
ranks complete with new sets of codes and dispositions. This
Ronald Lunt (Padre) and John Harley at the RAP after the latter
was a pleasant New Year gift and a happy omen for that
had come into contact with a Teller mine near El Gubi


131
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''
fateful year in which the tide was to set once and for all there. Lord Jellicoe was appropriately detailed to
against the Axis.
investigate the situation, and reported the vessel a derelict.
Three days later six enemy tanks appeared on the left On the 18th John Loyd was ordered to hospital with bad
flank of the battalion front. No. 2 Company and its gunners desert sores; David Watts-Russell took over No. 1 Com-
destroyed two and damaged three, two complete crews pany; and that enthusiastic and entertaining comrade,
being captured. On the 6th January, following a severe Robin Gurdon, became battalion intelligence officer.
sandstorm all day, our night patrols reported lack of enemy During the two following days the commander of the 7th
reaction, which the 11th Hussars confirmed next morning Indian Infantry Brigade and four officers of the Welch
as a complete withdrawal. The follow-up through Agedabia Regiment paid us visits with a view to relieving us. This, as
and then towards Agheila was a nightmare of mines, driving any old soldier will appreciate, was a bad sign; and sure
sand and a bitterly cold wind. The Hussars, who gallantly enough, the enemy started shelling at 10 a.m. on the 21st,
led the advance, lost a number of cars, and John Harley had after which a party of sixteen German tanks with many
a narrow escape on a Teller mine. No. 1 Company Column, vehicles was reported by-passing No. 1 Company Column
commanded by a charming and capable gunner, Major and pushing east along the coast. No. 2 Company Column,
in reserve, was ordered into action against them, but could
not halt the advance of so many tanks, since their
numbers had now increased to forty-nine. George Jellicoe
and a section on OP on the coast were cut off.
Meanwhile a group of sixty to eighty German tanks was
engaging No. 4 Company Column at the southern end of
our thirteen-mile front, and there remained no other course
open to the battalion but to withdraw, fighting by columns
in turn. The enemy were back in Agedabia on the 22nd, and
a justifiable flap had probably started to no uncertain tune.
Our supply vehicles had had a brush with the enemy on
their way forward, and CSM Reddaway of Headquarter
Company put up a gallant resistance before he and several
others were captured.
By the 23rd the battalion was ordered to withdraw via
Saunnu to Antelat. We were moving in columns in the
afternoon when No. 3 Company had to take on fifty German
tanks, of which the gunners disabled four; the remainder
were fortunately set on an objective elsewhere. That night,
headed by Major Wainman's squadron of 11th Hussars,
we had a pleasantly exciting drive through no-man’s-land
to an area near Antelat, where we suffered some dive-
bombing during the following day. We now parted with
our valued partners the rith Hussars, and for the next
The early morning “brew"
two days were involved in a chaotic running fight north-
wards past a place called Msus. The company columns
Ingledew, did particularly well in pushing forward. On the fought hard and worked independently, though in com-
9th Michael Brodrick, on patrol, captured a German dressed munication with Battalion Headquarters; and when we
as a British officer.
took up our successive positions we were engulfed in a
The layout now and for some time to come was for each spate of vehicles rushing past, which as often as not would
company to be out on independent column supported by a turn out to be German AFVs before anyone realized it. It
field battery and one or two troops of anti-tank and A/A was during such occasions, which seemed to happen with
guns. Usually three columns would be forward, with one in alarming frequency in the campaign, that Gilly (Lord
reserve, while they would all work within a ten-mile radius Gilford) excelled himself as Adjutant. The more unpleasant
of Battalion Headquarters to enable wireless touch to be the situation and capricious the behaviour of the antiquated
maintained. By the 12th the battalion had come up against W/T sets, the calmer would become his assurance of manner
the enemy defences east of Agheila, after which the front was and the greater his Northern Irish sense of humour. Such
to remain static for the next ten days, with the usual shelling natures were invaluable for everyone's morale.
and night patrols. On the coast in No. 1 Company's area was
The evening of the 25th found all the columns with only
a harbour called Mersa Brega, which it was thought the a few rounds of ammunition per gun, with Nos. 3 and 4
enemy might be using, especially as a ship could be seen Companies and Battalion Headquarters well behind the

132
THE DESERT
German forward troops near Msus. After refuelling on any roughly another sixty miles to the east and eventually con-
petrol that could be found in the area, the three parties solidated in the defensive line running from Gazala, near
moved slowly south until it was dark, then some sixteen the coast, to Bir Hacheim in the south-the battalion in
miles east, and finally fifty miles north. There was only a position between the Trigh Capuzzo and the Trigh el Abd,
young moon until midnight, so that travelling at 8-25 m.p.h. with the Scots Guards on the right. In the event of an attack,
over completely unknown country was a big risk, although the Brigade was to be supported by and under the orders of
one which had to be taken owing to the considerable dis- the ist Armoured Division, the energetic commander of
tance to be covered. The enemy's obliging habit of putting which, Major-General Herbert Lumsden, took a lively
up Verey lights to guide their supply columns proved very interest in the organization of our defence.
helpful to us, and by a careful study of these we could with We remained in these positions for the next two and a
a little luck avoid their night laagers. Fortune favoured us,
.
half months, digging, wiring, laying mines, and practising
and by dawn on the 26th the battalion was able to report large-scale counter-attacks in conjunction with the ist
more or less complete to Brigade Headquarters at Charuba, Armoured Division. A welcome start was made once again
where a defensive position was organized. On the next day on the leave roster—a privilege which had been well-earned
the battalion took part in a two-day operation with the by all ranks, for they had led a hard and precarious existence
Scots Guards, consisting of a drive of approximately for five months, when even the ordinary little amenities
twenty miles to the south during which No.4 Company and usually available in a forward area—in the form of cigarettes,
the Scots Guards had a brush with sixteen enemy tanks. a small quantity of Naafi goods, and mail—had been non-
We were then ordered to withdraw to our starting point. existent for many weeks at a time, and when the taste of such
On the 31st George Jellicoe and his section cast up, having luxuries as fresh meat and bread had long since been
walked eighty miles on very scant rations. This adventure forgotten.
finished up by George being slightly wounded by a Senussi On the 8th March the humble author of this narrative
who mistook him for a German. A welcome reinforcement bade farewell to the battalion which he had been fortunate
at this juncture was the quite irregular return of Bartle enough to command for nearly two and a half years in war.
Bull, who had been sent away once already as unfit after He was now posted to command a sub-area in the Canal
being wounded, but who now thought the tempo of the Zone. The saddest day in a regimental officer's life was,
battle warranted his desertion from a staff appointment in however, softened for him by the fact that he handed over
Cairo some seven hundred miles away!
to his second in command, Major Tom Bevan, a person
On the ist February the Brigade moved fifty-five miles beloved by all of us, and one who had always devoted
eastwards and had a trying drive through the minefields and himself wholeheartedly to the interests of the Regiment,
wire of Mechili, where an old officer of the Regiment who and especially of the 3rd Battalion.
was here liaising with the Polish Brigade—one Adrian In April the battalion was withdrawn to Buq-Buq, on
Holt-gave the battalion invaluable assistance by guiding the coast, there to enjoy a rest and prepare for whatever
it through the area. During the next four days we moved the future might bring forth.
a
A Year in the Desert
Some Reflections by Malcolm PLEYDELL, M.C., the Battalion Medical Officer
In thinking over the events of a year in the desert with the flap on the opposite side, while the yellow dust swept and
3rd Battalion, it is not so much the features and actions of eddied past and beat against the canvas outside. Yes, that
military importance which stand out clearly in the mind's was a bit of an exception, I suppose, although we had
eye as the little things of human interest, of some of the men plenty of sandstorms in store and numerous occasions when
one came to know and the places with which one grew we could not see from one truck to the next. A few days
familiar.
later it was perfectly clear again, and we were moving west
There was the first day I came to the battalion—but that to attack the enemy on the escarpment above Sollum; and
was really an exception. May roth of 1941 will be remem- RSM Spry, in that kindly way of his, took the opportunity
bered by everybody for that vicious khamseen which swept before we left of giving me a few tips which might stand me
up on the hot south wind and had us all rubbing the grit out in good stead for the future.
of our eyes and trying to find some form of shelter. And in That battle, and those which followed, gave me the chance
the officers' mess I can still see Hinde hammering away hard of getting to know the men at the Regimental Aid Post. Sgt.
at a tent-peg, with Cpl. Best hanging on for dear life to a Noble and Cpl. Kirby, both from Yorkshire, I remember,
133
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
((
'
and both very steady hands who could always be depended blue skies and the excellent bathing, with John Blackwell
upon. Later we had Sgt. Watson to take over charge, and and Buster Luard diving off the rocks into the beautifully
no doctor could have asked for better co-operation or more clear water as they searched for stones which had been
reliable assistance. And Miller—“Ginger” Miller, who thrown on to the sandy bed below. A fresh breeze blew off
drove my Dodge—I can picture him now as he told me one the sea most of the time; and in the mess there was an
evening, at the end of a long day's drive, that driving a truck omnibus volume of Peter Cheyney which was in great
in the desert wasn't as easy as you would think, “cos to demand by everybody. The Naafi at Daba; and the bath-
drive it properly you had to be in complete control of it house to which we made our evening pilgrimage; a
right from the start, same as—same as your wife,” he con- memory of Guy Knight and David Watts-Russell shooting
cluded, with a happy burst of inspiration.
duck which had congregated at the salt-water lagoon
We became pretty familiar with that piece of desert round nearby; and a picture of Robin Gurdon shooting quail
Halfaya Pass and the coastal plain below it in the weeks that before breakfast. Sgt. Graham, imperturbable as ever, as he
followed, but our positions were too scattered for me to get made a welcome appearance with the mess truck from
to know the different companies. In fact, it was not until Alexandria; and the great day when letters arrived from
we had moved back to Daba that I really grew acquainted home. A lecture by Maggie Gibbs on the Long Range
with them. Through the sick-parades one came into close Desert Group which fired everyone's imagination; and a
touch with the men, and in giving lectures to them on first certain dark moonless night when we squatted around on
aid, one soon saw where their interests lay. Perhaps one or the ground listening to a talk about the stars by Wilkinson.
two of my lectures were a little too descriptive, for I well Recollections of the training of the Bren gun carrier
remember, in a short pause during a dissertation to David
a
platoons; and, quite disjointedly, a fragmentary memory of
Kennard's transport platoon, how the silence was broken by a worried sergeant coming up to me one day and telling me
a dull thud as one of the listeners in the front row toppled he didn't know what the trouble was, but he couldn't shout
slowly from the petrol can on which he had been sitting and at the men on parade like he did in the old days, for if he did,
measured his length in the sand. The reproachful looks and he got a headache, and had I any tablets for that sort of
whispers which followed brought my discourse to a more complaint?
rapid conclusion than I had intended, and therefore I We remembered those days at Daba with pleasure when
modified the details somewhat.
we moved back west beyond Sofarfi in September. Here we
Daba was a good place as the desert went. I recall the were on top of the escarpment; it was very rocky, and on a

Stand-to in the desert
134
THE DESERT
Τ

Desert Oasis

"Marble Arch”.
This well-known landmark was a Fascist memorial
to mark the boundary between Cyrenaica and
Tripolitania

ཀྱི ་
Senussi on the move
135
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
clear morning before the heat-haze had started we could could hear Churchill's voice coming over the radio—I
just see the blue line of the Mediterranean thirty miles think he was speaking from Guildhall. We had captured
away beyond the chalk-white plain. Each company was very Benghazi—and lost Singapore. A little later they were
busy digging in and blasting its defensive positions. We singing carols: “God rest you merry, Gentlemen ”, “The
had our little ghôts allocated to us, and we worked hard at First Noel”. There was an Arab encampment not far from
the inclined vehicle pits, their protecting banks and the where we had laagered that night, and the voice of a Bedouin
camouflage—and, although the RAP did not win the shepherd calling to his sheep came clearly on the night air.
camouflage competition, we reckoned we had done pretty It seemed very apposite.
well, and the men had a beer all round. I recall a Sunday January and its dust storms. George Jellicoe down with a
evening service held by Ronald Lunt, with us perched nasty bout of malaria, which we treated in the ambulance.
around him on the escarpment ledges like birds on a cliff One or two minor actions, and Ronald Lunt always eager
face, the light slowly ebbing from the sky, and our voices and ready to help in directing the ambulance back to the
seeming so slight and ourselves so frail in this vast empty Advanced Dressing Station. Driving through a minefield
landscape. At this time the RAP had a gramophone and, as towards Agedabia, and the sand hissing and snaking across
I remember, two records to go with it. One of them was a the hummocky ground the whole time. Then on towards
great favourite. On one side a breezy young gentleman Agheila; and John Harley, who had been slightly injured
informed us that he had been watching a man paint a on a German mine, spending a few days with us at the RAP
fence, and although the exact outcome of his observations before going down the line. But we were hardly here for any
on this point was not made altogether clear, this did not length of time before Rommel's push sent us back again.
detract from the popularity of the song. On the other side The strange, unreal, mobile battles that followed; the enemy
a lady intimated in throbbing tones that she loved us much getting past us during the day, and we driving in between
too much. This was a sentiment which naturally appealed their Verey lights at night. Our eventual withdrawal to the
to everyone; and when, about two-thirds of the way through Gazala line, and a recollection of the men telling me one day
the record, she accused us of a certain degree of coldness how fortunate we were to have Colonel John Moubray in
in our late demeanour and appealed for some slight gesture charge, as he had forgotten more about desert warfare than
or token in evidence of the fact that we might perhaps the Germans would ever know.
return her affection, it was quite plain from the gruff asides How best to measure the span of a year in a few words?
of the listeners that there was a universal desire to fulfil her Most of the memories are quite inconsequential and have
wishes in this matter. If there is one thing I dare swear, little connection with one another. Driving into the laager
is that I shall never forget those songs or the incongruous each night, and the dust from our trucks rising in a smoky
way in which they echoed up and down our little rocky cloud against the red glow of the sunset. Dispersing with
wadi.
first light and the stand-to. That first cigarette of the day!
November came, and with it Auchinleck's advance. As a Digging the inevitable slit trench. The cool breeze that
doctor it was never easy to understand exactly what was came like a balm with the evening. Those tins of Canadian
happening, and the best thing was not to worry too much. beer-how good they were! The happy atmosphere of the
We seemed to go slower than we had expected, and it was company messes—the cheerful humour of John and
some while before we drank Gilford's champagne that had Edward Loyd in good form. And the men: the patient,
been set by for the relief of Tobruk. Then south with a uncomplaining way in which some of them would come to
column to harass the enemy's flank as he retreated from have their bad desert sores dressed day after day.
Benghazi to Agedabia. How long those drives were ! Yes, it is with such recollections that one recaptures the
Christmas Eve was spent at Antelat. A night or two after- spirit of those days; and it is to such moments that one
wards, as I walked from the mess tent to my bivouac, I turns in trying to assess the experiences of the past.
a
it
136
THE DESERT
My Middle East Campaigns
By Courtesy of BRIAN Robb and Messrs COLLINS
Brian Robb

CLOSELY GUARDED MILITARY
SECRETS
mi
Where we are

Motorm
LITTLE KNOWN UNITS OF
THE WESTERN DESERT
No. 791 Misinformation Centre
arch
12
Briantot

mer
I
SED
BULK(!)
NAAFL
M
LITTLE KNOWN UNITS OF THE
WESTERN DESERT
No. 3,648,450,645 Field Abstinence Centre
Brianta
137
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?

CLOSELY GUARDED MILITARY
SECRETS
Where we are going
기
​Brianko
and
Bankdha
CLOSELY GUARDED MILITARY SECRETS
Why we are here

LITTLE KNOWN UNITS OF THE
WESTERN DESERT
ten
No. 386 Road Obstruction Coy.
U
Hous
138
THE DESERT


Brian Mobb
ci
-
W OVERTAS
#1
SUSPICIOUS PHENOMENA
Nocturnal movements of slit trenches and other chasms
LITTLE KNOWN UNITS OF THE WESTERN DESERT
173rd Extraordinary Diversion and Traffic Reduction Post


tott
SUSPICIOUS PHENOMENA
Issue Cigarettes
inando
LITTLE KNOWN UNITS OF THE WESTERN DESERT
The Long Range Desert Tea Group


Bott
Difficult country
SUSPICIOUS PHENOMENA
Insects
139
CHAPTER FIVE
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND
TOBRUK
TUNISIAN VICTORY
May 1942-September 1943
THE ORDER OF BATTLE AT KNIGHTSBRIDGE
Commanding Officer
Second in command
Adjutant
HQ Company
Commander
Signal Officer
Lt.-Col. T. BEVAN
Major W. D. H. C. FORBES
Captain the Lord GILFORD
Captain R. E. FAURE WALKER
Intelligence Officer
MT Officer
LAD Officer
Medical Officer
Padre
Quartermaster
Lt. D. P. E. HOLMES
Lt. J. W. YOUNGER
Lt. W. POPE, RAOC
Captain C. D. WEIR, RAMC
The Rev. R. G. LUNT, R.A., Ch.D.
Lt. W. T. BURTON
Lt. J. G. BLACKWELL
No. 1 Company
Captain J. L. LOYD
Captain D. R. W. R. WATTS RUSSELL
Lt. M. D. H. WILLS, M.C.
Lt. E. P. C. LOYD
No. 2 Company (Anti-Tank)
Major H. M. SAINTHILL
Captain D. A. KENNARD
Lt. H. K. SWEETING
Lt. the Hon. J. A. W. St. CLAIR ERSKINE
Lt. J. A. METCALFE
Lt. 0. O. BREAKWELL
2nd Lt. T. E. S. EGERTON
No. 3 Company
Major D. W. A. W. FORBES, M.C.
Lt. the Hon. M. V. BRODRICK
Lt. S. STOBART
No. 4 Company
Major B. E. LUARD, M.C.
Captain M. A. GIBBS
Lt. A. DRUMMOND-HAY
2nd Lt. R. R. BARNES
141
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
May-June 1942
O
By MERVYN GRIFFITH-JONES
N the 19th January, 1942, Rommel had launched The work was completed only just in time. By the 26th
his counter-attack against the 8th Army at Agheila May heavy fighting had been taking place to the west, and
and by the beginning of February had been halted already there had come alarms of enemy break-throughs.
west of Gazala. There the situation remained unchanged for For several nights past enemy planes had been flying over
the next three months, and a defensive position had been con- the Box to attack the 8th Army's lines of communication
solidated by 200 Guards Motor Brigade (3rd Coldstream and the flashes of their exploding bombs had been seen
Guards, and Scots Guards and 9th Rifle Brigade), which away towards Tobruk, El Adem and Capuzzo. Late on the
had been continuously engaged in battle since the start 26th May a strong mechanized column was reported to be
of General Auchinleck's offensive in November 1941. At moving south round Bir Hacheim and it was thought that
the end of this period the Brigade enjoyed a three weeks' the enemy had started to attack the Free French some
rest and re-equipment at Buq-Buq, where its identity was twenty miles to the south. As the officers' mess truck
changed from 200 to 201 Guards Motor Brigade.
departed for B echelon the garrison in Knightsbridge pre-
In May Rommel attacked again, and on the 17th of that pared itself to fight.
month the Brigade, less 9th Rifle Brigade, which was to Next morning the battle, which was to continue for the
undertake an independent task, left Buq-Buq for the area next seventeen days, started. To set out in detail the inci-
north-east of El Gubi. On arrival 3rd Coldstream Guards dents of the battle would be only to repeat the official war
was ordered to proceed at once to Bir Belefaa and to prepare diary. Each day was much the same. Large concentrations
a defensive “Box” just north of where the Acroma-Bir of enemy vehicles and tanks were continually sighted or
Hacheim track crossed the Trigh Capuzzo. The forces with reported in the vicinity. Enemy shell-fire pounded the
which this Box was to be held consisted of 2nd Royal position incessantly from dawn till dusk, except for the brief
Horse Artillery, 3rd Coldstream Guards with Right Flank respites afforded by sandstorms or the heat-haze of the
and two anti-tank platoons of 2nd Scots Guards under afternoons. Tank battles were fought daily over the
command, one battery Northumberland Hussars (anti- surrounding desert. Again and again enemy tanks crept
tank guns) and four troops of light A/A guns.
forward to the minefield, shelling and machine-gunning,
During the course of the battle Lts. D. E. Waddilove, while their infantry attempted to infiltrate through the
E. H, B. Imbert-Terry and T. D. Vickers joined the bat- perimeter. But, except for two small patrols which succeeded
talion, and Captain J. M. G. Griffith-Jones took over as in penetrating the defences during sandstorms, the attacks
Adjutant from Lord Gilford on the latter's departure for never succeeded. In spite of the enemy's shell-fire the guns
Haifa Staff College. With Colonel John Moubray's depar- of 2 RHA were never silent. They fired at everything
ture only a month or so ago, these were the first of those within sight without regard to the inevitable casualties. Not
many changes which in so short a time were to alter the only their own OP but the rifle companies also acted as their
whole face of the battalion. Colonel John and Gilly, his “eyes”. On one occasion, when one of the gunner OP
Adjutant, had together led the battalion through the many officers had been wounded in No. 3 Company's positions, a
3
dangers and difficulties since the first days of the Italian tank attack was only beaten off by Sgt. Herage taking over
advance. It was to them, more than perhaps to any other, the OP duties and, for more than an hour under heavy fire,
that the battalion's successes—not only of those early days directing the guns upon the enemy.
but in the long years to follow—were due: for the spirit they The battalion's machine-guns kept the perimeter im-
instilled and left behind them lived on through the North passable. Buster Luard's machine-gunners had seventy
African and Italian campaigns.
enemy dead to their credit in one day. The story of one of
For a week, day and night were spent preparing the posi- Hamish St. Clair Erskine's guns on the first afternoon of
tion-digging, wiring and mine-laying. The Box formed a battle is typical of the work which all the anti-tank gunners
rough square some two miles across; in the eastern half did. This particular gun was a 2-pounder (the battalion's
were situated Brigade and Regimental Headquarters and 2-pounders were only replaced by new 6-pounders during
the guns of 2 RHA, and around them the rifle companies the later days of the battle) in an exposed position on the
and the anti-tank guns of Tim Sainthill's No. 2 Company south-west corner of the Box. During the course of an
and the Northumberland Hussars guarded the perimeter. attack twenty-nine tanks moved round the corner of the
142
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY

Buster Luard
With the remainder of the 8th Army's defences gone, the
position of Knightsbridge, isolated and surrounded in the
middle of the desert, had become hopeless, and in the
evening of the 13th June the expected orders were received :
Knightsbridge was to be evacuated that night and the
garrison was to move to Acroma under cover of darkness.
At 11.30 p.m. 2 RHA led the way through three gaps
which had been cleared in the minefield on the north side.
Brigade Headquarters followed. Behind them, with Willie
Forbes leading, the battalion and a company of Sherwood
Foresters, who had previously relieved Right Flank, filed
out on foot in three long, silent lines. None who took part
in that march can ever forget it. All day tanks had fought
across the ground and now, in the darkness, derelict hulks
still burnt and cascaded their fireworks of exploding
ammunition into the night sky. It seemed hardly possible
that that long, slow-moving column showing black against
the burning derelicts could escape discovery, and after the
last weeks of sleepless days and nights—days of constant
fighting and incessant shell-fire, nights spent patrolling,
minefield, and, seeing the anti-tank gun, covered it with mining, digging and carrying in supplies—those eleven
machine-gun fire from three directions at once. As they miles of marching seemed unending. At one moment it did,
came within four hundred yards range Hamish, who was in fact, seem that the worst had happened. From the east
himself with the exposed gun, climbed into the layer's seat and unpleasantly close at hand a streak of tracer flashed
and immediately knocked out the two leading tanks before across the ground towards the tail of the column. More
his gun was disabled. Engaged by gun-fire and by the other followed, until the tracer was pouring out in one continuous
guns of Hamish's platoon, the enemy were driven off with stream. Then a flare in the distance showed the outline of
the loss of two or more tanks. Altogether that anti-tank gun tanks apparently breaking laager. But within a few seconds
was hit and had to be replaced three times during the other tracer answered them back from somewhere in the
Knightsbridge battle, and by the end that gun's crew was darkness, and as the column passed down the escarpment
responsible for at least seven enemy tanks. The North- out of sight of the battle it was realized that 22nd Armoured
umberland Hussars did equally well. That same evening of Brigade was still about and very much awake. To that
the 27th May they engaged enemy vehicles as they withdrew Brigade all those who left Knightsbridge owe a lasting debt
with their defeated tanks and at immense range destroyed of gratitude.
sixteen of them. As darkness fell that night, seven tanks,
twenty odd vehicles and an 88-mm. gun could be seen from
the Box derelict and burning. It was a great finish to the first
day of the battle of Knightsbridge, but there were other
days as good. When Reggie Barnes took out a carrier patrol
at dawn on the 7th June to finish off some vehicles which
the enemy had been forced to abandon the day before, he
found and destroyed nine 50-mm. and three 105-mm. guns.
So the battle continued until the 13th June. By that date
the Free French, after their epic defence of Bir Hacheim,
had at last been forced to withdraw. The Scots Guards, who
had been holding a position just to the north of Knights-
bridge at Rigel Ridge, were heavily attacked and overrun.
With only their Battalion Headquarters and the equivalent
of one company left their remnants were withdrawn. By
last light that day the enemy surrounded Knightsbridge on
all sides, save only for a narrow corridor to the north along
the Bir Hacheim-Acroma track—a narrow corridor kept
open only by the stupendous efforts of 22nd Armoured
Brigade after a tank battle that had been raging all day on
the northern side of the Box.
Lt. Col. Tom Bevan Middle East 12.6.42

143
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
And so the battle of Knightsbridge ended. For eighteen ranks taken prisoner. Simon had been killed during the
days, with the support of ist Armoured Division, the course of a night patrol, when a machine-gun had fired at
garrison had held the Box against continual attacks from all him at point-blank range as he was preparing to attack an
sides by increasingly large enemy forces. In the end, when enemy working party. Jackie Loyd had been wounded on
they were ordered to withdraw, they marched out from the afternoon of the 7th June while visiting his carriers.
under the noses of the enemy, unseen and unheard, and Only by the courageous action of Cpl. Bentley had he been
leaving behind them only their empty holes for the Germans brought back from the exposed position where he had
to occupy. They took with them all their guns, their fallen. Tom Bevan had been badly wounded on the 11th
vehicles and their fighting equipment, save only one 6- June by a shell which had killed the sapper officer standing
pounder which had had to be destroyed, one carrier which by his side. He died next day in Tobruk hospital and was
on the way had floundered irretrievably into a slit trench buried in the military cemetery by the shore. It is perhaps
and one 7-1b. jar of Cooper's Oxford marmalade, which a fitting end to this short account to quote from a letter
Roddie Faure Walker, becoming at least temporarily which appeared some time later in an English newspaper :
unbalanced in the excitement of his departure, had con- “From the shadows of Singapore and the murk of Tobruk
sidered unessential and drained out upon the sand.
there gradually comes a light that presently may become a
By first light next morning the garrison were at Acroma, beacon to soldiers of the future. It is a fine thing when a
but they had hardly had breakfast before the enemy were Regiment holds fast in the line of battle fighting for victory.
reported to be already in pursuit. Another frantic day's It is far finer when a Regiment surrounded fights on, un-
digging followed and yet another battle that evening before dismayed by defeat, to liberty. It is not clear on which day
the enemy were once again repelled. By midday next day, Tom Bevan, the Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, was
after another silent move during the night, the garrison had killed. He was the finest type of soldier, English squire, keen
reached what they so wrongly supposed to be the sanctuary cricketer, good sportsman and a great gentleman. When
of Tobruk.
these tired men fought their way out of Tobruk they put the
During the course of the battle from the 27th May to the seal on his work and the great Regiment added more laurels
14th June the battalion suffered in casualties Tom Bevan, to its record. It is my devout hope that when the heroic
Simon Stobart and thirteen other ranks killed; Jackie Loyd remnant of the Coldstream Guards comes marching home
and twenty-two other ranks wounded; and seven other I may be there to cheer and cheer again.”


KNIGHTSBRIDGE
M.R. 37984118
Lt. S. Stobart Middle East 6.6.42
A desert signpost
144
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK
Extracts from a letter by RODDIE FAURE WALKER
a
a
I have been wanting to write for a long time, as I should like
to give you a fairly full account of the battle in the Western
Desert that led up to the fall of Tobruk. A good many of the
details have been given already in the newspapers, and as it
is all rather ancient history by now and ended in such
disaster, I do not see how it can be a breach of security any
longer to discuss it. I can only describe those bits of it that
I saw myself, which was not very much, for throughout the
whole campaign I played a very minor rôle, so much so that
I often felt that I was being carried as a spectator rather
than a real participant.
а
The story begins on the 27th May at Knightsbridge.
Work started in earnest the moment we got there. All the
companies and a skeleton Battalion Headquarters slept in
their positions, and the rest of Headquarter Company, with
myself and the unwanted vehicles, lived just outside at the
foot of the escarpment, the idea then being that, if the Box
were to be used, I should take them back to B echelon some
ten miles farther back. I had very little to do at this time.
All the men available were sent up to help with the digging,
and the only times that I used to see the rest of Battalion
Headquarters were at meal times (I had the mess truck with
me) and at nights when they slept down below except for a
Duty Officer on the end of the telephone. The digging and
wiring and mine-laying went on continuously, even into the
night, for warning after warning used to come round, and
even if we hadn't had these warnings we should still have
sensed that there was something in the air, for every night
bombers were over us and we could see the flashes and hear
the dull thud of explosions on the landing-grounds behind
us. Heavy raids they were, and seemed to be sustained from
dusk to dawn. They were never directed on us, although the
enemy knew where we were and came over every morning
regularly to have a look.
The night of the 26th May I slept in the Box as Duty
Officer. Nothing unusual occurred in fact, it was particu-
larly quiet—and I came back to the mess in the usual way,
about seven o'clock, for breakfast. Half an hour later the
telephone rang. Gilly answered it: “A very large enemy
column is moving south round Bir Hacheim and the offen-
sive is believed to have begun.” Feverish activity followed.
All positions were manned. Battalion Headquarters moved
into the Box and everything else packed up. At ten o'clock
Willie Forbes came back and returned to B echelon, taking
with him all the vehicles that could be spared, leaving me
with some signal trucks and about a dozen containing
company quartermaster-sergeants and pioneers.
I still had a telephone line to Battalion Headquarters so,
after seeing Willie off, I sat on the end of it. All was quiet
for a time, until about half-past ten, when one suddenly felt
that the atmosphere was getting tenser and one could just
make out the sound of gunfire away to the south of us.
Shortly afterwards I began to hear the thud-thud-thud-
thud-thud, a dull heavy sound that comes when tanks are
being engaged. This went on for a long time and grew
gradually louder. Soon some Messerschmidts flew over,
fairly low, and all the Bofors guns opened up, so for a time
the noise was pretty terrific. As usual, nothing was hit on
either side.
At 11.15 Gilly rang me up: “We have just heard that B
echelon has moved. We don't know yet where it is, so stay
where you are for the moment. As soon as I get its new
location I will let you know.”
.
The noise had grown considerably louder, and it sounded
as if our guns in the Box were in action. A salvo of heavy
shells suddenly crashed into the area where we were. In a
few minutes the telephone rang again: “The Commanding
Officer speaking. I have decided to bring you into the Box;
it is too hot outside. Try and find pits to put your vehicles
in, and come yourself to Battalion Headquarters.
A second after, four or five trucks drove up, led by a
wireless PU with a very young officer in charge. He looked
harassed and wanted to know where he was, and seemed
relieved when I told him. I asked him where he had come
from, and he answered that he was from the 7th Armoured
Division and that the whole Division was overrun and there
was nothing to stop the Germans coming through. I did not
know then that it was not true, and I felt depressed. He came
back with us towards the Box, and I left him just outside
the gap that formed the entrance, where he found some more
of his battalion and where there had suddenly appeared the
biggest concentration of vehicles I had ever seen, and
plenty of confusion. I took my own people in. Of course
.
there were no pits available, so I dispersed them as much as
possible and got the men into slit trenches, then drove up
myself to Battalion Headquarters. There was any amount
of stuff flying about by now, every sort of thing from HE
shells to small arms.
IO
145
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

rocky ledges where you couldn't dig and they shelled you to
pieces until you couldn't stand it any longer and put up your
hands and they took you away.
By now the Germans had got our range fairly accurately.
Battalion Headquarters were in the centre of the Box, half-
way between the two batteries of guns, so that when they
did start shelling it was none too pleasant. Also, now that
Bir Hacheim had fallen, we had to expect much more of it.
There was more of it that same evening. Desmond Holmes
was very nearly killed. He was standing with two others,
a gunner and a sapper, when a shell burst almost on top of
them. The first I knew of it was when he came running back,
visibly shaken, and asking for a stretcher. I got a couple
from the ADS and ran to the scene to find the sapper
wounded and the gunner dead.
Next day we had another tragedy. Watts, the officers'
mess cook, was killed. He was such a good man, and
absolutely fearless. In spite of numerous warnings he would
not keep in his trench and preferred to do his cooking with-
out regard to what was happening. He was preparing lunch
when it happened. Six shells landed in the mess, several of
them duds. The mess was an old vehicle pit, about four feet
Lt. R. R. Barnes Middle East 20.6.42
deep. Only two people saw him, myself and the medical
The whole of that day was the same, the noise never orderly whom I brought to help me.
stopping until dark. It was my first real experience of battle, Things were beginning to look a little more grim by now.
and I thought it exciting. From where I was you could see The Scots Guards had been overrun, we were often our-
very little except where the shells were falling. You can selves completely surrounded and the enemy shelling was
never see far in the desert when once the sun is up. Every- deadly accurate. The RHA, however, were absolutely
thing beyond a mile gets blurred and shapeless in the magnificent and still kept up their fire. But one couldn't
heat-haze.
help wondering from time to time how it was all going to
As darkness came the noise ceased. There was one small end. Then we were warned to prepare to evacuate the Box.
flare-up while the last light lingered, when the tracer shells . . . By nightfall I was pretty tired. Most of us were. It
cut curving paths of silver in the darkening sky. Then it had been a long march when you weren't in training; I had
grew quiet. To the south and west of us the sky was aflame had no sleep and had been digging all day. We had some
with enormous fires where tanks and vehicles were burning. supper—tinned soup and “M. & V.” and a glass of beer-
We had caught an enemy supply column somewhere there and then I got out my valise and hoped for a good night's
and every truck was a sheet of flame, burning with varying rest. Then we were ordered to move. We were to go almost
brilliance in accordance with its contents.
at once, by companies, due north to the coast road and then
Next day was much quieter. Occasionally our own guns east into Tobruk.
fired and occasionally the enemy replied, and occasionally It was not a long business getting under way. I had no
the Stukas attacked us; but it seemed that the battle, for the thoughts then of the merits of Tobruk. I was just rather
time being at any rate, had passed us. So it continued for glad to be leaving Acroma. It might have been an unhealthy
the next fortnight, the sun terribly hot, no shade, nothing to spot if we had had to stay there.
.
do and everything extremely boring.
I thought the journey to Tobruk was going to be simple.
Then came the wave of premature optimism and Ritchie's It was, until we joined the coast road. There was a whole
famous counter-attack. Thank God, it did not take us. We Division trying to get down that road that night. I had never
knew it was on, and we were kept awake that night by the seen such chaos. Lorries all over the road, sideways, for-
barrage from two regiments firing simultaneously, and I was wards and backwards, all motionless, most of the drivers
thankful that we were not taking part. It seemed to go well half asleep, having given up the struggle to get through. In
at first, but by the next afternoon, while a tank battle was the end I took my company, or as much of it as had kept
raging still to the west, the general tone of optimism began clear, off the road and went across country just in sight of
to give way to one of anxiety, and when stragglers began to the road. Most of the battalion were doing the same. You
come in it was obvious that something was wrong. All that could see it as you went along, traffic blocks for a couple of
night they came dribbling in, small parties of British and miles all filed up behind a lorry that had broken down or
Indians, badly shaken many of them, with tales of lying on whose driver had fallen asleep, then clear for two miles,
.
146
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
a
a
a
then another block with the same cause, and so on right up time a South African came back and said he had tried to get
to Tobruk, where the road was clear again. How they failed up to Brigade Headquarters, but had found it surrounded.
to bomb that road I do not know. They never did.
Then David Kennard rang up and asked me whether I had
So we came into Tobruk, and were given an area on the noticed the smoke to the north. I got the Worcesters on the
high ground about four miles south of the town. I don't telephone. They said they could see the town from where
remember how many days we were there. It was a rest, at they were and German tanks were in it. Shortly afterwards
any rate. There was time for a wash and a shave and a good David said he was being shot at from the south.
sleep. Then work started again, reconnaissance and more About five o'clock Ronald Lunt came back for a moment
defences. I had most of my company living in some concrete and confirmed that Brigade Headquarters had been cap-
dugouts round an old Italian gun position, and the principal tured, Willie Forbes was in the bag, Tim Sainthill was now
work for Headquarter Company was digging pits for their in command and things were not looking too good. An hour
vehicles. The Headquarters officers' mess was in a shelter later Charles Weir, the doctor, came back with an ambu-
that had been built during the previous siege out of sand- lance for some more medical stores. His driver had been
bags and ammunition boxes, and it had obviously been used shot dead on the way down. He stayed only a few minutes.
as such before.
At half past seven Charles was back again with a message
a
The next two or three days were uneventful. Some of us from Tim. The battalion was withdrawing to Fort Pilastina
were wondering by now about the future. Tobruk was an and I was to make my way there immediately. The fort was
odd place in which to put a motor battalion, and we did not about a mile and a half to the west. It was only a matter of
quite understand. We thought the Navy had said, long ago, seconds to pass the message to David, get everyone into
that they would never play in another siege. We saw the their trucks and start off. Most of the trucks were already
Naafi one day almost giving things away, and another day packed and about the only thing abandoned was the
it closed for a rationing scheme to come into effect. The officers' mess.
same with the Ordnance Depots. It all seemed rather odd. Some of the battalion were already at Pilastina when I got
Then came that Saturday morning. I was shaving when there. It was a bit chaotic at first. The Worcesters had been
they bombed the outer perimeter. Never have I seen such a there all day. All their transport was there, also some gun-
mountain of dust and smoke that towered in the sky after ners, and when our own trucks came in there wasn't very
those bombers had done their work. They came again and much room. There would have been the devil of a lot of
again, and I realized that from now on we should get this damage if they had decided to bomb us.
hourly, for their aerodrome was only ten miles off and we It was not very long before things were straightened out.
were never going to see a British fighter. The bombing was The battalion was going to make a stand here, what was
well away from us, about three miles off; but a few odd left of it—about two companies—joining up with the
shells came into our area, and I remember feeling rather Worcesters. I was to take all surplus transport about two
worried about the men's breakfasts, as we had started miles down a track running south-west and disperse it
centralized cooking again. But nobody wanted to linger
round the cooker!
The telephone was still ringing. Enemy infantry had
broken through the Indians, and the battalion was to move
up to counter-attack. The tanks would be moving up as well.
There was not much for me to do. Only the smallest
possible Battalion Headquarters were to go forward, and I
was to stay back in charge of what was left behind. I saw
the battalion off and after that there was nothing to do
except sit in the mess and wait. I had no wireless and the
only telephone went no farther than Brigade Headquarters.
I was thus out of touch with the battalion, which had moved
east and disappeared below the skyline. The only other
officer back was David Kennard, with a portion of N
Company about a mile to the south-west.
It soon became obvious that the battalion was being
engaged. There was a lot of shelling in their direction and a
good deal of smoke from burning vehicles. The bombers
were over continuously, most of the bombing being to the
west, where they had caught the tanks as they were moving
off. Nothing came my way except a few “overs”. Not long
after lunch the line to Brigade went dead. About the same
Lt. A. Drummond-Hay Middle East 13.7.42

147
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
there. I got away just as it was getting dark. David Forbes had not been there a minute or two earlier. The Worcesters
joined me, also one or two others who no longer had any also had got out of their trenches and were now standing
men left to command. We were also joined by a pathetic about in little groups in the open. There was no sound at
party from the Foresters—the orderly-room sergeant and a all from the east, where the battalion was.
dozen men; there were no more of them left. David and I I went across to the Worcesters. "Have you heard the
returned to the battalion. It was pitch dark by now and it news?” their company commander said. “It's just come
took us some time to find them. We were ordered to take through on the telephone from Brigade. The Fortress
the transport on another mile to a gap in a minefield where
a
Commander has put up the white flag. We have got to
we would find a guide to show us where to go.
destroy all our equipment and lay down our arms and
We found the gap, but there was no guide there. We wait here. It is all over.”
drove back to inquire, but nobody knew what had happened You don't get that sort of message every day of your life
to him. David decided to stay with the battalion, so I went and it's a bit of a shock. You don't quite know whether you
back alone. The only thing to do was to find some area, are bound to obey that kind of order or what they can do
which was not going to be too easy in the dark, spend the to you if you don't. It was obviously correct, for you could
rest of the night there and at first light disperse the vehicles see the vehicles being burnt all over the place. I went
as wide as possible. There were plenty of disused trenches straight back to the wireless and tried to get on to the
for the men. We were in between two minefields.
battalion. No reply. Something wrong. Maybe they are all
I felt very miserable that night. We all did. I could see in the bag. What do we do now?
no hope whatever for the future. We were cut off and I told the officers what had happened, but did not want it
surrounded. The defences had broken and the enemy were passed on to the men, for the moment at any rate. Actually
gradually closing in. We had no hope of support from out- some of them guessed what had happened and were already
side. Somebody did actually circulate a report that an looking for holes in which to lie up until nightfall and then
enormous column was on its way to relieve us, but although walk out. I got into a truck and drove off to Pilastina to find
we had to pass it on as if we believed it, I knew it was not the battalion. I went fairly carefully, as it was quite on the
true. I saw us in our trenches while they bombed and cards that the Germans were there already. About a mile
shelled our transport, and one by one the trucks would go this side of it I met Buster Luard in a PU followed by some
up in flames, and then they would shell us and we would 15-cwts. full of Guardsmen. He stopped just long enough
only have our rifles with which to answer. They would to say: “Tim's decided to make a break for it. Lead us up
bomb us as much as they liked and there would be no way to the transport.”
to stop them. I shall always remember RSM Rowlands at We were all together now and the trucks were being
that moment. His efforts to keep the men cheered were loaded. Tim called a conference of company commanders.
absolutely invaluable. He was going round them all the Somebody had found a gunner subaltern who had been out
time and telling them that they had nothing to worry about, on an OP and knew the gap in the minefield. The route was
that everything would be all right, that rather than surrender decided—“Twenty miles on a bearing of (I forget what),
we would fight our way out on foot. That was our intention. then due east to the wire. Single file up to the gap, after that
I found a place and got the men into a line of dugouts and every vehicle get on as best it can. Any truck that gets cut
trenches beside an old anti-tank ditch. I did not sleep off to make for Sidi Omar.” We did not know that Sidi
myself. There was not much more than an hour before Omar was already in enemy hands.
first light and it scarcely seemed worth it. I was soon able to People were being rounded up not so very far away, so it
see a bit more of where I was and found myself close to a was decided to start at once. My company was the farthest
company of Worcesters who had been there some days off and by the time I reached it the column had started. I
before, attached to a South African Brigade. Farther off gave out my orders, got them into single file and led them
were some South African troops. We were in the centre of a to the starting-point. There was still a bit of No.4 Company
small plain ending, to the south-west, in an escarpment to go, so I waited for them to get clear. In a couple of
along which ran a minefield, part of the outer defences. In minutes they had gone; and as there was now a considerable
the other direction there was still the same pall of smoke break in the column I decided to lead on.
that hung over the town. The town itself was not visible. It seemed to take a long time getting up the hill towards
As soon as I could see sufficiently I had the transport the gap and I expected any moment that we'd be detected.
dispersed and also slightly altered some of the positions to The head of the column was moving fairly fast, but at the
bring them more into conformity with the Worcesters.
end of it we had to wait for the other vehicles that were
Then we waited. It was strangely quiet. A few shells joining in in front. There were quite a number of them. It
landed somewhere to the south, and then quietness again. surprised me, though, that there were not more.
Two Messerschmidts flew over and passed without firing. Up to the gap it was all quiet. The track turned left-
Again silence. To the west some fresh fires must have handed then and led along the outside of the minefield.
started, for I could see several columns of black smoke that There was a wide open stretch to the right of us.
148
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
Then it started. There were some troops up there, some- he said and I wasn't going to stop and ask him; and I
where. Not many of them, perhaps, and probably Italians didn't like to use my tommy-gun as the man had a white
at that; but they had spotted us and were firing with every- flag and you are not supposed to shoot at white flags. So I
thing they had—shells, solid armour-piercing stuff and, told my driver to drive on like bloody hell. The RSM in the
more disconcerting, the zip-zip-zip of machine-gun truck behind had fewer scruples. He cursed for a long time
bullets. Their fire was inaccurate and there was the hell of that safety-pin which wouldn't come out of the grenade.
a lot of dust that must have helped us. It was so thick that at But there it was. The man just stood there, waving his flag
times I lost sight of the truck in front and could only just and shouting, and nobody stopped for him. What he wanted
see the one behind, and sometimes even that was out of I do not know. Perhaps he was surrendering and wished to
sight. We were all now driving pretty fast. It was the only come with us. But he looked an officious sort of person and
thing to do.
he may have come to protest against our driving on when
How long that continued I have absolutely no idea. It his guns were trying to stop us.
probably seemed much longer than it really was. I think Once over the “Tobruk By-pass”—the road the Axis
they were firing in the same direction all the time, and after built during the earlier siege—we felt a bit safer. Half an
you had passed a certain point they turned their guns off hour later we stopped for a moment and formed up in
and had another go at the trucks behind. It may be that desert formation. We stopped just long enough to alter
towards the end they had got more accurate. I know the course, for we were heading straight for an enemy column.
fourth truck behind me was hit and the men jumped on We were in the middle of their B echelon area and continued
to the one behind it. That was the last one that came so for many miles, altering course continually to avoid them,
through.
for their supply columns were everywhere. One felt thank-
Then an extraordinary thing happened. I still don't ful then that they had so much captured British equipment
know whether I acted right. It was the white flag that put in their own use, for none of them seemed to guess what we
me off. A car suddenly approached from the right with an were and there were even cases of columns slackening speed
Italian officer standing up in front, holding up his hands to let us through. So we went on until we met our own
and waving a white flag and shouting. I couldn't hear what armoured cars.


Three famous Commanders. Lt.-Gen. Oliver Leese, Gen. Montgomery,
Lt.-Gen. Herbert Lumsden
Brig. John Marriott, commanding 201 Guards Motor Brigade,
being driven by Capt. Peter Cooper, Battalion LO, just before the
fall of Tobruk, June 1942
149
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”



Lt. P. J. Stilwell North Africa 15.5.43
Roddie Faure Walker opens a tin

COOL
HID
t
WRON
438
ma
RR
Lt. G. H.B. Sowter Middle East 29.3.43
*****
Is
Tobruk Cemetery (Associated Press Photo)
150
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
The Box at Knightsbridge
This song, written and sung by Sgt. G. Burton after
Knightsbridge, might almost be called the 3rd Battalion
Anthem, as at the numerous sergeants' mess parties I have
been privileged to attend it has never failed to be rendered
at least once during the evening. Whoever may have sung it
in the Desert, during the last two years of the war in Italy
one of its most popular exponents was undoubtedly Sgt.
“Ginger” Lee of No. 2 Company, whose rich tenor notes
gave a wealth of meaning even to the more obscure lines
of the chorus, and brought a lump to the throat of many
who had never been within five hundred miles of Knights-
bridge.
" 'Twas in the Box at Knightsbridge”
Moderato
其
​포
​CHORUS
Slowly
rall.
'Twas in the Box at Knightsbridge
Where the Guardsmen made their stand,
Where shot and shell were flying
And Death walked hand in hand.
The Germans were around them,
With their Stukas in the sky;
And as the Bosche drew nearer
They prepared to do or die.
Chorus
Now after this was over
They took their stand again,
Tobruk was then in danger
So in went these fighting men;
And as the shelling started
And bombs began to fall,
These Guardsmen stuck it bravely
With their backs against the wall.
Chorus
They came back down the desert
Just dreaming of a rest,
Which could only be expected
After having done their best;
But alas! a Guardsman's duty
Is to fight the fearless Hun,
And ne'er a one will shirk it
Till the wicked war is won.
Chorus
Chorus:
They did their best; some lives were lost,
But he will pay for lives he cost;
They played their part; some got away,
But they'll return another day.
151
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”


Billy Straker-Smith looks satisfied after a good meal


Guy Knight, Peter Daubeny, Billy Straker-Smith, David Kennard
and Bobby McDougall


Dick Ker, Johnny Procter and Bill Moss. Quatana Camp, Syria
On the journey from Syria to Tripoli. Sgt. Weston
and Sgt. Trimming
David Rooper and Geoffrey Clark
Bobby McDougall and Peter Daubeny
152
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK--
TUNISIAN VICTORY
SYRIA
October 1942-February 1943
After the sortie from Tobruk the battalion, now only two
hundred strong, was employed for a short while guarding
aerodromes in the Delta. The Brigade then concentrated at
Mena, near Cairo, where it had to prepare defensive
positions at once to offset the “flap” caused by the possible
approach of Rommel. However, General Alexander visited
us after a week or two, told us that the flap was over and
arranged for the whole Brigade to go to Syria. And it
remained there until February 1943, resting, refitting,
awaiting reinforcements, training for future operations and
forming part of the garrison needed in Syria at this time to
prevent the Germans coming south through Turkey.
During this period eight officers and a large draft of
men joined the battalion from England. These included
Simon Phipps, who writes of their arrival: “We left home
in the Queen Mary in December 1942, and reached the
battalion in January 1943. Driving into the snowy,
muddy camp at Quatana was a nerve-racking experience,
for the 3rd Battalion had become a legend in the Regiment,
and here we were about to join it. However, everything
seemed fairly normal; and although we felt painfully
inadequate amongst so many highly experienced people,
there were a large number of old friends who gave us a
warm welcome-Paul Bowman, Christopher Bulteel,
Bobby McDougall and many others. I was assured that
one did not have to know all about cars to be in a motor
battalion, and my apprehensions subsided a little.
“It was bitterly cold and there were several feet of snow.
Stamp Brooksbank always slept in his underclothes, and the
least one had on one's bed was a flea-bag, four blankets, a
greatcoat, a leather jerkin, a jaegar lining, a battledress
blouse and a Hebron coat. One was flattened, but warm.
“The Hebron coats were found in Damascus, an hour's
drive away. The shops of Mr. Saki and Mr. Arouani in the
bazaar were stores of brocades and carpets and coats of
sheepskin or astrakhan lamb. One would stagger away,
well loaded, to dine at the Orient Palace Hotel ('the
OP').
“The battalion had been in Syria some time and had done
a Brigade drive—as a show of arms—up to Aleppo and
home through Palmyra, which everyone seemed to have
enjoyed. Shortly after our arrival we were ordered to move
to Qassassin, in Egypt, and I went in the advance party
by train, under Mike Wills, with Peter Daubeny, Johnny
Procter, Bobby McDougall and Billy Straker-Smith. It was
an uncomfortable but enjoyable journey as we jolted south
through Palestine, getting warmer as we went. Peter used
to keep us splendidly entertained, announcing dinner as:
'Zouber, Vizsh, meed ander zweed,' and singing a mad-
dening but infectious tune with Billy.
“At last we heard the cries of 'Eggies, Eggies, Eggsa-
bread' at every station and were once more in Egypt, there
to prepare for our drive across the desert to join the 8th
Army.”
FROM SYRIA TO TRIPOLI
February March 1943
By LT.-COLONEL SIR TERENCE FALKINER, Bt.
At the end of February 1943 the battalion left Quatana Forbes, was meanwhile coming on by road, and in so doing
Camp in Syria by road for the Delta and went into a staging passed many of the places where the battalion had fought
camp at Qassassin. Here we were joined by a large draft of earlier in the war. On the way the battalion stopped for a
officers and men who had recently arrived from England and day's maintenance in the Tobruk area and several of the
we were issued with a complete set of new vehicles, weapons older members of the battalion visited the Knightsbridge
and stores, and the old equipment was all handed in. The Box. Here the office truck was discovered burnt out, but
three days spent in Qassassin were extremely busy ones for the much-charred pike from the Commanding Officer's
everyone.
Colour was found, as were the remains of a little brass
The battalion then left for Tripoli, where we had to join clock which for many years had stood on the Command-
the 8th Army. An advance party under the command of ing Officer's table in the orderly room. One Guardsman
Dickie Pembroke went on ahead, and the Brigadier even found his respirator, which he had left behind seven
and all three Commanding Officers flew to Tripoli to months earlier, and he applied to have a refund of the
attend a week's instruction which was run by General money he had been ordered to pay for the new one; this
Montgomery. The Brigade, under the command of David was granted.
153
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”


303
CMT
红
​Desmond Holmes in Syria
525

Douglas Waddilove in Syria

Sgt. Kirk and Gdsm. Wheeler

Mervyn Griffith-Jones

David Joicey and Peter Daubeny
Lionel Buxton and his magnificent sheepskin coat
154
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY



Geoffrey Clark and Mervyn Griffith-Jones
in Syria
Stamp Brooksbank
Tom Egerton


Dickie Pembroke

Billy Straker-Smith, Paul Bowman, Gdsm.J. Mountford and Ronald Lunt (Padre)

On the journey from Syria to Tripoli. CSM Hoggart and CQMS Smy
(No. 3 Company)
On the journey from Syria to Tripoli.
Reggie Mytton
155
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

The battalion arrived in Tripoli having only lost one our front. These tanks ad-
vehicle, which was very good when one considers that the vanced towards the battalion's
majority of the vehicles had not been “run in" and in many position and then, possibly
cases were being driven by men who had little experience seeing our dummy minefields,
of the Western Desert and its roads. The vehicle that they fanned out on either side
failed to arrive caused great consternation, as it contained of our front and ran into the
the officers' mess drink. This disturbing news spread 6-pounder guns of the Scots
around the Brigade and offers were received from both Guards and the New Zea-
the other battalions in the Brigade of a contribution; but landers, both of which knocked
this very generous gesture was not accepted, as on the out many of the tanks. This
following day our missing truck turned up complete with attack collapsed. In the after- Lt.-Col. Sir Terence
its load.
noon the Germans attacked
Falkiner, Bt.
It had been originally intended that the Brigade should with infantry. This attack was repulsed largely by the fire
remain in the Tripoli area for three weeks to undergo of the Vickers guns, and the enemy retired to the hills. I
training with the New Zealand Division, and plans and think this was the last time the Germans attacked the 8th
programmes to effect this had been drawn up. But this plan Army in North Africa. The total casualties in the battalion
was cancelled and after only twenty-four hours in the were one man slightly wounded, and Dick Ker, com-
Tripoli area the whole Brigade moved up to Medenine. On manding one of the anti-tank gun platoons, got an enemy
arrival the Brigade took up a defensive position with and shell through a suitcase containing his clothes. But as one of
Battalion Scots Guards on the right, 3rd Battalion Cold- his brother officers remarked: “It doesn't really matter, as
stream Guards on the left and 6th Battalion Grenadier Dick's clothes were awful, anyway."
Guards in reserve. The New Zealanders were on our left. On the day after the battle the battalion was visited by
Except for an air raid or two and a few shells we were left the Army Commander, who was introduced to the officers
in comparative peace for three days while the position was and then toured the battalion front in his tank. He was
organized and minefields laid. The battalion front was accompanied by the Commander 7th Armoured Division,
almost entirely covered by a dummy minefield.
the Division to which we then belonged. General Mont-
At about 8 a.m. on the 6th March the Germans attacked gomery spoke to a number of men and asked questions
our position with tanks which emerged from the hills to about the previous day's battle.


TO
Julian Holland-Hibbert
Capt. M. D. H. Wills, M.C. Middle East 16/17.3.43
156
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK--
TUNISIAN VICTORY
WITH No. 3 COMPANY AT MEDENINE
March 1943
area.
By CHRISTOPHER BULTEEL
Some of us had already been there. On the 2nd February the map, a great outcrop of bare rock that was to dominate
a small advance party had left Syria a week ahead of the the future battlefield. No. 1 Company was on the right,
battalion, and after almost continuous driving had reached next to the Scots Guards, while No. 3, commanded by
Medenine on the day after its capture, on the 20th February. Desmond Holmes, was on the left, next door to the New
There we had been introduced to active service under the Zealand Division. Guy Knight was in reserve with No. 4
careful guidance of Michael Brodrick; a select party- Company.
Paul Bowman, John Hamilton, Peter Perrott, Michael We were told that the enemy were due to attack in a few
Mitchell, Peter Wyld and myself, with Dickie Pembroke days, but I must admit that this news did not really sink in
in command. We had also had with us a sergeant to repre- as it should have done. We were for the most part new to
sent each company, a driver for each truck, and a servant war: in my platoon, for instance, there was not one single
or two. I remember in particular the faces of Sgt. Brewer, man who had ever seen active service. However, we chose
of Gdsm. Mitchell, Todd and Holmes, because they were and dug section positions on the true Pirbright model,
in the vehicle which I was sharing with Michael Brodrick; although the ground was of solid rock and it took three
and I also remember Mansell, the driver of the No. 4 days before the slit trenches were deep enough to be safe.
Company truck, and Duval, who drove for No. 1 Company. We got used to what we thought at the time was the
And we had all gone back to Tripoli to meet the rest of pointless nonsense of “standing to” in the morning and
the battalion, and to conduct them later to the forward evening, and cooking our meals by sections. War seemed
very far away. No enemy ever appeared, and the only
I think it must have been on the ist March that the sound of warfare came when some Bren gunner cleaned
battalion reached Medenine and took up a position facing his weapon by firing live rounds through it. I even held
the southern spurs of the Mareth hills, which formed the rifle inspections every morning, God forgive me, on a
southern bastion of the fortified German line. We were on forward slope with my whole platoon standing in a line in
the plain around Metamur, below the western slopes of
front of me.
“Edinburgh Castle,” or Tadjera Khir as it was marked on But every day we saw others frantically busy. Anti-tank
guns were dug in beside us; Peter Daubeny and Sgt.
Barlow sited a machine-gun post on our right, which was
manned by Sgt. Brewer and his crew; the New Zealanders
swarmed liked bees on our left; and so, not to be outdone,
we improved our own fortifications. Cpl. Batty with his
forward section threw the spoil from his trenches broadcast
over the desert around him, with the idea that the trenches
would then be less visible; Sgt. Bell cut little shelves in
the sides of his trenches, where his section balanced water
bottles, dixies and clips of ammunition; we dug a pit for the
jeep, another pit for stores, and a third as a latrine; and then
wondered what else we should do.
On the night of the 5th March I took out Sgt. Bland,
my servant Mitchell, commonly known as “Willie Messer-
schmidt,” and Gdsm. Turner on a standing patrol some
three or four miles to the west of our positions, towards the
mountains around Toujane. As we set out, Rommel was
just finishing his orders for the morrow's battle, with his
troops around him at Toujane. I wonder if he saw our jeep
Lt.-Col. Sir Terence Falkiner talking to David Kennard before the
Battle of Mareth, March 1943
coming in his direction? And as we stood, cold and unhappy

157
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
>
and alone in the desert, the German tanks came down from most improbable. But I told everyone to stand to, while
the mountains and crossed the plain towards us.
platoon headquarters—Sgt. Hartley, Mitchell, Cliff, Rut-
We never knew. Being fresh to the job and not a little land and myself-continued to eat breakfast in the open.
frightened by the immensity of the darkness that sur- The sausages were just ready, so was the tea, and we were
rounded us, we listened carefully enough; but all we heard just sharing them out when someone said, “Look," and
during the night was the whisper of the wind over the sand disappeared from sight.
and the frightening “whirr” of the desert larks which we I looked. About thirty German tanks had just come over
disturbed in the scrubby tufts of camel-thorn whenever we the brow in front of us, about 1,000 yards away. They
tip-toed by. We managed to forget the disturbing fact that, were coming straight for us. The sausages fell to the ground
an hour after our arrival at the spot, the telephone line and the mugs of tea stayed where they were. There was a
that we had laid back to company headquarters had been combined running jump for shelter as Hell broke loose and
cut by some unseen trespasser.
the Germans opened up with everything they had. Speech
At dawn George Gidney came out with a section of became impossible. More by luck than anything else Sgt.
carriers to relieve us, with Sgts. Pring and Pratt. We went Hartley and myself landed together in the same slit trench,
home cheerfully and settled down to an excellent break- which by good fortune turned out to be the one with the
fast which the platoon sergeant, Sgt. Hartley, had thought- telephone in it. Not that there was much that we could do.
fully prepared for us. Not more than a few minutes had I wondered how we were supposed to stop those tanks : it
elapsed, however, before we saw the three carriers which seemed perfectly obvious that the whole lot of them would
had relieved us coming in to roost at about fifty miles just come on until they reached us, then stop and give their
an hour. They disappeared in the direction of company infantry time to come up and kill us all where we stood or
headquarters, and a minute or two later my telephone lay. Not for the biggest bribe in the world, however, would
rang:
I have put my head above the top of the trench to see what
“Stand to at once” came the voice of Desmond Holmes. was happening, although I could not help wondering how
“Why, what's happened?” I asked.
the two forward sections were getting on.
“That man Gidney has brought the whole German army This must have lasted for five minutes, or perhaps more.
in after him,” said Desmond, as if that were just the annoy- At the end of that time the noise seemed slightly less,
ing sort of thing that George would do to upset a pleasant and a colossal black cloud was mushrooming up in front
morning. “He was chased by about a hundred German
tanks, and he says that they are forming up just the other I eyed old Hartley suspiciously.“What do you think we
side of the hill in front of you."
should do now?" I asked, trying to look brave.
I still did not believe that this sort of thing could happen “Don't move, sir,” he said, to my relief. Whereupon with
to civilized people like ourselves : the whole story sounded tremendous care he put his steel helmet on top of his rifle
a
of us.
”

A general view of the country round Mareth
Part of the formidable German defences of Mareth
158
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
a
a
and raised it cautiously into the open air. Nothing hit it, confined themselves to plaguing us with long range
And then it occurred to me that perhaps after all the entire machine-gun fire. They eventually drew back, allowing
German army was not waiting for me to show my head us an undisturbed lunch, while our soldiers went forward in
above ground level.
relays to have a look at the burnt-out tanks, which were still
It was an unforgettable sight. Of the thirty or so tanks, smoking sullenly in front of us.
only five were now visible. These five were in a little wadi During the afternoon another alarm came. This time the
about a hundred yards in front of the forward sections. Germans had laid on a pure infantry attack, not content
All were stationary; and from each one issued a dense cloud with the lesson they had learned that morning; and to
of black smoke, a hundred feet high and flecked with flame. crown the blunder, they had not arranged for supporting
In the distance on the left were the New Zealanders, their artillery fire. It was sheer suicide. I suddenly saw a great
positions looking like an ant-heap that has just been kicked; many little figures appear over the distant crest, all in
and in the foreground, I seem to remember seeing Cpl. formation, coming in our direction. I wondered whether
Batty stalking unconcernedly in the open, picking up and we should open fire; but it was not necessary. With a shriek
eating the sausages that his section had dropped when they and a thud the entire Corps artillery came down on these
bolted for safety.
miserable creatures, and as we stood in the open and
Desmond rang up and told me that most of the undam- watched, the dust and the smoke pillared up from the slope
aged German tanks had turned to their left, northward, where we had seen them. There can have been little left for
from in front of us, and were now being faithfully dealt with I have never seen fire more devastating. After a few minutes
by the Scots Guards on our right. It seemed that a few old the massacre ended and, when the smoke cleared, other
bits of wire and some steel posts that we had stuck up some little figures appeared with stretchers to bear the casualties
time before as a dummy minefield had fooled the German away.
tanks completely. I reported to him that we had suffered no As far as we were concerned that was the end of the battle.
casualties, and, ringing off, had just time to ensure that During the evening there was sporadic shooting here and
everyone was comfortable before it all began again. A there, and every now and then Desmond or Michael would
number of German machine-guns had installed themselves ring up from company headquarters to warn me of some
on the ridge in front of us, and now began to spray us impending attack that never materialized. In fact, the
busily and rather accurately. We retired again to the com- Germans had had enough. They had lost over fifty tanks,
fort of our trenches, hoping that no one would be stupid and only they knew how many of their infantry had been
enough to try to advance too close. In the middle of it killed or wounded. On our side the casualties were negli-
the telephone bell rang, and Desmond asked:
gible. The heaviest battle had been to the north of us, where
“Can you see Pt. 140 ?”
131 Brigade had fought many tanks at close quarters. The
“No,” I said firmly, from the bottom of the trench. Scots Guards had about ten casualties, and the New
“You aren't looking.”
Zealanders on our left had suffered a little. In our battalion
“No, I'm not," I answered truthfully. “What is it, only one man, Crossman, had been wounded: the story
anyway?”
is that he was so excited firing his anti-tank gun that it
“It's a point on the map. Look at the map and then at the was only when he looked down and saw blood on his tunic
ground, then ring me back and tell me if you can see it. that he realized he was hit.
The Germans are supposed to be re-grouping or something Night fell, and the rumours of further attacks grew fewer
there."
and fewer. Eventually I went back in the darkness to com-
I got out a map, and, after a careful scrutiny, Hartley and pany headquarters. Desmond and Michael, Reggie Mytton,
I decided that it couldn't possibly be visible, even if we did Peter Daubeny and George Gidney were there, all very
look over the top. So I rang up Desmond and assured him pleased with themselves. CSM Hoggart looked positively
of this, with some difficulty; and thereafter we were left in cheerful for once, and Sgt. Goff had at last disentangled
comparative peace in the bottom of our trench.
himself from his beloved wireless sets. As we drank whisky,
The noise continued till about mid-day. What had hap- John Harley and Oliver Breakwell, and later Guy Knight as
pened was that the Germans had advanced without having well, came across to see us; and we all told our stories of the
the faintest idea that there were troops to bar the way. battle and compared results. Everyone was delighted, as it
They had used considerable strength, with three Panzer had been the perfect defensive battle, when everything had
Divisions and infantry to follow up. But the tanks had been gone right; a battle that one could almost enjoy. Some of
diverted by our dummy minefields, had turned and run the us, indeed, who were fighting for the first time, cheerfully
gauntlet of the entire front. The supporting infantry decided, thought that all battles of the future would be as pleasant.
quite rightly, that it would be a mistake to advance over But as we went to sleep that night, we little realized how
ground littered with the wrecks of their own tanks, and had soon we were to be disillusioned.
ز
159
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME',
THE BATTLE OF THE HORSESHOE, MARETH
March 1943
a
By LT.-COLONEL SIR TERENCE FALKINER, Bt.
A few days after the battle of Medenine the battalion Kennard, was to move up ready for consolidation when the
moved into a large deep wadi to prepare for the attack on position was captured. The rôle of No. 3 Company was
the Horseshoe Feature—a collection of hills in the shape either to reinforce the success of Nos. I and 4 or to attack
of a horsehoe which protruded from the main Mareth line a subsidiary feature slightly to the left of the battalion front.
position. It rose in the centre to Pt. 153 and was reported The object of the whole operation was to concentrate enemy
to be occupied only by an OP protected by one or two attention on the south of the Mareth line while our main
isolated machine-gun posts. It was to be attacked by the attack went in later to the north, near the sea.
Brigade with the 6th Grenadiers on the right, the 3rd The night of the 16th March was clear with a moon.
Coldstream on the left and the 2nd Scots Guards in reserve. The route lay over difficult rolling country, but was taped
The attack was timed for the night of the 16th-17th March, for a considerable distance. This was done by Julian Hol-
and the whole of the Corps artillery was to fire the barrage. land-Hibbert, who had carried out several patrols in the
The battalion attacked with No. 1 Company on the right area on previous nights. The battalion, being a motor
under Michael Wills, No. 4 Company on the left under battalion, was equipped with no. 19 and no. II wireless
Guy Knight and No. 3 Company in reserve under Desmond sets. However, as these could not be carried into battle on
Holmes. No. 2 (anti-tank) Company, commanded by David the man and the country and enemy minefields did not

11
Rd. from Medenine to Mareth
//
Miles
Localities previous O
//
ה
1
3
llo
4
mit
2
11
80
II
Il
Il
100
1
11
to attack
Routes followed
during attack
OBJECTIVES (C-O-Y.)
BN.OBJECTIVES(S-GDS)
InterBn. boundary-1-1-1-
AREA COVERED BY BARRAGE
MARKED ABCD
Heights in metres Fio
!!
88139
100
Start Line
MAT
1)
1 Coy.
Front edge of
forming up line
3153
11
4 Coy.
130.
198
V|
75
3 Coy
GRENADIER GDS.
Il
II
11
135
U
COLD STREAM GDS
II
90
I
//
SCOTS(GDS
r120
100
THE ATTACK ON THE
HORSESHOE FEATURE HO
Il
2
11
160
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK--
a
TUNISIAN VICTORY
allow of the passage of vehicles, the battalion was issued Brock as his platoon sergeant. After a while they came to
with no. 18 sets for this battle.
a single strand of wire—the sure sign of a minefield—where-
The advance started successfully and according to plan, upon the leading platoons halted, cut the wire and went on.
though Nos. 3 and 4 Companies were slightly delayed by an A few seconds later the first mine exploded, killing Sgt.
enemy minefield which had not been previously discovered. Brock and severely wounding Michael, who lost a leg.
While this was happening an enemy aeroplane dropped a Nevertheless the company proceeded into the depths of the
flare directly above, which lit up the leading companies minefield, where mine after mine went off and took its toll.
like daylight as they lay waiting for the mines to be cleared. Led by Mike Wills, they reached the far side and with a
However, this was done without casualties. Shortly after- great dash captured the forward German machine-gun
wards the leading companies, having crossed the Gabes posts, together with about fifty prisoners. Owing to the
road, came under heavy mortar and small-arms fire, the small number of our survivors, it was not possible to guard
first mortar bomb killing Sgt. Dunn and most of his and evacuate these prisoners in the normal way; so they
section—the leading section of No. 4 Company—and were taken forward with the company, who finally stormed
wounding Simon Phipps, the platoon commander, Paul the summit of the objective with great gallantry and sent up
Bowman, the battalion intelligence officer, and Julian the success signal. But then the enemy counter-attacked in
Holland-Hibbert, who had been guiding the company. great strength, and quickly overpowered the small remnant
However, the advance was continued to the Wadi Bou of the company, of whom nothing more was heard.
Remli, a rocky and sandy defile which ran across the front When dawn began to break it was decided that the
of the objective, and some thousand yards short of it. Here battalion would consolidate on the ground so far won.
the two companies spread out, waited for the barrage to However, this proved impracticable, since Nos. 3 and 4
lift, then advanced under very heavy shell, mortar and Companies were both pinned down in some low ground
machine-gun fire before they became involved in in the middle of the enemy minefields. These two com-
exceptionally deep minefields and a great deal of wire. panies were therefore ordered to withdraw before it was
Communications became increasingly difficult as the light and occupy the next ridge back, a difficult operation
signallers carrying the no. 18 sets became casualties in the to carry out as the men were very scattered in the darkness.
minefields, and many of the runners failed to reach their A reconnaissance of the ridge to be occupied was made,
destination for the same reason. A few Italian prisoners but it was found to be mined, and therefore a further with-
were brought in, but the leading companies reported in- drawal had to be carried out before suitable ground could be
creasing difficulty from wire and mines. Throughout there discovered. The companies got very scattered coming back,
was heavy enemy fire, chiefly from mortars. The ground was but they were collected throughout the 17th March. Only
impassable to transport except on a few tracks, and these about nine men got back from No. 1. Mike Wills, who had
were heavily mined, resulting in casualties to carriers that led the company so gallantly, had been killed; Johnny
went forward. Eventually the success signal was seen from Procter, Stamp Brooksbank and the remainder of the com-
the Grenadiers on our right, and this was followed shortly pany had been captured. Michael Mitchell was eventually
afterwards by the success signal from Mike Wills' company. brought in-after forty-eight hours in the open—by
At about this time Guy Knight got back to Battalion Gdsm. Pickett, a stretcher-bearer, and Gdsm. Glover,
Headquarters. He was wounded and reported that his com- a signaller, who had remained with him in full view of the
pany was completely held up by heavy fire, wire and mines, enemy. No. 2 Company, which had never been employed,
and was now being commanded by Billy Straker-Smith; got back without casualties. No. 3 had some casualties,
also that Billy and Geoffrey Sowter were the only surviving but returned. No. 4 also returned, but at the strength of
officers in the company. No. 3 Company, which had shortly two platoons.
before gone forward, also reported that wire and minefields On the evening of the 17th March the battalion was
were making progress almost impossible. The sappers who ordered to withdraw still farther, and it took up a position
had come forward with the battalion reported very thick to the left of the Scots Guards. On the evening of the 18th
minefields, and though every effort was made to get through, March a patrol led by RSM Rowlands and others at
the enemy fire was too heavy for this to succeed and the Battalion Headquarters who had not taken part in the battle
sapper officer was killed in making the attempt. David went forward again to try to find any wounded or lost
Kerr-Wilson, with the carriers of No. 4 Company, en- men in the enemy area. In this they were successful, and
deavoured to reach the company to give them support. several wounded men were brought in. These patrols went
Carrier after carrier was destroyed in the minefield, but out on two or three nights, and the technical Adjutant,
he kept on leaping into the next one, until he was finally Douglas Waddilove, succeeded with his fitter in getting
blown up and badly burnt very near the enemy position. back several damaged carriers.
All touch had now been lost with No. 1 Company on the After a few days the battalion moved to another and
right. They had advanced with two platoons up, one of quieter part of the front, where it was able to reorganize
which was commanded by Michael Mitchell, with Sgt. and from where it eventually moved forward to Gabes.
II
161
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
WADI AKARIT
April 1943
Extracts from the Diary of David HELME
31 March
left 51st Highland Division, then soth Division and 4th
Drove through Gabes. Laagered up.
Indian Division will break the line and make two gaps
through it. The New Zealand and ist Armoured Divisions
will then break through to Sfax. The battalion MMGs will
I April
move forward at night to cover certain areas with fire.
Took over from 5th New Zealand Division. No. 3 Company Bogus start-line prepared.
right by the sea, No. 4 left, with the anti-tank guns by the Messerschmidts flew over our positions, having strafed
main road. Flat, sandy ground. No cover, so little movement rear echelons. We let fly with everything—Brens, rifles,
by day. About 1,500 yards south of Wadi Akarit itself. even Vickers. Shelled again quite severely and accurately.
Moran and Lovelace lucky; kit left on top of trench had
2 April
shrapnel in it.
Saw enemy bathing in the sea. Twelve Bostons go over
every day in perfect formation to bomb enemy lines.
6 April
Big attack and break-through. Sent on night-listening
3 April
patrol to find out if the enemy had withdrawn from Wadi
Patrols investigating ground between us and Wadi. No opposite. Maps differed as to whether it had water in it or
enemy seen. Shelled slightly but inaccurately. CSM not. No aerial photos. Heard Italians talking till they pulled
Hoggart found a good dugout at low tide and woke up at out at 3 a.m. Also heard what must have been a dredging
high tide rather damp.
machine. Walked into the trip-wire of a picket mine, but
not hard enough to set it off (thank God).
4 April
Peter Daubeny woke up to find an Italian near him. Both
were equally surprised. The Italian had no idea he had
reached our lines and nobody had heard him doing so, even
though he had brought a suitcase. Peter looked most
ferocious marching him back to company headquarters.
Scrounging for food, beans, onions. Christopher Bulteel
and George Gidney with their platoons were able to fish
with grenades. Bulk rations still. Menu for the day as
follows:
Breakfast: Half slice bacon, beans, biscuits and
margarine, tea.
Tiffin: Biscuits, syrup, tea and special luxury to-day-
two slices of tinned peach.
Supper: Bully beef, potatoes, beans, biscuits and tea.
7 April
Cpl. Bull, Gdsm. Lovelace and Trowbridge with me.
Reported back and was then sent to discover the state of the
Wadi. All amazed as dawn broke to find the depth of the
minefield we must have walked right into. Incredibly lucky.
Picket, shrapnel, Teller, box mines and trip-wires galore.
Even in daylight a few of the battalion were wounded or
killed by these mines. Ian Dickinson lost a leg, also Gdsm.
Gilborne. Found Wadi had been dredged deep. Impossible
to cross on our front.
Lovely bathe in the sea; washed with special sea soap.
Really clean for the first time in a fortnight. Real good sleep
between sheets and not below ground.
5 April
Preparing for big break-through. 201 Guards Brigade will
remain by the sea this side of the Wadi. Immediately on
8 April
Moved up towards Malmares after we had managed to
catch all the company hens!
162
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
EIGHTH ARMY
Personal Message from the
Army Commander
(TO BE READ OUT TO ALL TROOPS)
1. On 20th March, in a personal message before we began the battle of
Mareth, I told you that the Eighth Army would do three things :-
1. Deal with the enemy in the Mareth position.
That was done between 21 st and 28th March and we took 8,000
prisoners.
2. Burst through the Gabes Gap.
That was done on 6th April. The enemy was so unwise as
to stand to fight us on the Akarit position. He received a
tremendous hammering and we took another 7,000 prisoners.
3. Drive Northwards on Sfax, Sousse and finally Tunis.
That is now in process of being done; and if we collect in the
prisoners at the present rate the enemy will soon have no infantry
left to hold his position.
2. I also told you that if each one of us did his duty and pulled his
full weight, then nothing could stop us. And nothing has stopped us.
You have given our families at home, and in fact the whole world, good
news, and plenty of it, every day.
3. I want now to express to you, my soldiers, whatever may be your rank
or employment, my grateful thanks for the way in which you have responded to my
calls on you and my admiration for your wonderful fighting qualities.
1 doubt if our Empire has ever possessed such a magnificent fighting
machine as the Eighth Army; you have made its name a household word all over
the world.
I thank each one of you for what you have done.
I am very proud of my Eighth Army.
4. On your behalf I have sent a message of appreciation to the
Western Desert Air Force. The brave and brilliant work of the squadrons and
the devotion to duty of all the pilots have made our victories possible in
such a short time.
We are all one entity-the Eighth Army and the Western Desert Air
Force-together constituting one magnificent fighting machine.
5. And now let us get on with the third task.
Let us make the enemy face up to, and endure, a first-class DUNKIRK
on the beaches of TUNIS.
6. The triumphant cry now is :
FORWARD TO TUNIS! DRIVE THE ENEMY INTO THE SEA!
B. L. Montgomery,
8th April, 1943.
General, Eighth Army.
163
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''
ENFIDAVILLE
April 1943
a
Extracts from the Diary of DAVID HELME
16 April
right eye. Being stuck out here in the middle of a Tunisian
barley-field makes one dream of luxury. After stand-down
Adjutant's parade thirty-five miles east of Enfidaville.
at 5.30 a.m. one sleeps for a few hours, then a wash and
Parade ground in between olive groves. Wogs looked on
a shave. After dark, clean out trenches and shake every-
aghast and donkeys neighed and camels made their usual
thing.
grimace as the RSM's voice resounded through the
countryside. We just drilled and sweated.
Bill Moss and I drove to M‘Saken to buy bread. Excellent 19 April
brown loaves—a great treat after the usual biscuits. One
Sgt. Lacey went out with Sgt. Lee on a private patrol and
egg for two cigarettes or tea. Wogs are now “fluffing” that
brought back one big cockerel and one hen. Looking
the tea leaves have already been used once.
forward to eating them!
Left at 6 p.m. Took up positions three miles south-west
of Enfidaville. Spent remainder of the night digging in.
Positions in open, no movement by day.
20 April
Moved just before dark. Dug positions about three to four
miles north of Enfidaville. Heavy fighting still going on
17 April
around Takrouna; New Zealanders and Indians having a
Enemy OPs on hills behind Enfidaville looking right down
great battle. Lay down to sleep at 2.30 a.m.—tired and wet.
on us, so we duly got shelled (75-mm.). David Rooper's
It was drizzling.
platoon of No. 4 Company immediately on my right got
its fair share too. Peter Daubeny's platoon decided to move 21 April
from obvious target of the only farmhouse nearby.
Just finished breakfast when my platoon had to move again
Evening. Collected corrugated iron to put over slit-
to link up with the Scots Guards. So all morning dig, dig,
trenches. Cpl. Lovelace's coat had shrapnel in it, so did
dig again. Tired, wet, filthy dirty, but positions less exposed
Cpl. Palmer's.
and one can move about during the day, which is the
saving grace.
18 April
Wish I had brought a shot-gun, as I put up a brace of
partridge and a sand grouse. A lot of pigeon were feeding
Palm Sunday. II a.m. dive-bombed by half a dozen planes. in the beanfields. Besides the beans we found plenty of
Bill Moss had a near one. Shelled during the day. David onions and peas near a big French farmhouse. Any extra
Kennard's jeep wrecked.
food is very welcome.
In the afternoon two Machi fighters came dashing back
from raiding rear echelons. At B echelon the Padre bit
of shrapnel in the back of the neck, not a bad wound.
22 April
Machis sprayed positions. Jackson had a bullet through his Still drizzling. Sgt. Lacey and Cpl. Lovelace went out
emergency ration. A lot of air activity. Masses of our planes scrounging and brought back three comfortable chairs,
came back over our lines. Heard next day that they had shot firewood and some papers—the equivalent of our “Parade”.
down over fifty Junkers“ 52” troop carriers and about A letter sent by surface mail and dated the 21st December
nineteen ME 1098 and 11os.
arrived to-day. Also two air-mail letter cards dated the 6th
Mosquitoes, gnats and flies the very devil. Getting and 7th April.
bitten all over. No nets. Woke up with a swollen lip and Terrible artillery duels going on.
a
got a
164
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
23 April
David's track. Huns using searchlights, which we had
Shells landed very near Sgt. Bentley's and Sgt. Chapplow's
watched and plotted, but this night they had a roving
sections. Gdsm. Sentance out sunbathing had to move
one on the back of a truck which caught us full face on the
pretty quick. Moved at night 1,000 yards forward to
edge of Wadi Gastla. Rather disconcerting. It reminded me
exposed ridge. Had to dig into rock, which took all night.
of shooting spring hares in South Africa, using car head-
During one of these night moves the Scots Guards on our
lights. Fortunately the Huns shot badly on this occasion.
left met opposition (Italians), during which William Brown,
Some Easter Sunday!
M.C., had a “Red Devil” grenade thrown at him and, to
use his own words, “got thirty holes over establishment” in
26 April
his posterior.
Bill Moss' patrol shot up in a similar manner.
24 April
27-30 April
Moved again. Nos. 3 and 4 Companies went back to prac-
3
Company positions well plastered at dusk because people
tise an attack with tanks (old Valentines). Attack due one
started going to collect water too early. Gdsm. Richards got
hour before dawn. Every evening it was postponed and
a bad wound in the back of the leg, but I applied a tourni-
quet and then the stretcher-bearers (including old Golding,
before dawn each day we pulled out to rehearse again. This
rather got on people's nerves, but only one very young
the boxer) came to take him away. Moved forward another
member of my platoon broke down.
1,000 yards. Good positions on reverse slope; listening
Great news when Desmond Holmes told us that the
posts on top of ridge. David Joicey on recce patrol definitely
Oxf. Bucks (56th Division) were going to take over. They
located enemy posts. Dave Rooper's fighting patrol shot up.
had driven all the way from Paiforce and this was their first
action. During the take over their signal officer took a dive
25 April
into the nearest hole on being shelled; but, unfortunately,
Recce patrol with Sgt. Brewer and Cpl. Marshall. Good it was a fifty-foot well, and the drill sergeant had to fish
aerial photographs and plenty of information. Was most him out with signal cable. Henderson, my servant, chuckled
thankful that I had a good talk with David beforehand and for hours about the small private who took over his trench
took another route, because a Hun patrol was waiting on and found it too deep to climb out again.

TV
The Victory March in Tunis, 20.5.43
165
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''
“

This picture was taken just after the North African cam-
paign ended, and shows part of Bn. HQ near Hammamet
at the base of the Cape Bon Peninsula. On the right of the
tree can be seen Lt.-Col. Sir Terence Falkiner's tent and
staff car. The hills in the background formed one of the
last German positions

Alan Davidson and Guy Knight. Hammamet, Summer 1943

David Kennard, Hugh Venables, Lionel Buxton and
Richard Caroe put in a little shooting practice with
captured enemy weapons. Hammamet, Summer 1943
166
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
THE DRIVE ROUND TO JOIN THE
IST ARMY
May 1943
Extracts from the Diary of David HELME
I Μαν
The battalion drove by night from the line to Sidi Bou Ali,
twenty miles away. Only one hour's sleep, from 4.30 to
5.30 a.m. Short drive by day through Sousse, M‘Saken
towards Sbeitla; only sixty miles. Laagered up. Glorious
sleep above ground for nine hours.
2 May
Got to Sbeitla for lunch. Stopped by a Yankee bathhouse
and three-quarters of the platoon had the luxury of a hot
shower during the hour we halted for lunch. Old Roman
remains there—a temple and arches.
As we approached Ebba Ksour the country looked
exactly like the Cumbrian fells: green valleys with lovely
rolling pastureland rising into rocky escarpments. We drove
for 160 miles and reached Kef—the most picturesque town
I have seen in Tunisia; an old walled city with Roman
remains. Filled with Yanks—our first sight of so many. A
lot of them were mending the roads. Laagered up at 7 p.m.
and were allowed to light fires at night. Another heavenly
sleep.
4 May
Lovely peaceful day in beautiful countryside. Small com-
pany guard. Plenty of sleep; it will take a day or two to
catch up with all the sleep we have lost.
Dug out trucks and cleaned up. Unfortunately, not
enough water to wash clothes but adequate to have a
thorough wash oneself.
Then, at last, a happy foregathering with the 2nd
Battalion which was quite close to us at this time. We
welcomed old friends whom we had not seen since leaving
England—Colonel Bunty, Bob Palmer, David Toler,
Humphrey Fitzroy, Alastair Coats and many others. We
had been given only vague reports of their battles and had
been rather sceptical about their slow progress; but it was
interesting to hear their stories first hand, and as might
have been expected on such an occasion, there were never-
ending arguments as to which was the bloodiest battle-
Longstop or Mareth. The few hours we had together passed
rapidly with an abundance of wine and "line-shooting.”
3 May
Had just finished breakfast at 7.30 a.m. when Desmond told
me to go in the advance party with David Forbes. We had a
sixty-miles dash over mountainous and dusty roads to a
place where Roddie Faure-Walker (Staff Captain) met us-
about ten miles south-east of Medjez. Just near the 2nd
Battalion.
Saw many partridges and innumerable birds. Peter Wyld
saw a golden oriole en route.
4-5 May
Further information reached us about the forthcoming
attack: the 4th Indian and 4th British Divisions were to
attack, then the 7th Armoured Division was to go through
them straight for Tunis. The 6th Armoured would look
after the southern sector, with the ist Armoured in reserve.
Opposite us are 334 German Infantry Division and the
Hermann Goering Division with tanks and more infantry
in the centre. The rôle of 201 Guards Brigade was to pass
through the gap on the Tunis road and to hold it open to
allow the B echelons of the Armoured Divisions to bring
up supplies.
167
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
THE AXIS COLLAPSE
May 1943
Extracts from the Diary of David HELME
drive, then a fitful few hours' sleep under a tarpaulin.
Orders at midnight to move once more.
6 May
It is difficult to convey the incredible excitement of these
few days, the speed of the whole action and its amazing
simplicity. We had expected some very hard fighting, yet
within the space of one week the Allied Armies had captured
some 200,000 prisoners, Africa was ours, the Mediter-
ranean was open to our ships, and Malta was saved.
Germans who had been fighting the ist Army realized that
all was lost when they saw our desert-coloured vehicles,
for many of them thought that Rommel was in Cairo and
were looking forward to spending their next leave in the
Delta.
The 3rd Coldstream started off at 6.30 a.m. on the 6th
May, escorted by some RHA and A/A. We were in reserve
and progress was slow. We bumped over dusty tracks and a
few trucks missed the way after following the wrong
dust cloud for some miles. But we eventually reached
our objective at 6 p.m.—just off the main road and thirty-
one kilometres from Tunis. On the way we passed many
burning tanks and bunches of German prisoners.
8 May
2–6 a.m. Drove only seven miles—held up by demolitions
and mines. Took up a defensive position near Massicault,
west of Tunis, to prevent the Germans around Bizerta
escaping to Cape Bon. We heard that the 6th Armoured
Division had captured 6,000 prisoners this morning, and
we passed many POW camps filled with somewhat incredu-
lous but still cheerful Huns.
We laagered up in a vineyard near a small village called
Mrira, only seven miles from Tunis.
9 May
Quiet day after a long sleep above ground in pyjamas—a
great luxury. Church parade in the morning.
Rumours flying about that we might have another free
night, but one is always rather sceptical about such hopes.
Having been attached to every Division in the 8th Army, we
are now to co-operate with ist Army units.
I got permission to drive into Tunis, and took Henderson
and Bennett with me. The crowds were still wildly excited.
Everyone had lined the streets and were cheering madly,
throwing bouquets, bottles of wine and food at us. When-
ever we stopped, masses of people jumped on to the jeep
and Henderson chuckled away in the back, feeling on top
of the world. The Germans had rationed food in Tunis.
They allowed no dancing, and had sent most of the olive
oil to Germany, leaving only one bottle per month for each
French family.
We got back to the company just in time before moving
off again to Hammam Lif, on the west coast of the Cape Bon
peninsula.
7 May, near Frenj
I discovered that Gdsm. Bennett, who drove my platoon
headquarter 3-tonner, was a first-class butcher, so we had
lamb liver and kidneys for breakfast and chops for lunch.
The local French inhabitants were absolutely thrilled to see
us. Bill Moss, David Joicey and I got a heavenly bath at a
large farm which had housed 140 Hermann Goering troops
only two hours before our arrival. Madame presented me
with a delicious bottle of “Muscat de Carthage,” some
smoked ham and fresh bread, and was delighted with a
few cigarettes in return.
News filtered through at 2 p.m. that we had taken Bizerta
and that forward elements were in Tunis. No. 4 Company
collected a lot of Hermann Goering prisoners with a
quartermaster's stores. The battalion in question had only
ten minutes to move and was completely bewildered by our
sudden appearance.
We moved off towards Tunis in pouring rain. A ten-mile
>
10 May
Woken up at 4 a.m. and told we were to move at 4.30—
this time to help the 6th Armoured Division which was
168
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
held up by anti-tank guns in the hills just north of Ham- all in single file. The battalion took 1,900 prisoners before
mam Lif. We were told to relieve the Rifle Brigade, but noon. The whole episode had been so exciting that it was
in actual fact, although I did meet John Bodley nearby 2 p.m. before we realized that we had had no breakfast
with a few of his RB carrier platoon in the process of and were in consequence rather hungry.
rounding up prisoners, we found on arrival that we were
taking over from the Germans themselves. Bill Moss
and I motored forward over the vineyards in our jeeps 10-11 May
while the platoons debussed and followed on foot. We
That night the Brigade was again used for its speed, and
moved quickly, as an 88 mm. gun was still firing at the
we dashed across to the east coast of the peninsula, near
trucks, but No. 4 Company dealt with that and we were
Hammamet. Our object was to prevent the enemy leaving
fortunate enough to have no casualties. The tanks were
their Enfidaville positions and evacuating through to Cape
in “hull down” position as we passed up the hill, and we
Bon. But we need not have worried, because almost every
could not understand why they were not pushing on.
high-ranking German officer above a major had been flown
Only a few enemy anti-tank and machine-guns could be
home-except von Arnim himself.
heard.
We were having a quick breakfast by the roadside when
We dashed to the top of the hill, and there found
two Italians suddenly appeared in a vineyard nearby. Bill
hundreds of Germans and Italians waiting for us—fortu-
and I made them take us to their officers' mess, and there
nately with weapons abandoned. A few still fired their
we found the whole battalion eating as much as they could
rifles, but we quickly silenced these before pushing on to
before surrendering. They were most relieved to see us, as
clear the surrounding caves and deal with the anti-tank
they were determined to surrender and wanted no un-
guns. I came across one extraordinary cave, presenting a
necessary casualties!
scene which Goya would have been delighted to paint.
About 200 Germans and Italians were there with arms
destroyed and suitcases packed; wounded lay on the
11-12 May
ground; sheep, goats, camels and Wogs were huddled
together with other animals; and on the far side, a few
That night we really felt that the war in Africa was over,
stalwart Hun A/A gunners were still firing their 88 mm.
and on the 12th the official news reached us that all
through the mouth of the cave.
organized resistance had ceased and that the surrender of
They surrendered immediately, and the armour pushed
the Axis forces had been accepted. David Rooper, Chris-
through into the Cape Bon peninsula. We had a grandstand
topher Bulteel, Peter Wyld and Alan Davidson came over
view from our hill, and it really was an exhilarating sight.
to have a drink and celebrate the victory.
A few tanks were knocked out, but the battle was swift,
and by that evening there was little organized resistance left.
We even managed to persuade a Hun to teach us how to use
13-15 May
his spandau, which we duly fired at one of his retreating We then began the task of collecting the prisoners and
despatch riders.
making temporary camps. It was an extraordinary situation
I shall never forget RSM Rowlands marching back to
seeing Germans driving their own trucks and long lines of
Battalion Headquarters at the head of about 200 prisoners, Afrika Korps, morale still high, singing away and keeping
excellent order. The Germans helped in their camps and
even had their own detention cages after the first day. But
we had difficulty in persuading the Italians even to dig
their own latrines, and the two former Axis partners had
to be kept well apart.
In the evening an English-speaking German from the
goth Light Division came into the mess, and we were all
amazed when he recognized Johnny Longueville. He had
apparently seen Johnny about a fortnight before when th
latter was out on a daylight carrier patrol north of Enfida-
ville. Our patrol must have appeared too strong for him,
for he had decided to remain concealed.
On the 15th May officers of the three Guards Brigades
in Africa dined together in Nabeul and sent loyal greetings
to H.M. The King and to General Arthur Smith, com-
manding the Brigade of Guards. It was a great reunion and
Lt. J. H. C. Venables Middle East 2.9.43
a fitting climax to our great victory.

169
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
PANTELLARIA
June-July 1943
By David HELME
Feelings were mixed as No. 3 Company's LCI pulled out of
Sousse harbour towards the end of June. Some people were
excited at the prospect of getting nearer to Europe, others
wondered if they would ever again see such a prize as
Desmond Holmes' caravan. We anchored about ten miles
out until it got dark and meanwhile were entertained most
royally by the captain of the ship. The sea, thank heaven,
was so calm that only one Guardsman was sick, as was
a sailor who managed to find our officers' mess drink
box.
The battalion flotilla arrived in Pantellaria harbour at
6 a.m., but No. 3 Company was diverted to Scauri harbour
near the village of San Gaetano on the south-east side of
the island. A company of the Loyals (Ist Division) had
been there for about a week, but the whole place was still
incredibly filthy, as though the Italians had done their
utmost to make the area as nauseating as possible before
they surrendered. It is said that performing fleas for circuses
were collected in peace-time from Pantellaria; and this
must have been a simple task, because the many caves of the
island harboured millions of them, so that one's stockings
were literally covered if one dared to enter. The civilians
shaved their children's heads as a necessary precaution
against these and other vermin.
The Italian inhabitants of the island numbered about ten
thousand—mainly political deportees and fisherfolk. They
were rather apathetic and caused little trouble, except to
cut an occasional telephone wire. They had seen the town
and port of Pantellaria thoroughly bombed; and the RAF
and USAAF had indeed made an extremely good job of it.
Many corpses were still buried under the rubble, and louse-
ridden dogs roamed the streets in packs searching for them.
These pariahs gave Bill Gore-Langton some good shoot-
ing.
The battalion was split up all over the island (nine by four
miles) with Battalion Headquarters next door to the Control
Room of the USAAF, deep into the rocks by the aerodrome.
General Strickland (USAAF) was in charge of all the air
force and Colonel Terence commanded the troops. Every
Commanding Officers Orders was watched by astonished
Americans, who had never seen or heard so much stamping
in their lives. Except for occasional bombing raids, we were

Pantellaria Harbour
170
KNIGHTSBRIDGE AND TOBRUK-TUNISIAN VICTORY
troubled very little by the enemy; so we spent the first two clear water, and so we spent many hours swimming and
weeks clearing up the areas, burning old Italian uniforms sunbathing. A favourite sport of Dick Ker, David Kennard
and equipment and collecting into dumps the masses of and Bobby Chaworth-Musters was to see how near Douglas
ammunition that still lay about.
Waddilove's stomach they could throw grenades and only
Battle-drill experts then appeared on the scene, and wind him. We nearly had one bathing disaster when Michael
we realized fully that our days as a motor battalion were Kinchin-Smith appeared and almost drowned himself the
over. So in the heat of a Mediterranean summer we first day. George Gidney and his carrier platoon got well
chased up and down hills, through vineyards, over walls dug away at Tramontana until Desmond found them all
and houses, doing the most extraordinary antics—to the bathing one morning at 10 a.m. instead of doing battle-
vast amusement of all the local inhabitants. On one drill.
of these schemes Gdsm. Butterfield strained a ligament One day we climbed to the top of Monte Grande,
in his knee and ended up in a New York hospital, be- approximately 2,500 feet high, and watched the hundreds
cause the only available hospital ship happened to go that of ships coming from all directions to their rendezvous for
way!
the assault on Sicily. Little did we realize then that the
The bathing was really wonderful. You could dive battalion would soon be heading the same way for the
straight off the volcanic rocks into fathoms of beautiful landing at Salerno.

MD
THE WARRANT OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS WHO HAD BEEN WITH THE 3RD BATTALION SINCE 1937.
Tripoli, 1943
Sgt. J. H. Brown,
Sgt. L. Wells,
Back Row: Sgt. J. Kew, Sgt. P. Mayhew, Sgt. R. Binding,
Sgt. R. Woolston,
Sgt. D. Bowring, Sgt. C. Turner, M.M.,
Sgt. R. Brewer, Sgt. G. Pring
Centre Row: Sgt. L. Clarke, Sgt. G. Weston, Sgt. R. Green, Sgt. W. Hague, Sgt. J. Stacey, Sgt. B. Davis, Sgt. W. Smith, Sgt. A. J. Brown,
Sgt. G. Nightingale, CQMS W. Kirke
Front Row: CSM C. Smy, CSM P.Wright,
CSM P. Wright, CSM F. R. Clark, D/Sgt. W. Dobbs, Lt. (QM) L. Rowlands, Maj. D. W. A. W. Forbes, M.C.,
Maj. D. A. Kennard, M.C., RSMH. Joel, M.M., RQMS A. Hough, M.M., ORQMSH. Port, CSM A. Goodall, CQMSJ. Bradshaw
171
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

THE OFFICERS OF THE 3RD BATTALION. Tripoli, 1943
Back Row: Lt. E. R. Nares, Capt. H. T. H. Snowden, Lt. A. P. Harbord-Hamond, Lt. M. Kinchin-Smith, Lt. N. D. T. Gardner,
Lt. S. F. B. Codrington, Lt. P. H. Wyld, Lt. E. S. Skinner, Lt. D. A. Kerr-Wilson, Lt. C. H. Tuke, Lt. J. Longueville,
Lt. F. W. Forgan (RAMC), Lt. Radcliffe (REME)
3rd Row: Capt. A. F. Davidson, Capt. D. E. Waddilove, Lt. the Hon. D. H. Joicey, Lt. R. O. Caroe, Lt. C. L. Loyd, Lt. J. H. Chaworth-
Musters, Capt. the Rev. J. E. G. Quinn (RAChD), Lt. I. W. S. Moss, Lt. J. H. C. Venables, Lt. QM L. Rowlands, M.B.E.
2nd Row: Capt. R. J. M. Harley, Capt. J. G. C. Clark, Major R. Beck,
Major R. Beck, Major D. A. Kennard, M.C., Major D. W. A. W. Forbes, M.C.,
Lt.-Col. Sir Terence Falkiner, Bt., Major I.W. Gore-Langton, Major J. M. G. Griffith-Jones, M.C., Major the Hon. M.V. Brodrick, M.C.,
Capt. A. Yates, Capt. H. K. Sweeting (Adjt.)
Front Row: Capt. A. R. McDougall, Capt. T. E. S. Egerton, Lt. D. J. R. Ker,
Smith, Capt. P. H. A. Bowman,
Lt. C. H. Bulteel, Lt. R. E. W. Lumley, Lt. W.J. Straker-
Lt. G. A. Gidney
172
CHAPTER SIX
THE THIRD BATTALION
IN ITALY
September 1943-February 1945

Ships moving in to the beaches at Salerno, 9.9.43
173
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'

עת
2
Troops landing on the beaches at Salerno, 9.9.43

A general view of the landing at Salerno, 9.9.43
174
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
SALERNO
September 1943
By CHRISTOPHER BULTEEL
N
OT many of us will forget the sight of Salerno
Bay in the early morning of the 9th September,
1943. I remember so well the red sun rising over
the mountains north and south of Eboli, turning the grey
water round us to a limpid green, touching the peaks of the
mountains behind Amalfi and Capri, making the dull war-
paint of the ships glisten as they all edged in towards the
shore. On the plain in front of us the sun touched but
failed to penetrate the cloud of dust and smoke, just
inland from the beaches, that grew thicker each minute as
the battle grew in intensity.
The sea around was covered with ships; small fast
launches bouncing to and fro for no real reason, the landing
craft awaiting their turn to rush the golden beach that lay
like a pencil across our front, the destroyers spurting their
shells into the brown, and behind, the giant cruisers,
monitors and battleships that were shooting us in.
I think excitement overcame the fear that had been with
us so long. During the last five days we had been slowly
steaming towards this place, not knowing what hell we
should find. We were in great discomfort, for there were
no beds and the sea was rough and the space was limited
and the food indifferent—and the future so uncertain; and
then the night before, when without a moment's break
the guns had been firing into the sky and the German
planes had dropped bomb after bomb into the sea around
us. As we edged closer in a thrill came over us that put
our anticipatory forebodings out of the way. Then the
ship’s motors accelerated and we knew it was our turn to
land.
We formed up, three LCIs one behind the other, and
made for the shore about three miles away—Battalion
Headquarters and No. 1 Company in front, ourselves and
No. 2 in the second and No. 4 Company, I think, in the
third. A few black puffs appeared above us from 88-mm.
guns on the shore, but the noise was so great that we paid
little attention. Then the shore came closer and we could
see a swarm of black ants working, waving and watching on
the beach under the sand dunes. Then we saw a blue-
jacket more distinctly waving a flag, and we made for
him. Four hundred, three, two, one hundred yards. The
kedge splashed behind us, and we all stumbled forward
as the ship bumped the sand and the ramps went roaring
down.
The men ran down the ramps—thank God, on to the
beach and not into five feet of water, as we had expected.
As I came off last, tentatively clutching a bottle of gin in
each hand that we had somehow omitted to drink, suddenly
every gun in every ship around burst into action. I looked
up, dropping the gin, and saw four planes flying low
towards us. “Messerschmidts!” yelled the mate in my ear
as we dived for cover. “Mustangs!” yelled the skipper as
a lump of plane fell off the rearmost. I am still not sure
who was right. Thus I stepped ashore on to Italy, feeling
like Garibaldi.
I followed the straggling company off the beach through
a gap in the minefield on the dunes. After passing sweating
gunners who were shooting individually, we found a small
road leading inland towards our assembly area in an orchard,
from which, though supposed by then to be four or five
miles from the battle, emanated a disconcerting sound of
small-arms fire. I discovered my company, under Mervyn
Griffith-Jones, hiding in ditches unconcernedly, already
sorted out into platoons and getting ready for a cup of
tea, with the occasional rather braver man walking about
filling his steel helmet with apples. We had not much food,
only a small tin with biscuits, chocolate and sweets to last
us for forty-eight hours. The apples, though a welcome
addition to our diet at any time, were a definite disability
later. Meanwhile we waited for news of the battle—still,
to our view, being fought far too close to us.
I remember little more of that day. It was noisy and
there were scares as bullets occasionally came by. Nobody
had much idea what was happening, which was just as
well. We were in reserve and had no real expectation of
being made to fight for a day or two yet. Raymond Nares,
new to active service, seemed quite unconcerned when a
shell hit a tree very close to him. We sat quietly in the
sunshine and slept a little, for we were all tired after five
bad nights at sea.
175
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
That night we learned that Battipaglia had not been The next day we found the battle. The Grenadiers had
taken, as had been planned, and that the aerodrome, a mile not got Battipaglia and the Scots Guards had not quite
away from us, was still covered by Germans. The Grena- reached the tobacco factory. Both had encountered opposi-
diers were to push forward along the river Tusciano and tion and had had casualties. At midday we were told to
occupy Battipaglia, while the Scots Guards were to advance move forward with the idea of crossing the main road from
along the right of the aerodrome, keeping level with a bat- Salerno to Battipaglia, wheeling to the right and cutting
talion of 169 Brigade on their left, until they reached the off the German party who were menacing the Scots Guards
tobacco factory. We were to remain in reserve with a field of around the tobacco factory. At the same time the Grenadiers
fire over the aerodrome, acting as a “firm base” for the were to pass through Battipaglia, wheel left and complete
advance.
the pincer movement by joining us some miles beyond the
That evening we moved to our new positions. Our tobacco factory. So off we set. The Germans had abandoned
company, in reserve again, placed itself on three sides of the aerodrome and we went gaily eastward in advance guard
a square patch of tobacco, enormous plants seven feet high formation (No. 3 Company still, I was glad to see, in rear)
till we reached the main road, which we crossed with diffi-
culty under shell and mortar fire. Then it became difficult.
We found far too many Germans. The Scots Guards, to our
dismay, sent out an SOS, for the Germans, instead of being
quietly encircled, decided to advance themselves; and it was
then I learnt that Michael Brodrick, forging ahead in a
carrier regardless of opposition, had been killed.
We hurriedly re-formed and marched that evening to take
up positions behind the Scots Guards; also behind the
Grenadiers, who, instead of pushing forward, had consider-
able difficulty in staying where they were. Nos. 1 and 3
Companies were behind the Scots Guards, while Nos. 2 and
4 passed through us to come under the command of the
Grenadiers. Thus another night passed.
We were now getting a little worried. The original plan
was not working well. There were far more Germans than
we anticipated and they were fighting savagely. Even now
we were only four miles from the beach, and it gives a
man an uncomfortable feeling when he knows he has no

retreat.
Michael
Simon
Aug, 1937
Major the Hon. M. V. Brodrick, M.C. CMF 10.9.43
and almost impenetrable. There we dug in and collected
ourselves, settling down to sleep at about eleven o'clock.
In my dreamless sleep I felt myself shaken, and Mervyn's
voice drawled a whisper in my ear: “Germans in the
tobacco.” I woke with a start, found my pistol and slit
trench, then listened. Yes, there was no doubt about it.
Someone was making a distinct noise in that tobacco. So
we formed an ambush, expecting to be rushed at any
second; however, the Germans would not move out of
the tobacco. Feeling bored and angry and tired, I wandered
round to Raymond Nares. We took a party into the tobacco,
finally, and unearthed a herd of pigs just as annoyed as
we were at being disturbed!
The next day came and we learned we were to continue
the advance. The Grenadiers attacked, and at the end of
the day found themselves slightly farther forward but in
dangerous salients; and during the night the Scots Guards
launched a terrific attack in the tobacco factory across our
front, designed to drive down the main road into Battipaglia.
Fighting madly, they made the night hideous with flames
and smoke and the noise of every weapon on the beach-
head. But the Germans were not broken, and the Scotsmen
retired, battered and bloody, with over a hundred casualties
from their forward companies.
Next day the Germans attacked on the Grenadier front.
Our two companies, Nos. 2 and 4, were well forward in the
salient when the Germans set on them, first with artillery
and then with tanks and infantry. I do not know what
happened exactly. I heard stories of Dick Ker shooting his
6-pounder gun single-handed into the smoke and destroying
a German tank, then driving a portee down the main road
in full view of the Germans—he was quite blind, as he
had lost his glasses—and the portee leaving the road and
wrapping itself round a tree; stories of mistakes, stories
of wounds and death; George Gidney, quite unmoved,
176
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

grumbling as usual at the inefficiency of everyone else as the
companies fell back; Colonel Billy Kingsmill reorganizing
his two reserve Grenadier companies, throwing in a quick
counter-attack that saved disaster; and the heroic Greys in
their Shermans disappearing behind the German lines and
blowing up German vehicles in Battipaglia village. It was
a horrible day.
We heard at last that we were to hold what we had and
not attack any more. The relief was visible on everyone's
face—even on the inscrutable face of Mervyn. We were
told to dig in along the line of a dyke which was an anti-
tank obstacle, Nos. I and 3 Companies forward, Nos. 2
and 4, battered and tired, in reserve behind us, with the
Scots Guards on our left, also facing the tobacco factory, and
the Grenadiers in reserve. We dug with a will and made
good positions: John Hamilton and Raymond Nares in
front with David Joicey in reserve. We were soon settled,
for everyone had dug quickly. Then we waited for the
Germans to attack.
I think it was about twenty-four hours later. A carrier
patrol had been out in front of No. 1 Company and had
Lt. J. Longueville CMF 14.9.43
come back soon after dark. Close on its tail came three
or four German half-tracks; whereupon the battle started
We advanced that afternoon to new positions through
in earnest, with at least one enemy half-track proceeding
the abandoned German lines, littered with debris, dead
on its own behind our front and becoming a considerable
cows and burnt-out buildings and vehicles, until we reached
nuisance to Brigade Headquarters. Larch Loyd, I believe,
did wonders with a Piat. Peter Wyld was crawling up
open country beyond the main road. It was quiet there.
We dug in, spent the night there and settled down to a
ditches bringing rounds to his beloved mortars. RSM Joel
pleasant period of relaxation while the 8th Army continued
was doing magnificent work in a carrier. Ken Sweeting,
the advance through us.
who had just taken over the company after Bill Gore-
Then, to our horror, we found that we were to advance
Langton and John Harley had both been hit earlier in the
ourselves. One night found us taking over positions on the
day, was sending call after call for defensive fire to a
top of a precipitous mountain just above Salerno town.
Battalion Headquarters that had also received a direct hit,
wounding Billy Straker-Smith and killing the signallers.
It was a wild night, but the Germans did not break through.
Only daylight brought comparative calm.
The defensive battle went on for days—I cannot re-
member how long, as time soon ceased to matter as the
fight grew grimmer. The Germans attacked everywhere-
sometimes feebly, sometimes in strength; but they failed
each time to get through. Our confidence increased.
There was a factor that kept us waiting, hoping and hold-
ing: the 8th Army was daily drawing closer. We knew that
when they reached us the danger would be over; and so, I I
think, did the Germans. Meanwhile we listened daily to
the broadcasts telling us always that it was closer.
I think it was on the morning of the 18th, when we
knew the 8th Army was very near indeed, that the Germans
threw in their last assault. They attacked in turn every
unit on the perimeter, but again they failed to penetrate.
Then there was a calm which lasted till nightfall and
through the night. The next day the Scots Guards went
forward to the tobacco factory and found it an empty,
blackened shell. The Germans had withdrawn to the
mountains.
The Rev. J. E. G. Quinn, M.C.(Padre) CMF 23.9.43

I2
177
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''

Two passes run through the high
quarters (a little jerry-built hovel
chain of mountains that jut out
on the side of the mountain) with
westward from the main Apennine
Mervyn, knowing perfectly well that
range until it reaches the sea at
the Germans knew it was a head-
Sorrento. One pass goes from Salerno
quarters, while a steady stream of
north towards Avellino, and the other
shells burst around for minutes on
from Amalfi to the Naples plain. We
end, blowing gusts of blast through
were to push up the former-an ap-
the open door into about half a
palling job, as the valley walls were
dozen of us sweating with fright
precipitous and the Germans fully
on the floor. I hated that hill. As a
entrenched. The Grenadiers were
crowning insult, the hillside caught
soon to push forward up the valley,
fire one afternoon and the fire came
while the Coldstream on the left
roaring through the brushwood to
and the Scots Guards on the right
our slit trench. My platoon sergeant,
“Lionel Buxton, with his smile, leading his platoon”
held the sides of the valley.
CMF 30.9.43
Sgt. Brewer, and I had a long consul-
The first day was not too bad.
tation whether or not to break cover.
We were very short of water and food, as everything had We concluded that valour was at a discount that day and
to be carried to us a thousand feet up a precipitous choked miserably in the slit trench as the fire roared over-
cliff. But we were not bothered over-much by Germans. head, setting off a few Bren gun magazines with a frightful
The next day, however, the storm broke. It started, I think, crackle as it went by. Then my lovely long trousers fell
when No. 2 Company, led by Alan Davidson, went in to to pieces at the knees and I had to take them off, tear the
attack a hill known as the “Pimple”. It was at night bottoms off the leg and transfer them into untidy shorts.
and the going was very difficult. Numbers of men got It was a beastly hill.
lost and when the attack went in the Germans put up a During the 24th the Grenadiers managed to push a mile
stout resistance. Frank Windsor-Clive was wounded and or two up the valley, but by that night they were stuck
about that time poor David Joicey was killed. Michael again. We were pulled off our mountain and sent forward
Howard, leading one of the platoons, did great work and to help, and after marching all night up and down preci-
led a terrific charge which eventually drove the Germans pices we ended up behind the Grenadier positions about
away.
dawn, feeling like nothing on earth and quite unprepared
From then on the Germans never left us in peace. They to help anybody.
had not many guns, but they used all they could on us. We found we were to attack at midday. It was another
We suffered many casualties, including Gough Quinn, the hill, half a mile in front, half covered in trees and thick
Padre. I remember once sitting at our company head- scrub. It looked peaceful enough at the time, but the


Lt. J. Jory CMF 25.9.43
Lt. R. W. 0. Gunn CMF 25.9.43
178
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
a
Grenadiers said that they had met trouble there the night seen and they began to run to reach their forming-up
before and had had to withdraw. They glibly estimated positions for assault. We followed. We found a bare stretch
that there might be three German machine-gun posts there. around a little house at the base of the hill where the
About ten o'clock Mervyn took us forward up to the crest spandaus chattered unceasingly and which we had to cross.
of the hill where we could look northwards across a deep We did it at a run and got into some more woods. We
valley at our objective. As we lay on the top I could not did not waste time in forming up, but turned left and
help my mind wandering a little. The deep peace of the stumbled straight up the hill. No one else was visible and
valley, green with its trees and vineyards that hid a little the wood was thick; but the firing increased into a con-
village completely save the tower of a church, all surrounded tinuous torrent of cracks and shrieks and roars. Then the
by a vast semicircle of steep mountains bare and bright fog of war came down on us like a wolf on the fold.
in the morning sun—that peace could not be shattered, I can only record the vague memories that remain of
surely, by a modern battle? And while Mervyn gave his the next few moments. Perhaps we took five minutes to
plan, telling us of artillery concentrations, fire support and reach the top, perhaps an hour—I don't know. I remember
issues of hand-grenades, I could not comprehend any the smoke of the fire that had been ignited on the hill;
more.
the strained faces of the men around me when a burst
The valley from Salerno to Avellino went due north. splintered through us; the remnants of Raymond Nares'
We were on the western side of the main valley and sub- platoon withdrawing down the hill to join up with mine
sidiary valleys cut across our front, taking the mountain and assault again; Raymond wandering unconcernedly
streams eastward into the main river. Each of these small down behind them, fingering an empty revolver, with
valleys was separated from one another by a precipitous blood oozing from wounds in both his arms; the Germans
spur running eastward from the main mountain range. in their slit trenches bouncing their grenades down on to
We were on one of these spurs and our objective was the us as we mounted, and the snarl as our men went in;
next spur, soon to be named “Hill 270”, across the little Raymond dealing with a German in a slit trench with his
valley and about half a mile away as the crow flies. The empty revolver; the prisoners; our wounded, whom we had
plan of attack was to reach the bottom of the hill by infil- to carry up with us, as the fire was chasing us up the hill
tration from the left. The thick trees should give us cover and would have burnt them to death; and then the
all the way to the base of our objective, and the three top.
spandau posts thought to be on the summit should be easy Then I remember John Hamilton coming in excitedly,
to overcome. No. I Company would lead, followed by having advanced up a bare slope in the face of half a dozen
No. 3, and the whole party would move in single file around spandaus until he reached the top and charged—to find
a wide semicircle and march across the German front. that his platoon charging with him consisted of one man!
Then, having done a right-angled turn, both companies I remember going to see No. 1 Company, to find that no
should find themselves in line—No. I on the right, No. 3 officers were left and that CSM “Misty” Wright was run-
on the left-as they scaled the objective. It was all too ning the company with his broad grin and slow speech. I
easy.
would never have dreamt, looking at him, that he had
I suppose we started at about midday. No. 1 Company destroyed three or four German posts single-handed and
led on past us, and I saw Dick Ker stumping by under a gained himself a V.C. I remember Mervyn panting up the
large steel helmet; Lionel Buxton, with his smile, leading hill, beetroot in the face, having no idea whether he would
his platoon; John Jory and Rogn Gunn ... and then we meet Germans or Guardsmen on the summit, and con-
went off—Raymond Nares leading, then John Hamilton gratulating us breathlessly and promising to go back and
and his platoon and lastly myself with (thank God) the bring reinforcements. I remember the hopeless digging in
reserve platoon. We descended through the woods and the the solid rock; the lack of water and the heat and the
forward Grenadier positions, swung to the left up a sunken wounded; the inevitable counter-attack delivered, thank
track, then bore round slowly in a curve under the hills to God, without enthusiasm by the Germans; and David
the right. Nothing could have been more lovely and peace-
Forbes coming up the hill, immaculate and unruffled,
ful. Sometimes in the distance a gun banged, but it was in telling us how well we had done.
another world. Birds sang lazily, and we could hear faintly My memory vanishes because, though I did not know
the singing of the little brook in the bottom of the valley; it then, I was very ill with malaria. I have vague memories
and I am sure that the bell in the tower of the village church of interminable hours spent on the hill, of a dreadful march
softly chimed the hours.
back, when we were relieved, through drenching rain that
We were very close now to Hill 270.
marked the end of summer; of a stretcher, an ambulance
Then it all began. The rip of a spandau broke the stillness and a hospital ship. And that was my farewell to the
and the birds chattered in fright: No. 1 Company had been battalion.
a
179
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”,
With the Anti-Tank Platoon
On the Night of 13-14 September 1943
By CORPORAL K. FELLOWS
It was just after two German half-tracks had broken around just in front of us, but we could not see them. Then
through our lines south of Battipaglia that we first heard we heard someone shout “Anti-tank, on your right” and,
that the Bosche was coming in on a last big attack. The sure enough, right in front of us was a Jerry half-track. We
time was approximately midnight and he had started mortar- let him have a round, and it caught him dead centre in the
ing all along No. 1 Company's position where they were bonnet. The next one we caught was right on the top of the
dug in along a canal bank. Our gun was on the right flank canal bank. He was a sitting target and put out without any
covering the whole front of No. 1 Company. Jerry slung trouble. This appeared to be the end of the attack, as shortly
everything he could, but failed to shift any of the positions. afterwards the Bosche withdrew and everything calmed
Then there was a sudden lull for about twenty minutes and down once again. Fortunately, we had no casualties. In
in he came with the half-tracks. We could hear them milling fact, there were very few along the whole company's front.

an
A successful shoot. Sgt. Jackson, Cpl. Fellows and
Gdsm. Clark with their 6-pdr. anti-tank gun
A section of No. 1 Company dug in along the canal
bank near Battipaglia, 14.9.43
180
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
Award of the Victoria Cross
No. 2657545 COMPANY SERGEANT-MAJOR PETER HAROLD WRIGHT, V.C., 3RD BATTALION

COLD
1
On the 25th September, 1943, a battalion of Coldstream
Guards attacked the Pagliarollia feature, a steep, wooded
hill near Salerno. Before they reached the crest the right-
hand company was held up by heavy spandau and mortar
fire and all the officers had become casualties. CSM Wright,
seeing that his company was held up, went forward to see
what could be done. Finding that there were no officers
left, he immediately took charge and crawled forward by
himself to see what the opposition was. He shortly returned,
collected a section, informed them that three spandau posts
were holding them up and put them into a position where
they could give covering fire. Single-handed, he then
attacked each post in turn with hand-grenades and bayonet
and silenced each one. He then led the company on to the
crest, but realized that the enemy fire made this position
untenable. He therefore led them a short way down the
hill again and up on to the objective from a different
direction. Entirely regardless of enemy fire, which was
very heavy, he then reorganized what was left of the
company and placed them in position to consolidate the
objective. Soon afterwards the enemy launched a counter-
attack which was successfully beaten off. Later, with
complete disregard of heavy enemy shell-fire on the area
of company headquarters and the reverse slopes of the
hill and of machine-gun fire from the commanding slopes
on the left flank of the position, he brought up extra
ammunition and distributed it to the company. It was due
to this warrant officer's superb disregard of the enemy's
fire, his magnificent leadership and his outstanding heroism
throughout the action that his battalion succeeded in cap-
turing and maintaining their hold on this very important
objective.
181
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''
First Impressions of the Third Battalion
Salerno, 15–21 September 1943
By MICHAEL HOWARD
Wed. 15 Sept.
I lay awake and watched the leaves swaying overhead
against a pale blue sky. Sunlight revealed the countryside
to be as ever green as I had hoped. The hedge was thick
and English, masking a gentle stream, and behind us
mountains rose through the haze. In spite of the gunfire,
which was loud and regular, and in spite of the fact that
the Germans must be holding the mountains, I felt absurdly
happy. The grass was soft and wet with dew, and after
breakfast—the bully and biscuits which looked like be-
coming our set diet—scavenging Guardsmen produced
piles of apples and grapes, which increased our satisfaction.
Paul Methuen had gone off to the beach to see about our
baggage, and at about ten o'clock he appeared in a lorry
with a grinning, apple-munching Cpl. Ponton and, bless
his heart, all our possessions.
About one o'clock our trucks arrived, and an elegant,
bearded subaltern welcomed us. While we loaded up we
besieged him—he was David Kerr-Wilson, acting Adjutant
and intelligence officer—with questions. Yes, they had had
a tough time, he said. Various officer casualties, including
Bill Gore-Langton badly wounded and Teddy Skinner
killed. Oh God, I thought, the first of my friends to go. I
tried not to remember too hard his gaiety and pleasant-
ness.
The Commanding Officer, Colonel Terence Falkiner,
received us and rapidly gathered particulars and allotted us
to companies. I was allotted to No. 1, but then was changed
to No. 2. At the time I was indifferent, and went off up
the river to find my company headquarters. It was three
hundred yards away—a 3-ton truck, a jeep, some stores
and slit trenches, and half a dozen men cooking or sleeping.
It was in the shadow of a high, tree-lined bank beyond
which flat fields spread out to the east and the hills. Alan
Davidson, my company commander, stirred from sleep
and greeted me. He then explained the general situation.
I was more interested in the disposition of the battalion,
the position of the enemy and my own duties. About the
last he was as vague as I was, having already three platoon
commanders. For the moment I was to act as stooge at
company headquarters. This seemed a gentle enough
introduction to Armageddon, and I was a little relieved.
Anyhow, said Alan, he would take me round as soon as
he had sent his second patrol out. Patrol activity was para-
mount at the moment: we had been pushed back about
a mile from our farthest point of penetration and now,
dug in on the line of the river, were prodding forward
to see how strong the Germans were and what positions
they were holding. One patrol, under Richard Caroe, was
out already; the second, under George Gidney, the re-
maining platoon commander, was about to go. The third
platoon, incidentally, which Frank Windsor-Clive had
taken over from Teddy Skinner, was attached to No. I
Company.
George appeared, having grown, since I knew him at
Christ Church, a heavy cavalry moustache. He wore a
black beret (universal, it seemed, for officers), denim
trousers and a revolver-I was to realize later, from my
own example, that officers in the Brigade often go into action
looking like nothing on earth, verging sometimes on being
civilian francs-tireurs. I listened to his instructions, which
were simple. He was to go into Battipaglia (the nearest
village, two or three miles to the east) and get identifica-
tions from a body known to be lying in the main street.
He nodded quietly and went off. That was all there was
to it.
Alan then took me off to look round. We followed the
track from Battalion Headquarters along the river, rising
across a meadow till the river was twelve feet below us,
under a small cliff. Then the track entered an orchard and
ran through it until it met a road which ran straight across
our front. We walked slowly through the warm afternoon,
noting platoon positions casually as we went. My God,
I thought, this is more unrealistic than the worst exercise
I've ever been on. To add another touch of unreality, a
number of officers were grouped round a jeep on the road,
talking as if nothing was happening at all. Nothing was,
but my eyes strayed nervously to the green foothills which
looked down on us. Nobody else seemed at all worried.
There was Larch Loyd, looking rather naked in a sweater
and no shirt; Dick Ker, company commander of No. 1;
Lionel Buxton; and a couple of Scots Guardsmen. They
chatted idly for a while, then Dick and Alan and I started
moving up a lane which led off the road on the other side.
Fifty yards and we came to a bridge over a canal and
a large grey-towered farmhouse. Neatly dug into the
side of the road was an anti-tank gun and across the
road, looking pitifully inadequate, was a necklace of flat
rectangular Hawkins mines. Alan waved his arm vaguely
at the fields beyond the canal. “This canal is our front
line,” he announced. “The enemy are somewhere over
there."
“Oh,” I said. The landscape was incredibly peaceful
and I still felt tranquilly happy. Only the thumping guns
a
a
>
9
182
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
a
and the sad sigh of the shells soughing overhead betrayed if there was anything I should do. The signallers crouched
anything abnormal. Otherwise it was an afternoon stroll in their holes, helmets shining dully in the darkness. It
in the country.
was about half-past eight.
I turned down to the left into a field of great, soft Suddenly the telephone rang and the Commander's
tobacco plants. On the forward edge, dug in to the line brusque voice crackled in it. “Who are you? Well, there's
of the canal bank, was a line of slit trenches full of men a German half-track worked in by No. 1 Company Head-
cleaning their weapons or sleeping. First there was Frank's quarters. Deal with it.”
platoon, then Larch’s. The Germans had attacked here Single-handed? Hardly. I hurriedly tried to remember
heavily a couple of nights earlier with two battalions numbers and rang up Kichard Caroe. To my relief he
and fifty tanks. Our artillery had caught them in the sounded quite satisfied with the orders and said he'd see
meadows beyond the canal and pounded them so hard to it. Then, presumably, he took his platoon off, for I
that they broke and ran before reaching our lines, which couldn't get him or George on the phone again. This, in
was just as well. The artillery had saved us earlier on when expectation of further orders, worried me, but fortunately
things were unpleasant round Battipaglia; and we were to no further orders came. The noise died down slightly, and
have further cause for blessing them. Now the field was in its place appeared a large and mysterious fire. At head-
pocked with shell marks. At the end of the line I found quarters we remained peaceful with the guns cracking
an avenue cut through the tobacco and, in a little turning around us. It was by now quite dark and a little cold.
off this, Larch's headquarters. A box was spread with a After a quarter of an hour or so a Guardsman appeared
"dainty” pink tablecloth trimmed with beads and lace, and with a sad figure who turned out to be a German prisoner.
on it stood hideously decorated glasses and plates. “Stay What did I do now, I wondered, patting his pockets for
for tea,” said Larch; but the glasses were too much for arms and taking some papers from his breast pocket. Then
me, and I fled down the avenue.
I sent him back to Battalion Headquarters. “Die Papiere
Back at company headquarters, having seen my luggage kommen mit?” he asked plaintively. I supposed they did,
and bed settled into a comfortable slit trench which so I gave them to the Guardsman and packed them both
Johanson had been enlarging, we were just about to start off. My first live German; but it was all dark and rather
dinner when George Gidney appeared, panting slightly. disappointing.
“All O.K.,” he said, sitting down on the bank below us. But events continued. A dark column of men came down
“But only just. We got into Battipaglia and found the body. the path from Battalion Headquarters and the cool voice
Before we looked at him we glanced round the corner into of Richard Lumley shouted, “Is this right, Roger?” “Yes,
the main street-luckily, because several Germans were keep on,” cried Roger Beck from the rear. I hurriedly
wandering along towards us. We got out of the way and returned to give what aid I could, thinking hard. Roger
hid in a sort of doorway, and could have put them in the was commanding No. 4 Company and Alan had said some-
bag as they passed. As a matter of fact we didn't, as we thing earlier about No.4 Company having a rôle as reserve
.
didn't want to advertise ourselves. Well, that was all right,
to us; so Battalion Headquarters had presumably given
but we decided to get clear as quick as we could. Then
we all came round the corner of a house, and—damned
if there wasn't a couple of Germans with a spandau six
feet away! God, I didn't know what to do—my gun was
down here somewhere! And—well, luckily, Sgt. Lacey
got in with his tommy-gun and shot them first. So we got
away, but-well, it was a near thing."
So there is a war on after all, I thought.
BA-TIPAGUA
... Something rather exciting was happening. Alan
crouched by the telephone, taking and receiving orders.
Then he got up. “No. 5 Platoon are going up to give
Dick Ker a hand,” he announced, “and I am going up
to try to find out what is happening. Send any message
up. With these laconic instructions he disappeared. I
wandered round. The sergeant-major had got headquarters
in a state of defence, with everyone available in trenches
on the bank, the stretcher-bearers ready with their kit and
the signallers tinkering with the telephones and the big
wireless on the company jeep. By No. 1 Company the
noise and confusion was increased, and there was a lot of
scattered firing. I sat down by the telephone, wondering
Battipaglia

BATTIPAGLIA
>
2%
183
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
.
them the word. I found Roger and sent him up to Alan, twenty yards from the road. On the road itself a German
and meanwhile the company got down round headquarters. half-track vehicle was burning itself out, explaining the
The noise of the battle had almost died away, but shells fire we had seen earlier in the evening. There was no sign
still whined over us through the night sky.
of our platoons ; Dick and Alan were in earnest conference,
Roger came back with orders to take over our old platoon and boxes of grenades and ammunition were being opened
positions. Luckily I had a guide, and sent him up with under the orders of the sergeant-major. All was quiet and
them. Richard Lumley and Simon Codrington (dimly there was no sign of battle; but I think that it was now
recognized from Regent's Park) took their platoons off, for the first time that I caught a faint whiff of the smell
and the third platoon stiffened up our local defences. It of the battlefield, of corruption and death, which I was
was commanded, I suddenly realized, by Bobs Herschell. not to get out of my nostrils for weeks afterwards.
We greeted one another with schoolboy enthusiasm—battle I reported to Alan, who told me to go back and hold
was still rather fun—and I showed him our trenches. Need- on, and then tried to show some worried Guardsmen how
less to say, he was pulled out a quarter of an hour later to to prime Hawkins grenades. While I was battling with
defend Battalion Headquarters, which was afraid of a tank these—I didn't know so much about them as I thought-a
break-through from the rear. There had been a rumbling slim and familiar figure appeared beside me, whose arrival
beyond the river, but nothing came of it. Bobs was back I found astonishing, for I had left Tony Stilwell behind
again next morning, unimpaired, and settled down beside
at Philippeville, securely entrenched. He had left, he said,
our headquarters.
five days after us and arrived that evening, bringing with
By now the moon was rising, and I groped among the him the irrepressible Geoffrey Bourne-May, whose wit,
cans and poured myself out a sorely needed drink. Then
I thought, would definitely enliven the staid gloom of a
back to the telephone. There was someone else there now battlefront. My spirits were raised, only to be damped
whom I did not recognize. Dim remembrances from my again when I remembered my patrol next day—now looming
first term at Christ Church identified him as David Joicey,
even more alarmingly after to-night's attack. The attack,
presumably second in command to Roger. We talked a incidentally, had been mainly against the Queens, but two
little, occasionally scrambling up the bank to see what an
half-track troop carriers had got across the main bridge
extra loud burst of firing meant. It never seemed to mean on our right—where the mines for some reason had to be
anything very much, and at length my curiosity got the moved—and unloaded on the road just in front of us. One
better of me and I decided to go up to Dick Ker and see had been destroyed with our grenades; the Germans had
what was happening. After being ferociously challenged been mopped up with a few casualties to ourselves; the
by sentries all along the moonlit track, I found No. I spandaus which they had got on to the road were winkled
Company Headquarters in a field enclosed on three sides
out, and careful patrolling failed to reveal any left alive
by a thin hedge and on the fourth by the river, about our side of the canal. As that seemed all there was to it
I went back to bed, telling Johanson and the guard to call
me at four-thirty. My first day at the front had ended
safely.

Thurs. 16 Sept.
It was a clear, dewy morning, professing no connection
with the adventures of the night before. The gentle sigh
of the shells added to the calm of the day. Alan told me
I was to join Richard Caroe's platoon “under instruction
with a view to taking it over in a few days. I went up to
his platoon position, which extended in a wide arc round
half the outside of the bamboo hedge which enclosed No. I
Company Headquarters, and found him tired and listless,
grappling with the problem raised by the wounding of
his platoon sergeant the previous night. He had little time
to think, however, and I had little time to settle into the
shallow grave which he offered me. Soon after I arrived
he was called to company headquarters, and thence he
returned with orders to beat all round our area in order
to unearth any enemy who might have been left over from
the previous night.
I went with him on one wing of his platoon. In extended
Signallers duck for cover as a shell lands close. Near Battipaglia,
Sept. 1943
184
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
hot.
a
order we beat through vineyards, orchards, fields and thick Sat. 18-Sun. 19 Sept.
tobacco plantations. Our only excitement was when one
I can remember little about the next two days, for there
of our gunners let off a burst at a farmhouse window,
was little to remember. I suspect my memory plays me
shouting, “There's someone up there, sir!” There was :
false and that there was, in fact, only one day before we
unmistakably English roars came from the house and an
moved on towards Salerno. Anyhow, life was fairly peace-
infuriated voice cried, “Stop that bloody firing—there's
ful and we practised “routine in the section post” un-
an OP up here!” We found an abandoned spandau and
disturbed by Germans or others. On Saturday morning
a few carrier belts and returned tired and angry for lunch.
Richard arrived with the Naafi rations and I had the dull
In the afternoon I learned the delights of washing in
but pleasant business of dealing them out: the cigarette
a river. Frantically clutching at branches, the mud squelch-
packets, the soap, the matches, the sweets and the chewing-
ing deliciously between my toes, I ventured by inchmeal
gum. The section commanders watched the distribution
into the cold, muddy stream.
narrowly. On the whole we did well for rations. Compo'
Do not fear to dip thy feete
boxes contained tins of bacon, sausages, stew, steak-and
Naked in the river sweete.
Think not newt nor horned toad
kidney pudding, “M. and V.", Irish stew, fruit, assorted
Will byte thy foot, where thou hast trod ...
puddings, butter, cheese, jam, biscuits, chocolate, boiled
And, in fact, I had a very satisfying shave, up to my waist
sweets, cigarettes—usually, it must be admitted, the in-
in midstream.
famous “Vs”—and, most important of all, lavatory paper.
Nothing further happened until the evening. Shells and
We always fed well, and the tea, compounded from tins
aircraft passed peacefully overhead, distant explosions
of ready mixed tea, sugar and milk powder, was at least
gently shook the air, and I deepened my grave and dozed,
cursing the trickles of earth which slipped from the side
Italian civilians were a problem. I was sorry for them,
of the trench on to my face. The afternoon turned golden,
and tried to be polite, but it is hard to be anything with
and Richard Lumley suddenly turned up with a trium-
no Italian but a smattering of Mozart's operas and a minute
a
a
phantly returning fighting patrol and two pale, bewildered
dictionary. They would come along the road when times
German boys of no more than sixteen. He had seen the
were quiet to visit their houses or try to work in the fields.
Germans digging in—where I did not gather—and snapped
The sentries rounded them up and brought them to me.
up these two stragglers.
Ah, l'ufficio,” they would think, and poured out their
woes in a torrent of musical speech. I would smile hope-
fully, flick through my dictionary. “E neccesario di acete
Fri. 17 Sept.
un pass. No, ic can nicht un pas donare. Sie mussen go
con the soldate. He will prendete vous alla colonel.” “Ah,
The day spread invitingly before me, unengaged. At leisure
signor, abbiamo venuto di ...” and it would all begin
I took a spade and disappeared behind a hedge, and later
wandered down to the river to bathe. To-day I was bolder
again. They understood not a word, but took it in good
and immersed myself gasping in the clear flowing stream-
a feat requiring more courage than anything we had done
the night before. Richard Lumley was there, shaving un-
comfortably. Having nothing to do, I determined to find
Michael Kinchin-Smith, who was pioneer officer. A path
led through the meadows from Battalion Headquarters
to the pioneers, entrenched farther down the road; and
in the middle of six trenches and trampled tobacco stalks
Michael sat serenely drinking tea and examining mine
charts. His self-possession is as unquenchable as the Mona
Lisa's smile, and his brisk, businesslike welcome was
unmoved as in Oxford days. We talked for a little ...
I slept again, fitful and uncomfortable in the hot after-
noon sun, while the guns and the planes overhead provided
a background soothing as a lawn mower. Then, after tea,
Richard Caroe bumped past on a jeep, and barely stopped
to shout at me, “Take over the platoon, will you? I am
going second in command. Sgt. Hurst will ...” And the
rest was lost as he roared away down to Battalion Head-
quarters. I roused myself from my stupor, summoned the
platoon sergeant and learned what I could from him.
Lt. E. S. Skinner CMF 11.9.43

a
185
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?
part. My attempted kindliness was despised by various unearthed only after an hour's excavation. There were
other officers, whose methods, no doubt rightly, were more clothes of every kind: green uniforms, socks, stockings,
in keeping with our rôle of invading enemy.
shirts, boots, underclothes, towels, peaked caps, helmets,
Meanwhile Alan and Dick had pooled resources and equipment—all of good quality save the equipment, which
started some sort of company mess for Nos. I and 2. was of a shoddy imitation leather tearing as easily as card-
Down by the river, under the trees, they had set up a table. . board. There were medical supplies : field dressings, first-
On its snowy cloth were laid cutlery, plates and glasses, aid kits, exciting little ampoules in boxes, which may have
and a great cut-glass bowl full of nuts and apples. All was been morphia or benzedrine. There were grenades, rifles,
“borrowed” from the neighbouring farmhouse, and very shells, Teller mines. There were Verey pistols and signal
nice it was too.
cartridges, a powerful pair of periscopic binoculars, scarlet
aircraft signals which opened on a stick like lunatic sun-
Mon. 20 Sept.
shades or vast fans, and exquisitely thin rainproof capes
which folded up to the size of a large envelope. There were
Suddenly there was a roar of engines from my platoon
letters, notebooks, postcards, official orders, military
position, and we ran, startled, to look. Bursting through
manuals; and there was food-pumper-nickel, biscuits,
the bamboo hedge, we were in time to see Richard Caroe
hard black bread, butter in orange bakelite dishes, tins
leading in his prizes from no-man’s-land: three great half-
of stew, long sausages and cartons of sweets. A horrible
track troop-carriers, one equipped with a 6-pounder gun,
smell of decay, which we had first attributed to the remains
and three enormous motor cycles, all in excellent condition.
of the owner undiscovered somewhere under a seat, was
My platoon rose as one man from their slit trenches and
at length tracked down to a metal container. When its
flung themselves on these half-tracks. It took some minutes
lid was removed we found it half full of cooked meat,
to restore order.
putrefying and sizzling, writhing with a thousand white
For these vehicles were full to the top with kit. Never
worms, sending off almost visible waves of smell. No
have I seen anything like it. They were so full that we could
wonder, thought I, regarding it, the ancients believed that
not conceive how anyone had ever got into them; so full
the sun bred maggots in a dead dog. Here was partheno-
that rifles and ammunition sank out of sight and were
genesis with a vengeance. We sickened, and threw the whole
thing into the river, where the clear water washed it and
made it pure.
We all fell to and sorted these things out. A pile of
clothes ; a pile of arms; a pile of letters, to be unloaded on
a furious intelligence officer; a pile of food; a pile of
medicaments; and a pile of oddments. For my own use
I stole a tin of cherry jam, a pair of binoculars far too
heavy for me, two aircraft signals to keep the sun off my
trench, and a thin groundsheet. This groundsheet, made
of material thin as gossamer and tearing, if one was not
careful, like tissue paper, I kept till the end. I can feel
now its cracking roughness beneath me on the ground and
smell its pungency. If I had it with me I could recall the
whole atmosphere of those days in a shuddering and
revolted nostalgia. Fortunately I have not.
We could make little use of this great pile of booty.
We were expecting to move at any minute in that infuriating
uncertainty which characterizes all military operations, and
we were almost certain that the move would take place
at night. Blankets were to be rolled in section bundles and
taken, with cooking pots and my suitcase, back to the
company trucks. We had appropriated a half-track for the
company and a motor cycle for the platoon; but this latter
proved noisy and useless, and was discarded. What we
were going to do, we had no idea—or only a vague surmise
that we would push on until we found the Germans, who
had apparently withdrawn deep into the hills, and engage
them again. Alan went off on a reconnaissance, and I
Lt. the Hon. D. H. Joicey CMF 25.9.43
wandered along to company headquarters with my runner

186
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
to await his return. Geoffrey Bourne-May was sitting there, “Good, I'll just see if it works.”
only a shade less unruffled than usual, and we sat together I plunged off through the darkness and trampled about
feeling very depressed.
for a quarter of an hour. Then I came back. “Where the
.. We left the Tusciano soon after dark, sorted our- hell is this bloody wire?”
selves out with very little confusion and marched off along “Just across there. You can't miss it.”
the road. I remembered another night march across Essex “Like hell I can't. You try.”
six months earlier, and thanked heaven that this one was After ten minutes George returned slowly. “Yes,” he
at least short. It was all so uneventful, and within an hour remarked, “perhaps you can.”
we were digging in, one section twenty yards up on either So I went back to my platoon, which was following the
side of the path, the other two back in the corners of the excellent example of Cpl. Warrior and digging indus-
orchard. My headquarters I placed in a small barn full of triously. At about one o'clock we finished and went to
hay on the left of the gate, and had trenches dug behind it sleep; it was pleasant to have a roof over my head again.
to protect our rear. Then I wandered through the trees The smell of my groundsheet mingled unforgettably with
to find the other platoons.
the smell of the hay. Only a few rats appeared.
“Careful,” said George Gidney, appearing from behind a On the evening of the 21st September we moved in
tree, “we've just laid a trip wire across your front. It stretches convoy down to Salerno and relieved the Durham Light
right across the orchard.”
Infantry on the hills above the town.

BN. H.Q.
NO3
Coy
RTA
NAPLES
Bn,
Mortars
8
NO2 Coy H.Q.
NO 4 Coy H.Q.
No 4 Coy
21
NO
VOLTURNO RIVER
CERMAN POSITIONS
I
ON
5p.1
4rl
Coy
(0)
6RI.
BIOwen
Bridges
GERMAN
H.
EBLOWN BRIDGE
CASSINO
CASSINO
An aerial view of Capua, with the Volturno river flowing through the centre. The 3rd Battalion arrived here during the second week in
Oct. 1943, and took over positions from the Grenadiers in the town. In many places only the breadth of the river separated these positions from the
Germans, who were entrenched on the north bank, and this close proximity afforded excellent opportunities for snipers
187
«NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''
CAPUA TO TEANO
October 1943
By ALAN DAVIDSON
find the spot that he had marked as his company head-
quarters teeming with Bosche. Even an extremely gallant
fighting patrol from No. 3 Company, led by Larch Loyd,
failed to dislodge the enemy. Eventually Nos. 2 and 4
Companies attacked the position before dawn in pouring
rain, only to find, to their immense relief, that the Germans
had left an hour before. On arrival at the objective, Norman
Keith-Cameron put us all to shame by stripping to the
waist and washing, clad in a pair of red braces. A German
officer, who was captured soon after, said he considered
the attack done by Larch's platoon the braveșt thing he had
Early in October the battalion was ordered to take over
positions from the Grenadiers in and around Capua. Capua,
an old mediæval and Roman town, is situated on a loop
of the Volturno; it is an important road junction with three
bridges (of course, blown) over the river, which is about
fifty yards across. The Germans occupied positions on the
north bank, while we held the south bank, living in houses
in the town.
Roger Beck, with No. 4 Company, took over from Peter
4
Marsham, while I relieved Gerald Potter with No. 2 Com-
pany. No. 3 Company, under Mervyn Griffith-Jones,
occupied positions on the river-bank just above the town.
Both the company headquarters in Capua were ensconced
in a keep of the old castle, with walls forty feet thick. We
had never doubted Gerald Potter's savoir faire, but this
was undoubtedly his masterpiece. The platoons lived in
houses by day with a few sentries, and occupied improvised
a
positions by night. The Germans opposite must have
been green troops, because they were very careless about
taking cover. Consequently our snipers and mortarmen
were very busy. Peter Wyld, with his trusty Sgt. Mayhew,
rained mortar bombs on the Tedeschi; Gdsm. Cannell,
a No. 2 Company sniper, crawled forward by day and
killed two Germans; Gdsm. Whitehead accounted for
two more. Richard Lumley was unfortunate enough to be
hit rather badly by a mortar bomb while standing in a
doorway. No. 4 Company's snipers were even more suc-
cessful and killed two Germans standing in one slit trench.
After three days in these positions the Oxford and Buck-
inghamshire Light Infantry took over from us, and we con-
tinued the advance on the north bank of the Volturno,
crossing over a bridge built higher up, where the Americans
had forced a bridgehead. The hand-over went smoothly,
even though Mervyn never really grasped the name of the
company commander who relieved him. Eventually, he
compromised with “Ponsonby", a reasonable enough
name though far from the correct one.
After crossing the river we had to climb a very steep hill,
rightly called Monte Grande. This height, according to
the Americans whom we were relieving, was entirely free
of Germans. Gervase Falkiner, however, who was com-
manding No. 3 Company, was somewhat taken aback to

Lt. A. P. Stilwell CMF 18.12.43
188
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

Key
No. 4 Company crossing the Volturno, Oct.
1943
Near side: Gdsm. Toon (leading), Lanchester,
Dixon, Halstead and Walshaw
Far side: Sgt. Carlton (leading), Gdsm.
Martin

This picture was taken while the battalion was
carrying for the Grenadiers near Pignataro,
25.10.43, and shows Cpl. J. Stafford and
Gdsm. G. Ives resting after their exertions
A
189
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'


CQMS Rielly (No. 4 Company)
Michael Philips buying some fruit near
Pignataro, Oct. 1943
ever seen. He especially remarked on the way every effort
was made to get the wounded out of it. Ralph Benson,
meanwhile, had done a mammoth patrol and had recon-
noitred the next three hills. The battalion moved on, with
Nos. 2 and 4 Companies on either side of the Mount of
Olives. No. 4 ran into trouble first and lost two men
prisoners, though they gained their objective before dark.
No. 2 met opposition a little later, but David Quilter and
Hank Tom led a spirited charge through an olive grove and
a
accounted for ten Germans, including an officer, capturing
six and killing or wounding four. Sgt. “Ginger” Lee and
Gdsm. Harrison, a reservist thirty-seven years of age, were
,
much in evidence during this episode, and fairly let fly with
tommy-guns and grenades.
Early the next day No. 2 Company almost lost its
company commander. A dud shell landed a little way up
the hill from where I was performing my usual morning
toilet, bounced twice and skimmed over my head into the
valley below. I was considerably startled by its unex-
pected arrival and failed to see the funny side of it until
quite some time afterwards. On the same morning, at
dawn, the Scots Guards passed through No. 2 Company
and carried on along the ridge for another three miles.
No. 2 took over from a “Kiddy” company the next day
on the top of a bleak height, under the watchful eyes of
an 88-mm. gun which gave us little peace and caused a
few casualties. The stretcher-bearers had a very long carry,
but Cpl. Brennan, another reservist thirty-eight years of
age, performed wonders. Meanwhile Nos. 3 and Com-
panies had been pulled back a little way, near Pignataro.
It was near here that poor Bobby McDougall and Cpl.
Collier, one of his best NCOs and an old member of the
battalion, drove over a Teller mine in a jeep and were
both killed. Bobby had been signal officer since Syria
and we were all very fond of him. He was a great
loss.
No. 2 Company followed into reserve a day later and
for a moment there were slight hopes of a rest. We were
soon disappointed, however. The Scots Guards and Grena-
diers were ordered to clear a parallel range of hills, very
steep and high, where all supplies would have to be carried
and dumps made in the path of the advance along the crest
of the ridge. The battalion was to organize this supply
route and assist in the carrying. Support Company officers
made a welcome appearance at this point and some of the
rifle company officers enjoyed a rest in glorious weather.
The Grenadiers and the Scots Guards carried out their
task admirably and took a number of prisoners. The
Germans withdrew slowly in the direction of Teano and
the whole Brigade had forty-eight hours rest. Meanwhile,
one of the other Brigades of 56th Division had forced a
crossing over the Teano river and we had once more to
continue the advance behind them, coming into contact
with the enemy in the outskirts of Teano, where Cpl.
Gregory of No. 2 Company was wounded for the second
time. The remainder of 56th Division pushed on to the
River Garigliano and the base of Monte Camino, which
looked rocky and forbidding in the last of the good
weather. There was no sign of movement amongst those
ghastly rocks and Divisional Intelligence assured us it
was unoccupied. But here, for once, they were to prove
wrong.
4
190
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
THE FIRST BATTLE OF MONTE CAMINO
5-14 November 1943
By MERVYN GRIFFITH-JONES
By the beginning of November 1943, the British and public, through the becoming delicacy of its newspapers,
Americans fighting their way up the west coast had halted as “Bare Back Slope”.
before the River Garigliano near the sea and Monte Camino Roger Beck with No. 4 Company and Mervyn Griffith-
some miles inland. A great mountain massif of bare rock Jones with No. 3 set off at last light to capture the spur
rising to over three thousand feet, Camino in enemy hands
,
and the village of Calabritto. Roger's company reached
forbade any attempt to cross the river or to travel the road and installed themselves upon the spur without opposition.
to Rome which ran immediately below its eastern slopes. No. 3 Company were less fortunate, and Larch Loyd had
On the night of the 5th November 201 Guards Brigade gone only a small distance with the leading platoon before
attacked. The 3rd Coldstream Guards were to capture he ran into a minefield and was himself badly wounded.
ground lying immediately to the south-west. Their objec- The German section that had been covering it fled in panic,
tives were the village of Calabritto and a small spur which with the exception of one man who was caught and, with
jutted forward from the base of the mountain, from which a bayonet firmly held between his shoulder blades, made
the 6th Grenadier Guards, with a company of the 2nd to lead the company in single file through the remainder
Scots Guards, were to start at midnight to scale the great of his mines. He led them a tortuous route half way up
rock face of “Barearse Ridge”-known to the English Roger Beck's spur, where our own gun-fire had set the

Monte Camino
191
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

bracken alight; and here more determined resistance was
offered by a German spandau shooting with unpleasant
accuracy at the company as they approached in the glare of
the flames.
It was Peter Wyld who made short shift of this obstruc-
tion. As battalion mortar officer, Peter had accompanied
No. 3 Company so as to set up his mortars in Calabritto,
and when Larch had been put out of action he had volun-
teered to take over his platoon. He now asked to be allowed
to go forward by himself with one other to winkle out the
spandau and so save what might have been a costly little
assault. Within ten minutes he was back—and the spandau
had gone. Other enemy machine-guns which had opened
up with tracer on fixed lines were dealt with by the com-
pany's Vickers guns, which a valiant machine-gun section
,
never tired of hauling on their backs over the most fearful
country.
Calabritto
By six o'clock in the morning the company stormed
into the village while the pre-arranged stonk was still
completely cut off, and stories soon came back of wounded
falling. Peter, still in the lead, cleared what remained of
men lying unattended and unapproachable in the bitter
the resistance by fighting a private duel with the only
cold; of hand-to-hand battles being fought with the Ger-
German sentry brave enough to stay above ground. Luck-
mans as they repeatedly attacked to dislodge them from
less Peter! After a battle in which he had distinguished their foothold; and of Ralph Howard, with both legs
;
himself beyond all praise, it was with a piece of his own
smashed, repelling the Germans by throwing his mess-tins
grenade firmly lodged in his behind that he had now to
and water bottle at them when no more grenades were
return to Battalion Headquarters to receive medical atten- left.
tion. The remaining garrison of twenty Germans were
Below, the Germans subjected Calabritto to incessant
captured as they sheltered in a very deep hole, whereupon shell-fire in the hope of dislodging No. 3 Company. That
3
the village was put into a state of defence and occupied
may have been a vain hope—but they mortally wounded
by No. 3 Company for the next three days.
our Commanding Officer, David Forbes. Of the numerous
Meanwhile the 6th Grenadier Guards had scaled to the losses within the battalion, none hurt so cruelly as this. It was
top of Barearse Ridge on the night of the 5th November,
David's pride that, since the first days of the war, he had
there meeting heavy resistance, and for the next three days
missed no single battle. His one ambition, to command
they held on precariously. Two of their companies were the 3rd Battalion, had been realized only some few weeks
before, when he took over from Terence Falkiner, and in
that short time he had come to be loved and respected
by all ranks under his command. His name will be coupled
with that of the 3rd Battalion, and particularly with No. 3
Company, for all time.
On the night of the 8th November the London Scottish
took over Calabritto and on the following evening the
battalion relieved the Grenadiers on the top of the hill.
With our own people holding the summit of Barearse Ridge,
it was possible to use the mule track which led up a gully
in the southern face of the mountain. Even so—carrying
food, water, ammunition and greatcoats—it was a three
hours' climb. Only a few hundred yards of ground were
held on the top, and it was impossible to find room for
more than two companies and a skeleton Battalion Head-
quarters. The third rifle company nestled themselves in
under a great rock face which fell sheer for 500 feet below
the crest. Support and Headquarter Companies acted as
carriers of food, water and ammunition.
Maj.-Gen. Templar and Lt.-Gen. Sir Richard McCreery discussing
the situation in the Monte Camino area, 9.11.43. Jonathan Blow,
For the next five days the battalion remained in this
Bde. 10 (with papers) stands by with the latest information position. The Scots Guards came up and attacked on the

192
THE THIRD BATTALION ÎN ITALY


38
Lt. C. H. Tuke CMF 6.11.43
Lt.-Col. David Forbes, M.C. CMF 13.11.43
battalion's right, but they were unable to make much head-
way. Likewise a battalion of the Oxford and Buckingham-
shire Light Infantry. The Germans were pouring in rein-
forcements and by now it required far greater strength to
force them back than one Brigade could provide.
The enemy did all they could to dislodge us. Our little
area was shelled and shelled, and in the hard ground the
rock splinters were no less tiresome than the pieces of metal.
Those sheltering below the face had tons of rock hurled
down upon them by shells bursting on the edge of it above.
The whole position was under view of the enemy in the
monastery, which perched upon the highest peak of the
mountain a mile to the battalion's right. Enemy snipers
infiltrated into positions from which they were continuously
harassing the companies and the carrying parties which
brought supplies up the mule track. Alan Davidson's No. 2
Company was twice attacked in daylight, and the enemy
was only driven off by the determined resistance of Simon
Codrington's platoon and by the accurate Bren-gunning
of Gdsm. Timms and Tony Harbord-Hamond, who, stand-
ing and shooting from the shoulder, broke up the enemy
as they attacked.
At the foot of the hill Paul Bowman, Rowlands, RSM
Joel and the whole of Support Company had been working
tirelessly to keep the companies on top supplied, and they
also helped to bring down the wounded. It took eight men
some four hours to carry every stretcher down a precipitous
slope from the top, and what those wounded men suffered
in the descent can hardly be imagined.
After the attack of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire
Light Infantry had failed to enlarge the bridgehead, it
became apparent that an attack in greater strength was
required to take Camino. The enemy shelling and sniping
of the mule-track had already become more intensified,
and there could be no certainty that that one and only
supply route could be kept open much longer. In addition,
the almost continuous rain of that week had greatly
increased the Divisional Commander's difficulty in supply-
ing his other units on the low ground near the Garigliano,
which were relying more and more on carrying parties for
their provision. And so it was that the decision was taken
to withdraw from the mountain.
On the roth November George Burns had arrived to
take over command of the battalion from Ronnie Strutt,
who had been commanding since David Forbes had been
wounded. George's enthusiasm had been infectious to every-
one, even on the top of Camino; and now, thankful as we
all were that an end should come to what had been a most
trying five days, it was with a feeling of very real sorrow
that, after achieving so much, we now had to give up our
positions to the enemy.
Considerable dumps of food and ammunition had by
this time been built up just below the top of the hill. On
the 14th November as much as possible of these was
carried down and the remainder destroyed. The sight of
Gervase Falkiner and CSM Smy breaking bottles of rum
on the rocks is quite unforgettable.
As soon as darkness fell the rifle companies withdrew
from their positions and, in blinding darkness, scrambled
down the hill. By some providence there was no shelling
and, save for one patrol which appeared as the last platoon
was about to leave its position, the enemy did not interfere.
That one patrol left ten dead men behind it, and it was
sufficient to stop any other going out for the next two days.
From the hill across the valley, where we rested, we
could see the German shells still exploding on our empty
positions, and with cruel delight we pictured the German
soldiers still standing-to in the freezing rain which con-
tinued to beat down on Camino's rocky head. When they
did eventually dare to come forward they fell victims to
the work of our sappers, who had followed the battalion
down the hill. It was a month later when we next climbed
Camino, and the then familiar mule-track was strewn with
still unburied Germans who had trodden the mines we
left behind us. To the uninitiated, straight from Pirbright,
they may have presented a gruesome spectacle; but for those
who could remember Mike Wills, John Loyd, Michael
Brodrick and David Forbes, and who were so soon to lose
such friends as John Hamilton and Geoffrey Clark, there
could hardly have been a more exhilarating sight.
13
193
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
THE ORDER OF BATTLE
1 December 1943
Lt.-Col. W. A. G. BURNS
Maj. the Hon. A. R. G. STRUTT
Capt. P. H. A. BOWMAN
Commanding Officer
Second in command
Adjutant
HQ Company
Commander and IO
Patrol Platoon
Commander
Quartermaster
Medical Officer
Maj. J. G. C. CLARK
Lt. J. E. HAMILTON
Lt. L. ROWLANDS
Capt. D. FORGAN
The Rev. G. A. LEVIS
Padre
Bechelon
Lt. A. YATES
Maj. N. E. KEITH-CAMERON
A echelon
No. 2 Company
No. 4 Company
Support Company
Capt. D. F. D. NOEL
Company
Commanders
Maj. R. J. V. CRICHTON
No. 3 Company
Maj. J. M. G. GRIFFITH-
JONES
Maj. R. BECK
Second in
command
Capt. A. F. DAVIDSON
Capt. G. L. FALKINER
Capt. R. BENSON
Capt. W. A. GILLILAN
Platoon
Commanders
Lt. G. A. GIDNEY
Lt. G. J. T. JONES
Lt. M. F. T. BRIDGER
Lt. P. M. CORBOULD
Lt. D. M. DE L. CAZENOVE
Lt. N. W. S. MITCHISON
Lt. D. C. E. HELME
Lt. S. F. B. CODRINGTON
Lt. T. J. GURNEY
Lt. A. C. GROVER
Lt. the Hon. A. P.
HARBORD-HAMOND
N.B. No. 1 Company still non-existent since Salerno.

The mule track supplying Camino. German shells can be seen bursting half-way down the hill
194
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITÁLY
THE SECOND BATTLE OF MONTE CAMINO
2-11 December 1943
Extracts from the Diary of David HELME
2 Dec.
moved. Eventually we flushed one Hun and I shot him.
Moved to concentration area. No. 4 Company (Roger
Great satisfaction.
Beck) with the MMG platoon (Robin Gillilan) was called
We suffered the greatest and saddest loss in the deaths
“Lanceforce”. Our job was to follow 56th Division and
of John Hamilton and Geoffrey Clark, two of the most
swing left to take certain features during the night of the
charming and delightful friends to know and have in the
3rd, then the battalion and the Brigade would follow up in
battalion. Sgt. Lovelace, John's platoon sergeant, went out
daylight on the 4th.
and avenged John's death by stalking and killing the sniper.
Eventually we got dug in and built sangars.
3 Dec.
We spent all night climbing up Barearse Ridge. Twelve
and a half hours with Everest packs was a severe test.
56th Division was held up slightly, so as dawn broke
Lanceforce had to get down on the reverse slope of Barearse
and not attack in daylight, which would have been suicide.
4 Dec.
a
Very tired, we spent the day in the rain until the rest of
the battalion climbed up the mule track to join us.
I saw Peter Osmond (56 Recce) coming down the hill
after his lone patrol to the Monastery. Peter, a South
African friend of mine, was a wonderful shot and stalker.
He always preferred to go out by himself and had twenty-
two Huns to his credit.
The battalion attacked at night features 683 and 615 to
the left and north of Monastery Hill. John Hamilton knew
the ground from the first battle of Camino, so his patrol
platoon went in advance. It took the whole night to reach
the objective and my boots (from Fortnum and Mason)
were torn to shreds by the end of the march.
6 Dec.
The Scots Guards and Grenadiers came through us to take
Aquapendola Ridge ahead. Gave strong covering fire as
they crossed the open ground. No casualties. They lined
up behind our ridge, then the barrage started and they
went over. Fortunately there was very little opposition.
Hun mortars opened up on our ridge and I got a small
wound on the head. Slightly stunned, but nothing bad.
Strong, sweet tea in the RAP very welcome.
No more trouble that night, so we had a moderate sleep.
Mules and porters had heavy casualties bringing rations.
They did heroic work, but a lot of rations and water were
abandoned.
After the first couple of days we had to stretch ground-
sheets and gas-capes out to catch rainwater for drinking.
No chance of shaving, as any cut would have become in-
fected; but I had a good wash in a shell hole. Men's hands
and feet were rather swollen after the rain and exposure.
Very few rations arrived, and we eventually had to eat our
emergency rations. Cooked with tommy cookers. Fires im-
possible. Rum rations more than welcome. Colonel George
was a tremendous source of encouragement and cheer. He
was quite untiring, striding along to visit every position
and making jokes with everyone. His beard was even
longer than mine!
5 Dec.
7-10 Dec.
Reached objective just as it was getting light. We were
right in amongst the enemy rear-guard with the only line
of communication the frontal slope of Barearse, which was
under direct fire.
Just as we were taking up position a Hun sniper opened
up with a spandau, and mortar bombs landed amongst us.
No. 4 Company got the brunt of the fire, as we were more
in the open and not really in position. Sgt. Curry, Gdsm.
Beevers and Gdsm. Preston were wounded. Henderson got
a sniper's bullet in the left arm-a clean wound, fortunately,
just a small, neat hole. Patched him up quickly. David
Forgan, the MO, had been killed with the Padre on the
previous night by a shell that landed at the rear of the
battalion. Great difficulty in evacuating casualties, as Bare-
arse was under observation and snipers opened up if we
At last rations began to come through. It had been difficult
to keep cigarettes and tobacco dry, as the rucksacks were
saturated the first night. But my cheroots still in good
order! Bundles of mail arrived—terrific joy.
II Dec.
Left our positions at daybreak. Wonderful prospect of a
good wash and sleep. Had only one blanket each on the
hill and had to sleep two or three together to keep warm.
195
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME')

No. 3 Company wait in
the chestnut woods before
the assault on Camino.
The five signallers in the
centre are (left to right)
Sgt. Davidson, Gdsm.
Stokes, Wilson, Walker
and Fish
No.3 Company cleaning
their weapons before mov-
ing up. Gdsm. Dover is
on the left
Jeep convoys, supplying
Camino, splashing their
way through San Clemente
196
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY


Bringing prisoners back from Camino to Calabritto
Stretcher-bearers on the mule-track


22
Men of the battalion just back from Camino. Cpl. Trevis in the
centre; Sgt. Kelly and Gdsm. Hurst on the right
Dickie Gilbert and the 56th Div. Concert Party giving a performance
in the woods around Roccamonfina. This concert party followed us up
in Italy and was often a great source of entertainment to both the 2nd
and 3rd Battalions, particularly in the former's sergeants' mess


An MMG of the Cheshire Regiment in action on the summit of Camino
Lt. J. E. Hamilton, M.C. CMF 7.12.43
197
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'

The Unveiling of
the Memorial Plaque
on Monte Camino
Lt.-Gen. Sir Richard McCreery standing in front of the plaque after the
unveiling
O for
N the 2nd May, 1944, Moroccan Goums of the CEF (Corps Expéditionnaire Français) paid homage to
November and December the previous year.
During training exercises on the mountain the Goums found the bodies of several men, whom they interred
with full military honours. So impressed were they with the gallantry which was needed to take such a
formidable obstacle that they carved a plaque out of the rock on the mountain as a tribute to their bravery.
This was unveiled in the presence of Lt.-General Sir Richard McCreery, 1o Corps Commander, who was
in charge of the operation against Monte Camino. General Guillaume was also present.

AUX COMBATTANTS BRITANNIQUES
TOMBES GLORIEUSEMENT AU MONTE CAMINO
NOVEMBRE DECEMBRE 1943
LES GOUMS MAROCAINS
198
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
Battalion Headquarters at Trimonsuoli
January 1944
By Simon PHIPPS
No one could have been happier than we were at Battalion number of different regiments at this time. Our nicest
Headquarters in the 3rd Battalion. I joined it at Trentola, guest was George Peel of the Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry,
when the battalion was resting after the two Camino battles who had been at Eton with Colonel George and could hardly
in January 1944. Besides Colonel George Burns, there was be persuaded from firing his guns at every hour of the day
Paul Bowman as Adjutant and Sammy Clowes as intelli- and night. They eventually had to withdraw beyond the
gence officer, and at one time or another we were joined Garigliano, as the barrels were worn out.
by Mervyn Griffith-Jones, commanding Support Company, Our main prop and stay was Colonel George's servant,
Tom Egerton and Andrew Cavendish, who had the anti- Bailey, whose offices were performed with an intrepidity
tank guns, Bobs Herschell, the pioneer officer, and Hubert and regularity that was the wonder of all. He was like a
Snowden (“Aunt Ada"). Tony Yates and Rowlands used to long-relied-on Nannie to us. There was always tea for
come up and minister to us periodically from B echelon. us and for visitors, the menu was never repeated, albeit
We went into the line again on the 21st January at the rations were only bully-beef and “M. and V.", and all
Trimonsuoli, a little battered village on the Minturno ridge our wants were anticipated and fulfilled.
which we took over from the Green Howards. It was not Visitors used to come under cover of darkness, as all the
a pleasant place. Companies were subjected to almost non- tracks were registered and any movement brought down
stop mortar and shell-fire, as the Germans could observe immediate fire. The Brigade Commander used to come
us very clearly from a hill they still held adjoining our up while we were having breakfast at dawn and he was
position. Things were very fluid. There were counter- accompanied once by General Gregson-Ellis, our new
attacks and rumours of counter-attacks and at night a great Divisional Commander.
deal of patrolling by the enemy. Battalion Headquarters Strange things sometimes happened. After a rather harass-
were in a little house in the village with very little protection. ing time in the intelligence OP, Gourd, one of the section and
Mortar bombs would come down perpendicularly into the a renowned figure at Battalion Headquarters, rushed in and
street with never a warning sound, and we had a number reported “one light-brown fairy light”. On other occasions
of casualties. But in the little house we were safe. We used movement by large forces of armour below our hill was
only the ground-floor room, which was swarming with reported at night, but on investigation it turned out to be the
hibernating flies and starving fleas. Our plates of food continual purring of the sea far below. Gourd also reported
became black and “murmurous haunts” as the flies de-
"
seeing a “one-track vehicle” coming down the road.
scended in hundreds from the rafters. The fleas feasted on So there we sat, for ten days, listening to the approaching
us night and day and soon became almost companionable. roar of the “Formia Express”, the shell of a large gun which
Colonel George used to display a white arm studded with fired at the village, or the steady punctuation of mortaring
pink bites and talk of his visitors as though they were pets. on No. 2 Company. The signallers were up night and day
The room often looked like a scene in a play, since it was mending the lacerated lines, the intelligence were ever
vaulted with a single arch and the table bearing the maps vigilant in their OP looking out over olive-covered hills
and telephones was on a raised step, with a brilliant light to the peak of Spigno or Gaeta by the distant sea. RSM
from a wireless battery playing on it and usually a figure Joel left us to go home and D/Sgt. Woodmansey took his
seated on either side.
place. And on the 31st January Colonel Boy Harris and his
The overcrowding was terrible, but snug. Besides five Headquarters took over the little stuffy room, while the
of us, there was the battery commander supporting us and boots of Scots Guardsmen set up an endless tread in the
usually a couple of signallers. We were supported by a street outside as they marched to take over the position.
a


IT
Sandbagging is hard work?
Bobs Herschell and Paul Bowman outside Bn.
HQ, Trimonsuoli, Feb. 1944
“Wemell, you might as well be comfortable
while you can” (Hubert Snowden)
199
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''

H
Positano

The Bay of Naples during the eruption

(oudiisod 10 suasNW-4110m245 69909) inox pəuipm I

of Vesuvius, March 1944
CSM “Honest John” Harness
Don't turn this picture upside down—you might have a shock
200
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY


Claude Worrall
The eruption of Vesuvius caused great havoc in the villages at the base of the volcano


<<<
Johnny Shuldham and Tony Trenchard-Cox have a party at the
villa in Naples
ROMS Drakeley
Farewell to our Quartermaster, Lt. L. Rowlands, M.B.E.
Mellizzano, March 1944
Extract from the Diary of Simon PHIPPS
One evening last week we had a farewell dinner for Row-
lands. All the officers of the battalion came and we sat
down about forty in the dining-room. We had an excellent
dinner and drink flowed very freely. Colonel George was
tremendous, conducting his various songs, and we all joined
in—“Green grow the rushes-oh”, “Oh Flo, Flo, Flo”,
“Susie, Susie”, “The Sheik of Arabee”, “Ole King Cole”,
and many others.
After dinner a furious rough-house ensued, ending in
Colonel George, Andrew Cavendish and both Clowes
brothers lying in a heap on the ground. Andrew's little
finger was broken, and “Wacky” Jones disappeared with a
bronze statuette of Hermes, which was later found in Richard
Crichton's bed. Then Tom Egerton, dressed in his black and
yellow poshtin, drove us—Christopher Janson, Larch, Alan,
John Lloyd and me—to No.4 Company at breakneck speed.
201
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
No. 1 Company at Rionero
Wednesday 11 April-Wednesday 17 May
By DAVID QUILTER
I am writing this at 7.30 in the morning on our OP possible to stir at night without tripping up. Ronnie likes
“Groble”. The sun is shining, the nightingales are singing the telephone, and he is always ringing up one or other
with their usual brilliance and the whole world seems at of the platoon commanders to pass the time of day or to
peace. I am here with four Guardsmen observing for Henry inquire whether the wire is still there. He has twice tried
Bentinck, who has taken a patrol across the swamp to see to reach all outstations at the same time, but has failed on
whether Montenero is occupied by the enemy. We arrived both occasions—the first time because he fell out of bed
five days ago in a foggy drizzle. Battalion Headquarters re- at the critical moment, and the second time because the
mained in Rionero and the company was sent forward to de- signaller on the exchange ceased to co-operate.
fend a hill half-way between the vill ageand the River Sangro. We have taken over the outpost “Charlie” from No. 4
The weather, fortunately, improved almost immediately, Company. It consists of a scruffy little house standing on
and we soon made ourselves comfortable with sangars, its own by the railway crossing near the Sangro. We take
bivouacs and two Nissen huts which the Poles had thought- down a composite platoon every evening after dark and
fully built before our arrival. I am sharing a tent with return before first light, leaving a section as day OP. At
Ronnie Strutt in company headquarters. He has been in 4 a.m. on my second night there a small German patrol
great form, chasing the company from sangar to sangar came up to us unheard and attempted to grab Gdsm.
nd from crag to crag. Under his expert guidance we have Lilley as he was crossing the bridge with a box of rations.
constructed around our three-quarter-mile perimeter the In his surprise, he fell forward into some coils of Dannert
most awe-inspiring wire fence I should think the Army wire, whereupon the platoon opened up with every weapon
has ever seen. It is a veritable undergrowth of Triple in reach (even the Piat had a go!) and the patrol was
Dannert and Double Apron, at the sight of which even driven away. During its withdrawal the officer stepped on
the most hardened German patrol would turn back. Un- a mine, wounding himself in the leg. However, owing to
fortunately, in our enthusiasm, we quite forgot to leave the imminent approach of daylight we had to leave him,
an entrance, with the result that the ration and water trucks and he was later picked up by Tony Grover in a carrier
spent the greater part of the night disentangling them- bearing a conspicuous Red Cross flag. As he was lifted from
selves! We are known as “Stalag No. 1” by the rest of the ground he gave a most vigorous Nazi salute towards his
the battalion—with some justice, I am bound to admit. positions, which inspired one battery commander to remark
Still not satisfied with his defences, Ronnie asked the afterwards "I hope you took a bearing on the salute.”
pioneers to set up twenty-four trip-flares outside the fence. On their way down to “Charlie” one evening in a jeep
This proved to be a waste of time, because the sheep dealt Gervase Falkiner and Larch Loyd mistook a red torch for a
effectively with seventeen of them within twenty-four hours. green and were shot at by two of our sentries with a Bren and
At the expense of the other companies, Ronnie has a tommy-gun. Fortunately the former jammed and the latter
persuaded Simon Phipps to give us eight telephones and was inaccurate, so no harm was done. This incident has kept
an exchange. The hill is honeycombed with wires running Ronnie in high spirits for some time, though he was furious
to the platoons and attached arms, making it almost im- with the sentries for putting up such a bad performance.
a
-
a


Rionero, lcoking south
The main street in Rionero. Bn. HQ were up the steps at the end
202
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY



Gdsm. Rotherham, signaller in No. 1 Com-
pany
Ronnie Strutt washing outside his tent at
Rionero
The inhabitants of Little Scontrone, across the
River Sangro, used to hang this sheet from the
balcony each morning, which indicated to our
OP that the Germans were not in the village


Pay at No. 1 Company HQ, Rionero
Alfedena, taken from the German side. The Sangro river flows on the left.
In the centre can be seen the triangle of roads and railway with “Charlie'
OP at the apex. The road on the right leads up to Montenero

i
D
“Charlie” OP. A platoon occupied slit trenches round the house each night, and during the day a section occupied the ground floor. The right-hand
picture was taken from the point where Gdsm. Lilley was attacked by the enemy patrol (see page opposite)
203
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'


A section of No. 1 Platoon. Back Row: Harvey, Page, Viney.
Centre Row: Dixon, Hanson, Martin, Front Row: Barton, Lee
Duncan Sandys, M.P., visited the battalion at Rionero and observed
the enemy positions across the Sangro
Taking Over from the Poles
April 1944
Extract from the Diary of Simon PHIPPS
Easter Day to the Poles is as Hogmanay to the Scots. So it Gervase that the spandaus had not opened up on them.
was an entertaining business when we took over the Rionero “Then we could have seen where they were,” he said.
position from the Polish Division on their great day.
After several days all the Poles were gone. A month later
The first sign of the situation came when the main body, they took the Monastery at Cassino in one of the greatest
which had moved from Melizzano, met the Commanding
battles of the war.
Officer, who had gone ahead the day before. He gave out
orders and then told us that the Polish Commanding Officer
had challenged him to a drinking bout. The Pole was a thick-
set old soldier of fortune and Colonel George must have
accepted the challenge with a certain amount of misgiving.
However, his courage was rewarded, for he succeeded in
drinking the Pole under the table. He himself managed to
totter to his room with the aid of his well-known chestnut
staff and the Polish doctor. This dignitary, we discovered, had
orders always to be the last out of the mess at night in order
to lend a helping hand, as in the case of Colonel George.
The take-over was delayed for a day by the hang-over
to allow our hosts to recover. But we were none the less
impressed by them, both as charming people to deal with
and as first-rate soldiers. Hatred of the Germans seemed
to make even the worst drudgery of army life a pleasure,
while punishment was meted out in terms of “no patrols
for ten days”. Gervase Falkiner went on one of these
patrols with the Poles. In the middle of the night an Italian
came to them saying there were thirty-six spandaus on the
CQMS Dunford fitting two escaped POWs with new clothing at
ridge ahead of them. Later the Polish officer regretted to
24th Gds. Bde. HQ near Isernia

204
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
THE SUMMER OFFENSIVE, 1944
,
3.
Extracts from the Diary of David QUILTER
The Advance Party to Frasso, 19 May, 1944
Sun. 28 May
We slept the night in an outhouse of a farm—Roger,
John Pope has arrived and has taken over No. 3 Company.
Bobby and I. Roger woke up and saw a pigeon sitting on
Bobby's enormous backside. I can imagine few more Roccasecca, Mon. 29 May-Fri. 2 June
comfortable places to roost!
The battalion moves at 8.15 a.m. through Cassino to
Roccasecca, lying two miles north of Route 6. Two platoons
The Advance Guard leaves Frasso,
of No. 2 Company take up a position on the top of San
Thurs. 25 May
Nicola—a steady climb of nearly two hours.
Leave Frasso at 4 p.m. in the advance party with George
Montagu, Tom Egerton, Larch Loyd, John Lloyd and
Tues. 30 May
Tony Trenchard-Cox. We travel along Route 6 through The Rifle Brigade relieve us on San Nicola, and the company
Capua and park for the night just south of Mignano, under come down in driblets during the afternoon. We spend the
the shadow of Monte Camino. John Glynn has some dinner rest of the day bathing and digging—the eternal digging!
with us, but can give us no news of to-morrow, except that The river is freezing and I cannot face the plunge, though
the Brigade will probably follow in twenty-four hours' I feel rather ashamed when old Tom Egerton sidles in,
time. We have now joined forces with the Anzio beachhead. resembling an ancient sea-lion at the zoo about to bark
for a fish.
Fri, 26 May
Drive to Cervara, where we lunch off herrings and await
Fri. 2 June
orders. The news is good. The armour has pushed up I have two hours sleep, breakfast of tea and bacon at
Route 6 as far as Arce, and Velletri is in our hands. The 2.30 a.m., and leave with the recce party at 3.30—George
battalion has been given an area just off the main road, three Montagu leading the way in the darkness. We travel along
miles east of Cassino. Monte Cairo and Monastery Hill Route 6 through Arce, then turn left through Pofi and
tower above us, the famous building now a mere shell. Coccano. The dust is appalling, and I feel incredibly sleepy.
We eventually arrive at our concentration area and brew
Sat. 27 May
up on the side of the road, while Bobs Herschell's pioneers
The battalion arrives at 7.45 a.m. and settles into the area sweep the track into the fields. Tony Trenchard-Cox's jeep
without difficulty. Very hot to-day, and the flies are bad. loses a wheel on a pedal mine, but nobody is hurt. Battalion
Cpl. Smith dashes about putting officers in the book for do not arrive before ten o'clock-tired, dirty and hungry.
not having mosquito-proof bivouacs. Very keen.
Meal at I a.m., then sleep till 4 a.m.


No: 2 Company officers at Roccasecca
Richard Crichton, Geoffrey “Wacky” Jones, Archie Clowes
and Nigel Gardner
No. 2 Company's half-track with its driver, Gdsm. Grange. "Sally"
is sitting on the bonnet
205
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'S
Tues. 6 June
Sat. 10 June
How frequently we move and at such desperately short Search the area with Ronnie Strutt, but find only a few
notice! This morning the battalion is six miles south of inaccessible cherries. Ronnie climbs for them with com-
Rome, and the Americans are already inside the city. B mendable energy, looking like a little black monkey.
echelon spent last night in a field already occupied by the The battalion later drives through Viterbo, arriving at
French—due to our missing the way in the dark. I went up its new destination about 4 p.m. The object now is to
to Battalion Headquarters this morning to find preparations form a firm base beside the road while the tanks battle in
in progress for an attack by No. 2 Company with supporting front.
arms upon small pockets of enemy believed to be in the
vicinity. Terrific organization—tanks, artillery, carriers,
Sun. 11 June
anti-tank guns and the company in jeeps looking forward to
We all wake up in a pool of water, as it has chosen this
plenty of loot. The result was, of course, that they found
neither Germans nor loot, though they were fired on from a
unfortunate moment to pour with rain. Move at 7 a.m. and
distance. On their return they were ordered to move im-
make slow progress up the road. Rain pours down and
mediately across the Tiber with the rest of the battalion.
everyone is very wet about the legs. Richard Crichton is
absolutely soaked and resembles some weird scarecrow-
I had already gone forward to recce an area for B echelon
north of Rome. It took me two hours to cover the thirty
with his gas-cape over his head and wisps of hair spread-
miles here, double banking a continuous stream of traffic
eagled in every direction. To-night the battalion takes up
a position two miles south of Bagnoregio, which is held
most of the way. I was thrilled to be in Rome for the first
by the enemy.
time, and longed to linger and sightsee. But there was no
time, and I was only able to catch a fleeting glimpse of
the Colosseum and the Victor Emmanuel monument as we
Mon. 12 June
flashed through the streets.
An unsuccessful attack on Bagnoregio by the Armoured
Brigade. The battalion advances six hundred yards forward
B echelon Field beside Route 3, 24 miles north of in open formation, waits hopefully from 5.30 until 8.30 this
Rome, Wed. 7 June
evening, then returns rather shamefacedly to original posi-
I expected the battalion to arrive about 2.30 yesterday tions. With the aid of Sgt. Elphick, who is acting CQMS
afternoon, but the block on the road was so severe that to No. 2 Company in the absence of Styles, I spent a hectic
the leading vehicle did not arrive until 6 a.m. this morning, day loading and unloading jeeps with rations, packs and
and our own B echelon not until 8.30. John Pope turned blankets. Colonel George looks well prepared for battle in
up in advance of his company in a jeep, swearing darkly steel helmet, pistol and a delightful pair of woollen pants
at nothing in particular. Ronnie Strutt sat chuckling behind. protruding well below his shorts. He has just pocketed my
The battalion has taken ten hours to complete the journey. box of matches! George Montagu is in charge of the rations
and is in terrific form. His braces are glinting in the sun
Fri. 9 June
and he is swishing his new, rather experimental moustache
“The 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards will capture with positive delight. There is considerable noise and a
Florence.” An inspiring order! We leave Civita Castellana certain number of shells have landed amongst A echelon
to-day and proceed by moonlight to within a few miles of in the wood. The gunners have had twenty casualties;
Viterbo.
ourselves none as yet.


W
On the start line at Bagnoregio. Simon Phipps, Signal Officer, Cpl.
Civita Castellana. The first town captured by the South Africans
north of Rome
Sutherland, Cpl. Webb and Gdsm. Morse
206
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
Tues. 13 June
Headquarters consisting of most of the officers—plenty of
On to the attack once more, starting at 7 a.m. after a good
delicious Bigi wine. George Montagu's brother visits us.
night's rest. Very different affair to-day, as the Germans
have thinned out and the attack proves to be little more Sun. 18 June
than a walk on to the objective. There are ten casualties
Wake up feeling rather dirty and wine-sodden and dis-
in the battalion, including poor Ronnie Strutt blown up on a
inclined to eat a breakfast of ground rice, cold bacon and
mine and quite badly hurt (he rejoined in August at Siena).
dehydrated potatoes out of a mess-tin. Sudden orders to
Three men in No. 3 Company are wounded by their own
3
move at 10.45 a.m., and the usual mad rush to be off is
“M. and V.” tins, which burst during cooking operations.
made more difficult by the pouring rain and the mud.
Find No. 2 Company in good heart when I reach them,
Drive to small village of Fabro, where I manage to find a
chiefly due to the recent acquirement of a sheep and some
chickens. Have a good meal in consequence.
reasonable house for No. 2 Company Headquarters. For
once better off than Battalion Headquarters, who are up
to their necks in mud in an open field. Great triumph!
Wed. 14 June
RSM Woodmansey takes a lump out of his leg in a car Mon. 19 June
smash and will be away for some time (rejoined in Septem-
Feeling rather depressed with nothing to do; probably the
ber at Montecatini). CSM Pickford is leaving No. 4 Com-
pany to become drill sergeant, and CQMS Bullock is taking
weather. Sleep most of the day and collect two geese and
some eggs from the village with Archie Clowes—purchased
his place.
with some cigarettes and a bar of chocolate. Unhappily,
the latter proved to be Gdsm. Eley's Naafi ration, which
Thurs. 15 June
he had been saving up for that very evening, and I am
3.30 p.m. The battalion moves with slow and dusty un- afraid he has never forgiven me. Although he was bound
certainty two miles north of Orvieto, looking very attractive to admit that the pocket of a jeep was an unwise place to
on the summit of its isolated hill. Party at Battalion leave it.

1223182
bu
10
60
Orvieto, looking very attractive on the summit of its isolated hill”
207
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME':
THE ORDER OF BATTLE
Quartermaster
Medical Officer
Commanding Officer
Second in command
Adjutant
Intelligence Officer
Signal Officer
MT Officer
21 June 1944
Lt.-Col. W. A. G. BURNS
Major G. F. O. MONTAGU
Captain P. H. A. BOWMAN
Lt. D. A. KERR-WILSON
Lt. S. W. PHIPPS
Lt. G. A. GIDNEY (Capt. R. M.
MYTTON acting)
Lt. A. READING
Captain PATTEN
The Rev. T. FRANKLIN
Captain R. BENSON
Padre
HQ Company
Commander
Spares
Lt. J. R. FONTANNAZ
Lt. B. A. BIEMANS
Support Company
Company Commander Major the Hon. A. R. G. STRUTT (hospital)
Carrier Officers
Captain A. C. GROVER
Lt. R. P. CHAWORTH-MUSTERS
Anti-tank Officers
Captain T. E. S. EGERTON
Lt. the Hon. A. P. HARBORD-HAMOND
Mortar Officer
Lt. D. BOSSOM
Pioneer Officer
Lt. Lord HERSCHELL
No. 3 Company
Major J. E. B. POPE
No. 2 Company
Major R. J. V.
CRICHTON
Lt. D. C. QUILTER
No. 4 Company
Major G. L. FALKINER
Company
Commander
Second in
command
Platoon
Commanders
No. 1 Company
Captain A. F.
DAVIDSON
Lt. A. D. TRENCHARD-
Cox
Lt. Count H. N.
BENTINCK
Lt. P. J. Q. SHULDHAM
Captain C. O. JANSON
Lt. N. D. T. GARDNER
Lt. A. S. CLOWES
Lt. G. J. T. JONES
Lt. J. S. LLOYD
Lt. D. B. MAGILL
Lt. G. H. LEGGE
Captain The Lord ANDREW
CAVENDISH
Lt. C. M. PHILIPS
Lt. J. ALDERSON-SMITH
Lt. C. D. DARLEY
Thurs. 22 June
Start at 9.30 a.m. A very pleasant drive through Le Piazze
to Cetona, where most of the battalion transport is parked
in the main square. An unfortunate thing, as it turns out.
No. 2 Company take up a position one and a half miles
north-west of the village. Richard Crichton and I find an
enormous double bed, which we share for two hours. He
doesn't snore, thank goodness, but he is rather large!
The tanks have been up with us, firing everything they
have on to the opposite hill and making the most hideous
row. Gdsm. Ward was wounded by a piece of shrapnel from
one of their shells. Also John Lloyd, back in the village.
Met Bobs Herschell to-night; he had carefully driven his
jeep into a deep ditch.
It has been pouring with rain and this has combined with
the somewhat accurate shelling to make everyone rather
miserable. A counter-attack was expected, but fortunately
never materialized. The Germans shelled Cetona heavily
during the day and there were more casualties there than
on the hill. Nos. 1 and 2 Company cookers suffered direct
hits and were burnt out, Gdsm. Evans having a very narrow
escape.

Fri. 23 June
At dawn the battalion attacked the high ground to the
right of the road, between Cetona and Sarteano: No. 2
Company right and No. 3 Company left. The hills had
appeared deserted last night, but some spandaus infiltrated
forward early this morning and both companies were held
up for a short while before they reached their objective.
Sgt. Branthwaite was killed, Cpl. Whiting and Gdsm.
Thorpe wounded. Tony Trenchard-Cox was also hit by
a spandau and evacuated. Cpl. White avenged us by putting
a tommy-gun magazine through a German.
Cetona
208
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

a
Sarteano, June 24-28
David Chetwode took over No. 1 Company from Alan
Davidson. Our gallant quartermaster, Reading, slightly
wounded in the foot. During our stay here a patrol was sent
from No. 4 Company to the Paper Factory, situated in the
4
valley below us. This patrol was commanded by Jim Alder-
son-Smith, who tells his own story:
“Early one morning, towards the end of June, an Italian
boy came to my platoon headquarters with a report that
twenty or thirty Germans had moved into a paper factory
during the night about a mile east of Sarteano. A dozen
men, spurred on by the prospect of a watch apiece, volun-
teered for the patrol, and so we set off accompanied by
Gervase Falkiner, our company commander.
The factory was surrounded by a high wall topped with
barbed wire, and this we began to investigate in search
The Paper Factory at Sarteano
of an opening. During our promenade a man up a tree
threw a grenade at the rear of the column, but Gdsm. Moore
plaster the area, which they did in no mean fashion. In
quickly silenced him with his Bren gun. Despairing of
the afternoon No. 1 Company found the place unoccupied
finding any easier access, the patrol, leaving a covering party
except for one wounded and five dead Germans.
outside, climbed over the wall and headed across an open
Our casualties had been two in number-Sgt. Clewes
space for the buildings. I then split the party into two: Sgt.
and Gervase Falkiner, who in his anxiety to find a watch
Dennett with three men went off to explore the left hand
had been hit rather hard by a spandau bullet.”
'block, the remainder came with me.
Wed. 28 June
Inside were a few Italians, who on my saying
'Tedeschi?' jibbered and retired into a far corner. The
Breakfast at 4.15 in the filthy, morbid parlour of the cot-
next moment I turned into a passage and came face to face
tage which has served us for company headquarters
with three Germans. Feeling the situation to be full of
during our stay in Sarteano. It is difficult to understand
possibilities, I loosed off with my revolver and was agreeably
how these people can live in such squalor. The Brigade
surprised with the result. Gdsm. Simpson fired at another
objective is Montepulciano, and to-day we occupied the
German who was hiding behind some machinery in the
high ground west of Chianciano. This has been a long and
tiring day for all concerned, though the attack proved to
next room.
Sgt. Dennett's party was sent for, but after a brief recce-
be little more than a dreary tramp up the hill with a small
cut short by a burst of spandau—we left the factory and
action fought by No. 3 Company and some shelling. They
the, by then, paralytic Italians. For half an hour or so we
had seven casualties, including Barry Biemans very slightly
fired at suspicious windows—with what effect I cannot
wounded and Gdsm. Bean, a great character, killed. We
tell—and I then withdrew to let the M 10's and mortars
could not get the rations up to the companies till very late,
chiefly because no one knew the way to Battalion Head-
quarters. The rain and darkness added to the difficulties
of the few guides sent back, causing them to take the wrong
turning. Jeeps and trailers had to be turned round on
extremely narrow tracks, one of which was blocked for a
good half hour. Bobs Herschell drove the Battalion Head-
quarter rations into a deep hole (his second accident in a
week). Altogether it was a hectic night and I did not reach
No. 2 Company until 2.15 a.m. Then, to cap all, I issued the
cold beans instead of the hot “M. and V.". But I think
everyone was too sleepy to notice.
Thurs. 29 June
To-day has been quiet. I spent most of the morning washing
at Battalion Headquarters—a small farmhouse on the sky-
line round which hundreds of people have been swarming
in full view. Nos. I and 4 Companies have occupied Chian-
All that was left of No. 1 Company cooker after the shell landed
on it. Cetona, Fri. 23 June
ciano. No. 2 Company remained sitting where they were
a

14
209
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'


No. 2 Company HQ at Montepulciano, where Geoffrey Jones was
killed. The RAP was in the big house on the hill

Lt. A. D. Trenchard-Cox CMF 24.6.44

L.5606538
Eric Heron, our gunner officer, squatted like an Indian to mark his map

Scrofano
Gdsm. Evans beside his No. 2 Company cooker at Cetona
210
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

in the sun and had a restful day. On reaching Chianciano
Andrew Cavendish was met on his first objective by the
mayor, who saluted him on both cheeks—an unusual sort of
town-clearing operation!
Battalion concentration area near Rapolano, night 3-4 July
Fri. 30 June
This has been the worst day for No. 2 Company for some
time. As advance guard of the battalion, we moved into
Montepulciano about 9.30 this morning with our escort of
tanks, carriers, mortars, RAP, etc.—the whole commanded
by Richard Crichton. The enemy were reported one mile
north of the town and Sgt. Baldwin's platoon went forward
to mop them up, supported by a troop of tanks and a section
,
of carriers. They stayed forward for twenty-four hours, but
failed to kill or capture one German. The latter were too
quick in making a getaway. Sgt. Baldwin's platoon suffered
no casualties, but back in the town it fared ill with the rest
of the company. Twelve large shells landed on company
headquarters—one killing little Geoffrey Jones instantane-
ously and another wounding Gdsm. Rose, Eley, Janes and
Barnes. It quietened down then, thank goodness, and after
an order to move at 7.30 had been cancelled we were able
to settle down to a full night's sleep. I dossed in a tiny
cubby hole, sandwiched between a lavatory and CSM Jack's
strident voice. Even the latter couldn't keep me awake.
We have all heard with deep regret that Tony Trenchard-
Cox has died of wounds. It is tragic to know that the
battalion, and No. 1 Company in particular, can no longer
benefit from his wonderful cheerfulness and enthusiasm.
In his death and in that of Geoffrey Jones we have lost the
services of two charming and first-class officers.
Mon. 3 July
No. 2 Company, again the advance guard, moved at 7 a.m.
We passed through the little village of Scrofano, where the
population greeted us with yells of delight, showering gar-
lands, wine, loaves and other useful things upon us. The
main street was so narrow, with such a sharp corner in the
middle, that the TCVs could only just squeeze their way
through. The tanks had to make a detour.
Farther down the road our carriers were fired upon by
a spandau from the area of the cross roads “Judith”. No. 2
Company attacked with success, the opposition proving to
,
be very slight. When on the objective, Sgt. Hill was shot
through the leg by a sniper and Cpl. Sessford was killed.
Archie Clowes had quite an amusing time with the Brens
and 2-in. mortar of No. 6 Platoon, though I don't believe
he ever knew what he was firing at. No. 4 Platoon under
Sgt. Baldwin collected two prisoners—both from the Her-
mann Goering Division and aged seventeen. The battalion
then advanced through us and we followed in rear, parking
for the night in a comfortable concentration area. On
arrival here, Dermott Magill went for a walk and picked
up seven prisoners single-handed. Great exploit!
Sat. 1 July
A long, slow drive through the heat and dust towards
Trequanda. Debussed three miles south of the village and
rode the rest of the way on the tanks. No. 1 Company in
front accounted for about thirty Germans; Renton Fon-
tannaz wounded. Moved on foot about a mile up the road
from the village and dug in haste to avoid the shells. Fine,
warm, moonlit night, which is fortunate, because the
company seldom has a chance to collect its blankets.
a
Tues. 4 July
Enormous lunch party in the officers' mess with Colonel
Bob Coates, now commanding the 2nd Battalion, and Henry
Green, who has joined the battalion to-day. Sammy Clowes
arrived from the IRTD with a draft, but he is not staying
himself. Spent the night near Rapolano.
Sun. 2 July
No. 1 Company pinned to the ground in the forward posi-
tions and heavily shelled. They had nineteen casualties
during the day, including Henry Bentinck, who was
slightly wounded in the arm. The shelling was caused by
the dust from the tanks. The other three companies
attacked through them in the afternoon. Archie Clowes
lost his mess-tins to-night and had no dinner. Terrific fuss!
I had a splendid literary conversation with Tony Harbord-
Hamond while sitting by the road. I said, “Have you read
War and Peace?” He replied, “What? Did you say, 'Am
I all in one piece??"
Thurs. 6-Fri. 14 July
In and around the Villa San Giusto, owned by the Contessa
Elizabetha Martini di Cigala Ricasoli. Richard Crichton
found the villa and promptly filled the garden with his
company. But we felt obliged to allow Battalion Head-
quarters to share the house with us, whereupon the cool
2II
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'


The Ricasoli Family



Cute
1777
C
The old tower, Castello di Brolio
Tom Egerton ... used to wander in from
time to time to get the 'griff' or to attend
Castello di Brolio, owned by the
Ricasoli Family, is situated in the hills
near Siena and commands a magnifi-
cent view over the vineyards and olive
groves of Chianti
The massive walls of the Castle
an O Group"
212
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

GUARDS
Sun. 16 July
Battalion Headquarters at Meleto.
No. 2 Company at Castagnoli. The company had walked
here across country with its usual dash and determination,
despite the heat of the day. Company Headquarters were
the first to arrive at their destination and a swift, experienced
appreciation of the ground by Richard Crichton secured
for them the best house in the village. I proceeded at a
cooler pace by road with the cookers, but found it was im-
possible to reach the battalion in daylight, as the village of
San Martino, just ahead of us on the road, was overlooked
by the Germans and shelled on the slightest suspicion of
dust. However, becoming impatient and feeling that a
hundred stomachs might at this moment be reproaching me
for
my inaction, I resolved to give the ration column the
slip. I detached our jeep and trailer and the carrier from the
other vehicles, filled them with rations and blankets, then
crawled at 5 m.p.h. towards the dreaded corner in San
Martino, hoping that this snail's pace would scatter no dust
to betray us.
George Montagu, second-in-command
But alas! Fate now reared its ugly head in the shape of
a South African jeep, which, having decided to use very
peacefulness of the drawing-room was immediately shat-
tered by noisy O Groups, telephones and the putting
together of at least a dozen camp beds. Nevertheless, it
has been an amusing party-Colonel George in great form
as usual ; Paul Bowman, Simon Phipps and David Kerr-
Wilson, that inveterate Battalion Headquarters trio; Tom
Colman, Arnold Edinburgh and Eric Heron, from 60
Battery of the 23rd Field Regiment, the latter wearing a
hat which for age and shapelessness surpassed even Hubert
Snowden's. John Pope, David Chetwode, Tom Egerton
and others from the outlying companies used to wander
in from time to time to get the “griff” or to attend an
O Group.
Billy Steele paid us a visit on Saturday. He seemed very
well and is now second in command of the 2nd Battalion.
Michael Kinchin-Smith arrived from the IRTD, bringing
with him Tim King and Michael Brand. Simon and I
walked over to No. 3 Company one day, where we found
John Pope lying upside down in a bivouac. He was being
besieged by flies, but felt too lazy to do anything about it.
Perhaps the best-remembered incident here was the lone
patrol by the aged Contessa, who evaded our sentries at
five o'clock one morning, walked boldly to the gates of
Castello di Brolio, five miles away, and rescued her nephew
and nieces from the clutches of the Germans.
Friday night, 14 July
The attack on Pt. 499. Christopher Janson lost himself and
one of No. 3 Company platoons temporarily, but they
turned
up again soon after daylight and reached the objec-
tive without opposition. Poor George Boscawen, No. 2
Company, has now been out three nights running and has
caught a stinking cold.
a
Bn. HQ at Meleto

M
It
213
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

different tactics to my own to negotiate
the corner, was careering towards us from
the direction of Castagnoli like a thunder-
bolt from Olympus. And in its wake
followed, somewhat naturally, a great white
cloud of dust, swirling high into the air
and probably visible in Florence.
The stonk arrived with the dust, and with
true military perspicacity I realized that the
moment had been reached to stop all this
5 m.p.h. nonsense. So I roared to Gdsm.
Vickery to step on the gas, four-wheel drive
notwithstanding, and this he did without
further prompting, Gdsm. Mountain and
Eaton clinging on to the back of the trailer
for all they were worth. A shell now landed
fairly in between the jeep and the carrier
and I was horrified to see that the latter
was not following us. We had grave fears
for the safety of Hilliard, Parker and
No. 2 Company HQ, Castagnoli
Tilley, but they turned up soon afterwards
Back Row: Wade, Harrison, Young, Head, Ainsworth, Parker
unscathed. The carrier had been abandoned Centre Row: Tim King, Nigel Gardner, Richard Crichton, CSM Jack, Sgt. Scrimegour
by them on the road, but it miraculously
Front Row: Ponder, Crisp, Butterworth, Cpl. Eccles, Fuccio, Cpl. Barron
escaped destruction and was towed in next
morning with a hole in the radiator and a few rather bomb-
a
hour and finally succumbed, but it is not serious, thank
happy blankets.
God.
No. 2 Company ate their dinner that night with the usual I took an Italian partisan to Brigade this morning. He
relish, but few of them realized how near they had come wanted arms and ammunition for a thousand volunteers-
to missing it altogether.
the optimist!
Saw Larch Loyd drinking fruit salts rather dolefully to
Mon. 17 July
relieve his stomach—also Anthony Sturdy looking hot and
calling weakly for water.
Nos. I and 4 Companies attacked Pt. 701 to the north of Went down to Battalion Headquarters at 11 p.m., where
us. They had had a few casualties and No. 4 was not on I found Colonel George tired and a little out of spirits,
its objective by dark. Michael Philips was unable to find having no idea how No. 4 Company was faring. David
them, so they must be feeling pretty hungry. Poor old Kerr-Wilson, with his beard and white cotton shirt,
Charlie Darley was bowled over twice within half an reminds me of a painting by Van Gogh.
The Battle of Monte Domine
21–23 July 1944
By GEORGE BURNS
On the 21st July the battalion, accompanied by its armour
from the Pretoria Regiment, was ordered to continue its
advance and capture Monte Domine, the last hill on this
part of the Chianti Range.
Andrew Cavendish led the advance with No. 4 Company
and the carriers, but they were soon held up by demoli-
tions, artillery and mortar fire. Christopher Janson, with
No. 3 Company, was also held up, whereupon it was decided
to withdraw the whole force and to put the battalion in
defensive positions for the night.
At 8 a.m. on the 22nd Richard Crichton set off with
No. 2 Company to try to get round the east side of
Monte Domine. The terraced vineyards made progress
slow, and after passing through the village of Casole they
came under accurate small-arms and mortar fire from one
of the spurs jutting down from Monte Michele. The leading
214
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
platoon suffered heavy casualties and Nigel Gardner was SP guns. No. 4 Company was held in immediate reserve
.
killed.
with the rôle, if the attack was successful, of clearing
Nigel's death was a sad blow to us, because, since his Lucolena, a village in the valley on the right flank of the
return to the 3rd Battalion in December, he had carried attack. This was the stronghold which had held up the
out such valiant work as a platoon commander and had, advance on the first day. No. 2 Company was ordered to
on several occasions, successfully engaged the enemy at retrace its steps and was to be used for final consolida-
close quarters when on patrol. It is certain that all who tion.
served with him and under him will mourn his loss and The attack started on time and continued until darkness
remember him for his deeds and gallant leadership.
was falling. It went according to plan and was a complete
It was by now quite clear that the only way to dislodge success, although the fighting was very heavy. The enemy,
the enemy was by a full-scale frontal attack with full support. determined to fight it out, were annihilated and few
This was accordingly arranged, zero hour being at 5.45 p.m. prisoners were taken. Our own casualties were light con-
on the 23rd. The plan was straightforward and simple. sidering that the objective was held by a company of
The battalion was to attack on a two-company front Division and the attack was carried out in broad daylight.
astride the road that ran along the ridge. No. 1 Company No. 1 Company fared worst, as one of its platoons was
was on the left, directed against Pt. 751, and No. 3 Com-
3
caught in an enemy DF and David Chetwode, the company
pany was on the right, directed upon Monte Domine itself. commander, was wounded. He was missing for three hours
A squadron of PR tanks was to support these two com- after the attack had finished and was only found after dark.
panies, and if it found the going really suitable, the squadron We were amused to hear later that the Germans mistook
was told to overtake the infantry and seize the two features. the thin artillery smoke-screen for gas and put on their
The whole of the Divisional artillery supported the attack. respirators!
As the ridge was very bare a light smoke screen was used Altogether, it was a most spirited affair, and it was a
to prevent the enemy on neighbouring hills from shooting up classic example of excellent team work between the infantry,
the advancing troops by direct fire from artillery, tanks and the armour and the artillery.
356
With No. 1 Company at the Battle of Monte Domine
I
21–23. July 1944
By MICHAEL KINCHIN-SMITH
David Chetwode, who was in charge of No. 1 Company,
went up and saw the ground from the Scots Guards posi-
tion in the morning. There was no time for platoon com-
manders to do individual recces: we were to be shown the
ground just before the battle started. Speed was every-
thing, for the way to Florence must be opened up at all
costs.
The attack was to be carried out by Nos. 1 and 3 Com-
panies. No. 3, under Christopher Janson, would move up
on the right of the road; No. I would attack a hill on the left
of the road, and if possible go on and exploit to another
feature beyond.
So much we were told in the morning. We moved up to
the Scots Guards position under the sweltering heat of the
midday sun, and from a forward post David explained the
plan more fully. In front of us lay a mile of open ground,
dropping down to a gully, and three-quarters of a mile
beyond this lay the ridge which was our objective. The
barrage, we were told, would lift fifty yards every three
minutes and we were to keep as close behind it as we could.
Mickey Brand's platoon would move first in arrowhead
formation, Sgt. Lovelace's platoon would move up behind
on the right, and I would come up on the left.
The barrage started on time and the company moved
forward as planned. The noise was terrific and the going
was hard. Mickey made good progress. David and I, from
company headquarters, watched him move forward bound
by bound. All went well until we reached the bottom of the
gully, but our arrival there was the signal for the enemy DF
to start. It came down fast and furiously. Every inch of that
gully, and much of the ground behind it, seemed to be
accurately registered. It was as unpleasant as only a well
organized DF can be.
Mickey's platoon managed to get clear before the fire
became really fierce, but company headquarters were caught
in the midst of it. Behind us the company went to ground
and rapidly became scattered. I could only locate my for-
ward section; the rest of the platoon was by this time far
behind.
David told me to go back and collect all the men I could
a
215
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?
find: he would go on, contact Mickey, and see what had to consolidate where we were. No. 3 Company had done
happened. This was the last that I saw of him until late extremely well on the right, and the battle was well in
that evening. I went back and found that both my rear hand. The sun was by now going down; the enemy would
sections, with platoon headquarters, had suffered terribly probably move off when darkness fell.
from the shelling and that more than half of them were We dug in on the reverse side of the hill. CSM Brooks
casualties. I left enough men to deal with the wounded, organized a forward RAP in a group of buildings to our
located Sgt. Lovelace, and pushed on with his platoon rear, and the casualties were all got away. No. 1 Company
and the one remaining section of my own. We could had suffered heavily-about thirty casualties, of whom half
see no sign of David or Mickey, but could hear small-
were fatal.
arms fire. I decided to go straight for the top of the As darkness fell we heard cries coming from a position
hili.
300 yards to our front. I thought at first it must be the Ger-
The shelling was no better, and we approached our mans, but all of a sudden I heard the name “Michael”
objective in good order. There we found the remains of the pronounced quite distinctly. We ran forward eagerly, and
German defence—a few terrified prisoners who were too there found David Chetwode lying badly wounded on the
shaken to do anything except surrender. The rest had ground. His servant, Gdsm. Gregory, lay dead beside
retired to another hill 600 yards ahead of us. The small- him.
arms fire which greeted our arrival on our objective showed David and I had not seen Mickey after I had last talked
that they were still organized and not far away.
to him, and, thinking that he might have pushed on to the
Mickey turned up a few minutes later; his platoon was second objective, David had advanced in that direction
already digging in on the left slope of our hill. Of David himself. While doing so he was shot at and wounded at
there was no sign at all. The company wireless was out of short range. He had lain where he was silently for three
action, but fortunately the gunner OP, who turned up soon hours, for he knew that to call for help would mean
afterwards, had a 38 set relayed to a 22 set close behind almost certain death for those who came to his aid. It
which enabled us eventually to get through to Battalion was an example of gallantry which No. 1 Company never
Headquarters.
forgot.
We tried to return the German fire, but the long grass After dark Richard Crichton came up with No. 2 Com-
made firing positions hard to find. A Bren gunner bravely pany. They took up positions on our flanks, and later that
fired his weapon from the kneeling position, but was night one platoon was sent to the position from which the
promptly hit in the head. The enemy were just too far for Germans had covered our hill. They found that the enemy
our 2-inch mortars to reach them, but the gunner tried had gone. A rumour of a possible counter-attack came over
hard to range on their position. It was a difficult shoot and the wireless from Battalion Headquarters at 2 a.m., but this
he had little success. Sgt. Rogers went off and got the proved to be false, and the next day was quiet. Colonel
tanks to direct fire in their direction, and a 3-inch mortar George visited us in the morning and cheered us with words
OP arrived a little later. Colonel George, when we of encouragement and praise. Next day the Grenadiers
eventually got through to him, told us to go no farther but passed through to continue the advance.


DA 3
4.
11
The main square, Greve
H.M. The King shaking hands with Henry Green while men of the
battalion line the street, Radda in Chianti, 21.7.44
216
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY


No. 3 section, No. 12 platoon, No. 4 Company, during the attack on
Monte Domine. Sgt. Millward is leading, and immediately behind
him are Gdsm. Dixon, Maybury and Harris
The battalion axis past M. Domine, which is off the picture to the left.
After the battle Bn. HQ were behind the wood in the distance (taken
from the German side)
Extracts from the Diary of DAVID QUILTER
Between Monte Domine and Greve, 26 July
The battalion moved this morning at 4.30, No. 2 Company
riding on the tanks through Greve and held up every few
yards by enormous blows in the road. About two miles
through the town we ran into some mines, three tanks and
two carriers being knocked out. Unpleasant shelling round
the houses on the ridge—Sgt. Hobbs and Gdsm. Screen
were both hit slightly in the neck. At 11.30 the company
went on to the next road junction at Chiocchio and Battalion
Headquarters took up its abode here. Poor Andrew
Cavendish with No.4 Company has had another unpleasant
two days, pinned to the ground with little food or water.
Colonel George is having a short rest at A echelon and
George Montagu is holding the fort.
and, if successful, hope to push on to Florence. We are
holding firm in our present positions and expecting
patrols against us. No. 2 Company comes in for a con-
siderable amount of shelling at all hours. They are nearest
to the Germans, who occupy Strada, two miles farther
down the road. Michael Brand was wounded in the leg
to-day. Michael Howard has returned from the IRTD
and has joined No. 3 Company. Johnny Shuldam to
No. 2 Company again to take over No. 5 Platoon. The
battalion is very weak now. No. 2 Company, sixty-nine
strong, is the largest company. No. 4 down to forty-five
effectives.
Sun. 30 July
The New Zealanders on our left are putting in a very
strong attack to-night to regain the ground they have lost
Tues. I Aug.
Considerable amount of shelling around Battalion Head-
quarters to-day. Pleasant diversion was caused when Reggie
Mytton, fresh from B echelon and armed with a large
basket of fruit, was literally hurled through the door by
the force of a large shell.
Rejoining the Third Battalion
July 1944
Extracts from a Letter by MICHAEL HOWARD
Next morning, after a scene of confusion in the car park,
our convoy slowly started from the training depot at the
little village of Rotondi, between Naples and Benevento.
Now travel in convoy, provided that you sit in front of
the truck and have no executive responsibility, is rather
pleasant. The pace at which you move, fifteen to twenty-
five miles an hour, is just right for seeing the country. You
have to worry about neither meals nor sleep—all is worked
out for you. There is the heat and the cramp and the horrid
pile of your web equipment on the seat beside you, but
those are minor annoyances. On the whole I quite enjoyed
myself, between intervals of sleep. We went up the Appian
Way to Rome, and until the Alban Hills the country was
dull or bleak, or both. Formia and Gaeta were two long
217
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
a
a
piles of rubble—about five miles of ruin beside a sparkling looked after me since June 1943, had been left behind with
blue sea, as vivid and improbable in the brilliant sunshine bad feet, and his substitute was less experienced, though
as a picture by John Armstrong. Then came the horrible, extremely willing—all this was night-marish.
scrub-covered bareness of the Avrunci Range, relieved by After lapsing into the familiar and irritating state of
the occasional skeleton of a tank overturned on the hillside. "waiting for transport to arrive", a convoy eventually
Then the dreary Pontine country, made more dreary by arrived to collect us, and from Terni we chugged over the
the continuous destruction along the road, and through pass to Spoleto and had lunch in a field beyond it. We
that I slept. At Velletri we swung up, for some reason, had, I almost said, a picnic; but bully and biscuits and
into the Alban Hills, which were still littered with all strong tea drunk from a mess-tin do not, even under the
the messy debris of war-ammunition boxes, tins, ration towers of Spoleto, make a picnic. A déjeuner, to rank it
cartons, steel helmets, German respirators and equipment, at its highest, sur l’herbe. Then up the valley, past the
wrecked guns, abandoned rifles, weapon pits and charred
,
turning to Assisi, until Perugia, where we climbed the hill
tanks. Apart from this, the scenery on top of the hills was and, as we passed the city gate, caught a tantalizing glimpse
more like an English park than anything else, and for the of an exquisite street within. For, though we halted fre-
first time I felt that we were getting nearer home, after the quently and inexplicably, our halts were never in the right
vineyards and olive trees of the south. We swung round the places. After Perugia we were caught for an hour in a traffic
forest-covered rim of the volcanic cup at the bottom of jam, which we could see stretching into the valley before
which the lake of Gandolfo lay, impossibly round and us for ten miles. Never have I felt more relieved that the
impossibly blue; and we stopped outside the gates of the Luftwaffe has been destroyed or more apprehensive lest
Papal Castle to rest and have tea.
there might be a small but malignant fraction of it left ...
Then, hot and sticky, we climbed back into our lorries but we started moving again, and I breathed more easily.
and went down the hill to Rome. I was hoping for a fine Up Trasimene we went through thick dust clouds to
“prospect” of Rome; a grander version, perhaps, of Oxford Arezzo—and now the ruins became thicker again behind
seen from Boar's Hill. Instead, there was just a grey blur the dust, the road busier with signs and vehicles of Divi-
on the haze. The city itself we hardly entered; the convoy sional base troops. Men wore shorts and a beret, a deep
swung right at the city wall, went round past the San tan and nothing else. At length we turned into a field of
Lorenzo railyards, where we saw the ruined and scaffolded dust, thinly edged with tents, and that was our night's
basilica, and through some quiet and gracious residential lodging.
streets to cross the Tiber north of the Flaminian Gate. It was a bleak little place, but it boasted an officers'
What we saw of Rome was lovely; and the men, who had mess in a small tent, furnished with two tables and four
been howling fascinating and bawdy songs for the past benches, and we were given a good meal and a bottle of
hour, were subdued and uplifted enough to change to beer. Strangely enough, there was also a suggestions book;
Blake's “Jerusalem” and “Land of Hope and Glory”. We and even more strangely, this book had been used by
are reinforcements, I thought, going to the front. So the travellers for writing, not suggestions, but fulsome and
convoy crossed the Tiber and swung left through the golden sickly compliments so laudatory as to suggest that the
evening on to the Flaminian Way, up to Narni and Terni, authors were either lunatic or, in view of the nature and
through valleys and hills which did more to explain Italian the amenities of the place, inspired with an infectious spirit
painting to me than a lifetime of lectures. At twilight we of ferocious irony. “Good food, good bed, good show”,
reached Terni and bumped
wrote one; “A first class
along a track to the unpromis-
stay—all comforts laid on.
ing collection of tents where
Well done indeed”, said
we were to spend the night.
another; and a third, having
In the darkness the confusion
declared the mess
of sorting the men out, report-
“wizardly top-hole” added,
ing them to the authorities,
rather obscurely, “Jolly good
finding them again, seeing
chaps, all of them”. We
them fed, finding one's own
merely signed our
servant and kit and a place
and went away in a reflective
to sleep, getting some dinner,
mood.
receiving orders, finding the
A few yards away from this
men again, giving them
camp was an enemy prisoners'
orders, finding one's tent
,
compound; and after our even-
again, seeing the right kit
ing meal we wandered across
unpacked—for my beloved
to look at it. The Germans
servant Johanson, who had
Trequanda
were a filthy and unhappy
>

to be
names
218
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
a
collection, of every age and every type, and most of them, AMG proclamations had just been posted, and little groups
in their dirty uniforms, didn't look like soldiers at all. were gathered round them. The “liberation” was new
Most of them, I think, were Volksdeutsche, resigned to their enough for the Italians to cheer us as we went past, but
lot and settling down meekly enough in the blankets tossed soon there weren't any more Italians. A sinister notice said:
to them over the fence by an English orderly almost as “Drive slowly. Dust is Death!” and we peered rather
scruffy as they; but there were a few real Germans there, nervously towards the hills the Germans held. At length
from a Paratroop Division, and they stood apart in a god- we came to a farmhouse on a hillside, and in the field behind
like select circle, bare to the waist. Curious, I asked why it was all the battalion transport-F echelon. Battalion
they chose to go about half-naked at this mosquito-rid Headquarters were five hundred yards away up the hill, just
hour. The answer gave me great satisfaction; their clothes below the crest. We got out, collected our belongings, and
were swarming with lice. The sanitary arrangements of
got dressed.
Valhalla were apparently as faulty as the ethics.
... As I entered the house an enormous drill sergeant
Next day we had another long, dusty wait, and the called all Christendom to attention in strident terms. I was
authorities, who were expecting another large shipment of flattered at this unusual attention and was about to return
reinforcements at any moment, awaited our departure as it when I realized that the compliment was not intended
eagerly as we did ourselves. Late in the afternoon our trans- for me, but for the Brigadier, who was at that moment
port arrived, but not enough of it. The mask of regimental coming out. I unloaded the kit which dangled around me
politeness slipped off, and we all fought savagely to get like a Christmas tree, compounded of a pack, a satchel with
our own men on to the trucks and fight the others off. I writing material and books, a water-bottle, a 38 pistol, a
was among the successful, and we were off again over a shovel, a steel helmet, grenade pouches and a Schmeizer
dusty road towards Siena. The countryside was rolling and machine pistol—the German equivalent of our tommy-gun
shrubbily wooded, and marked everywhere “Riservata di and went into a small stone room, furnished with a table,
Caccia”. I wondered idly what duke it belonged to and a chair and a moth-eaten couch. The Adjutant, Paul Bow-
where his castle was, and whether he would be able to man, was sitting at the table, immaculate and shining,
explain things to the AMG officials if necessary. “Those”, talking to the artillery liaison officer. In the next room a
said my driver, “are the Chianti mountains.” I was harassed Guardsman sat at the telephone exchange, with
suitably awed.
an even more harassed Guardsman who was pacifying a
The convoy was to take us to B echelon, the rear unit large and ferocious wireless set with the mystic runic in-
of our battalion. When we arrived there, however, we cantations signallers often use. “Barbecue, barbecue, bar-
found empty fields scarred by wheel tracks, and we were becue, barbecue, barbecue, barbecue, barbecue,” he
a little depressed. Search eventually revealed a mild and chanted. “Tuning call ends, hear netting call. Net now.”
charming RASC officer, who informed us that the whole On the couch sat George Montagu, who in Colonel George's
organization had moved on an hour before. Whither, he absence was commanding the battalion.
was not quite sure; but if, he said, we went up to Greve Paul greeted me soberly and rang up Christopher Janson,
and followed Route - on from there, we would see the ordering a guide to be sent down to fetch me. Looking at
signs of our various battalions somewhere along the way. the map I gathered that Christopher's company, No. 3,
3,
He was sorry he could not be more precise.
was about five hundred yards to the right, farther up the
All this frightened me, for I was in charge of the convoy. hill crest. Two companies were forward of the hill, in the
At this stage I was still a captain. I had awful visions of next valley, and one was in reserve. The situation was that
leading the convoy straight into the German lines, a thing the Germans, around the village of Strada three miles ahead,
not unprecedented. And, in fact, if I had obeyed his in- ‘strongly resented”, as the intelligence summary put it,
structions, I should probably have done that very thing, any attempt to advance into the valley. Our forward com-
for Greve was only just behind our forward positions, and panies were kept in check by heavy shelling, and there
anyone venturing far beyond it was shelled with violence were enough Tiger tanks around to make our armour very
and accuracy. Fortunately, anxiety made my eyes keen and unwilling to go by themselves. They had tried and a few
I noticed just in time the small sign with the Brigade colours charred wrecks on the opposite side showed the result. For
and our number pointing, from a village choked with ruin, the moment the battalion was taking things quietly while
up a small side-track. We turned off and drove for a little the artillery hammered away at the enemy positions.
over Chianti Hills whose colour in the evening sun was Then my guide arrived with the officer I was relieving.
that of, if you follow me, the taste of a good Chianti wine. Gerald Legge looked very well. “Oh, Sgt. Smith's all
At length we found some tents in a little oak coppice; I right,” he mumbled. “Sgt. Casey's all right. They're all
saw an officer adjusting the folds of a faultless silk scarf; more or less all right. No, we haven't done much. An attack
and by these signs I knew we had arrived.
or two.” I took his binoculars and his compass and his map,
It was Sunday morning and church bells were ringing loaded my equipment on again, and started off. My guide
in Greve. The town was not much destroyed. The first was considerably more talkative. At the first opportunity
a
219
“ "NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''
a
he opened a blood-curdling account of the company's past
а
platoon commander, Dermott Magill. Dermott had been
history and present position which made my hair stand on at Mons Barracks, Aldershot, with me and he is now con-
end. “It's terrible, sir,” he said. “Shelled all day-five men sidered one of the best platoon commanders in the battalion.
killed in No. 2 Company last night-can't show your head After lunch Christopher took me up to the company OP
without bringing dirt down on top of you ..."and so on. to look at the ground. This, of course, was on the forward
I made noises which tried to be sympathetic but at the same slope. While the reverse slope was open orchard, the for-
time encouraging, resulting merely in strangled grunts. ward slope was covered with scrub; and across it ran, most
Muffett, my servant, was horribly impressed. “Cor!” he conveniently, a sunken track which easily accommodated
said. “Bad as that, is it? Cor!” Muffett was not one to say on its banks not only our OP—two men with binoculars
Ha ha! among the trumpets.
and a Bren gun—but the forward observers for the gunners,
After about fifteen minutes our track, which had twisted medium mortars and heavy mortars, each with a telephone
and turned to keep below the hill crest, brought us to a back to the battery.
large white villa, behind which was clustered a collection We crawled cautiously up to the track and pulled our-
of jeeps, Bren carriers and store piles. There were a lot selves up about five yards from our sentry, peering gingerly
of people there, not only Guardsmen but gunners and over the edge of the bank into the valley below. There were
mortar men manning their OPs and signallers working the pine needles and ants, which reduced my efficiency a lot.
wireless set and maintaining the telephones. Water cans, But the view was magnificent. Directly in front was a
ammunition boxes and mortar bomb containers were heaped valley some five miles wide, green and cultivated, flanked
against the walls; broken flowers and creepers trailed on on the left by spurs of heathery hills and on the right by
the paths. The place was in that state of messy untidyness the prolongation of our own mountain. Three miles away
which is inseparable from war, and is far more typical of were the red roofs of Strada, beyond which the road ran
it than any amount of horror. Think always of that when up to a crest on which stood the next village, Impruneta.
you try to visualize conditions at the front: the debris of In the background, startlingly near, were the blue mountains
a civilian house as it might be your own, dusty and looted; of the Gothic line; and in the haze at their foot you could
and superimposed on that the disorder of the army- just see, through glasses, the white suburbs of Florence.
weapons and ammunition, piles of web equipment, washing That was very exciting. On a little hill half a mile in front
and writing materials hanging out of packs, maps and mess- they showed me a farmhouse which was the nearest German
tins and tins of rations; mattresses dragged from beds and position. That also was very exciting. It was Dermott's
carried to the safe rooms downstairs; drawers hanging open; objective for that night.
windows barricaded with washstands; men sleeping on the We shelled that hill either that afternoon or the next
floor under dirty mosquito nets; a strange mixture of day, I forget which. It is most stimulating being in a gunner
papers—the Daily Mirror, the Volkischer Beobachter, Il OP when a shoot is going on. And the gunner officer mur-
Popolo, Eighth Army News—scattered around, and perhaps murs strange arabic formulae down the telephone. Then
a Spectator or an Horizon which not long ago lay on the he says, “Fire!” There is a silence. The leaves rustle
table in your sitting-room in London; and flies, flies, peacefully and a bird twitters. You strain your ears to catch
flies. That is war in comfort, indoors, in summer. What the bang of the gun among the miscellaneous, continual
it is like in a slit trench in winter I will tell you next bangs which puncture time through the afternoon. Probably
year.
you miss it and hear only the strange swift sighing of the
Christopher Janson met me at the door-tall, thin, and shell rushing overhead. Then comes a great brown mush-
dark. The company had tried to advance a few nights before, room of smoke and dust on the green hill opposite, two
he told me, to a hill about eight hundred yards ahead, and seconds before the crash of the explosion. The gunner
found rather a lot of Germans there, which they had not repeats figures into the telephone, and you wait again. The
expected. We had withdrawn successfully but it had done next mushroom is behind the hill and you only see the
morale no good at all. Then a frightful crash shook the smoke curling up after the explosion. Then perhaps the
house. “That happens, too,” he remarked. “It's a 15-cm. third shot hits the target and the house disappears in a
mortar a long way back, and it sends one over just when cloud of yellow dust. The human element is quite remote,
you don't want it.” Then we went upstairs, and he told me but you may as well get what pleasure you can out of
rather more about my platoon. “We aren't really in de- shelling other people, as there is so very little in being
fensive positions. I've got them all on the reverse slope shelled yourself. It is almost disappointing, when the dust
behind the house, dug-in in the orchard. At night we clears away, to see how little the house is damaged. But
occupy sentry-posts on the forward slope in case he sends the gunner has been busy, and at once mushroom grows
a patrol up, but it's unlikely. One of your sections I brought out of mushroom in the house and the crashes are con-
into the house after the shelling this morning. The rest are tinuous. It will be a quarter of an hour before the smoke
outside.”
clears now, and you can see the damage. Before then the
There was a fighting patrol going out under the other Germans will have retaliated, and you duck unhappily at
220
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

T
The Piazza del Campo, Siena
-
221
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
the crescendo whistle of a shell which pitches a quarter of dust of it. There were no cries, so all was well from that
a mile down the hill, shaking the ground and the air with point of view. To shout to people to get in their trenches
blast. Sometimes you know there is another company there was absurdly unnecessary. There was nothing for me to
and watch helplessly as your own position disappears in do but to stay where I was. Then came another whistle,
smoke. Yet the casualties are always astonishingly small. growing louder horribly quickly, culminating again in the
.. Next morning Muffett woke me for dawn stand-to. crash that could be felt and not heard, in that instant of
Dawn is a horrible thing and don't let anyone tell you blind, personal paralysis when all thought and feeling, even
otherwise. A grey, leprous, sluglike, creeping, corpse-cold, fear, is frozen, blotted out as vision is momentarily eclipsed
hostile thing. As soon as it was light and we could stand by a wink. Then the release of breathing, the release of
down I went back to the house and dozed in an armchair fear, the release of the bird under the ribs. That one must
until breakfast time. Dermott was there, asleep, and I have been nearer the house itself, but I saw no object in
wondered how many Germans he had killed the night be- going to make sure. As I debated the question I recognized
I
fore. We woke him for breakfast, and he drowsily informed in the distance the bang of our particular gun, and pressed
us that he had surprised a German working party and killed closer, impossibly closer, to the ground, fixing my eyes on
about five of them. Then he went straight to sleep again. some silly little detail-a blade of grass, a stone, a struggling
I washed and shaved, changed my shirt and went out of ant-concentrating desperately on that until the paralysis,
the house to visit my platoon. Five minutes later the first the shutter descended and reduced me to something out of
shell arrived. Where it landed I am not quite sure. There all semblance of a man.
was just a sudden whistle and a crash so loud and so near There were about a dozen shells altogether, though I
that I was not conscious of it as noise at all, but as force, as didn't count them at the time. In the intervals I lay still
violence, as air suddenly expanding in a great annihilating and thought how pleasant it would be when it was finished
wave. Everything was dark with dust and cordite fumes, and we could get up and walk about in the sun again. After
and there followed that sinister silence when all the world a quarter of an hour no more came; and cautiously I went
is still and you feel suddenly released from the panic- round checking my platoon. There, at any rate, no damage
stricken fluttering inside your ribs which a second before was done. In the rest of the company, Dermott was scratched
was stilled, grasped in a hand of stupified paralysis.
slightly and a signaller had a wound in the leg. That was
“That was a near one,” said Sgt. Smith.
all, by the providence of God. Christopher had had a
I was in my platoon headquarters, fifty yards up the hill fantastic escape. He was lying on his bed, on the ground
from the house, and I got with what I hope was dignity floor of the house, with his head against the outside wall,
into the nearest slit trench. It was horribly shallow, but when a shell struck that wall two feet above where he was
there was a good stout wall beside it which helped a lot. lying. It exploded, knocking a hole three feet square and
Things were quiet for a moment, and I looked around. covering him with rubble and bricks. He was dug out,
The shell must have pitched behind the house, from the laughing as usual and white with dust, and took everyone
a
а

Chioccio, where No. 2 Company sat from 26 July-2 Aug. The house where Christopher Janson was
buried under plaster can be seen on the skyline
222
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

No. 3 Company officers at Siena. Gerald Legge, Dermott Magill, John

Sgt. Rogers leads a section of No. 1 Company into Impruneta

JAG
Pope and John Lloyd
No. I Company enter Impruneta
South African tanks in Impruneta,
4.8.44
223
"
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
off to the cellar where we had had the service the night Extracts from the Diary of David QUILTER
before. The next shell bounced on the edge of the roof
and crashed down on top of a jeep which was standing
Fri. 4 Aug.
just outside the door of the cellar. The remains of that
The battalion, led by No. 1 Company, advanced into
jeep and the one beside it were fascinating; it took me a
Impruneta-seven miles south of Florence.
long time to realize that the strange bits of charred metal Sat. 5 Aug.
where the shell had struck had once been a large and
No. 3 Company had a tricky night with some Germans in
complete wireless set. A third shell had not exploded, and
San Gersole, but they withdrew this morning and the
remained as a witness and example of the size of the things
battalion came to a halt in the area. The Scots Guards have
they had been throwing at us; and a fourth exploded up-
gone through us and have reached the outskirts of Florence.
stairs, totally destroying the staircase and the bedroom
Battalion Headquarters in the magnificent Villa Corsini.
where I had washed—and left, I suddenly realized, all my
We are going out to rest at last after over eight weeks in the
belongings. All that was left was a great mound of rubbish
line.
on the floor of the room below; and everywhere there was
the powdered plaster, the presence and smell of which 7-18 Aug.
always accompany ruin.
The Division out of the line. The battalion near Siena.
The Villa del Ombrellino, Florence
By Simon PHIPPS
At the beginning of the summer offensive of 1944 Florence On the 5th August Battalion Headquarters moved into
was a far-off dream. After we had been fighting for a little the Villa Corsini, a few miles south of Florence. Magazines
while, however, it was given to the 6th South African were unloaded, the wireless was closed down. We had
Armoured Division as its objective, and from then on our achieved our objective. Beyond the next hillock the valley
thoughts and wishes reached forward towards it. A more opened out in the brilliant evening upon the towers and
practical turn was given to this hopeful thinking by Colonel domes of Florence. The Scots Guards were in the southern
George long before we even crossed the borders of Tus- outskirts and patrols had penetrated to the river and looked
cany, and it was to his usual providence that the officers across the blown bridges to the Uffizzi. Florence had,
of the battalion were to owe an unpayable debt. In a however, been declared an open city, and the plan was
muddy field near Fabro he sat down, when we were held therefore to by-pass it on either side and make it untenable
up one day, and wrote to Mrs. George Keppel asking if by the Germans still in occupation. Into this peculiar situ-
we might take over her villa in Florence as a place for ation Henry Green went off in his jeep, armed with Mrs.
officers to go to on leave when our expected arrival in Keppel's letter, to make a reconnaissance. He was stonked
northern Italy became a fact. An air letter card duly arrived on the way, but returned full of enthusiasm, and another
giving Mrs. Keppel's very kind permission.
party went out, consisting of Henry, Colonel George,
a

John Pope, Arthur Farnell-Watson
and Stephen Whitwell in the garden
of the villa
The Drums playing in the Piazza della Signoria, Florence
224
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
Richard Crichton and Ronnie Strutt. A gunner officer had land and north across the garden to Florence. The garden
established an OP in the garden among the cypress trees and was huge and rambling, with umbrella pines and cypress
statues of Apollo and Diana. The only other occupant was trees, bushes of orange in tubs, temples and gazebos, while
Selme, the butler, who was overjoyed at seeing Mrs. Kep- a balustrade, set at intervals with statues, topped a rampart
pel's letter and reading the messages she had sent to him. which dropped sheer down into the road below and seemed
Then a cloud seemed to pass over the sun. An Air Com- from the house to drop into the city itself. In summer we
modore drove up to the front door, turning out to be the had dinner on this terrace. You looked across Florence to
future Commander of AMG in Florence and a first cousin Roman Fiesole and the Scots Guards villa on its hill-east
of Mrs. Keppel, to whom she had also promised the villa! to Settignano and west, beyond Pisa, to the mountains of
But he said he would see that the Coldstream had the next Carrara black against the sunset. By the time the savoury
best villa in Florence when the time to enter the city came. was finished the moon would be up, the air was heavy with
However, a little later the Air Commodore was posted away, the scent of the orange bushes, lecherous frogs flopped and
and very kindly ensured our occupation of the villa by croaked lewdly in a pool, and the fireflies sparkled every-
having vast "out of bounds” notices put on the gates for where like sunlight on water.
us; and we were never troubled again.
The villa was run largely by John Pope. He worked
South of the Arno is a low ridge of hills about a mile wonders with the local DID and soon had the place well
from the heart of the city. The western hill on this ridge is organized; so much so that he came to be known as Mrs.
called Bellosguardo. Here St. Francis had caused a miraculous Keppel! Selme and the chef ran the culinary side, while
well to spring with water curative of the whooping-cough, the housekeeping was seen to by Sgt. Broom and a number
and on the peak there had been a house for four centuries of Guardsmen.
at least. Galileo had lived here, and other famous people, All through the last winter of the war officers went on
and in the seventeenth century the original of the present leave to the villa, according to a roster, by twos or threes,
villa was built. In the garden there had been a large stone for three days at a time. It was a strange change of view
umbrella, under which the owners could sit and look out over from the snow-surrounded slit-trenches in the mountains
the matchless view of Florence and the mountains beyond. from which they came, and the return to duty was very
The villa came to be called La Villa del Ombrellino.
much like going back to school. Sometimes there were
There were over a dozen bedrooms, with bathrooms to dances organized by the indefatigable social energy of
each. A central hall was flanked by a Chinese drawing- David Kerr-Wilson, whose beard was the entré into an
room and the dining-room, both of which opened on to unbelievable number of Florentine houses.
the garden. Upstairs was another drawing-room, with One of the joys of the villa was the photograph book
pillars at either end, which looked south over Tuscan farm- which went back into the 'twenties, to cloche hats and
skirts above the knee, and there were many other memorable
things and occasions—other books, other photographs, not
to mention George Gidney. But space forbids.
We occupied the villa for ten months. By then we were
too far north to make leave there satisfactory and we moved
to the Villa Giardino Eden in Venice, but always with
thoughts of gratitude to Mrs. Keppel.
a


The Villa del Ombrellino
“Oh, Captain Bossom!”
15
225
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

Florence
SL
TURI
226
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

DUR
wie
OUDI
The Ponte Vecchio, Florence
22
30
227
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

David Helme and Richard Caroe have a bath-
ing party at Frigene, near Rome


The Doria-Pamphili Villa, outside the walls of Rome, made a luxurious rest camp for the men of
24th Gds. Bde.

Yes
33
13
St. Peter's, Rome
228
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
NORTH OF THE ARNO—THE GOTHIC LINE
For the last two weeks of August the 3rd Battalion was on
the south bank of the river Arno, near Empoli. On the night
of the 30th-31st August a raid was carried out by two
platoons of No. 2 Company (exercise “Peach"). We
waded across the river and inflicted about twenty casualties
on the enemy, including one horse, losing ourselves one
killed (Gdsm. Taylor) and eight wounded. At 2.25 p.m.
on the ist September, the battalion started across the river
without opposition, No. 2 Company taking up a position
on Petroio a few hundred yards the other side.

Petroio, north of the Arno river. The road and bridge in the foreground formed the scene of the fighting
during No. 2 Company's raid on the night 30–31.8.44
The Battalion at Montecatini
September 1944
An Orgy of Dances
By Bobs HERSCHELL
On the 2nd September the advance was continued and and to celebrate their liberation the owner of the village
some contact was made in the evening. The following day, inn invited the officers of the company to dine. However,
the 3rd September, the battalion took up a position in two almost as soon as the party started, an Italian came in with
small villages about three miles south of Monsummano. a report that the Germans were on their way to retake the
The whole of the area was heavily mined, and owing to village. The innkeeper was horrified when he heard this and
this it was not until the 6th that the battalion was able to pushed Andrew and his officers into the street and barred
move into Monsummano itself. The following day No. 3 the door behind them. It was soon discovered, however,
Company, commanded by Andrew Cavendish, was pushed that it had been a false alarm, and the dinner-party was
forward to seize the village of Montecatini Alto, which quickly resumed.
stands alone on the top of a hill about six miles north of The following day a party consisting of the Commanding
Monsummano.
Officer and most of the other officers from Battalion Head-
On arrival in the village No. 3 Company was greeted quarters set off to walk up the funicular track to see Andrew
by the inhabitants with more than the usual excitement. and his company. About the same time two attempts were
The enemy had left the village only a few hours earlier, made, one by Ronnie Strutt and myself in a jeep and the
229
“
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'

other by Bobby Chaworth-Musters in a carrier, to see
whether it was possible to get a vehicle along one of the goat
tracks which crawled up the hill. About twelve o'clock all
three parties arrived almost simultaneously in the village,
having each taken a different route, and found No. 3 Com-
pany in far pleasanter circumstances than any of the rest of
the battalion.
The same day Gervase Falkiner decided that, as it was
his birthday, he would give a dance. The only difficulty
was to find any girls to ask to it; but during the day Gervase
and David Kerr-Wilson made certain arrangements, and
at about eight-thirty in the evening Ronnie and I set off
in a jeep, with a 15-cwt. truck following behind, for the
town of Montecatini Terme. This was the farthest to
which patrols had penetrated at that time, and it lay about
half-way between the enemy lines and our own. On
No. 2 Company HQ near Monsummano, 7.9.44
arriving in the town we were greeted by the sound of songs
from the Albergo del Pace, the largest hotel, where a battalion pushed forward into the hills against fairly
Partisan reunion dinner was taking place. After extricating heavy opposition, and by the 24th September was up
ourselves from this with some difficulty we finally found against the Gothic Line positions. There remained, how-
the mayor, to whom David had already explained the situa- ever, in Montecatini a rear headquarters under Henry
tion earlier in the day. By 9.30 p.m. the 15-cwt. truck had
Green, with most of Support Company and the few
left, but it was then found that, in addition to the four officers and men from the rifle companies who had
officers who had arrived in it, there were ten other people temporarily been left out of battle.
to be crammed into the jeep. But at last, with four people One of the chief pleasures of those left behind in
sitting on the bonnet, the jeep arrived back in Monsum- Montecatini were the sulphur baths for which the town
mano, and by 10.15 the party was in full swing. At about is so justly famous. John Pope and Theo Franklin were
3 a.m. people began to drift away, and it was with some the first to take a bath. The latter was particularly
trepidation that those officers with jeeps set off to take charmed by the Italian masseuse, and it was not until
the girls back to Montecatini. However, the nightly enemy he had been going there for about a week that he
patrol had left about an hour earlier and everyone returned discovered that she was blind. There were nearly always
safely.
three or four officers there every morning, and indeed,
Two days later, on the morning of the roth September, when the advance party was called for suddenly from
the battalion occupied Montecatini Terme, and the same Support Company, only one subaltern could be found-
evening a dance was given by the
Partisans to which all the officers
were invited. After dinner about
a dozen officers set off for the
Albergo del Pace. Their arrival
there was greeted with loud ap-
plause and most inaccurate
rendering of the National Anthem.
The dance was a great success,
and as Colonel George was not
able to be present, Henry Green
made a short speech to the Parti-
sans to thank them for the help
they had given us. When this was
translated into Italian it
Italian it was
greeted with terrific cheering. The
dance finished about 2.30 a.m. and
did much to cement the friend-
ship which had grown up between
ourselves and the Partisans.
During the next ten days the
Bn. HQ near Monsummano, 7.9.44

a
230
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY


Maj.-Gen. W. H. E. Poole, D.S.O., M.C. (right), commanding
the South African Armd. Div., is met by Brig. A. F. L. Clive,
D.S.O., M.C., at 24th Gds. Bde. HQ near Pistoia, 26 Sept.
Rex Kneeshaw, Nigel Davidson (Scots Guards) and Sgt. Sewell
interviewing prisoners at Bde. HQ
until someone had the bright idea of looking in the baths,
where the rest of the officers were found wallowing
happily.
September seemed to be a month much favoured by
officers, as there were no fewer than five birthdays while
the battalion was at Montecatini. A large dance was given
for John Lloyd's birthday, which lasted well into the
following morning, and various means were found to cele-
brate the other four. About the 16th September the battalion
was visited by the Regimental Band of the Grenadiers.
They played several times in the main square, to the delight
of the civilian population, and also on several occasions
for dances. They left Montecatini for Lucca on the 20th,
was
and it was then realized that there was no band available
to play for John Lloyd's dance next day. However, thanks
to the kindness of the Grenadier Director of Music, a 3-ton
truck, sent down on the morning of the 21st, brought back
a seven-piece dance-band by six o'clock, which then played
untiringly all night and returned to Lucca next day.
During the morning of the 29th the battalion was with-
drawn from the hills and concentrated in Montecatini in pre-
paration for an advance on another part of the front. In view of
the departure of the battalion, it was decided to have a fare-
well dance that night. With considerable difficulty the ground
floor of one of the hotels was taken over for the night and
all arrangements made. An hour before the dance was due
to start the entire lighting system
failed. However, by mobilizing
the whole signal platoon, light
re-established ten minutes
before the first guests arrived.
The dance, like so many which
are organized at short notice, was
a terrific success and finished just
after four o'clock. A number of
officers were leaving at seven o'clock
on the advance party and suffered
accordingly.
On the morning of the 30th
September the battalion left for
Castiglione dei Pepoli, a village
some twenty miles south of Bologna.
There were few who left Monte-
catini without regret, and for many
it had been a pleasant interlude
before a rather sterner and more
strenuous life.

TABACONERA
DEN
"
The main square, Montecatini Alto
231
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
The Valley of the Setta
Winter 1944-1945
By MICHAEL HOWARD
Castiglione
creature the officer commanding Headquarter Company,
I cannot believe that even at the height of an Italian spring and sometimes a rifle company stealing a few days' well-
Castiglione can look pleasant. The view down the valley
earned rest out of the line. Our officers' mess was in a large
towards Lombardy is impressive, but the town itself is a house with stone floors and not a single glazed window. The
straggling collection of mean grey houses sprawled hap- sitting-room possessed a minute and diabolical fireplace
hazard across the hillside, along a main street. I certainly
which burned the maximum of fuel and gave out the
saw it at its worst—usually in pouring rain, or snow, or in a
minimum of heat; a large red plush sofa; a large table
damp and icy mist which penetrated to every corner. The at which we ate our Christmas dinner; and a hatstand.
village was saturated with troops; civilians were crowded Upstairs there was a bathroom with a boiler which actually
into two rooms and the rest of their house taken over, worked. It was warmed by petrol-soaked wood, and a large
while gardens, fields and road verges were filled to the jug of petrol stood beside it. I did not at first realize it was
last inch with every sort of vehicle from every sort of unit. petrol; and one evening in my bath, when my paraffin
All the heavy equipment of the entire Division was parked lamp fell over and leaked fierily over the floor, I snatched
here, from light aid detachments to boot-repair shops, up the jug and poured its contents over the flames. That
mobile baths, dentists and casualty clearing stations. We was the first time I had been really warm that winter. There
were represented by our quartermaster's stores of spare was also a water closet which worked, rare luxury in a
clothing and equipment, an MT depot, a ferocious drill country where sanitary arrangements usually consisted
sergeant in charge of defaulters, that strangely impalpable either of a hole in the floor with two footrests beside it or
a
о

7.
1
6
9
5
8
2
10
3
1. M. Caprara.
This picture of our formidable objective was taken from the bridge at Rioveggio
2. di Sopra. 3. R. Setta. 4. Caprara West. 5. Caprara East. 6. M. Abelle.
9. Casaglia. 10. Rioveggio
7. M. Sole.
8. Poggio.
232
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

of a damp stone bench with a hole in the middle; and from
the lavatory window there was a view of the fields beyond
the town and a lane running through them, choked for
about a mile with parked trucks, which, used as homes by
the drivers and clerks who belonged to them, had the air
of gipsy caravans.
The Monte Sole-Caprara Position
From Castiglione the road ran down the pass towards
Bologna, turning, at the dirty village of Lagaro, which
housed Divisional Headquarters, into the long, broad valley
of the river Setta. After Lagaro, running along the valley
bottom with the hills dwindling on either side, one seemed

Tony Grover, the Adjutant
1
of Sole, dug themselves and their mortars well into the
reverse slopes, and were ready to deal with anyone who
might try to advance up the apron-like cauldron which
offered the only possible approach to its summit. The first
plan of attack was for our battalion and one company of
the ist Battalion Scots Guards, commanded by George
Mann, to take it. This was cancelled before I arrived back
from hospital; but the second plan, for a Brigade attack
to coincide with a general Christmas offensive, kept us busy
in preparations throughout December, until a providential
spell of heavy snow washed out that as well. Throughout
January we merely held our positions on the hills im-
mediately facing Sole, which, though not particularly
dangerous, were fiendishly uncomfortable. The position
was eventually taken in the spring by the South Africans
after a three-day battle.

"Has anybody got a match?” Lt.-Col. George Burns
almost out of the mountains, within reach of that unattain-
able dream-city of Bologna. But the valley was dominated
by the great peak of Monte Sole; and on Monte Sole,
with a view right up the valley and far into our defences,
sat the Germans.
At the beginning of October our Division had switched
on to this axis and had forced the enemy to withdraw down
the pass from Castiglione after much bitter fighting. Then
the troops became tired; the country was ideal for defence;
in the thickening rain and mud our advance faltered and,
for a vital moment, stopped. By the time we were ready
to attack the Germans had mined and wired the steep side
Sgt. Auty, M.M.
233
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

reaction varied. When we came back from
the forward positions on the hill beyond it,
its houses and safety seemed the height of
luxury; but to one arriving from Florence
it seemed a suitably depressing finish to the
ghastly ride or march along the railway track
-bleak, cold and muddy. On the whole, I
retain pleasant impressions. The little church
still contained its gimcrack and finery. The
other houses were fairly solid and had good
big fireplaces; and though an occasional
salvo of shells came over, the village was
too closely tucked under the mountainside to
come to any harm. Two companies were on
the hill above it; in the village lived the
third company (allotted on a roster), the
RAP, the Padre, the mule teams and their
Cypriot drivers, and the Command Post-
a large upper room suitably furnished with
marked maps, aerial photographs, telephones,
operation orders, files, stoves and the fortunate
officers whose lot it was to exist in these warm
and comfortable surroundings, to answer the
telephone and do the Commanding Officer's
bidding. It would have been difficult for a
saint not to feel slightly jealous, if he had
to live in a leaking dugout on the top of
The start of the mule train at La Quercia
the mountain, when these sybarites rang him
La Quercia
Soon after Lagaro the road came under
German observation, and we had to turn off
along a muddy jeep track, laid with bounc-
ing wire netting, on to the railway line which
hugged the left-hand side of the valley
and which was thus invisible to the enemy.
We had torn up the tracks and sleepers for
three or four miles to make the line passable
for MT, and a lively battle raged between
the Brigade and Divisional staff, who ordered
us to keep the rails and sleepers so that the
line could be put into commission again
later, and the Guardsmen, who found that
the creosote-soaked sleepers made perfect
firewood. On the whole the Guardsmen
won. It was thus possible for jeeps and
trucks to drive gingerly along the track, and
for marching troops to stumble up angrily
over the stones, to the village of La Quercia,
which nestled beneath a huge railway via-
duct at the foot of the Sole massif.
To the passenger looking out of a first-
class window on the Milan-Florence express,
La Quercia must have seemed a delightful
place—a few pink and white houses gathered
round a tiny church and a stream. Our
The start of the ascent to Pt. 501 from La Quercia

234
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

76
The snowsuit proved to be quite an effective camouflage

A section post on Pt. 501, looking back towards Castiglione. The river Setta can be seen flowing through the valley
235
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'

La Quercia. The reserve company have a hot meal before climbing up to Pt. 501

On the track to Pt. 501 and Casa Belvedere. Breakfasts and dinners were cooked in La Quercia and brought up to the forward
companies each day by mule
236
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
Pt. 501
up; but as the sybarites had done their full share of work capes, floored, if you were lucky, with duckboards. Our
as platoon commanders, such sentiments, though irrepress- alarm posts were above them on the ridge, slit trenches
ible, were unjust. The officers' mess staff were made to concealed among the trees and heather. These we occupied
come up from their retreats in the echelons and open a at dawn and dusk, steel-helmeted with weapons at the
proper mess; and it was interesting to round off a good ready, feeling dramatic and perhaps a little apprehensive as
dinner with Marsala and Strega and a cigar, before taking we peered through the evening or morning mists. Con-
one's tommy-gun and creeping out on a reconnaissance or scientiously I would do my rounds and in the middle I
a fighting patrol.
would meet my company commander, doing his rounds,
Charles Harford, Gervase Falkiner, David Helme or David
Quilter; and go round with them. “Right, Michael, you
can stand down now. Everything all right?” “I suppose
From La Quercia muddy tracks climbed the hillside so," I would answer rather miserably; and they would
between beech bushes and heather, and after an hour of wander off down the hill while the last traces of the sunset
scrambling and slipping our forward positions on Point 501 lingered over the mountains, the Guardsmen shuffled back
were reached. They occupied a ridge connected with, yet to their dugouts, and our machine-guns began their
distinct from, Monte Sole itself, and peering through the monotonous tatter.
narrow slits in the observation post at the top one saw Sole I would go back to my dugout, lift the blanket which
about a mile away; the round summit of Caprara on the curtained the door and slip gratefully down into its warm,
left, the sharp peak of Sole on the right, Monte Abelle lamplit snugness. The mail would have come up with the
appearing behind to complete the triangle. Below these evening meal on the mule train, and one's heart would
summits was the grey rubble of Caprara village, and below warm at the familiar handwriting of relations and friends.
that a broad green slope swept across our front into the I would read each letter twice, once quickly and then again
valley on our left, dotted with ruined farms in whose more slowly and luxuriantly. There would be some papers-
cellars, the intelligence told us, German outposts still hung a new Horizon, a bundle of Times Literary Supplements,
on. We learned this landscape by heart, scanned it through and perhaps a book or so, which I would put aside to be
glasses, interpreted it on the map. One night, we thought, read later in the night. My platoon sergeant, who shared
we would have to stumble across it under fire, clearing the
houses and climbing the last fifty feet of sheer rock. It was
hard to relish the prospect.
The conditions of the companies dug in below the crest
of the ridge varied with the weather; but on the whole
they furnished a good instance of the possibility of being
happy in the absence of all comfort. The more one had,
the more one wanted. If we were under canvas we com-
plained because we were not in houses. If we were billeted
in a house we grumbled furiously if the roof leaked or the
windows were broken. If all was well with the house itself
we were sure to find it inconveniently situated. Here,
sitting in holes in the ground on the top of a mountain,
being spasmodically mortared, we were so remote from
all standards of comfort that it did not occur to us to apply
them. So long as we were dry and warm, and the rations
came up and we knew what was going on, and had as much
sleep as we wanted, we were reasonably happy. The Guards-
men, dishevelled and gigantic in their crumpled greatcoats
and stocking caps, seemed more content here, if the weather
was fine, than in billets farther back. There were no in-
spections or parades, other than the routine cleaning of
weapons. Sentry rosters were arranged amicably within
the sections and were fulfilled without fuss; and for the
rest of the time they contentedly slept, wrote letters, read
the Daily Mirror and drank gallons of sweet tea.
The dugouts in which we lived were dug along the path
with little regard for tactical requirements; burrowed down
and into the hillside, roofed with branches and old gas-
The church at Casaglia still stands

237
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
a
the dug-out, had finished his mail, and we would talk for I sent him back down the hill with a guide and orders
a long time; it was only six o'clock, and there was no call to run all the way to company headquarters, and wondered
to sleep yet. After a little we would sort out our blankets, what to do. Most of my platoon had already left and it
hurl our equipment into corners, and make a warm, com- was nearly light; so I told the remaining section to stay
fortable morass for the night.
where it was, out of sight, and fire like hell at anything
Every hour or so we took it in turns to visit the sentries; that appeared, while I rallied the rest of the platoon to
and at three in the morning it was an unpleasant business counter-attack if necessary. The platoon, I found, had taken
to shake oneself out of a warm stupor, adjust windcheater its equipment off in our daylight positions. “Put that stuff
and muffler, and creep out of the lamplight into the icy on again!” I shouted. Slowly, and grumbling horribly, they
night to slip round the frosty paths from section to section. dressed again, while I told the platoon sergeant what had
The sentries would loom suddenly out of the dark; silent happened and ordered him to take them back up the hill
masses motionless in their trenches. No, they had heard to a point about fifty yards below the skyline, there to
nothing; but there had been a light about ten minutes lie up and wait for me. I would stay in the position, where
ago, a red Verey, over in San Martino direction. For a I was in touch with both company headquarters and my
little I would stay with them, feeling the frosty twigs on forward section by telephone. Foolishly I did not keep a
the parapet slippery under my hands, listening to the wind runner. The platoon moved off, and I was left alone.
and the night noises. Sometimes there was moonlight and My company commander, in Gardaletta, gave moral
a vast, spectral panorama of the mountains and valleys, encouragement, but was too far away to do more. My
silver beneath the brilliant stars in the black sky. But prisoner, he said, was a Czech, and had reported the German
the cold forbade long attention to the scenery. Shivering intention of seizing the whole feature and setting up an
beneath several layers of clothes, I would go back to my OP as a preparation for an attack on the bridge across the
warm, stuffy dug-out and telephone to the sybarites at Setta at Gardaletta that night. Unfortunately for them one
Battalion Headquarters. Yes, No. 1 Company had seen the of our platoons had occupied Point 429, the exact position
Verey light too. Brigade thought it was the South Africans they had chosen for an OP, and of this they were not aware.
on Monte Termine. Was I happy? No, I would snarl into This came out gradually, as the morning grew to full day-
the mouthpiece. Then, prodding Sgt. Hawkins into wake- light. Suddenly the corporal of the forward section rang
fulness, I would sink into the blanket morass and sleep up excitedly. “I can see 'em on the hill, sir, running about!
heavily for another two hours.
What shall we do?” “Stay put, and fire when they get
near enough,” I answered; “we are right behind you."
Cold comfort. My idea was to let the enemy on to the
Casa Zermino. Pt. 429. Gardaletta
position and counter-attack before they could settle in;
Eventually the position was so organized that we held this which meant choosing exactly the right moment to go up
part of the line for six days, turn and turn about with to the platoon and lead it back up the hill. So I sat by
the Grenadiers; returning in the interval to the village of the telephone among the bushes, looking round the moun-
Puzzola, about three miles farther back along the railway— tains, listening for the sound of firing, and wondering what
and oh, the complaints which we would launch against was going to happen. Whether we would have a hand-to-
one another about the condition in which billets had been hand fight; whether it would last all day; what it would
left! When I rejoined the battalion, however, in the middle be like. I was frightened, but resigned, and perhaps more
of November, it was just completing a spell in the adjoining curious than frightened. The morning was fresh and
position, in the hills covering Gardaletta—the next village peaceful, and the only arms I heard was a tommy-gun
down the line towards Bologna. Johnny Shuldham was in the direction of the next platoon; otherwise all was
missing from a patrol, and I was sent up to take over his silent.
platoon, no member of which I had ever seen before. By Suddenly my heart gave a gigantic thump. Two Germans
night the platoon held the farm, Casa Zermino, on the had appeared in the clearing twenty yards away and stood
forward slope, and by day it lay up in bivouacs among looking at me. I have never been so frightened. Speechless
the scrub on the reverse slope, sleeping and gazing up the with terror, I grabbed for my revolver, which was at the
Setta valley. The occupation and evacuation of this farm other end of the bivouac. They approached slowly, one
at dawn and dusk was a slightly nervous ordeal; we were carrying a sub-machine gun.
not sure whether the Germans might not be there before us. Then I realized that only one was a German. The man
One morning, when we were preparing to leave after an with the gun was a Guardsman from the next platoon,
endless night's vigil, a German suddenly appeared in our wearing a camouflage smock indistinguishable from the
midst, having eluded all the sentries. “Herr Leutnant!” he German pattern; and the other, a hulking blonde caricature
said. “Herr Leutnant!” There was going to be an attack. of a brutal S.S. man, was his prisoner. I nearly collapsed
How strong? A hundred and twenty S.S. troops. On us? with relief. The German had been captured trying to set
On this whole feature. “Schnell, Herr Leutnant, schnell!” up a machine-gun post on Point 429, and was being taken
238
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
.
>
a
back to company headquarters. I looked curiously at his magazines were to be divided; how many grenades to be
“Soldbuch”, and there, as it would be in a bad film, was carried; how to fix equipment over leather jerkins; who
a picture of the Führer stuck in the front; so true to type was to be left behind, and a thousand other things. My
does life occasionally run. We regarded one another with platoon was to lead and, though it seemed probable that
intense dislike. Clearly he had got over his first fear and the attack would succeed, my own chances of survival did
was beginning to wonder what sort of a galère he had not look very good. You have five more days to live, I
wandered into. So I sent him down the hill, telling his remember saying to myself, going to bed one night. I went
escort not to take his finger off the trigger. “Trust me, to Florence on what I expected to be my last blind; and
sir,” said he. “Proper ..., ain't he!” Then, still shaking one morning, before it was light, we went back into the
slightly, I went back to the telephone and asked Cpl. Skelly
line again.
at Zermino how he was getting on. “All quiet now,
sir,” he replied. “No. 4 Platoon were the blokes we saw
Relief
running about, and they seem to have seen them off.”
So I told the platoon to stand down, and the flap was
After my eventful patrol to San Martino with Cpl. Eager,
over. Soon afterwards we were relieved and bumped back
Gdsm. Purple, Tilly and Newman there was much poring
through the night to Prato, where we rested eight days,
over maps as my information was digested and we tried to
the only period that the battalion spent out of hearing
discover where exactly I had been and into which enemy
of gun-fire from ist October, 1944, to 16th February,
position I had walked. The Brigadier appeared and was
1945.
duly sympathetic; and David Quilter sent down my kit,
with many kind messages. My legs were giving trouble,
and I could not rejoin my platoon; so I was jeeped back
Preparations for the Christmas Attack
to A echelon, where I spent the next few days huddled
For weeks the Adjutant and Colonel Billy Steele had been over the stove listening to Bobby Chaworth-Musters and
busy with maps, tables and operation orders. There were Larch Loyd insulting one another. Then I was sent to
occasional O Groups; aerial photographs were puzzled
hospital.
over; the Brigadier bumped majestically down in his jeep After many postponements the Sole attack was called
accompanied by members of his staff. The hoi polloi waited off. When I returned to the battalion a few weeks later we
patiently, content with an occasional hint from Dermott were sitting quietly in our same positions, anticipating a
Magill, the intelligence officer, or from their company
relief. Once more I went up the hill, and my company
commanders, from which we managed to piece out roughly commander this time was Gervase Falkiner. One or two
what was going to happen. The attack would start with nights I spent in the outpost at Casa Saligastro, in anxious
the Scots Guards clearing up the houses in front of Sole. but not uncomfortable isolation. We had a fire and the
Then we were to take Caprara and the Grenadiers Sole. enemy were fairly quiet. There was always, however, a
Then the Scots Guards were to exploit through. We were
certain tension at dusk and dawn as we shuffled out along
to approach up the stream which flowed down to La the valley in our snowsuits to and from the positions;
Quercia from San Martino and, with the valley below San and it was with great relief that we would regain the
Martino as our start point, No. 1 Company was to take haven of La Quercia. Hot tea would be waiting for the
Caprara village, No. 2 (mine) Monte Caprara and No. 3 platoon in one of the houses; and the roar of the burners,
to be in reserve. Positions covering our approach up the
the cheerful rattle of mugs and mess-tins, the lurid light
stream had already been occupied at Casa Saligastro and flickering through the steam on to the men's faces as they
Casa Serra, and mule trains of mortar ammunition went shuffled past the containers, all gave, after the prolonged
up the track every night to make ammunition dumps as tension of the night, a sensation of confidence and peace.
near the enemy as was considered safe.
Eventually, on the 16th February, the Americans padded
The Germans did not remain wholly inactive. Once, softly up the railway track to relieve us. Our blanket rolls
using ski troops, they put in a very carefully planned attack were sent off, our signs bundled together and put on a
in the middle of the night on the Casa Serra position which truck. Almost with affection we took our last look at the
was held by a platoon from Support Company under John church, the houses, the rocks of La Quercia. It had been
Lloyd. After an early success the enemy were heavily a good home to us. Then, as darkness fell, we marched
counter-attacked by the Support Company platoon, which back along the railway, back into the mountains, leaving
not only drove them away but inflicted heavy casualties. the Germans and all their works far behind; back under
For this action John Lloyd was awarded the M.C.
the great ruined arches of the viaduct, back to the convoy
The attack was fixed for the 23rd, if I remember rightly, of trucks which stood ready for us. That is all, I thought.
of December. A few days earlier we had a short rest at
You won't go back again. You are walking out of the
Castiglione, where I rehearsed my platoon and made all Second World War for good.
the administrative arrangements I could think of: how Bren And the events proved me right.
239
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

M. Abelle, from the “cauldron” between M. Sole


and M. Caprara
The extreme left-hand edge of M. Caprara,
taken from San Martino. This was to have been
Tim King's platoon objective on Christmas Day,
and it is evident that his training with toggle
ropes at Castiglione would have proved extremely
useful! The track to Caprara village can be seen
winding off to the right
Gardaletta
240
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY


George Gidney and Raoul Robin on the railway at Puzzola
Charles Harford's grenade demonstration at Puzzola
Mickey Hoare, Renton Fontannaz, Tom Perrett, Peter Vickery,
Gerald Legge, George Boscawen, and Charles with his weird
contraption



Lt.-Col. Billy Steele
Bruce McPherson (MO)
David Quilter


No. 2 Company HQ on Pt. 501
Tim King's platoon (No. 2 Company) do some PT in the snow at
Marsili. Sgt. Hill is facing the camera. Cpl. Nelson is the hardy
man in the string vest
16
241
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
"

ih
2013
### ###
H+
****+
tttt
The Divisional Cemetery at Castiglione

A view looking north from the slopes of M. Gatta above Castiglione. On the right is the road to Bologna,
running through Lagaro and Rioveggio and passing close to M. Sole, which can be seen in the distance. Our
drivers must have known every bend of this road by heart before we finally left for Spoleto
242
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

The officers of No. 2 Company at Castiglione, looking like five
Russian generals. CSM Gartside, Tim King, David Cazenove,
David Helme and Michael Howard

33333
237
Bobby Chaworth-Musters, Larch Loyd and Ralph Benson at Castiglione

Lt. P.J. Q. Shuldham CMF 31.10.44
Gdsm. Sleigh, RSM Woodmansey's batman
243
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

M. Sole and M. Caprara were eventually taken by the South Africans, in April 1945. This picture was taken half way up
Caprara and gives a good idea of the steepness of the ascent. The shattered village below is San Martino

South African tanks passing Caprara village, April 1945
244
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
Hark! - the herald angels sing!
-
Hark! – the herald angels sing!
Or is it cannon firing?
Just bring my Christmas pud. to me,
(I know we've only M and V)
The "Q" has got no puddings (plum)
So I'm afraid you've had it chum.
Pass the turkey, Alf!
(It's really "bully", but a guy can pretend can't he?)
Fill my glass up again with that excellent sherry!
(This bloody char gets worse!)
If I go on eating at this rate I simply won't be able to eat any
Christmas pudding.
(Boiled duff six days running, -who called the cook ...)
Yes, boys, it can be funny if you adopt the right attitude.
It really is funny, and amusing too for some!
How many Christmases have you missed spending at home up to now?
Do you think you will ever spend another there?
You may or may not in your present capacity you can't be sure!
Then why not make sure of it?
It is possible you know!- When you first came to Italy there were faces
around you, which are not to be seen today.
What has happened to these friends?
Some are dead. Others are wounded and unfit for further service. The
remainder are accounted for in the three letters P. O. W. They are com:
fortable and content, they have plenty of good food and cigarettes, and
they have warm billets (where they sleep every night and all night).
Yes, my comrade, these friends of yours are simply spending their time
pleasantly until the war is over and they can return home
immediately and safely!
!
They have the happy knowledge that every future Christmas for them is to be
A Very Merry Christmas!
Think it over!
# 174 /12 44
ERRY (HRISTMAS!
The two sides of a leaflet which the Germans sent over our lines at Christmas 1944

245
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
Departure of Colonel George Burns
On the 9th November, 1944, Colonel George Burns one hand and unlighted pipe in the other—ready to fling
said farewell to the battalion before returning to the Staff his inevitable question at every company he visited, “Has
College in England. He had commanded for a year of anybody got a match?”
almost continuous action, during which he had gained the
confidence and affection of all ranks. His energy, cheer-
fulness and great hospitality had been the delight of all, It was with great pleasure that we welcomed his successor
and for many weeks we were to miss his familiar figure from the 2nd Battalion-Colonel Billy Steele—who was to
charging up and down the Apennines—chestnut staff in lead us through to the final victory in Italy.
ORANO
CO
“Sally"
By GUARDSMAN ). EVANS
Early in 1943 Sgt. Hill discovered a small brown dog in
the forward echelon near Mareth. He took possession of
her, christened her Sally, carried her proudly through
Mareth, Medenine, Wadi Akarit and Enfidaville to Tripoli,
and there handed her over to me for safe keeping during
the invasion of Italy. An experienced campaigner by this
time, though inclined to bomb-happiness in moments of
stress, Sally was an expert in the art of digging in. She used
to scratch a hole under the nearest tree, lie with her face to
the ground while the German guns were firing, then, when
a shell landed nearby, she would jump up and bark at it in
fury. When No. 2 Company came out of the line at Salerno
she celebrated the event by producing five puppies. And
thereafter the family lived in a bully-beef box on the top
of my 3-tonner. Sally was No. 2 Company's mascot during
II.10.44
the first year of fighting in Italy—a friend to all and a great
3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards
source of amusement. It was thus a very sad moment when
IN MEMORY OF A GOOD PAL
we heard, early in October 1944, that she had been run over
KILLED
and killed by a truck in the streets of Castiglione dei Pepoli.
Her grave stands in the town overlooking the Setta valley.
ACTIVE SERVICE

SALLY
ON


BUDE
Maj.-Gen. W. H. E. Poole presenting Andrew Cavendish
with his M.C. Pistoia, Sept. 1944
Gdsm, Hilton, M.M, Pistoia, Sept. 1944
246
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY
The “Two Types
”
By courtesy of "JON
Although these cartoons are familiar to all of us, the fact
that Jon is himself an old Coldstreamer is perhaps not so
widely known. The “Two Types” have a special interest
for us, therefore, and just as the daily adventures of this
incomparable pair formed an indispensable part of the
Eighth Army News during the war, so now we feel that
this book would not be complete without them. In the
words of their creator:
“The 'Two Types' were born in the Western Desert.
Their first breath was a whiff of burning camel thorn.
Their mother's milk was that brackish, brownish, saltish
water we found in the region of Tobruk.
“By the time they had reached Italy they discovered a
nostalgia for the burning sands they once cursed.
“It was then I had the opportunity to portray them in
the Eighth Army News, and they proved a delight and a
relaxation to the Eighth Army bogged down in the mud
and rain. Why? Because there was as much truth as carica-
ture in the 'Two Types'. Their multi-coloured scarves,
their fly-whisks—relics of Cairo days—were really seen
around the Via Roma or striding incongruously over Italian
fields.
“Now, back in civvy street, it is a little more difficult
to pick them out. But in this recent freeze-up haven't you
seen the odd sheepskin coat, the corduroy trousers? I
assure you they are still alive, recapturing the memories
of sun, sweat and fly-swats, proudly wearing the Brigade
of Guards tie and getting down to the job of being a
civvy'. They'll succeed, just as they thrashed Rommel in
the desert."


:
!
“DESERT AIR FORCE-we presume, old man”

CECI
82
"Must be ours, there's not a soul in the next butt"
“Look-SAND"
247
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?

3

-
M
1
“She wants to know if you'd like to do some knitting ! ”
OTO
를
​
“NOW do you admit it's not a mirage?"

L
WELLCOME TO
OUR
LIBERATORS
qullu
27
D DAY DODCERS
you
“None of this fuss and bother in the desert, old man”
“No Actually, Sister, he enjoys sitting in the back”


Delightful
IDEMON
Home Story
VINO
SALA
if
TREGA
VER
: یاسر
201
ALAMEIN
MARETH
SICILY
Benzing
l
NO
NAKED
LIGHTS
ALLOWED
IN THIS
BAR
201
TEIATO
nes
Lauren
ITALY
SALERNO
ANZIO
“Which D, .. Day do they mean, old man? ”
“Have you such a thing as a dart-board here, vecchio uomo ?”
248
THE THIRD BATTALION IN ITALY

ma
TINY
UZE
00 boi
D
Anyway it's better than the leave train from
1

“Don't worry, old man, Gdsm. Blenkinsop assured me he'd fix us up
Mersa Matruh"
with a job”
Then
BUVRII
wird
249
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
SPECIAL MESSAGE
from the
ARMY COMMANDER
The Eighth Army, which started the great tide of Allied
victory at El Alamein, is about to strike a knock-out blow
against the Germans in Italy.
Our Armies in Germany, and those of our Allies, have
sent the enemy staggering back towards Berlin, but he is
still fighting and he must not be allowed to use his Armies
in Italy to form a garrison for a Southern German strong-
hold.
With the powerful aid of the Desert Air Force, which
has been our partner in every victory, we will destroy or
capture the enemy South of the River Po.
The American Fifth Army will be assaulting at our
side, and the American Air Forces in Italy will bring their
full weight to bear in support of our attack.
We have a unique opportunity to destroy the enemy
in his present positions because, owing to lack of fuel, he
is incapable of large-scale and rapid movement. As in every
battle, there will be hard fighting, and difficulties will have
to be overcome, but I know that Eighth Army will show how
the job can be finished off quickly.
We must take every advantage of our overwhelming air
superiority, our tanks and our artillery, and drive hard and
deep with speed.
From Tobruk to the Po Plains the brave soldiers of
Poland have been fighting with us, and it is a matter of
especial pride to our Empire Army that in this battle our
gallant Polish Allies will be striking a decisive blow.
The Eighth Army recognises and appreciates the part
that gallant Italian forces are taking in the struggle.
Together we will all go forward to final victory.
Good Luck to you all.
a
R. 2. Melreery
Main H.Q.,
Eighth Army.
April, 1945.
Lieut.-General,
G.O.C., Eighth Army.
250
PART III
THE
AMALGAMATION AND
AFTER
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

*
THE OFFICERS OF THE TWO BATTALIONS. Spoleto, February 1945
Back Row: Tom Perrett, Gervase Falkiner, Gerald Legge, Andrew Cavendish, Larch Loyd, Bobs Herschell, Simon Phipps, Raoul Robin, Tony Harbord-Hamond,
Peter Wills, David Quilter, Bob Southey, Roger Beck,
Roger Beck, Jamie Leveson,
Jamie Leveson, Ashley Ponsonby, Bill Birkbeck, Bob Palmer, David Toler
3rd Row: Michael Howard, Henry Grylls (MO),
Henry Grylls (MO), George Boscawen, Michael Philips, Bob Windsor-Clive, Michael Hollings, Henry Green, Lt.-Colonel Bob Coates,
Lt.-Colonel Billy Steele, Reggie Seconde, Doric Bossom, Ian Skimming, David Kerr-Wilson, Bobby Chaworth-Musters, George Gidney
2nd Row: Theo Franklin (Padre), Henry Hewitt (QM), George Forbes (R.C. Padre), Bill Harris, Paul Corbould, Hubert Snowden, John Pope, Ronnie Strutt,
Barrie Biemans, Tim Makeig-Jones, Michael Kinchin-Smith, Tony Grover, Edward Doughty, Alastair Coats, Bobby Hyde,
Alastair Coats, Bobby Hyde, Stephen Whitwell
Front Row: Tim King, Peter Vickery, Pat Forbes, David Shenton, Elston Grey-Turner (MO), Ray Crouch, Martin Stanley, Arthur Farnell-Watson, Jim Sawdon (QM),
Tim Patrick, Victor LeFanu, Charlie Darley
252
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE LAST PHASE
February-May 1945
AMALGAMATION AT SPOLETO
N the middle of February the ist and 24th Guards
Brigades came out of the mountains between Florence
and Bologna and were concentrated at Spoleto, in the
Umbrian Valley, for a period of reorganization.
The 2nd and 3rd Battalions were billeted in the Gari-
baldi Barracks on the outskirts of the town, and most of the
officers lived in the Villa Matrignano on a hill outside.
Every room led into another and there were no passages.
The walls were elaborately frescoed, one room with views
of Rome, another to look like an alchemist's cell—with
bottles, pots, and pestles and mortars on shelves. Andrew
Cavendish, Bobs Herschell, Michael Kinchin-Smith and
Simon Phipps slept respectively at the feet of representa-
tions of Plato, Pythagoras, Homer and Epicurus.
It was great fun to be all together again. The two batta-
lions had met first in Tunisia after the victory, then at
Tufo in January, 1944, when the 2nd Battalion O Group
had visited the 3rd Battalion Headquarters in the line, then
near Cassino after the 2nd Battalion's great battle on Monte
Piccolo and Monte Grande; and now they were living side
by side in barracks.
The brains of the battalions were hard at work planning

mady
Spoleto - Panorama
253
" “NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
a
the reorganization, which was to result in the 2nd Battalion the Eton Field Game, to Harrovian cat-calls from the touch
remaining in Italy and a cadre for the 3rd Battalion going line; and a Brigade concert called “As Improperly Dressed”
back to England. This was carried out by sending home was produced on a large scale under the direction of Dickie
most of the men and some of the officers with the longest Buckle. A first-class band—Harry Greenbaum and his Boys
service abroad and retaining the rest, with a few key person- dressed in white ties and khaki drill dyed rust red-pro-
nel, to constitute the new 2nd Battalion. Colonel Billy Steele vided the music while a good deal of fun and games came
was to command and, generally speaking, Nos. I and 3 from Hooper's Troopers and other talented members of
Companies were “old 3rd Battalion” while Nos. 2 and 4 the cast, notably Cpl. Reed. There were sergeants' mess
Companies were “old 2nd Battalion”. Needless to say, parties and corporals' mess parties and a luncheon party in
there was plenty of fairly amicable rivalry and comparison! the officers' mess, at which Andrew Cavendish and Bobby
On the ist March the new battalion was born, and on th Chaworth-Musters competed at eating-an-orange-in-
9th it moved north to Forli for a month's training before double-time. Bobby won, of course (after years of practice),
the final offensive. The cadre 3rd Battalion went home, and but rather wished he hadn't afterwards.
after a period it began to reorganize under Colonel Bob Then the 2nd Battalion prepared for its final battles. It
Coates to go to Burma. But after VJ day its destination was combined both the traditions of the Desert and of the
changed to Palestine, where it arrived in September, 1945, Tunisian mountains, and in its ranks were united men who
seven years after it had last served there.
had marched from both ends of the Mediterranean to a
Besides the hard work entailed in this temporary amalga- common victory. They had crossed the sea and had fought
mation, there was time for a certain amount of play as their way, never far apart, from the south to the north of
well. Leave parties went to Rome and Florence; the two Italy. And now, in this Umbrian town, when final victory
battalions and the two Brigades vied against each other at lay ahead, they joined forces and became one.





Gervase Falkiner, Michael Philips, Dermott Magill, Michael
Howard, Bing Bovill and Tom Perrett
Dermott Magill, Bobs Herschell,
Larch Loyd and Tony Harbord-
Hamond
Mickey Hoare and Peter Vickery
find a friend in Assisi
Most of the officers lived in the Villa
Matrignano, about four miles from the
barracks. It is the only house I have seen
which does not possess a single passage
David Helme, Michael Philips, Doric
Bossom, Tony Harbord-Hamond and
Raoul Robin
254
THE LAST PHASE

THE PIONEER PLATOON, 3RD BATTALION
Back Row: Gdsm. Jolly, Appleby, Dawson, Lloyd, Farrer
2nd Row: Gdsm. Martin, Carruthers, Roberts, Lewis, Smith, Ellam, Holmes
Front Row: Gdsm. Towers, Cpl. Wheelwright, Sgt. Phillips, Lord Herschell, Sgt. Elder, Sgt. Brown, Gdsm. Wheeler
255
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”,

Assisi
256
THE LAST PHASE

be
SA
View from Assisi of the Pilgrimage Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Umbrian Plain
257
LI
SONO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

DI
le
w
les
THE SIGNAL PLATOON, 3RD BATTALION
Back Row: Gdsm. Cooke, Fenn, Knott, Gaskell, Henry, Sheriton, Bannister, Ainsworth, Ging, Butterworth, Fryer, Hamshaw, Wright,
Brookes
2nd Row: Gdsm. Futtit, Smith, Jones, Robertson, Middlecote, Richards, Sutherland, Wilson, Harley, Parker, Cpl. Evans, Cpl. Farmer
Front Row: Cpl. Rowe, Cpl. Presho, Cpl. Phillis, Sgt. Webb,
Lt. M. O. Stanley, Capt. S. W. Phipps, Capt. M. Kinchin-Smith, Sgt. Davidson, Sgt. Hey,
Cpl. Nelson, Cpl. Glover
258
THE LAST PHASE
THE THIRD BATTALION SIGNAL PLATOON
By Simon PHIPPS
Everyone knows that signalling is difficult. Everyone
knows—especially the signallers—that you curse them when
communications go wrong and ignore them when they go
right. And, in spite of it all, everyone bears the signallers
a special affection. It is hardly surprising, for you always
get in the Signal Platoon a unique spirit, one of another
and one for the other, that exists nowhere else in the
battalion. There are plenty of reasons for this—mainly
pride in a specialized job at which men are trained together
for years and the high order of intelligence needed for the
job. And I think the general scepticism about the efficiency
of wireless which invariably goes wrong at the vital time,
probably through no fault of the signallers, and the general
impression that line and telephones and everything else
are usually “dis”, make signallers band together mentally.
Certainly, several years as a signaller or signal officer render
one immeasurably philosophical and patient!
Among this happy breed there are always a number of
exceptional characters, and the Signal Platoon of the 3rd
Battalion had its fair share. Who will ever forget Gdsm.
Glover (later Cpl. Glover, but usually “Glove” to the
signallers)? He was always to be seen wandering round,
his pipe in and his teeth out of his mouth, usually preparing
some supreme dish for the signallers' dinner. His greatest
culinary achievement was “Flag-basher's Batter”, a kind
of chocolate-biscuit duff which he produced at Tufo just
in time for Colonel Maurice Trew to taste it on his visit and
pronounce it excellent. Then the pots and pans would be
left behind and he would be off "on the line", at which
often fearful task he always showed the highest example.
Then there was the little gang at No. 3 Company which
clung together for longer than any other company terminal-
Cpl. Fish, Gdsm. Presho, Stables and Hamshaw. Neither
the mud, the rain nor the summer's dust and heat ever
depressed them. Presho had a sheepskin scarf, the appear-
ance of which was a sure sign of winter coming in, and the
platoon wags never wearied of telling him to get a haircut.
At No. 1 Company was Cpl. “Bull” Farmer, who carried
the no. 18 set up every mountain in Italy in spite of having
broken his back at Harrow in 1942. Even Ronnie Strutt in
his most playful mood never ruffled him!
In the stores, like medieval alchemists, Parker and Beard
were always to be found behind mountains of equipment,
patiently mending something “dis”. At No. 4 Company
we used to find Rowe and Jones and Cpl. Clay speechless
with laughter at Gervase Falkiner, and Sgt. Scrimegour's
grin always welcomed one to No. 2.
At Battalion Headquarters we had a shifting population,
but there were one or two fairly permanent members, all
of whom had distinguished records with companies behind
or ahead of them. The place used to echo to the familiar
ebb and flow of Cpl. Sutherland's tuning-calls. How
patient and expert he was on the control set for hours at
a time! On Colonel George Burns' set was Sheriton,
with Harley following on a motor-bicycle. Harley usually
had his motor-bicycle blown from under him into a tree
by a malevolent shell. However, he never seemed to
follow the bicycle and remained the charming companion
of all until the end of the war. The scene was presided over
by Sgt. Jeanes, Sgt. Davidson and Sgt. Webb, and there
is an anecdote that could be told of every other member of
the platoon did space and time allow.
Finally, there must be a word about what these men
achieved. The weather was always the enemy—the rain
and mud that got into everything and the equally pene-
trating dust of summer. When we sat down in the mud for
the winter there was continuous line-work to be done,
often under very heavy, observed mortar and shell fire.
There are few more cold blooded and deliberate forms of
courage than mending lines under fire, and to be “good
on the line” was the highest compliment one signaller could
pay to another. On the summer advances there was the
constant humping of the no. 18 set up the relentless
Apennine slopes in broiling heat, and always another hill
after this one and another after that. One spring morning
at Rionero I remember laying a three-mile lateral line with
Sgt. Hey, Cpl. Rose and about half a dozen signallers to
some Italian co-belligerents on a neighbouring mountain.
When we reached the top I asked a gloomy-looking Italian
soldier for “Il Capitano Commandante”. He appeared,
wearing field-boots, and we had the following conversa-
tion:
I: “Buon giorno. Parlate inglesi?”
He: “Nein.”
I:“Sprechen sie deutsch?”
He: “Non, mais je parle français.”
We all had many friends in the Signal Platoon of the
2nd Battalion, and a monster banquet was given at Spoleto
for the platoons. The company included four signal
officers, an Adjutant and two Headquarter Company Com-
manders and it lasted well into the night. Everyone sang
songs, including the Regimental Sergeant Major, who led
“Why did you join the -ing Coldstream?” Happy
memories of the Signal Platoon are one answer to that oft-
sung question—if, indeed, answer were needed.
259
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
THE SECOND BATTALION ORDER OF BATTLE
March 1945
Commanding Officer
Second in command
Adjutant
HQ Company Commander
Signal Officer
Asst. Signal Officer
Intelligence Officer
MT Officer
Quartermaster
Medical Officer
Padre
Lt.-Col. W. L. STEELE
Major H. J. L. GREEN
Captain M. R. HOLLINGS
Captain R. J. SOUTHEY
Captain M. KINCHIN-SMITH
Lt. M. O. STANLEY
Lt. D. B. MAGILL
Captain D. A. KERR-WILSON
Lt. H. W. HEWITT
Captain H. C. GRYLLS
The Rev. D. J. BROWNING
Support Company
Company Commander
Carrier Officers
Major the Hon. A. R. G. STRUTT
Captain R. P. CHAWORTH-MUSTERS
Lt. J. S. LLOYD
Lt. A. P. HARBORD-HAMOND
Captain D. BOSSOM
Lt. the Lord HERSCHELL
Anti-tank Officer
Mortar Officer
Pioneer Officer
No. 1 Company
No. 2 Company
No. 3 Company
No. 4 Company
Major R. C. ROBIN
Major the Lord LEVESON
Captain S. W. PHIPPS
Captain D. A. H. TOLER
Company
Commander
Second in
command
Platoon
Commanders
Captain G. A. GIDNEY
Captain W. BIRKBECK
Captain D. C. QUILTER
Captain A. C. G. PON-
SONBY
Lt. B. D. TILL
Lt. J. B. STILWELL
Lt. P. F. FORBES
Lt. P. A. W. VICKERY
Lt. C. D. DARLEY
Lt. M. D. HOARE
Lt. Sir PETER WILLS
Lt. M. M. W. SEVERNE
Lt. D. W. SHENTON
Lt. Count H. N. BEN-
TINCK
Lt. G. W. KING
Lt. T. D. MAKEIG-JONES
Reinforcement Companies
V Company
Major A. F. DAVIDSON
Captain A. V. FARNELL-
WATSON
Lt. M. E. HOWARD
Lt. R. J. STRATTON
Lt. C. M. PHILIPS
U Company
Major D. C. E. HELME
Company
Commander
Second in
command
Platoon
Commanders
Captain R. L. SECONDE
Lt. G. V. S. LEFANU
Lt. T. H. W. PERRETT
Lt. 0. H. BOVILL
Reinforcements
Major J. E. B. POPE
Major R. C. WINDSOR-
CLIVE
Major I. E. B. SKIMMING
Major N. E. KEITH-
CAMERON
Captain W. R. CORBOULD
Captain R. CROUCH
Lt. A. J. BOWKER
Lt. B. A. BIEMANS
Lt. E. R. NARES
Lt. J. J. M. HORLICK
Lt. C. P. WHALEY
Lt. J. R. FONTANNAZ
Lt. J. ALDERSON-SMITH
Lt. G. H. LEGGE
Lt. M. A. F. NEWTON
Lt. G. E. C. PAGE
Lt. J. T. F. PATRICK
260
THE LAST PHASE
Forli
11 March - 1 April 1945


“I positively refuse to look!” (John Stilwell)
“Don't you dare ask me for a lift!”
David Kerr-Wilson, taken at Fano during
the drive to Forli

0
Introducing the Jones family-from Doncaster. The three brothers met in Forli after four years' separation
261
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

III
201
The German tank dump in Forli. An Italian child was playing in one of them while the gun
was still loaded. He fired it and blew a hole through the top of the Amgot building

Bobs Herschell gave us a flame-throwing demonstration at Cesena. He carefully
concealed his “Wasp" behind a hedge and then threw this sheet of flame almost
Gdsm. Kell, No. 4 Company
over our heads
262
THE LAST PHASE

At the demonstration at Cesena. Henry Bentinck, Bob Windsor-Clive, Peter
Wills, Simon Phipps, Michael Severne and Tim King


TYR
5633233
Sludge's O Group” consists of Henry Bentinck, Tim King,
David Toler and Tim Makeig-Jones
Simon Phipps giving his platoon sergeants a Tewt


No. 4 Company practise river crossing at Forli
Ashley Ponsonby, Barry Till and Simon Phipps went on a sight-seeing expedi-
tion to Ravenna. Barry carried a large lamp and battery to illuminate all the
dark and interesting corners
263
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
THE SPIT BETWEEN LAKE COMACCHIO
AND THE SEA
Early April 1945
By Simon PHIPPS
a
The Pine Wood
Easter Day and All Fools' Day were the same in 1945.
After church parade we started packing. The springs of
the company 3-tonner began to sag as the familiar miracle
of stowing the stores laboriously took place. The barrack
rooms in the billet were swabbed and swept and inspected.
Brief orders for a move were given. Outside, however, the
battalion and company signs, white and “blue-red-blue”,
still stood by their appropriate doors and at the street
corners in the piazza. Guardsmen still went up and down
the streets of Forli, where we had been for a month. There
was no noticeable change. The move was secret. Such were
the measures of security that we in the battalion had no
idea where we were going until that morning, and then
only the company commanders were told. After luncheon
David Shenton returned from leave. “I heard in Rome
we are going to do an amphibious operation on Lake
Comacchio”, he said cheerfully.
At last the evening of that April day arrived. The com-
pany was paraded and marched off to TCVs. I got into
my jeep and we followed the tail of another company out
into the night and the unknown, after nearly eight weeks
out of the line. Reid, my servant, sat in the back, feeling
much the worse for the company dinner we had had the
night before.
A few miles north of Ravenna we turned out our lights
and after a short time were directed off the main road into
a wood. We jogged slowly along a ride for some time, until
suddenly Bill Birkbeck, who had gone ahead with the
advance party, loomed out of the darkness and said we
had arrived. It took a long time for the company to debus
and for the platoons to get into their areas and to dig slits
and camouflage them from the air. But eventually we were
all set for the night. Guns, forward of us, seemed very
active, but none of us knew why.
In the morning we awoke to find ourselves in a huge
pine wood, the Pineta di San Vitale, with wide spaces of
green turf among the umbrella trees. A message announcing
an inspection of areas by the Commanding Officer never
reached me, and I was caught unawares examining one
of my big toes. I had ordered latrines to be dug earlier
on and the platoon commanders had, in fact, carried this
out, laying tapes to guide men through the bushes. How-
ever, when Colonel Billy asked to see them, the platoon
commanders, unused to the place, inadvertently picked on
the same tape in each case, and three times I found myself
looking at the same latrine—to my great confusion.
All the morning we lay about in the sun, still not knowing
what was going on. Colonel Billy had gone to Brigade
Headquarters and we were warned for a conference in the
afternoon. How far away the afternoon seems from the
morning, when one returns to the line. What an age of
security and ease those few hours contain. How safe and
delighted one feels in the all-embracing present, recklessly
shutting out what is to come. Reid and Williams put up
the mess tents and unpacked from the “Pirates' Chest”
the china Dermott Magill and I had bought in Florence
the autumn before. On the no. 3 cooker Green prepared
our luncheon, and from the nearby clearing came shouts
of No. 15 Platoon playing “Peggy", the Yorkshireman's
Sunday-morning game.
That afternoon we learned from Colonel Billy that the
Commandos had put in an attack the previous night on
the Spit of land which stretched north of the pine wood

“A message annonucing an inspection of areas by the Commanding
Officer never reached me, and I was caught unawares examining one
of my big toes” (Simon Phipps)
264
THE LAST PHASE

between Lake Comacchio and the sea. They had had
great difficulties with their amphibious vehicles in
crossing the lake and had finally gone across in assault
boats. Opposition had not been very heavy on the
whole. The minefields, which were large, were fairly
well identified, and the Commandos were pushing on.
(The operation was a diversion to draw enemy forces
down to Lake Comacchio before the main assault of
the 8th Army went in in a week's time.) Various rôles
were foreshadowed for us, but next day found us still
in the pine wood.
“From the nearby clearing came shouts of No. 15 Platoon playing “Peggy',
the Yorkshireman's Sunday-morning game"
The Spit
On the third morning the O Group was at last called
for and we drove forward some miles along the flat
and empty Spit to meet Colonel Billy at Brigade
Headquarters. The Commandos had reached the end
of the Spit, where the ground opened out—left, along
the north shore of the Lake and, right, up the coast of
the salt-lagoon and marshes to Venice on its islands.
At this northern end the Spit was cut by a canal, and
on the north bank was the little town of Porto
Garibaldi. Here the advance was halted. Our spirits
ebbed and flowed as varying reports on our future
were brought to us from the conference. We sat in a
field outside and the blessed peace of the last few days
seemed far away. The Divisional Commander arrived
in his jeep and then the Corps Commander, and
finally Colonel Billy came out and gave us his orders.
We were to take over the positions on the south bank
of the canal from the Commandos, with the Scots
Guards on our left.
Nos. I and 2 Companies were to be forward, with
Nos. 3 and 4 in rear defending Battalion Headquarters.
Jamie Leveson and Raoul Robin disappeared with
Colonel Billy in the direction of the Commando Head-
quarters and I set about reconnoitring my position.
The Spit was divided here by a small lake running
up the centre. I was to face the sea on the right and
this lake on the left, with posts out front and rear.
A sandy track ran the length of the Spit and the
ground was all humps and bumps and covered with
scrub the height of a man's shoulder. A final line
of dunes fringed the beach, which was bare and thickly
sown with mines. The wire marking this minefield
was visible some twenty yards out from the scrub.
I waited some hours for the company to arrive. A
single shell landed in the area, I suppose by some
mathematical mistake. I sat and talked to Holmes,
who had come with me as a guide. By dusk the
company was dug in and we had a troop of tanks
of the roth Hussars to support us. When I went
during the night to see the post I had put on the
edge of the scrub, covering the beach, I lost my

In the pine wood near Ravenna. Bill Birkbeck, David Shenton, Simon Phipps,
David Quilter and Peter Wills

Commanding Officer's inspection. With Colonel Billy are Henry Green, David
Toler and the dog “Mickey”
265
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'”
a
'
way, and noticing the ground was very bare all round, I sud- mediums put down a few rounds on the other side of the
а
denly realized to my horror that I had walked straight into canal and we had to get well down every time. Michael
the minefield. My heart sank and I prodded my way out and I removed our equipment and crawled up on to the
with my stick until I came to the wire and breathed again. top of the bank and looked across the eighty yards of black
Next morning the O Group was called and orders for water to Porto Garibaldi.
an advance were given. The enemy were a Caucasian Divi- Several miles behind us the pummelling noise of a great
sion and in a very bad state, and although detachments barrage, supporting an operation by 107th Brigade, gave
of the Kesselring Division had come to bolster them up, cover to our movements. Its echo hung hoarsely over the
it was thought that a determined assault across the canal salt pans beyond Comacchio in a long roar. We crawled
would break the position and many prisoners would come to the edge of the bank. The Commandos had said the
in. Enemy were thought to be in a house this side of the bank sloped gently into the water, but the case was quite
canal and in a pill-box on the right, sited inside a line to the contrary. A tow-path ran along the high bank, edged
of “dragons' teeth”. No. 1 Company was to advance and with a concrete ledge some three or four feet above the
clear these and we were to pass through, cross the canal, water. This was going to make the launching of assault
clear half Porto Garibaldi and consolidate, while No. 2 put boats very hard to disguise, as it entailed the crew lifting
a kapok bridge across for No. 4 to pass over and continue the boat up the bank on to a skyline, where they would
the advance. If, however, the crossing of the canal was be silhouetted against the artificial moonlight, and then
strongly opposed, the operation was to be called off, as they would have to drop the boat into the canal over the
it was only a diversion and not worth casualties. A heavy concrete ledge and climb down into it before they started
bombardment of Porto Garibaldi was to be carried out by at all. They would present a perfect target for at least a
medium bombers during the morning.
minute or more and were bound to make a considerable
When darkness came we moved out behind No. 1 and noise. Across the canal, on the left of the ruined bridge,
set off up the track to our forming-up point. The company was a small house which was reported to be a pill-box,
dug in here on the left of the track behind Tac HQ where and I think the spandau that fired earlier must have been
I joined Colonel Billy, Bobs Herschell and Michael Kinchin- in this house. However, it refrained from firing at Michael
Smith, who was trying calmly but unsuccessfully to make and me although we were in full view for a long time.
the wireless work. I pitied him and thought of my seven Next I examined the remains of the bridge, in the hope
months as signal officer. There was a good deal of accurate that a section with its boots off might get down with a boat
a
defensive fire put down behind us, and except for a piece which they would launch on the right of the bridge from
of shrapnel which whizzed down between Colonel Billy and a place where the collapsed structure ran down into the
myself, we were not worried. But at last Michael got the water. They could thus have gone across with the bridge
wireless going, as he always did, and we heard Raoul's between them and the pill-box. I had been told not to
voice saying he had taken his objective without opposition cross on the right of the bridge, but thought it worth con-
and that all was quiet. Colonel Billy then told me to go. sidering, owing to the unexpected shape of the bank. Then
Our advance was slow, as we had a train of jeeps towing a sniper fired a round from the right. It was not aimed at
sledges which carried the assault boats and a “weasel”, a us, but confirmed that someone was there.
new vehicle. At intervals the jeeps got stuck and we had This crawling took Michael and me a long time and a
to haul and lift and push them until they went on again. decision was very hard to make. I came to the conclusion
Finally, we reached a post of No. 1 Company and I got that we should try to get across on the left of the bridge
the company down, sent Heppenstall, my runner, for my by launching the boat from it, as the concrete ledge was
O Group and went forward to see Raoul. It was very quiet. too high above the water and too difficult to negotiate.
I could see the ruins of the house with a huge tree beside The pill-box could, meanwhile, be very amply covered
it and the faint glimmer of the houses of Porto Garibaldi. from a position farther along the bank. Michael and I had
As usual, it was all so prosaic when we got there. Raoul not been fired at although we were in full view and about
and I got into an old German trench which smelt abomi- eighty yards from the pill-box, so I felt the very definite
nably of gunpowder and was most depressing. He told risk was worth taking. I still believe that we could have
me John Stilwell was up on the canal bank with a section, got across and established a platoon bridgehead, and that
that a spandau had fired twice from the other side, but another platoon could have passed through to begin clearing
that all was now quiet. Michael Severne, whose platoon the town. But there, I think, we would have stopped, for
was to be the leading one across, came with me and we set the Scots Guards, who were to cross on our left and clear
off to see John. The field ended in a ditch with a high the left of the town, met sharp opposition, and the best
canal bank the other side of it, while a rough track led that could have happened to us would have been a with-
over the bank to the remains of a wooden bridge. John drawal to the home side, as ordered, when we met opposi-
and his section were in the right-angle formed by the tion. In the face of well-directed opposition this would
track and the bank. Regularly every few minutes our have been extremely difficult and we might well have been
a
266
THE LAST PHASE
caught on the enemy side, unable to cross back, and forced disappointed, as we felt we could get across without much
to consolidate a precarious little bridgehead and to await the trouble; and I believe the company felt so too.
dawn with much misgiving.
We walked back to the place where I had left them. Sgt.
In fact, the enemy were clever. Next night they shifted Smith, who was to lead the point section, seemed extremely
the forces that opposed the Scots Guards to our front and surprised when I told him we were going back. Large
sent a standing patrol on to our side of the canal, from numbers of the Guardsmen, lying in their all-round posi-
which we had withdrawn. This patrol soundly beat up tions, were by now sound asleep. It has never ceased to
two patrols of ours which went to the canal bank with amaze me how soon the soldier forgets the danger that
great confidence, one in which Henry Bentinck was surrounds him as soon as that danger lapses from the actual
wounded and captured and the other, led by Peter Wills, into the potential. Many were the times on the Rock, above
in which Cpl. Fozzard was killed—a very grave loss to the Gardaletta, that I saw to my dismay a column of thick
company and his many friends.
black smoke ascending from a “brew” in the platoon
Michael and I returned from our reconnaissance to a position only two hundred yards away from the enemy!
place where I had set up a small headquarters, and I The rest of the night was like the end of a night scheme
asked for the Commanding Officer on the wireless. I told at Pirbright, and we might well have been marching back
him my plan, but he ordered me to withdraw, as the Scots from Colony Bog. By the early hours we were getting to
Guards had by then met this opposition; and this proved sleep again beside the slits we had left the evening before,
a very salutary decision. We were, however, genuinely with mingled feelings of disappointment and reprieve.

BSN
Training with "Fantails”. Fortunately, we never had to do an operation in these machines


Riding a motor-cycle always gives me a stitch. Or is it too much
scoff?” Bobby Chaworth-Musters on the Spit between Lake
Comacchio and the sea, 5 April
On 11 April the battalion crossed the Reno over this bridge and
concentrated near Menate
267
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
ARGENTA
GAP
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
25
71
36
37
38

71
condotto Brellb
70
Porco maggiore
Condotto Gpillo
B470
Portoverna
LAKE
Canale
69
Diverso
69
COMACCHIO
68
68
67
67
Fossa di Porto
1
Scolo
Bolognese
66
66
65
65
Fobsa Benviknante
Chiesa del
Banda
64
64
Long
Vald'Albero
FLOODED
63
63
FRENO
AUS
Fossa
Marina
AREA
62
62
Argenta
61
61
deyta
Abe
Certaiseant
a Pioppal
Ea.del
Osa
60
60
FLOODED
Far
AREA
59
59
Ole Risapola
Hea
58
2-+-BN. Axis.
FLOODED AREA.
ROADS
Filb
57
RAILWAY
F. RENO
56
38
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
2 Miles,
O
HEHET
268
THE LAST PHASE
THE ARGENTA GAP
No. 4 Company's Attack a Mile North of Filo
14 April 1945
By DAVID TOLER
(The map references are to the map on page 268)
After dark on the night of Friday the 13th April the rifle
companies moved up to a concentration area on the left of
the road between Menate and the farm La Pioppa (square
approx. 3859). During the night Tim King patrolled to
some farms with the Commandos south of La Pioppa, and
he was fired on by a spandau. It was very open, the raised
banks along which the roads ran providing the only cover.
Fortunately the one in front of us bent left-handed, thus
affording us some protection; all the same, when daylight
came we felt very naked and exposed. We dug in and had
a certain amount of sleep. My dugout showed signs of
recent occupation by a large number of fleas, of which a
fair proportion remained to torment me.
Early next morning I was sent for by the Commanding


The bad stretch of road between the Reno bridge and Menate. This photograph gives a good impression of the flooded area
This will make them laugh.”
Officer to be put in the picture. No. 4 Company was top Gdsm. Bourner, No. 4 Company clerk. Menate, 12 April
round Lake Comacchio
269
(NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
II
TI
of the roster, so we waited a little anxiously to see what was went off on a recce to get the lie of the land. I got within
in store for us. About an hour later I was sent for again 500 yards of the bridge when I came across a platoon of
and told that I was to clear the road running north from the Queens. They were exhausted, but the platoon com-
Filo, from the bridge (353596) northwards as far as I could, mander seemed well in the picture and helped me con-
in an effort to relieve the Buffs company that had been cut siderably. There was a certain amount of firing, but it was
off in the area of the bridge (338617). I gave out brief orders difficult to place the enemy positions. I went round and
in the concentration area, largely dealing with my route looked at it from the other side (the south); by this time I
and administration, and then went off in a jeep, taking my had made up my plan, and the company and most of the
DR, to find out what the situation was. Peter Whaley was supporting arms had arrived and were lying up in the road-
to bring up the company. I found the Queens company in side south of Casa Risarola.
Casa Risarola (361589), and was told that the bridge, my I gave out my orders in Casa Risarola. The plan was
starting-point, which I had been told was in our hands, briefly as follows: No. 16 Platoon was to advance from the
was in fact still firmly held by the enemy. I reported the bridge (358583) direct to the house (see picture) and, if that
situation to the Commanding Officer and in the meantime was clear, to go straight on for our objective (the bridge at
353596), to try to get it intact. The M.IOS
were to support from the right and the
tanks were to work up on the left of the
axis, roughly along the line of the main
road running north from Filo. Mines
severely restricted movement off the
tracks.
The advance to the first house by No. 16
Platoon went well, and they reported it
clear. They had no trouble from mines,
but there was an enemy sniper taking pot-
shots from our right rear, which we
couldn't quite understand. Tac Company
HQ were close behind No. 16 Platoon, and
we established ourselves in the house as
soon as it moved on. We remained there
until the end of the operation.
No. 16 Platoon went on in open forma-
tion towards the bridge, but soon came
The house 354592, No. 16 Platoon's first objective. It later became Coy. HQ until the end of under heavy rifle and spandau fire as they
the operation. The blown-up mortar carrier can be seen in the centre
approached the canal bank. They took
cover behind this, and, considering their
exposed position, returned the fire with
great vigour. Unfortunately Sgt. Jackman,
the platoon commander, was killed almost
immediately by a sniper's bullet from the
house in front. Two others, Gdsm. S. Hills
and Gdsm. F. Ewens, were wounded, but
were successfully evacuated under the Red
Cross flag by Gdsm. Rackett.
After this there was a fairly long gap
during which we endeavoured to locate
the enemy and, as they say in the battle
schools, to "win the fire fight”. In the
“
first place, the gunner OP re-ranged on
located and likely targets. Secondly, No.
17 Platoon came up and deployed its
Brens and mortar into good positions
from which it was able to counter any
After the battle Coy. HQ established themselves in the German dugouts. No. 17 Platoon, under
Peter Whaley, had attacked the house in the background across the open ground to the left.
movement of the enemy with a hail of
In the picture we can recognize Gdsm. Buckley, Gdsm. Guffogg and CSM Mulligan fire. Thirdly—and this had a decisive


270
THE LAST PHASE

“Next day I counted eleven spandaus, ten
automatic rifles and numerous other weapons,
including bazookas'
In the background, beneath the trees, is
the line of dugouts which were occupied by the
Germans during the battle

German prisoners captured by No.4 Comțany
are collected at Bde. HQ

This picture was found in a German camera
captured by No.4 Company during the battle.
They seem to have no idea of the fate that
awaits them
271
NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'S
effect on the trend of the battle—the troop leader of came up and we were able to tell him that we had bagged
the tanks made a very bold dash up the main road and, at least sixty prisoners. We had also discovered that the
despite the mines in the backyard, got into a fire position bridge, our objective, was not in actual fact a bridge,
behind our house. Being on the spot and thus easily but a causeway between two canals and passable for
controlled, he was able to shoot up with his 17-pounder vehicles. It was becoming dusky, so No. 18 Platoon
all houses and dugouts we required. Shortly after this a passed through No. 17 and went straight for their objective,
second tank arrived, then my jeep and company carrier, the Casa del Oca (351600), which was already visible owing
the latter being badly needed to restock us with 2-in. to the fact that one of the barns had been set on fire by our
mortar smoke. When we had first arrived at the house shelling. They found it unoccupied, although two dead
Cpl. Cowham of the pioneers had found an “R” mine Germans were discovered next day.
in the yard entrance. Subsequently he found two or After this No. 3 Company passed through and carried
three more, which he cleared, allowing the two tanks, on with the original plan of clearing the road. A few more
the jeep and the trailer to enter unscathed. But some prisoners were rounded up and, according to my diary,
time later one of the mortar carriers was blown up in No. 4 Company took seventy-six; but, in actual fact, over
the yard, apparently almost on the path of the previous one hundred passed through the cage, and as we were the
vehicles.
only company in action, they must have been ours. We
By this time I had decided on my next move, namely to were subjected to some fairly heavy shell fire, but it fell
work a section across to the house about 300 yards the behind and to the left. Nevertheless, I moved company
other side of the road on my left under cover of 2-in. headquarters into some substantial dugouts which had
mortar smoke and, if clear, to use it as a starting-point been recently vacated by the Germans and which had with-
for the attack on the two houses at 349595 and 357595, stood direct hits from the 17-pounders. Except for the
which we knew to be occupied, by the rest of No. 17 company commander, who in his excitement fell down-
Platoon with direct fire support from the tanks. The attack stairs, we had no further casualties after the first three. Next
by No. 17 Platoon went perfectly. The fire support was so day I counted eleven spandaus, ten automatic rifles and
effective and close that the platoon was on top of the numerous other weapons, including bazookas. There were
already demoralized Krauts before the latter realized what also a number of trolleys packed ready for a speedy with-
was happening; and they, knowing their flank had been drawal.
turned and that their escape route up the Scolo Bindella A few of the prisoners were Jaegers, but the majority
had been cut, surrendered without hardly firing a shot. were from No. 1 Company, 15 Panzer Grenadiers, which
Towards the end of this attack the Commanding Officer had now ceased to exist.
a


No. 3 Company HQ moving up the road north of Filo. This picture gives a good idea of the type of
equipment carried by a rifle coy. HQ in battle. The sack contains the day's rations
Gdsm. Bambury and “Sludge”
wait patiently for David Toler at
A echelon
272
THE LAST PHASE
The Battle of Chiesa del Bando
17-18 April 1945
By ASHLEY PONSONBY
Full of confidence after No. 4 Company's superb attack it was 10 p.m. and extremely dark. There appeared to
north of Filo, the battalion advanced up its axis towards be very little activity and we hoped that the Germans, as
Chiesa del Bando, a small and battered village of about thirty was very often their custom, had withdrawn at dusk and
cottages which lay at the far end of the Argenta Gap bottle- left behind only a small patrol. Zero hour was originally
neck. And it was here, on the night of the 17th-18th April, at 1.30 a.m. However, when Nos. I and 2 Companies set
that we took part in what was without question one of the out at 12.30 for the assembly area, they were recalled by
most important battles during this final push towards the wireless owing to the fact that the Scots Guards had as
Po.
yet failed to clear the houses on the start line. This was
That well-known telephone message “Company Com- gloomy news indeed. At 1.30 a.m. the two companies set
manders O Group” was flashed to us at about 5 p.m. on forth again and reached their respective assembly areas
the 17th, whereupon, with a sinking feeling in our stomachs, within half an hour. A heavy shell landed nearby at regular
we clutched our courage and our equipment in both hands two-minute intervals and no persuasion was needed to
and made our way to Tac HQ, a tiny farmhouse some few make everyone dig well down in the ploughed field.
hundred yards back along the road. As we reached it two By zero hour both companies were to be at their start
7.2 guns began to range nearby.
line, the other side of the Val d'Albero dyke. No. 2 Com-
We were to do a night attack, and with the aid of Dermott pany reached the dyke without mishap, but lost time by
Magill's innumerable aerial photographs Colonel Billy swiftly sliding three out of their four boats nose first into the
and fluently outlined the plan: by 1 a.m. that night a water, thereby sinking them. The remainder of the com-
Scots Guards Company would have cleared the houses pany then had to cross by one boat. No. 1 Company was
up to and on either side of the dyke Val d'Albero. Nos. I severely hampered by a spandau which had chosen the
and 2 Companies would then cross the dyke by assault assembly area for a target every few minutes. The bullets
boats, which would be waiting for them 300 yards short rattled through the corrugated roof of the farmhouse, and
of it, and advance to Chiesa del Bando behind a creeping I made repeated appeals for smoke to be put down on
barrage, using the road as their axis and dividing line. my flank to enable us to cross the 200 yards of flat ground
If everything should go smoothly and if there was still to our start line.
time before dawn, they would try to capture intact the The assault boats felt surprisingly heavy and were
vital bridge over the Fossa Benvignante. No. 1 Company, obvious enough in the light of the Vereys when carried
under my command, would advance up the right of the erect. They were equally uncontrollable when launched
road; No. 2, under Jamie Leveson, on the left. They were in the dyke, in spite of it being only twenty feet wide, and
to keep parallel to each other as far as the final objective. they were more than once allowed to float around in the
Over two hundred guns would be firing in the barrage, middle with no men inside to guide them.
which was to lift 100 yards every two minutes, holding on A burst of tracer from a Bofors started the barrage. Right
each objective. The 25-pounders (an unhappy decision from the outset a troop of mediums and a 25-pounder were
after long discussion) would fire one in three smoke to firing dangerously short, and smoke shells were landing
offset the danger of Verey lights in such flat country. behind and amongst us, reducing the visibility to five yards
Colonel Billy impressed upon the O Group the extreme and making breathing extremely difficult. Both companies
importance of this battle and the fact that the capture of had been late off the start line and were thus surprised to
this bridge would enable the armour to “swan” forward find themselves advancing parallel to each other to their
out of the Argenta Gap into the open country beyond. first objectives. The pass word “Coldstreams” (Yes, in the
By studying the aerial photographs it was apparent, from excitement of the moment the hideous “s” was added to
No. 1 Company's point of view, that there were three our name!) was shouted repeatedly from one side of the
main objectives: first, the two farmhouses not far from road to the other.
the start line; second, the houses and sheds around the Pat Forbes' platoon advanced to the first objective—the
cross-roads; and third, the houses and church of Chiesa two farmhouses, now on fire. The first house was taken with
del Bando itself. No. 2 Company had the equivalent, with ease, but a halt had to be made before attacking the second
the addition of a large dugout and a cemetery, which by owing to the fact that some guns were still firing short.
now we had learnt to associate with a fortified position. At this point a Messerschmidt, flying at 100 feet, put in
By the time orders had been relayed to the Guardsmen a most unwelcome appearance and strafed the road between
W
>
a
18
273
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”,
the two companies. The second farmhouse was then extended formation over 200 yards of grass field towards
reached, and in it were found ten Germans—by this time the village.
rather subdued. Sgt. Jones, leading his platoon, lost no The leading platoon was following very close behind the
time in rounding them up and depriving them of their barrage and a great number of Germans surrendered in and
arms and other useful possessions.
near the cemetery, which was a veritable warren of holes
After the company had obtained the first objective and dugouts. Leaving Sgt. Jones's platoon, CSM Smith and
John Stilwell's platoon, aided by one of Pat Forbes' company headquarters behind to look after their gains, the
sections, attacked and captured with little opposition what company continued the advance to Chiesa del Bando, where
remained of the houses and sheds round the crossroads. they began systematically to clear the line of houses. Soon
Meanwhile No. 2 Company had taken their farmhouse afterwards the very young company commander surrendered
over on the left, but were still opposed by a large dugout with his headquarters from the depths of a cellar, and other
holding twenty Germans. They had also been slowed up by bewildered Germans in the adjoining houses followed suit.
a minefield, which before the end of the day was to cause All was progressing satisfactorily when there was a
a number of casualties within the battalion and also amongst sudden wild cry from Gdsm. Bowes, who had been leading
the search: “Tiger Tank!” (Gdsm. Bowes was subse-
Progress on both company fronts had been slower than quently awarded the M.M. for his bravery in this battle).
anticipated, and, zero hour having been postponed until I was directed round the back of the line of semi-detached
3.30 a.m., we now found that dawn was appearing only too houses (see photograph) and there saw, some twenty yards
rapidly. We appealed for the barrage to be lifted to the away in one of the back gardens, a large tank with a German
a
next objective before darkness ceased to hide us, exposing head protruding from the turret. The 75-mm. and Besa
our flank to the Germans who were dug in on the banks guns were by chance pointing downwards, so I felt that I
of the Fossa Benvignante. Consent was immediately could, without danger, stand in front and beckon the crew
given to this, and No. 1 Company began to advance in to surrender; and I was just about to do this when the engine
the enemy.

FOSSA BEN VIGNANTE
BRIDGE WE HOPED TO
CAPTURE INTACT
UIT
CHIESA del BANDO
THE CHURCH
SLIT TRENCHES
SHEDS
-200 OBJECTIVE(CROSS ROADS)
1
CEMETERY
X-MINE FIELD
O
DUG OUT
O
1ST OBJECTIVE
1 Coy
O
AXIS
ASSEMBLY
AREA
2 Coy
VAL D'olbero
START LINE
I Coy.
279/8
An aerial view of a sector of the battalion route through the Argenta Gap, showing the successive stages of the advance by Nos. 1 and 2
Companies during the battle for Chiesa del Bando
274
THE LAST PHASE

IT
started up. It was evident that the crew were in no mood to
co-operate!
The cry had swiftly gone up for a Piat, and the
bombs, already primed, had been produced; but the Piat
man was a casualty, and although runners were sent
flying in all directions to find one, no weapon was forth-
coming. Meanwhile John Stilwell and a few men started to
shoot at the tank with tommy-guns through the bottom
windows of a house at five yards range, but this made little
a
impression. Finally, I climbed on to a wall and attempted
to throw a smoke grenade down the turret; however, as I
did so, the tank began to move, and in my excitement I
pulled off the wrong end of the grenade, thereby rendering
it useless!
The situation was now serious, because the tank, actually
a Mk. IV, rumbled down the road towards the remainder
of the company, which was still crossing the open field.
Chiesa del Bando, showing the street where Ashley Ponsonby and
John Stilwell played hide-and-seek with the German tank
Having stopped on the bridge, it raised its guns and let
fly; and it is doubtful whether Guardsmen have ever before
pressed so close to the ground! Sgt. Chappell, for one,
heavily and accurately shelled all day in their assembly
threw himself into a bog of black mud, submerging himself
area and had suffered a number of casualties killed and
to the neck; others grasped at the very inadequate protec-
wounded. These included David Shenton, who was hit in
tion of the nearest tuft of grass. It was an unpleasant
the eye, and Simon Phipps, who was wounded on a mine
moment, although by some miraculous chance only three as the company was passing through.
men were wounded.
It was during this battle, too, that we suffered the sad
Those under cover had meanwhile subjected the turret
loss of Peter Vickery (No. 2 Company), who died of wounds
to continuous fire, and it was almost certainly owing to this
on the 18th April. It has been said of him: “He was uni-
that the German commander now decided to retire. So he
versally popular with both officers and Guardsmen alike.
lifted his guns and dashed back along the road past the
He was most conscientious and no task, however hazardous,
houses, putting down a smoke-screen to cover himself; and
ever deterred him in the slightest bit ... and always,
it was with intense relief that we saw him cross the Fossa
whether in or out of the line, he remained his charming,
canal and disappear.
cheerful self.” It has also been said of the Argenta Gap
Our troubles were not yet over. Whilst bringing up
battle : “It was only by such great leadership and example
reinforcements to help John Stilwell, who had been left
as shown by Peter that that particular battle could have
to hold the village, Gdsm. Altoft stepped on a mine,
been won.'
killing himself and Gdsm. Taylor, the company runner,
and wounding Pat Forbes. Gdsm. Spicer, the stretcher-
bearer, with his unfailing energy and bravery did magnifi-
cent work evacuating the casualties.
John Stilwell, Sgt. Chappell, Sgt. Dedicote and about
twenty men held the village, which was under incessant
fire from air bursts, until 4 p.m., when Charlie Darley
arrived with his platoon from No. 2 Company. The noise
of battle subsided at sundown, and No. 3 Company,
which had been called up in the morning from the
Fossa Marina to an assembly area behind the leading
companies, crossed the blown bridge over the Fossa
Benvignante and pushed on for another three miles to
Portoverrara. Thus ended the successful battle of Chiesa
del Bando.
During the course of this action the battalion had killed
a great number of Germans and had captured over one
hundred prisoners. Both Nos. 1 and 2 Companies had
sustained about twenty casualties, including Pat Forbes and
David Shenton-an excellent ad-
Jamie Leveson wounded. No. 3 Company had been
Ashley Ponsonby
vertisement for the electric razor

275
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
ALLIED FORCE HEADQUARTERS
April, 1945
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Forces
in the Mediterranean Theatre
Final victory is near. The German Forces are now very groggy and
only need one mighty punch to knock them out for good. The moment has
now come for us to take the field for the last battle which will end the
war in Europe. You know what our comrades in the West and in the
East are doing on the battlefields. It is now our turn to play our decisive
part. It will not be a walk-over; a mortally wounded beast can still be
very dangerous. You must be prepared for a hard and bitter fight; but the
end is quite certain — there is not the slightest shadow of doubt about
that. You, who have won every battle you have fought, are going to win
this last one.
-
Forward then into battle with confidence, faith and determination
to see it through to the end. Godspeed and good luck to you all.
te. Alcaudir
Field-Marshal,
Supreme Allied Commander,
Mediterranean Theatre.
276
THE LAST PHASE
THE ADVANCE TO PORTOVERRARA
19 April 1945
By DAVID TOLER
The night of the 18th–19th April was a tiring one for No. 4 the two canals (they ran side by side here, making it
Company. Nos. 1 and 2 Companies had taken Chiesa del double). No. 18 Platoon and the tanks came up to the south
Bando on the previous day and No. 3 was to pass through bank and No. 17 then pushed on to the Canale Diverso,
and seize the crossing of the Fossa Bevignante that night. where they found the bridge blown (see picture). They
We were expecting to be called forward at any moment; waded across and began to clear the dugouts on the other
and so, although we tried hard enough, very little sleep side. The company had taken about six prisoners and things
was forthcoming. In actual fact, owing to minefields and seemed to be going well when suddenly heavy spandau
the wounding of the company commander (Simon and mortar fire started from both flanks and beyond.
Phipps), the crossing was not reported clear until 5 a.m., As No. 17 Platoon was completely in the open with no cover
when we moved forward and passed No. 3 Company. whatsoever and our covering fire, although heavy, was
Almost immediately after the crossing three deserters unable to neutralize the counter-attack, they were forced
were collected by the Commanding Officer and the to withdraw to the protection of the buildings 150 yards
Adjutant, who were at that moment gallantly leading the behind them. During this action Peter Whaley and Gdsm.
battalion.
Edridge were killed, the former while reloading his tommy-
No. 4 Company continued to advance as fast as it could, gun. A number were wounded: Cpl. Brooks, Cpl. Butler,
and with due care. We had advanced over five miles before Gdsm. Webb, Sinton, Kell, Laird and Tate.
the sound of rifle shots and mortars told us we were getting Then followed a somewhat anxious period spent in
closer. No. 17 Platoon was leading at this point, and they fortifying the houses against a possible counter-attack,
were told to probe the canals Scolo Bolognese and Fossa di evacuating the wounded across the dangerously exposed
Porto, turning off to the right of our main axis about half footbridge and making life unpleasant for the enemy by
a mile short of Portoverrara. No. 16 Platoon led on into constant sniping and shell-fire from the mediums. The fire
Portoverrara to try to contact the Queens on our left, and of the latter was brought in as close as 150 yards. Tim King
they were heavily shelled. They returned to us when also did magnificent work with his 2-in. mortars from the
relieved by No. 3 Company. In the meantime the houses south side of the canal. As the evening drew closer the
(295690) on the south bank of the first canal had been enemy became more subdued, except for some very heavy
occupied without opposition. We found a footbridge, shell-fire which narrowly missed our house and the already
damaged but crossable, and so No. 17 Platoon was able rickety bridge. After dark I relieved No. 17 Platoon with
to occupy the houses (see picture) on the north side of No. 18 and withdrew company headquarters to the south


The Canale Diverso, looking south towards houses occupied by No. 17
Platoon and Company HQ
The Canale Diverso, looking north and showing blown bridge where
Peter Whaley was killed. House in distance was German aid post
277
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
side of the two canals. Two patrols were sent out: one to the company settled down to a well earned rest and I went
the left along the Canale Diverso, which reported noises forward to the houses beyond the Canale Diverso. This
about 400 yards along it (actually made by civilians); and had been the German aid post, and I discovered from
the second, led by Sgt. Tozer, went to the bridge and then the civilians that at least eight of the enemy had been
to the left, reporting the canal clear.
wounded in the previous day's battle. I also found a
Shortly after dark Gdsm. Harrison and Walden, who had
German sergeant and two others on the canal bank; so it
been missing after the counter-attack, turned up. They had seemed we had given as much as we had taken.
been hiding in the canal, submerged to the neck within During the 19th No. 3 Company, under Bill Birkbeck,
five yards of the enemy. By some miracle they had not been
had had an equally unpleasant time at Portoverrara on our
hit by our mortar and shell-fire, which they said was the left. Michael Severne’s platoon was pinned down by
heaviest they had ever experienced. They confirmed the withering fire, he himself being wounded, and about this
report that the enemy had withdrawn from the canal
time Peter Wills was killed by a chance shell which landed
banks. There was nothing further that night except for the on the road. Peter, a great enthusiast at all times, had done
continuous harassing of No. 18 Platoon by one of our own extremely well since joining the battalion, and we shall long
guns, which, despite all attempts to stop it, continued to remember his very gallant action at Porto Garibaldi, when,
fire until six o'clock in the morning. Next day the Buffs on with Gdsm. Davies and Gdsm. Lean, he carried Cpl.
our right continued the advance and No. 1 Company did a Fozzard's body to cover under very heavy small-arms fire
sweep across our front beyond the canal and found no at point-blank range. His death, with that of Peter Whaley,
enemy. As we were now relieved of our forward position was a hard blow to the battalion.


Portoverrara
Lt. C. P. Whaley CMF 19.4.45
THE ADVANCE TO THE PO
April 1945
At 8 p.m. on the 22nd April “Steele Force” set out for
the Po. It was a lovely, moonlit night and the battalion
moved forward in troop-carriers in company groups, the
tanks supporting No. 3 Company in the lead. At midnight
No. 3 reported a blow in the road and a bulldozer was sent
forward. Odd prisoners were picked up. No. 1 Company
was despatched to Formignano and found it clear at
3.15 a.m. By 5.15 a.m. we had reached Copparo without
making contact, but a little later we came up against some
enemy in the area of the cemetery on the north-eastern out-
skirts of the town. At this time the battalion was out of
physical touch with No. 2 Company. Some wireless signals
were received from the company during the morning
saying that they were being fired on by German tanks, and
their location was given as near Codeword Apple, which was
not far away on the right flank of the battalion. No sound of
278
THE LAST PHASE


Jamie Leveson in hospital at Pesaro
The Pontoon Bridge over the Po at Ferrara
battle came from this direction, nor could any sign of the
company be seen thereabouts. Finally, at 10 a.m., all com-
munications with the company ceased. For the rest of
the battle they were lost to the battalion, but subsequently
the majority of them were recovered from German hands at
Padua. It transpired that they had taken the wrong road
during the night advance, gone too far west and run into
a strong German locality in a pocket between 56th and
78th Divisions which was later cleared by ith Infantry
Brigade.
The last stage was reached on the 26th April, when all
three battalions moved up unopposed to the Po, mopping
up stray prisoners on the way. The Buffs were on the right,
the Scots Guards in the centre about Cologna, and ourselves
on the left. But even while the last mopping up was in
progress, while the first glimpses of the abandoned trans-
port, the brewed-up self-propelled guns and the droves
of draft-horses burst upon our weary eye, we were told over
the wireless that there was a change of plan: “You are not
to take any notice of the obstacle; push straight on. We
will send you five stormboats. There are no Bosche there.”
(Famous last words?)
So all the staff planning, the concentration areas, the
artillery programmes, the mortar programmes—for our
brigaded mortars were preparing to shoot 3,000 rounds in
support of 169th Infantry Brigade—went by the board.


The Drums playing in the main square at Crespino
Look out, boys, here I come!” Henry Green pays a visit to No. 4
Company at Crespino (note the fly-whisk)
279
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

The Brigadier told us instead to
the banks of the river. He stepped
prepare to cross the river that very
into his stormboat and vanished
afternoon!
with his three comrades into a dense
At ii p.m. the bridge over the
smoke-screen, from which he did
Bianco was open and the vehicles of
not emerge until the battalion had
the Brigade were over. We reached
arrived in Gorizia over a fortnight
the banks of the Po and gazed across
later. In other words he, together
the great stretch of water, the
with Sgt. Hughes, Gdsm. Walden
obstacle we had all talked about,
and Gdsm. Todd, was well and truly
argued about and planned about for
captured by a company of Germans
so long in the Apennines. All was
which was lying in wait for just such
still. No sign of a Bosche, no sign
a prey as this.
of a gun, apparently no civilians in
Farther away on the left 167th
the village on the farther bank.
Brigade had two platoons across and
But alas! Disaster lay ahead. A
reported a spandau. That evening
patrol was ordered to investigate
No.4 Company, closely followed by
the village of Crespino across the
Bobby Chaworth-Musters in a familiarattitude
No.3, crossed the river and occupied
river, and Sammy Clowes (No. 4
Crespino from which the Germans
Company) was chosen for the task. With tears in our had withdrawn a few hours previously. The great obstacle
eyes—for we sensed calamity—we said farewell to him on had been overcome; our anxiety was set at rest.


This is the actual point where No.4 Company crossed the Po. The
whole company had to use the three stormboats in the foreground,
the other two having broken down almost immediately
22 April. Doric Bossom, Ray Crouch and John Lloyd in the
concentration area before the advance to the Po. A moment later
we were rather half-heartedly attacked by a lone Focke-Wulfe
280
THE LAST PHASE
TWILIGHT OF THE GODS
By SAMMY CLOWES
To say that the Germans were waiting for just such a prey told me that as I was the only officer in the battalion who
as this” is not strictly in accordance with the facts. Indeed, had not been involved recently in a number of nasty mis-
when first we emerged from the stifling gloom of a concen- fortunes, I was to have the privilege of being first across the
trated smoke screen there were no Germans to be seen Po with a patrol to see if, as it seemed, there were really no
anywhere, and when a few minutes later they appeared in Germans about who would oppose a large scale crossing of
all directions it was with bitter disappointment that they the river. So thinking that the whole thing was a thoroughly
found that we were a smaller party than to which they bad idea, I went along to Battalion Headquarters with my
could surrender with a clear military conscience.
a
runner, Gdsm. Walden, who delighted in adventures of
But to start at the beginning ... one morning towards every kind. When we arrived there I was better able to
the end of April the battalion arrived, the foam of a victorious appreciate the necessity for an early crossing of the river.
wave, at the banks of the River Po, the last barrier between Keen soldiers from far behind were already queueing to get
the advancing Allied Armies and the Alps and victory. As over. Prospective Town Majors, anxiously fingering their
far as we knew we were the first troops to reach the river, Baedekers, sat about in trucks with their G. 1098 piled
and this fact, combined with prolonged nervous and behind them; and advance parties from AMG were passing
physical strain, produced a fine flush of excitement.
the time by cross-examining the local peasantry as to the
The Italians, though improvident in many ways, have an annual rainfall and the average butter fat yield of their
unreasonable fear of floods, and the lower reaches of the cattle.
River Po, in common with other large Italian rivers, are con- By some miscalculation the assault boats had already
stricted by enormous embankments in the form of sloping been put in the river, and small grubby men with rolling
grass ramparts, some twenty feet high, at the top perhaps gaits were running all over the bank with oil cans and span-
ten feet wide and at the bottom three times as much again. ners. From the total absence of reaction from the far bank
Thus, although the river was well within reach of a virile to these activities one could only suppose that there were no
cricketer's ball, it and its far bank and what lay beyond Germans there. However, to make assurance doubly sure, a
were completely invisible unless one climbed to the top of magnificent defensive fire was laid on. The battalion mortars
the bank and risked exposure to anything that the Germans and a whole regiment of guns were going to fire smoke to
might send that way. Even then the opposite bank prevented cover the crossing, and at a given signal this could be changed
any clear view of what lay directly beyond the river. Half a
to H.E.
mile to the north, the houses and church of Crespino were The patrol consisted of myself and Gdsm. Walden;
visible; and directly across the river, which was about 150 Sgt. Hughes, an old friend from the intelligence sec-
yards wide, there was a landing place. A track led from tion; and Gdsm. Todd with a wireless. The defensive fire
there up the bank into some trees; but nowhere was there started, and with those famous last words, “I'm perfectly
any sign of life.
sure there are no Germans there”, ringing in my ears,
Everyone imagined, without deep conviction, that it amidst what appeared to be cheering, I was handed into the
might be someone else's turn to cross the river first, and boat by Michael Hollings and away we sailed, I feeling
relaxed while they could. The day wore on and the mists rather like Lohengrin but not so heavily armoured. As for
of early morning were dispelled by brilliant spring sunshine. my companions, they all appeared cheerful enough, and
Walnut-faced hags rose like phenixes from the ruins of Sgt. Hughes in particular inspired me with great confidence
their homes and with a resignation born of generations of by taking his usual calm detached view of the situation.
disaster produced eggs and hot water, whilst their un- Whilst it was an unusual delight to feel that seldom, if
shaven husbands grumbled not too loudly and amassed ever, had so small a military expedition been given such a
cigarettes from the kind-hearted soldiery. Sticky, black- weighty military support, it was disquieting in the extreme
eyed children crept barefooted from the nooks and corners to be quite so conscious of the fall of shot. The river
where they had been hiding and were soon stickier than appeared very much like one of the Illustrated London
ever with compo chocolate.
News artist's impressions of a major naval engagement.
But such idyllic scenes do not last for long, and about The point at which we were to land looked to be in a state of
midday David Toler returned from an Order Group and perpetual eruption, and there was so much noise that it was
281
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

310
No. 8 Platoon, No. 3 Company, enjoy a rest and a smoke during the Argenta Gap battle. Gdsm.
Mulholland and Gdsm. Curry in the centre, and in the trench Gdsm. Lean seems to know how to make
himself comfortable

No. 2 Company HQ north of Filo
Left to right: Gdsm. Harris, Gdsm. Lewis and Cpl. Barron
282
THE LAST PHASE
impossible to judge from which side of the river it came. it so hard that all the valves were smashed. I hope this
Yet we made good progress and landed without much act of violence provided some outlet for his feelings, for
difficulty, although we had to take cover in some old trenches he was disgusted with the situation and was very angry
to avoid the smoke canisters which were raining down all indeed. Eventually we were escorted into a dugout in the
round us. Luckily, Todd was able to wireless back a message river bank where there were a large number of very excited
which stopped the smoke. When it had cleared a little we Germans who could not believe that we were not the spear-
went on.
head of a major offensive. The intense defensive fire which
By following some disused trenches we got through the was being put down in the vain hope that it was covering
bank and presently came to a few houses which lined a road our retreat gave substance to their fear. They were very
leading from the river bank to Crespino. These houses were suspicious of us and nosed around us like a lot of terriers
heavily locked and barred. It was impossible to get in and about a strange animal. They seemed to think that we were
from the look of them it appeared unlikely that anyone some sort of secret weapon and were about to explode. They
would come out. I sent a message to say that all appeared asked innumerable questions and seemed very concerned
clear and started down the road towards the village, which lest there should be any Poles or Indians close behind us.
seemed to be entirely deserted. The road was raised above They displayed a lively interest in what we had been having
the level of the countryside and directly to the right of the to eat and the length of time which letters took to arrive
road and below it there was some scrub and bushes. Think- from England. Their morale was very low, and had there
ing we saw some movement we went to investigate. There not been a river to cross I think that we should have
was nothing there, but whilst we were poking the bushes persuaded them to change sides. They were very short of
Walden saw a very small German come out of the bank officers and no one superior to a corporal could be seen.
about 200 yards away and walk down the ditch with his Our little party was soon made up to strength again by
back to us. As he walked he seemed to reel. In view of the reappearance of Walden under escort. He had been
this and his lack of stature, I concluded he was another caught in the trees on the river side of the bank, but we
bomb-happy Turkoman, many of whom had come running were delighted to see he was unhurt; he was merely a little
towards us during the last few days waving pictures of Joe out of breath and said that he was glad to see us well. When
Stalin, giving strange Mongol grunts of welcome and utter- our defensive fire had subsided we were marched back
ing such cries as “Love Churchill”, “Me very good Christ- into the village, most of which appeared to be on fire, and
ian”. So I yelled “Kommen sie hier” and loosed off a few were taken into a large house which was their Battalion
rounds at him. He very sensibly took no notice and dis- Headquarters. Here there were a large number of depressed
appeared into the bank. At that moment I became aware that looking men rushing feverishly about. A captain who was
we were about to have our heads blown off at short range by commanding the battalion arrived and asked us a few
an enormous German who had apparently materialized out questions in a half-hearted manner. He was a tall typical
of a brick wall a few yards away. We fell to the ground German, but was so exhausted physically and mentally that
amongst the bushes and engaged in a brief fire fight, he was hardly of this world. His eyes had a strange mystic
during which we became acutely aware that cover from look in them and he kept staring into the skies as though he
view was not cover from fire. The shooting was poor on were expecting at any moment a valkyrie to come and take
both sides.
him away on a broom. As long as he was about the standard
Some other Germans appeared after a few minutes, and
a
of discipline was very high and there was endless heel
as the main object of our patrol had now been achieved, I clicking and saluting. As soon as he went away things
decided that the time had come to recross the river and make deteriorated very rapidly and there was a ready market for
our report—a withdrawal that would be hard to accomplish subversion, so much so that our activities were reported to
over the open bank under fire. Walden went first, dropped the captain and we were segregated in a room with a very
safely over the bank and disappeared from view; but while trigger-happy looking youth of sixteen to guard us, whose
we were preparing to follow and while Todd was sending the education did not appear to have included any knowledge of
pre-arranged SOS signal, Germans appeared all round us, English.
armed with a wide assortment of weapons which they dis- All the afternoon and most of the evening we sat there
charged with vigour. A man with a stick grenade in each wishfully imagining that at any moment we should be
hand rose up suddenly on the bank behind us, and beyond liberated. When night came a senior officer of some descrip-
him we heard shots and a shout which I feared came from tion arrived and gave orders for a withdrawal. He then
Walden. Thus, being surrounded on all sides and with no hurried away, but not before he had presented me with a
chance of fighting forward or back, there was nothing for it pair of socks.
but to give in.
The method of withdrawal was interesting. First of all
A thick black curtain is best drawn across the happenings the officers left in the few remaining cars; then the senior
of the next few minutes, the only mentionable event being NCOs left in horse-drawn transport; and then the rest, with
Todd's praiseworthy destruction of the wireless by kicking ourselves in their midst, went off on foot. It was very
283
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
irritating to know that perhaps a mile behind us our own been very friendly, became morose and surly. The Italian
troops were crossing the river.
sergeant started to sweat even more profusely than he had
We marched all night. Sometimes we went one way, before. To add colour to the scene he pulled out a crucifix
sometimes we went another way, sometimes we turned and and started to pray as we walked along. He was thinking no
came back again. The RAF were very busy and fires were doubt that as few witnesses as possible would be needed.
burning everywhere. It was quite clear that no one had any To be about to become an atrocity is an unusual experi-
idea where they were supposed to be going, and tempers ence. So unusual was it that the mind did not really register
became very frayed. About four o'clock in the morning we its full significance. On one side was the river, on the other
stopped at an enormous dairy farm where we were very a wide ditch and a flat meadow; behind, three heavily armed
pleased to make friends with the cows and to share their men. There seemed to be no possible chance of escape. It
straw for a few hours.
was a lovely spring day. The sky was blue, ducks were
At about 6 a.m. we were told that we were being taken swimming peacefully on the river and here and there on the
to Divisional Headquarters, and we set out on foot escorted bank iris and water forget-me-nots were coming out. It
by two very young and very German soldiers and a sergeant seemed a great pity that we should never see another day
from the Italian Republican Army into whose area we such as this. I became acutely conscious that I was not
seemed to have wandered. We went in front. Then came the wearing my identity discs and that I had nothing on me by
Italian sergeant and behind him came the Germans. They which I could be identified. It seemed immeasurably sad
had bicycles fitted with mountings to take carbines, which that no one would ever know what had happened to me.
pointed unpleasantly at our backs. They also carried pistols. I could only hope that our escort were reasonably good
The Italian sergeant was very unhappy, and as he was shots and that there would be no unpleasantness about
wearing field boots, the farther we walked the unhappier he boots in the face.
became. In a mixture of French and Italian we had a very But providence was watching over us in the form of a
interesting conversation. He agreed that he was on the wrong perpetual stream of German soldiers and peasants. When-
side anyway and would probably be shot by the Italians ever we came to a suitable place for execution, some old
when the war was over if he was not shot by the Germans peasant woman would appear with a basket on her head or a
before that. His morale was very low.
file of dispirited soldiers would come along. Twice I heard
We walked and walked and it became increasingly hot our escort cock their weapons and once out of the corner of
and we became hungrier and hungrier. We kept meeting my eye I saw one of the Germans take his pistol from its
soldiers who directed our escort to Divisional Headquarters, holster and slip it into his pocket. After a good deal of
but each time we arrived at the place indicated we found frustration in this direction, they decided to stop for
that the Headquarters had moved. Eventually we came to luncheon at a peasant's cottage. We had polenta and hard
the river Adige which we crossed by the remains of a boiled eggs, but although we had not had anything to eat
bridge guarded, rather curiously, by Italian sailors. There for twenty-four hours, I for one did not feel very hungry.
were strings of disorganized German soldiers crossing the I was pleased to see that the Germans paid the Italians
bridge, some armed and some unarmed, but all looking very eighty lires for an egg whilst we had been paying only
tired and bedraggled. They paid no attention to us at all. thirty-five lires. Sgt. Hughes, who could speak German well
When we crossed the bridge we stopped to rest by the and knew what was in the offing, still seemed philosophically
road. I fell asleep, presently to awake to find myself being unperturbed.
kicked by an enormous man in the black uniform of the After this delightful meal, which must have been one of
SS. He was accompanied by two of the most unpleasing the least cordial feasts on record, we set out once again as
looking men I have ever seen. The one who was doing the before. There did not seem to be so many people about as
kicking was an officer, the first I had seen for a long time. there had been earlier in the day and presently we ap-
He was inquiring of our escort who we were and what we proached a place where the road ran beside the river and was
were doing. Our escort explained and asked for instructions overhung by weeping willow trees. The Germans muttered
and I was horrified to understand the officer to reply that behind us and the Italian sergeant started to pray aloud. It
prisoners were a waste of time and that the thing to do was was literally the end.
to take us to some lonely spot and shoot us. Our escort Then all of a sudden a miracle happened. A German
answered him that with all due respect Marshal Kesselring army officer appeared on a bicycle. He stopped and in
had specifically given orders that such things should not perfect English asked us what was going on. I told him very
take place. The SS officer laughed and said that if they quickly of the misfortune that was about to befall us. This
were afraid he would send one of his thugs along with us to produced a fine display of Teutonic anger. He howled and
help.
screamed at our escort and said that he would take us to the
So off we went along a path which ran beside the river. nearest headquarters which was not far away and from
No one looked very happy except the SS man, who was where we would be sent to Divisional Headquarters. He
clearly on pleasure bent. The two German boys, who had would personally see that the SS men were punished. We
284
THE LAST PHASE
soon reached a large farmhouse where there was some sort tion in uneasy French. I told him about the unusual enter-
of headquarters. Here there was a most wonderful scene, prise of his immediate superior, which seemed to move him
German officers foaming at the mouth and stamping round very deeply, and then I told him that we had only just
and round the SS man and the two wretched German escaped a very unGeneva Conventional end at the hands of
soldiers. The Italian sergeant, who was now looking rather the SS. This upset him even more and he apologised “on
smug, took my last cigarette and made deprecating noises. behalf of the Wehrmacht”; he explained that at this time it
A new escort was provided to take us on, but we said was very difficult to enforce discipline and that he only
quite truthfully that it was impossible for us to walk any wished that all the troops under his command had the
farther. A passing ox-cart was commandeered and we were splendid traditions of the “Royal Guards” behind them.
put aboard with an escort on bicycles behind. The Italian After this pretty exchange he withdrew to the next room,
sergeant was impressed to drive the cart and away we went. where, judging from the noise, another fine display of
Anyone who has seen the patient ox plodding along would Teutonic temper took place. Behrens told me that a special
have been surprised at the speed we went. The sergeant, a hunt would be made for the SS men and if found they
real animal lover, used a bayonet as a goad in a very tender would certainly be "whipped”. The General sent me a
place and kept them at the gallop for a good six miles. large glass of brandy and four cigars and, watched over by
We arrived at a large farm—the Headquarters of the 96th the gloomy Strueher, I soon fell asleep.
Division which had won itself considerable fame with both Next morning, very early, we prepared to move off.
sides as the “Silver Cat Division”. We were separated here Behrens offered me a razor and told me that in the existing
and I was taken into the house to be interrogated by the circumstances it was not possible for them to fulfil the
divisional intelligence officer, a smart young man called obligations imposed upon them by the Geneva Convention
Heinz Behrens who “had never been a Nazi” and whose and send us to a POW camp but that we would have to stay
sister was married to an Englishman. The interrogation was with the Divisional Headquarters”. The move started. I
very one-sided for it seemed that the Germans knew far saw Sgt. Hughes, Walden and Todd go off in a horse and
more about our own troops than I did. The conversation cart, and that was the last I saw of them until I rejoined
began with "and how is the old Black Cat", by which the battalion. Their party got separated from us, and they
affectionate name our Divisional Commander was known. were eventually liberated on the Brenner Pass. I was sorry
He then proceeded to recite all the names of the leading to see them depart, and I was lucky indeed to have had such
personalities in the Division and a list of places where the splendid companions in misfortune. I was put in a car
Division had been. The volume of their information was with Behrens and Strueher. It was a Lancia and loaded
very impressive but none of it seemed very useful.
to the roof, not with military equipment, but with Behrens'
It was evident that the Germans were out to make their kit and masses of food. He informed me that "he had fats
name and to appear to us as pleasant as circumstances would enough for one month in the boot”.
permit. I was given a very good dinner and a bottle of wine We set off in a convoy guarded by a few TCVs of troops.
and was led to a window from where I could see how well The General had a vast Mercedes Benz and the convoy
the rest of the patrol were being treated. My morale began moved at a very high speed. It was extremely dangerous,
to recover a little, and I remembered that just before I as the RAF was everywhere. The road was lined with
started on the patrol I had heard that the Commander of 76 burnt out vehicles and dead horses in their hundreds.
Panzer Corps, a General Graf Von Schwein, had surren- Everywhere we passed by columns of spiritless soldiers-
dered himself to some people quite near us and was some barefooted and in rags, unshaved and dazed from
reported to have said that he was surrendering because he lack of sleep. An army in defeat is an awful sight. It was
felt that any further fighting was a waste of human life as the a strange contrast to the sleek, well-fed officers of the
German position was without any hope. When I told this to divisional staff.
Behrens he was deeply impressed and hurried off to tell the We went on like this for several days, all the time being
Divisional Commander, leaving me in the care of his hunted. Once we were surrounded by American tanks, but
servant, Strueher. This unhappy man was gloomier than under cover of darkness we got through. It was quite clear
anyone I have ever met. He used to sit opposite me, that the situation was well out of hand and as far as I could
balefully staring and bemoaning the fact that he would make out we were completely out of touch with the rest of
never see his home again and that his wife was probably the German Army. It appeared that we were making for the
being eaten by the Russians. This unfortunate woman had Brenner Pass, but very often we had to retrace our steps.
sent him a supply of the most delicious sweets from Vienna. We moved mostly at night. The day we spent as a rule in
Presently the door opened and in came a magnificent large farmhouses; and the vehicles, which became fewer
figure clad in a grey tunic, breeches and polished boots. and fewer, were parked in barns and sheds. A great deal of
Round his neck hung the order of the Iron Cross with oak- the time was passed in eating. I have never seen people
leaves, and his breast was heavy with decorations. This was eat so much. Every night, provided that the circumstances
General Reinhardt. We had an interesting little conversa- permitted, the entire staff sat down to a three-course
285
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

ΕΟΡΤΡΑΗΜΟ
in
ܕܬܐ
The Scots Guards advancing through Copparo


TU
At 7 p.m. on the 22nd April, Bill Birkbeck held his O Group before the
departure of “Steele Force”. In the group are CSM Bullock, John
Horlick, Sgt. Tomkins, Tim Patrick and Frank Hodge, the gunner officer
You may think you're funny!” “As a matter of fact I do!”
Bill Birkbeck and John Horlick have a slight disagreement before


South of Copparo, 23 April. Gdsm. Armstrong and Simcox with
“Osca”-pride of No. 3 Company
the start
South of Copparo, 23 April. Ray Crouch, Tim King and David
Quilter take things easy at B echelon
286
THE LAST PHASE
more.
dinner. There was invariably champagne and cognac. Germany and to go on fighting the Russians. “Our Army"
There was an issue of cigars and cigarettes every day.
they said “and your Air Force will easily beat them”. It all
Partisans were everywhere, but not very visible. Very seemed most improbable but I cheered them on. I found
often, if I was out of earshot of the Germans, I would be out afterwards that all of this was a very clever move on the
approached by some old woman who would tell me that her part of our Psychological Warfare Branch, who had tuned
husband was in the mountains with the “Partigani”. On in on the German wave-length and sent out these messages,
one occasion an old woman told me that Partisans were in thereby bringing to an end a pointless struggle which in
the cellar laying a mine which they were going to blow up in country such as this might have been prolonged for weeks
a few minutes. This put me in a very awkward position,
but either it failed to detonate, or out of deference to myself Meanwhile Berlin was falling. Some German stations
they didn't set it off. Anyway, nothing happened. I was able were still broadcasting and each hour the news got worse and
to leave countless messages behind, none of which ever got worse. These bulletins were punctuated by Schumann's
delivered.
gloomiest music, and once again the Germans became very
As I constantly pointed out to all and sundry, the struggle depressed. It was fascinating to watch. Their gloom was
was hopeless and it would save a lot of trouble if they divided into two parts: first they were depressed at the
surrendered, particularly as the bulk of the Division had thought that their homes might be in the hands of the
now deserted. But for some incredible reason they still Russians; and secondly they were overwhelmed by mists
fought on. I suggested that they might let me go anyway, as of Wagnezian self-pity. They saw themselves the martyrs of
I was only one more mouth to feed; but they said rather destiny: not an army defeated by a better army, nor a
menacingly that I might be very useful.
wicked nation overcome by the powers of righteousness and
Every now and again we met up with the remnants of justice, but the tired heroes of some twisted northern
other formations. One day we met the Town Major of legend who, denied victory by fate, were about to be
Padua in a Mercedes Benz pulled by two white oxen. On carried away to an uncertain Valhalla by some mystic and
another occasion a very senior officer called General Hopper probably uncomfortable means.
came to lunch. He was very old, and seeing my designations They sat around glooming until just before two o'clock,
he said, “Ach, Goldstream Guards, very good, God Save when a small convoy was formed up facing in the direction
the King” and climbed into his car and disappeared from which we had come. It consisted of an outrider on a
towards Austria.
motor-bicycle equipped with a large white flag, a car with
The retreat dragged on until one morning I found that we an interpreter and a driver, and a second car into which I
a
were going up a valley into the Dolomites north of Belluno. was put with Behrens and the Chief of Staff. We drove
We had been travelling all night and in the early morning down the valley past the remnants of the Division. The road
had passed through a village called Sedico. We were moving was cut into the cliff, so that on one side there was a sheer
up the valley which, watered by one of the many tributaries wall of rock whilst on the other there was the river bed.
of the River Po, is walled in on both sides by steep mountains. Besides the vehicles in our convoy, there were only four
We came to a hamlet called Maas and there we stopped. cars left; all the rest of the transport was horse-drawn and
I learned afterwards that the Partisans had blown the the carts were parked nose to tail for about a mile and a half.
mountain side across the road and it was no longer possible It was an awkward position for anyone to be in. I knew
to go on. An American armoured column was not far that it was so improbable as to be virtually impossible for
behind, so the Germans were trapped in this narrow there to be a conditional armistice and that certainly the
valley. Yet in spite of the hopelessness of their position, Americans would know nothing about this. If we succeeded
the exhaustion of their troops and their complete lack of in getting near enough to the Americans to have a parley
supplies, they started to dig in a most purposeful manner. they would certainly demand unconditional surrender,
The General said they were unable to surrender because which I was sure the Germans would refuse. I could see
they had received no orders to do so. This was of course myself getting mixed up in a most unpleasant “last stand”.
true; but at the same time, he had received no orders to Sure enough the worst happened. As we drove down the
do anything from anyone for more than a week.
column, tanks came up the river bed and opened fire on the
In the course of the morning the news came over the column. The first shell hit the car in front of us, killing its
wireless that Hitler was dead. This was the first time that I occupants and setting fire to it. Our windscreen was broken
had heard any mention of the Führer. The news of his and a small piece of something went through my foot.
death appeared to make no marked impression on the We got out very quickly and took cover behind some
Germans. A little later that day a wireless message came boulders in the river bed. The tanks started to fire into the
from somewhere that there was to be an armistice at two rock just above the horses on the road and splinters added
o'clock that afternoon. Immediately everyone's morale to the effect of high explosives. The scene that followed
rose, and in no time at all the rumour was flying round that threw an entirely new light on the meaning of the word
the Allies were going to allow the Germans to withdraw into carnage. ... The tanks came up still shooting, but when
W
.
287
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
a
a
they saw the white flag they stopped and the squadron leader appeared to be nothing useful that I could do, so I told
advanced cautiously to where we were. The squadron com- both sides that unless I was forcibly prevented from so
mander dismounted and asked what was going on. Of doing I would leave them next day to look for my battalion.
course, he knew nothing about an armistice, and referred The Americans raised no objection and the Germans said
the matter back to his headquarters. He was very suspicious that although they would miss me I must do "whatever I
of everything, particularly of me. I assured him that he was felt to be my duty”. The Divisional Headquarters had
quite safe and told him that the Germans had only one anti- established themselves in a large and comfortable house,
tank gun and enough petrol for only another forty miles. and that night they had a dinner party. For a defeated
After a few hours an American Colonel arrived and much and even captive army they behaved in an astonishing way.
to my surprise agreed to the Germans keeping their small It was probably very improper for me to be there, but it was
arms provided that they moved back into a prescribed area quite one of the most fascinating experiences that I have
at the foot of the valley around Sedico. As it was now even- ever had. Each officer put on his best service dress, and
ing, it was arranged that this move should take place next decorations were worn. There were four courses for dinner
morning. The Americans insisted that I should stay with the with the inevitable champagne and brandy. Behind each
Germans to act as a liaison officer.
chair there was a soldier servant. When cigars were handed
Early next morning the Division moved back to Sedico, round each servant lit a candle and leant forward to light
which had undergone a major transformation. The Stars his officer's cigar. I noticed that the General's servant had to
and Stripes and Union Jack were hanging everywhere and remain in that position for nearly five minutes before the
the walls were covered with chalked Hammers and Sickles. General saw fit to light his cigar.
Now that the war was over the Partisans appeared in full At the end of the meal the General embarrassed me very
force. There were thousands of them. Every hot-blooded much by presenting me with a signed photograph of himself
young man from Northern Italy, seeing a chance of
easy and a large pistol to protect myself from the Partisans.
gain, seemed to have seized a red scarf and as many firearms After that they all rapidly became very drunk and settled
as he could find and had started out on a reign of pillage down to an old world Prussian evening, singing and hit-
and murder which brought lasting discredit to a very gallant ting each other on the back. Then each in turn would vie
body of men. They did not confine themselves to Germans; with the others in telling incredible tales of horror and
they even attacked and robbed their own compatriots. valour. Some very remarkable things were said to have
In these circumstances the Germans still refused to lay happened in Russia.
down their arms, and as the tanks had now gone on, and And so I left them and got a lift to Belluno, where after
there was only one company of American infantry to contain great difficulty I discovered an AMG Colonel testing the
an entire German Division, it was a very difficult situation. springs of all the beds in an empty hotel. I spent the night
But with the exception of one or two very keen German there and next morning was delighted to see a car with the
officers who shot themselves, both sides behaved with great familiar Black Cat sign on it. It belonged to two Italian
restraint. Even so, it was all very tiring and negotiations field security policemen, who took me to Gradisca, where
went on endlessly. I rapidly became the Figaro of both sides. I saw our Divisional Commander standing on the steps
The day drew to a close without any solution to the prob- of a large house. Never can a GOC have been greeted so
lem of forcing the Germans to lay down their arms. There warmly by one of his junior officers.

The Herrenvolk! The battalion captured these prisoners near Cologna on the south bank of the Po
288
THE LAST PHASE

WEID
0
eo
00
DO
TERS
TAUSIUNUMI
Venice. The Doges' Palace from the Giudecca
289
19
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
FOR EIGHTH ARMY
AND D.A.F.
Eighth Army News
No. 165 Vol. 6
THURSDAY,
APRIL 26, 1945
FOUNDED IN 1941

O Nazzaro
Mezzano
2 OCREMONA
o Palvareto
ROVICO
Aivee PO
Ostiolia
oCasteggio
Cagalmaggiorn Sbenedetto
Em ADG
PIACENZA
Grazzano
Voghera
Polesine
AL
Caspino
Palestila
e Salice
Guastalla
Brescello
Nibbiano
A SECCHIA
60
Bmdene o
TOORALA
Copparo
Pantelarusted
FLEEING GERMANS JAM
HITLER IN CAPITAL, DIRECTING ITS DEFENCE, PO ROADS
THE
from
of high Nuzi personalities
SAY NAZIS
presence
with : " Realisation
FOR EIGHTH ARMY
AND D.A.F.
Eighth Ariny News
No. 169 Vol. 6
MONDAY,
APRIL 30, 1945
FOUNDED IN 1941
MUSSOLINI SHOT REPORT:
EIGHTH NEAR VENICE
Fifth In Milan: 100,000 P.W.s: Berlin Death Throes

FOR EIGHTH ARMY
AND D.A.F.
Eighth Army News
No. 170 Vol. 6
TUESDAY,
MAY 1, 1945
FOUNDED IN 1941
A
CLARK SAYS ITALY HUNS
VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED
Milan, Venice, Turin Topple
As Nazis Are Torn To Pieces
MEMORABLE HEADLINES FROM THE “EIGHTH ARMY NEWS”
290
THE LAST PHASE
FOR EIGHTH ARMY
AND D.A.F.
No. 171 Vol. 6
WEDNESDAY,
MAY 2, 1945
FOUNDED IN 1941
Eighth Ariny News
LINK-UP WITH TITO
Eighth's Kiwis Join Graziani Signs
Hands Near Trieste

Surrender
MAI
IGHTH ARMY HAS JOINED HANDS WITH MARSHAL TITO. THE LINK-UP WAS
MADE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON BY THE 2ND NEW ZEALAND DIVISION AT
MONFALCONE, 17 MILES WEST OF TRIESTE. NO DETAILS WERE AVAILABLE
LAST NIGHT, BUT TO MAKE IT THE KIWIS HAD TO CROSS THE ISONZO RIVER,
AND THEY ADVANCED AT A TERRIFIC PACE.
ARSHAL RODOLFO GRAZIANI, Commander of the
Ligurian Army, and his Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen.
Pemsel, last night broadcast the following messages to
the Italian and German troops of the Ligurian Army
from the Headquarters of Gen. Mark W. Clark, C.-in-C.
15th Army Group -
FOR EIGHTH ARMY
AND D.A.F.
No. 172 Vol. 6
THURSDAY,
MAY 3, 1945
FOUNDED IN 1941
Eighth Army News
ITALY WAR OVER
HITLER IS DEAD
TAI
HE WAR IN ITALY IS OVER. ENEMY LAND, SEA, AND AIR FORCES, COMMANDED BY COL-
GENERAL HEINRICH VON VIETINGHOFF-SCHEEL, GERMAN COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF SOUTH-WEST
& COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ARMY GROUP C, HAVE SURRENDERED UNCONDITIONALLY TO FIELD
MARSHAL SIR HAROLD ALEXANDER, SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.
THE TERMS OF SURRENDER PROVIDED FOR THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES AT TWELVE
NOON, G.M.T., YESTERDAY.
No. 177
Vol, 6
SPEGIA Eighth Army News
TUESDAY,
MAY 8, 1945

GERMANY OUT!

MEMORABLE HEADLINES FROM THE “EIGHTH ARMY NEWS”
291
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME',

ALLIED FORCE HEADQUARTERS
2 May, 1945
SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Forces
in the Mediterranean Theatre
After nearly two years of hard and continuous fighting which started in
Sicily in the summer of 1943, you stand today as the victors of the Italian
Campaign.
You have won a victory which has ended in the complete and utter rout
of the German armed forces in the Mediterranean. By clearing Italy of the last
Nazi aggressor, you have liberated a country of over 40,000,000 people.
Today the remnants of a once proud Army have laid down their arms to
you—close on a million men with all their arms, equipment and impedimenta.
You may well be proud of this great and victorious campaign which will
long live in history as one of the greatest and most successful ever waged.
No praise is high enough for you sailors, soldiers, airmen and workers of
the United Forces in Italy for your magnificent triumph.
My gratitude to you and my admiration is unbounded and only equalled
by the pride which is mine in being your Commander-in-Chief.
HR. Alexander
Field-Marshal,
Supreme Allied Commander,
Mediterranean Theatre.

292
CHAPTER EIGHT
FRUITS OF VICTORY
May 1945-September 1946

ར
Gorizia
293
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME?


Lt. G. E. C. Page India (evacuated from CMF) 25.5.45


A fishing trip near Gorizia. Raymond Nares, Barry Till, Ashley
Ponsonby and Bill Birkbeck



CSM Mulligan and CSM Bullock
66
Southey gets the sack”
“Don't sulk—it's my brew! ”
Raoul Robin and Ray Crouch during the drive to Gorizia,
4 May 1945
Battalion Sports at Gorizia. The start of the WOs race
Cpl. Bowman—the prize clown
294
FRUITS OF VICTORY
GORIZIA
May 1945
By HENRY GREEN
O
N the 30th April the battalion moved north from
the Po to the small village of Villadose, where
information was received that the majority of No. 2
Company were at Padua. On the 2nd May we drove to
Camponogara, where most of us saw Venice for the first
time, and on the 5th the battalion arrived in Gorizia, where
we were placed under command of the 91st U.S. Division.
The war in Italy was over, the sun was shining and the
battalion was ready, willing and able to relax in what looked
to be an excellent town for that purpose. We were soon
disillusioned, as we had not met the Yugoslavs before. Tito's
army proved to be a rabble of both sexes armed with the
most extraordinary collection of weapons drawn from almost
every country in the world. Their orders from Tito were
obviously to grab every possible yard of Italian territory
that they could lay hands on before the Allies got wise to
what they were doing. There is no doubt that, but for the
very strong line taken by Field-Marshal Alexander, strongly
supported by the British and American Governments, the
“Jugs” would have run riot all over north-east Italy.
As always, we had to pretend to like these creatures and
to pretend that they really were not doing anything wrong.
This proved an extremely difficult task for the battalion,
as all, from the highest to the lowest, resented being in
billets by curfew and seeing the worst possible type of
thug walk in and remove Italians and their goods to some
unknown destination.
Our first fortnight of peace was not as happy and carefree
as we could have wished. For example, one night the piquet
officer was rung up by John Stilwell from No. i Company's
billet and asked whether Colonel Billy could come round and
see off a Jugoslav patrol which was demanding to search
the company billet! Colonel Billy had just finished a good
dinner and so was in just the right frame of mind for this
task. The Jugoslavs withdrew.
On another night Michael Hollings and I were en-
deavouring to return to our billets from the officers' mess.
Imagine our surprise when, within fifty yards of the mess
door, we were stopped by a Jugoslav sentry who could only
speak his native tongue and who pointed a tommy-gun at
us and yelled the Jug equivalent of “Advance one and be
recognized.” We answered, “Inglesi,” but this meant
nothing to him and the gun was still pointing in the same
direction. Deciding that it was no good arguing, we both
led on and hoped for the best. Luckily, with the aid of a
street lamp, the stupid Jug at last fluffed who we were and
lowered his weapon.
We left Gorizia, but not Venezia Giulia, on the 20th May;
and as I write, eighteen months later, the tension in this
area is as acute as ever.


Left:
Michael Newton in Venice
16
Centre: Gerald Legge, Martin Stanley and
Philip Woolley relax in the Campo
S. Stephano, Venice
Right: Tom Perrett
295
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'

FOTO
THE CARRIER PLATOON AT VERSA, near ROMANS
On carrier
Gdsm. Culley,
Dever,
Sgt. Parker
Left half
Gdsm. Brennan, Dodds, Beddows, Wood,
Stamp, Piggot, Raftery, Hinton,
Сpl. Kеер,
Gdsm. Dimelow, Stroud,
Cpl. Robson, Sgt. Scott, Sgt. O'Brien,
Sgt. Fisher
Right half
Gdsm. Potter, Sergeant, Cfn. Gibbons, Cpl.
Boulton, Gdsm.Walter, Whiting, Willicombe,
Brown, Wormald, Wardell, Jenkins,
Cpl. Foster, Sgt. Harrison, Sgt. Fears,
Cpl. Holland
Centre
Lt. J. S. Lloyd, Lt. R. P. Chaworth-
Musters, Sgt. Henry


John Lloyd, Doric Bossom, Bobs Herschell, Bobby Chaworth-Musters
and Bob Windsor-Clive
On the beach at Grado.
Martin Stanley, Michael Philips, Jamie Leveson and Ray Crouch
296
FRUITS OF VICTORY
ROMANS D'ISONZO-BORIANO
May-July 1945
By DICK STRATTON
On the 21st May the battalion left the hurly-burly of
Gorizia and, with the exception of No. 1 Company which
had the pleasant task of guarding 13 Corps Headquarters
on the coast at Duino, established itself on the west bank
of the Isonzo in and around the little village of Romans.
It was pleasant to get away for a short period from the
unofficial frontier (later known as the Morgan Line) into
an area relatively untouched by Pan Slav propaganda,
though some of Tito's more extravagant claims did actually
extend as far west as this.
Here a beginning was made under the efficient guidance
of Michael Howard on the post-war Army Education
scheme, from which the officers were by no means ex-
empted, as in company with the warrant officers and
sergeants they were regaled one morning in the village
hall with an exceedingly competent talk by Michael
Kinchin-Smith on election prospects and party pro-
grammes. So impartial was his exposition that fierce argu-
ments arose afterwards as to where his own political
sympathies might lie.
On the ist June Field-Marshal the Hon. Sir Harold
Alexander visited the battalion and spent the morning
walking round companies. Desmond Chichester, his ADC,
came with him.
Throughout our stay in the silk-worm country—for a
time we could not fathom the extraordinary smell which
permeated all the houses in which we were billeted—the
weather was brilliant, and on most afternoons parties went
off to bathe in the Isonzo, which was icy, or in the sea at
Grado, which bore many resemblances to Southend and
where the Division had established an elaborate leave
centre known as "The Whittington Arms”.
Early in June, owing to the continued hostility of Tito's
great unwashed”, the battalion was moved up into the
barren hills around Boriano and Dol Grande, in the im-
mediate hinterland north-west of Trieste. The company
positions, which were supposed to be semi-tactical, were
very scattered, Nos. 2 and 3 Companies being about six
miles apart over some of the worst roads imaginable. It
was not here just a question of an occasional pothole;
the whole track was one large cavity alternating with rock
outcrop, and the strain on the MT, not to mention the
nerves and digestions of its occupants, made one think
twice before visiting companies. No. 3 Company, and later
No. 1, had quite pleasant areas, the worst being probably
that of No. 2 whose officers elected to live in a sort of dell
infested with crickets, snakes and crawling things of all
kinds. Most of the positions afforded little cover from
sun or rain, and the surrounding hills seemed to attract
during our stay an almost daily burst of thundery
downpours. Mercifully we were still getting a rum ration.
It was soon after we arrived that General Morgan made
the final truce with the Slays and settled the frontier line
which bears his name. Not that this was anything like the
end of the matter, for as an immediate problem we had
still to contend with a grubby assortment of semi-organized
partisans “swanning” about in our midst. One Sunday
morning they were ordered to lay down their arms in the
main squares of Trieste and Monfalcone—in the latter
case by Brigadier Malcolm Erskine, who “took” the
parade—and an extensive exercise, in which the battalion
was fully involved, was planned to give them encourage-
ment should they prove recalcitrant. However, all was
well, and as a result the local situation, though still most
unsatisfactory, was at least manageable. Space forbids any
discussion of the rights and wrongs of the political problem
facing the two Western Allies in Venezia Giulia, and the
longer we stayed the more difficult it became to see the
situation whole and see it squarely. Yet even this dull topic
provided some amusement, for the bombastic fulminations
of Yugoslav propaganda served as a fair substitute for the
“News of the World”.
While on a reconnaissance for this exercise Simon Phipps
picked up at the small town of Ronchi an old and shaggy
sheepdog which soon became almost as well known about
the place as David Toler's “Sludge”. He was christened
‘Wonchi”, and in spite of occasional lapses in the officers'
mess and periods of absence without leave, there were
many regrets when his last owner, John Horlick, whisked
him off to Vienna under the pseudonym of “Stench”. He
has since been naturalized and now lives with John at
Barnes, where visitors have sometimes noticed a sad,
far-away look in his eyes. Maybe he pines for his native
village or the fresher atmosphere of the hills around
Boriano; but more likely it is just his way of expressing
disgust for his new name.
297
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'

On the 28th June the Divisional Commander, Major-
General J. Y. Whitfield, visited the battalion to present
medal ribbons awarded during the recent fighting in the
Argenta Gap. A parade under Raoul Robin was held for
this purpose in No. 1 Company area and the following
members of the battalion were decorated : Tim King (M.C.),
Sgt. L. E. Young (M.M.), Sgt. E. Howe (M.M.), Sgt.
W. Tozer (M.M.), Cpl. R. White (M.M.), and Gdsm.
J. Bowes (M.M.).
The General Election was one of our main preoccupations
at this time. A series of meetings was organized by Michael
Howard, backed in varying degrees by Michael Kinchin-
Smith, Barry Till, Henry Bentinck and Cpl. Bugg, to put
across to the battalion the various political programmes
and the party attitudes on problems domestic and foreign.
Finally, on the eve of polling day, a mass meeting of all
companies was held in No. 3 Company area under Henry
Green, who issued an impassioned appeal to us to give
preference to foreign over domestic policies when we
Charlie Darley and Sammy Clowes—two
handed in our votes.
smart officers in No. 4 Company
Apart from this particular form of entertainment, cricket
and football had plenty of scope in time if not in space, for farming to the workings of radio, and from German to the
it was not easy to find twenty, let alone a hundred, yards mysteries of the internal combustion engine, were held
of level ground in this stony region. But in spite of this, amongst the small vine terraces around Boriano. Michael
and difficulties over matting and general accessories, several Howard, ably assisted by his staff, performed miracles
quite successful matches were played against neighbouring of organization in face of innumerable difficulties of trans-
regiments and within the battalion itself. One evening port and co-ordination with other activities. Apart from
No. 4 Company challenged No. 3 to a boxing match, the MT staff, the most practical instructor was the Padre,
which attracted a large crowd of local inhabitants. They who used to take his class of budding farmers out to neigh-
were somewhat astonished by this unusual spectacle, but bouring farms to study continental farming methods first
they cheered enthusiastically whenever Sgt. Stewart or hand. Some of us felt they might have started on a garden
Cpl. Stacey delivered one of their more violent blows.
for the officers' mess!
Hardy Ensa troupes and mobile cinemas occasionally In July came the call for volunteers for Burma, who
ventured into the wilds as far as Boriano, and every morning were to join the 3rd Battalion in Scotland preparatory to
witnessed the arrival of Mrs. Challis and her “bun cart”, sailing for the Far East with 201 Guards Brigade. Many
bumping into the company areas with a full load of tea and answered it, and found themselves eventually in Palestine
wads. No one ever discovered where she came from; but instead.
come she did, like Lorna Twining before her, and all Several officers were able to gain brief respite from the
parades immediately ceased for a little light refreshment. wilderness of Venezia Giulia at the Giardino Eden in
The Educational Programme was pursued much further Venice. This villa, part-owned before the war by John
on a compulsory basis, and classes on subjects ranging from Horlick's family, was very graciously put at the battalion's
disposal by Princess Alexander of Greece. It more than
lived up to its name, and being beautifully situated on the
Giudecca near the Church of the Redentore and provided
with masses of fruit and flowers and a swimming-pool, was
infinitely more pleasant during the summer months than
anywhere in the excessive heat and smell of Venice itself.
The Lido in Venice, too, was a popular resort with officers
and other ranks alike, and every man in the battalion had
an opportunity of spending a few days' leave in one of the
large hotels requisitioned for that purpose. It was an
a


a
idyllic spot after Boriano, and everyone made the most of
A 3-in. mortar group at Versa, near Romans
their time there.
Cpl. Geddes, Cpl. Rabone, Sgt. Brian, Sgt. Berry, Sgt. Farrell
and Doric Bossom
298
FRUITS OF
VICTORY


On arrival, the Field-Marshal inspected No. 4 Company Guard
Shaking hands with the Adjutant. The Padre, Raoul Robin and
John Pope await their turn

FIELD-MARSHAL THE HON. SIR HAROLD
ALEXANDER VISITS THE BATTALION
Romans, i June 1945
The Field-Marshal in a reflective mood


On the way to No. 3 Company
Leaving No. 4 Company with Brig. Malcolm Erskine
299
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME''


CA
No. 3 Company on parade

THE PRESENTATION OF MEDAL RIBBONS BY
MAJOR-GENERAL J. Y. WHITFIELD
Boriano, 28 June 1945


The Divisional Commander arrives
Sgt. Young (No. 3 Company) is presented
with the M.M.
Michael Hollings and Lt.-Col. Billy Steele await the
arrival of the Divisional Commander
Tim King is presented with the M.C.
300
FRUITS OF VICTORY


w
Bill Birkbeck
Support Company at Boriano. Back Row: John Lloyd, Doric Bossom, Jim
Alderson-Smith. Front Row: Bobs Herschell, CSM Pittam, Bob Windsor-Clive,
CQMS Moore, Bobby Chaworth-Musters


John Horlick and“Wonchi” mcke a touching picture
Mrs. Challis and her "bun cart” were very popular


No. 3 Company group. Cpl. Stevenson, Cpl. Scott, Gdsm. Potter,
Stafford, Cpl. Heppenstall, Sgt. White, Gdsm. Maybury, Cpl. Capon
A dinner party at No. 3 Company officers' mess, Dol Grande
301
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”


Sgt. Stewart (No.4 Company) versus Cpl. Lingley (No.3 Company)
Gdsm. W. Moore (No.3 Company) versus Cpl. Stacey (No.4 Company)


No. 1 Company at Boriano
John Stilwell, Mickey Hoare, Ashley Ponsonby
CSM Smith, Raoul Robin, CQMS Sewell
No. 2 Company at Boriano
Michael Philips, Renton Fontannaz, Dick Stratton
Ray Crouch, CSM Waters, Jamie Leveson, CQMS Stephens


Miramare Castle
“Of course, when I am Prime Minister, ..
Michael Kinchin-Smith (centre) discusses the Conservative programme with
Bobby Chaworth-Musters and Mr. Clarke, the American Welfare Officer
302
FRUITS OF VICTORY

B ECHELON
Centre Row
Front Row
Sgt. Munday, pay sergeant
Sgt. Larbey, master cook
Captain Hewitt, QM
RQMS Birtles
Sgt. Kinlock, armourer
Cpl. Holmes, boot repairer, RAOC
Gdsm. Ward, barber
Gdsm. Shilling, QM driver
Gdsm. Tingle, butcher
Gdsm. Parker, tailor


Back Row
Gdsm. Francis, ration-truck driver
Cpl. Williams, post corporal
Gdsm. Jones, storeman
Gdsm. Meek, servant
Cpl. Tinkler, equipment repairer
John Stilwell, Dermott Magill and Bob Windsor-Clive outside
No. 4 Company officers' mess at Dol Grande
'Green Rhythm” or the battalion dance band in action
303
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

manum
A general view of Trieste

TE
Another view of Trieste, showing on the left the Stazione Marittima, where the battalion held its Christmas
dance. The large building on the right is the Hotel Excelsior
304
FRUITS OF VICTORY
TRIESTE
July 1945-February 1946
By Dick STRATTON
Late in July the battalion, with a sigh of relief, left the
bare, rock-littered hills of Dol Grande for the over-dis-
cussed city itself. We were quite elated at the thought of
living in the relatively civilized surroundings of the
enormous infantry barracks just above the town, especially
after two months of exposure to sun and thunderstorms
outside; and indeed the move proved on the whole to be
a good one, although it took a whole company under David
Helme three weeks or more to purge the barracks of the
unsavoury legacies of German and Yugoslav occupation.
For instance, what was to be the dining-room in the
officers' mess bore in great, stark letters the slogan, “Borbom
Slobodu”, and the whole place was plastered with similar
hieroglyphs and with rubber stamp busts of Marshal
Tito in red paint. Yet once this cleaning up was done, we
were able to enjoy our greater proximity to civilization,
and all ranks welcomed with enthusiasm the bathing, tennis,
dancing, cinemas and other amenities that Trieste had to
offer. The shops, too, were liberally stocked with foodstuffs
and goods of all kinds, and sponges and silk stockings were
among the many useful presents posted off to wives and
girl friends at home.
The question of transport for once offered no real
difficulty, as the barracks were only a mile from the centre
of the town, where taxis and tramcars abounded. And what
an experience was a ride in a Triestine tram! To the
normal unpleasantness of travelling a hurried zig-zag
course in a more or less continuous “rush-hour” was added
the doubtful pleasure of an all-pervading smell of Italian
weed-tobacco and garlic and an uncomfortable feeling that
in all probability a sudden fuel cut would leave one stranded
half way to one's destination.
Sammy Clowes at once assumed the duties of PMC and
head gardener, and when he was not having an altercation
with the Italian cook or laying in vast stocks of delicacies
from Trieste's luxury stores, he was to be seen scratching
and prodding about in the gravel patch in front of the
officers' mess. His handling of the abundant food and drink
was masterly, the only complaints arising when the astro-
nomical mess bills put in a sly appearance at the end of the
month.
Shortly after our arrival in Trieste the war in the Far
East ended, and we had a VJ-Day Victory Parade Service
and also a Tattoo to celebrate it in the Trotting Stadium,
for which the battalion gave a very competent demon-
stration of drill. The first night was attended by the
Supreme Allied Commander, Field-Marshal the Hon. Sir
Harold Alexander.
Entertainments were organized in Trieste to an extent
never before known in Italy, and sports of all kinds offered
fair opportunities for those who had time. Football matches
were played against the Royal Navy as some return for
their wonderful hospitality, and cn one notable occasion
the officers challenged HMS Liverpool to a game of
soccer and kept their end up by an elaborate relay system
embracing about twenty players. This rapidly deteriorated
into a mud-slinging competition in which Bobby Chaworth-
Musters played an all-important part. There was good
riding on Montebello, a large hill rising up behind the
barracks, for which enthusiasm was not damped even
when Tim Patrick was thrown and remained concussed for
a week asking what time it was at regular ten-minute
intervals. The bay and harbour of Trieste offered excellent
sailing, and Martin Stanley did noble work in passing people
out as competent yachtsmen, which reached its climax
when Colonel Billy Steele was awarded his certificate. The
bathing, too, was perfect, and the Division arranged an
officers' club known as “The Brown Jug" close to the beach
near its Headquarters at Miramare. This latter was an
externally attractive, white-faced castle built by the Maxi-
milian who went to Mexico, and before the war was one of
the seats of the Duke of Aosta. It was fascinatingly perched
right over the Adriatic on a small promontory of its own,
but it gave itself away badly inside.
For those who liked it there were plenty of concerts
and operas, both in the town itself and at the open air
theatre organized by the Division at Gradisca. Here the
stage was set ideally on the banks of the Isonzo, and a very
enjoyable summer evening could be spent listening to
Chloe Elmo and Mario del Monaco and other well-known
singers. And then, with one's senses still warmed by the
lovely music of “Tosca” or “Rigoletto", it was pleasant
20
305
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
to drive back along the coast road through Monfalcone handling was the one thing these dockers understood, and
towards the twinkling lights of Trieste, past Miramare and that is certainly what they got.
the docks and the silent cruisers anchored in the harbour, The living conditions on these guards were far from
and up through the town to the barracks. In these circum- pleasant. The refinery was saturated with oil and cluttered
stances one could even resign oneself to the iron seats of up with displaced masonry and distorted girders. The
a 15-cwt. truck.
docks, too, were a mass of rubble and bomb craters—the
Paul Mortimer took over from Henry Green as second dismantled remains of fascist enterprise. The buildings
in command of the battalion just before the visit of the in which the guards were housed were for the most part
Major-General, Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Loyd, who without windows and other such amenities and had a
came out in December to attend a parade to celebrate the smell all of their own. It was thus not a little tedious when
arrival of the Colours from England. Unfortunately the through the incidence of Liap and local leave it became a
parade was thwarted by the intervention of a “Bora”—a question of a twenty-four-hour guard for everybody every
local gale of such intensity that on several occasions through- third, or even every other, day.
out the winter the night air was rendered hideous by the Yet even these had their lighter moments, as when Tim
eruption of windows—frames and all—and the splintering Patrick spent half one night in the docks giving frantic and
of doors and partitions. This violent wind, which is apt fruitless chase over the railway lines and round the waiting
to menace Trieste each year during the winter months, goods waggons after a man suspected of stealing half a
has been known to blow unceasingly for as long as fourteen sack of sugar; or when Mickey Hoare, on the railway
days, and has occasionally reached such proportions that frontier post on the single track from Trieste to Pola, sent
ropes have had to be fastened across the streets to enable some unfortunate Slav into the city without trousers
people to cross. On this occasion it blew for a week, and because he was wearing British army issue which was
was strong enough to put a stop to all outdoor activities; confiscable. Before we left we got to know quite well by
even the drill sergeants were reduced to the undignified sight some of the odoriferous inmates of these antediluvian
expedient of chasing their caps round the Scots Guards trains.
transport parked 300 yards away at the other end of the Perhaps the most easily remembered incident of our
vast barrack square.
whole stay was the visit of the Commanding Officer, second
Our Yugoslav “Allies” were giving a certain amount in command and adjutant of our “sister” battalion in the
of trouble, though nothing compared with what they were Yugoslav Detachment serving under 13 Corps, when
to afford in six months' time. The weekly round of strikes Dermott Magill strove manfully to bridge “the great gulf
and demonstrations became rather boring and involved fixed”. For this was our third attempt at liaison, and having
special precautions, notably Charlie Darley's brilliant waited over an hour and at last having started lunch at
tactical handling one week-end of the civilian telephone 1.45, we received news that our guests had duly arrived
exchange. But we had not yet reached the stage of sleeping having already eaten. After an early brush with Raimondo
with revolvers under our pillows.
Moncarda, our Italian liaison officer, we soothed them
The very onerous guard duties were our main worry with drink, and were much impressed by their Command-
in Trieste. Their purpose in the docks, station or oil ing Officer's capacity for whisky, till we found a row of
refinery, being nominally to meet any Yugoslav threat half-empty glasses under the sofa. They were not asked
from without, appeared really to be protection against again!
petty pilfering from within. In the case of the docks it At last our spell of co-ordinated existence in barracks in
is doubtful how many Unrra supplies would otherwise something approaching peace conditions came to an end,
have reached the ungrateful Yugoslavs the other end, for and in February the battalion prepared to move north to
the whole place was seething with communists and thieves the villages around Sesana, in the immediate vicinity of
who were only too anxious to sell the sugar, tinned stuff, the Morgan Line. And although by this time we were
machine parts and even high explosives with which the quite ready to assume once more our separate company
docks were filled, so as to give their friends across the existences, some at least were sorry to leave Trieste, for
border grounds for complaint at their non-arrival. Our which we had contracted quite an affection during the six
military security police were an invaluable help. Man- months we had been there.
306
FRUITS OF VICTORY

People fighting to cross a street in Trieste during a “Bora”—a local gale of great violence which often
attacks the city during the winter months


3
Lt.-Gen. Sir Charles Loyd visited the battalion in Trieste, accompanied by George Burns and Edward Loyd. He is seen above being entertained


in the sergeants' mess
Ronnie Strutt marches past with his company during the Colour
Parade rehearsal. Brig. Malcolm Erskine takes the salute
Like old days in the 3rd Battalion. George Burns has a drink with
Sgts. Farmer, Whiteman, Smith, Hogg and Perry
307
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”


ON
An MT Group. Sgt. Taylor, Sgt. Ridley, Sgt. Hammond, Cpl. Pick,
Sgt. Powell, David Kerr-Wilson, Sgt. Head



George Gidney

The Villa Giardino Eden, Venice
A cheerful group (No. 1 Company). Gdsm. Webster, Towler, Dobbs,
Smith, F., Cheshire, Allison, Waters, Brine, Mannion, Mills,
Merrett
A picnic at the Hunter Trials at Gradisca. Ronnie Strutt, at the
back, has evidently lunched well
Field-Marshal Alexander inspects the Guard of Honour before his
departure from Caserta
308
FRUITS OF VICTORY
THE LILYWHITE CLUB
a
By Guardsman J. PANTER
On a sunny day in July, 1945, in the hills a few miles from forgone, as the duties to be undertaken by the battalion
Trieste, a group of Guardsmen sat on a grassy verge in a involved having a company-in-waiting each night, and it
little village called Boriano, listening to an officer.
was thought that it would be better for the Club to be
With the move of the whole battalion to palatial barracks in barracks for the use of these men. The meeting then
in Trieste imminent, they had gathered as representatives closed.
of their companies to cast a vote for or against an idea of The next three weeks saw the formation of the Club
Major H. J. L. Green, the second in command. It was that take place. Four fair-sized rooms were earmarked by Major
the Guardsmen should have their own club run entirely Green; Sgt. Phillips, with the help of his pioneers and
by themselves, in preference to the usual canteen run by Cpl. Reed of the REs, put in some sterling work painting
one of the voluntary services such as the YMCA.
and redecorating the place. Meanwhile the Committee had
That the meeting did not last long was due to a unani- been formed, with Lt. J. S. Lloyd as President, and to
mous vote in favour of a club. After a short discussion on give him the assistance needed Lt. M. O. Stanley and
various points the following were agreed upon by all :
CSM Pittam were included as Members.
(a) That a Committee be formed, comprising an officer The problem of the bar was solved by CSM Pittam, who
as President, a Guardsman as Chairman and two made a fortunate contact down town in the form of two
members from each Company.
civilians, owners of a bar that was closing down. An agree-
(b) That a subscription fee of 200 lire (1os.) be payable
by each member, but returnable, if so desired, on
ment was made with them, and they immediately transferred
his leaving the Club.
the whole of their valuable equipment and their staff to
(c) Each Company to hand to the Club any surplus Com- the Club. They bought from the Club all drinks and food
pany Canteen Funds to help start the venture off. and resold to the members at prices stipulated by the Club
(d) Italians to be employed as waiters and barmen in
with a margin of profit. This worked out very well.
preference to having men struck off.
The Committee by now had had their first meeting and
One point not agreed upon by all was the location of the
made the following rules :
Club. Some preferred it to be in town away from the
barracks altogether. However, this preference had to be
(a) Every member will be in possession of a Membership
Card and will produce it at the reception desk
whenever he wishes to enter the Club.
(6) Every member is entitled to bring one guest into the
Club. Lady guests will be permitted to enter the
Club accompanied by members after 1800 hours
daily. Members will be at all times responsible
for the behaviour of their guests. The Committee
reserve the right to refuse entry to any undesirable
female or to ask any guest to leave the Club. If lady
visitors who have been brought in by members
are caught loitering in barracks or outside the
Club premises, the privilege of allowing lady
visitors into the Club will cease forthwith.
(C) No Italian men, women over forty or children will be
allowed to enter the Club at any time. Men who are
invited into the Club will be members of the British
or United States Forces of the rank of Guardsman
or Private. Guardsmen of this battalion who are
not members of the Club will not be permitted
to enter, even as guests of members. The only
relaxation to be made in the rule in regard to rank
will be in the case of a special friend or relation.
Opening Hours: 1200 hours to 2300 hours daily (Sundays
to 2330 hrs.).
Bar Hours: 1230 hours to 1330 hours.
“On the 7th August, 1945, the Club was duly opened by the Command-
1800 hours to 2230 hours (Sundays to 2300
ing Officer, Lt.-Col. W. L. Steele"
hours).

309
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
On the 7th August, 1945, the Club was duly opened by draughts, dominoes, jigsaw puzzles and a radio. The bar
the Commanding Officer, Lt.-Colonel W. L. Steele, and was magnificently fitted up with modern light fittings, was
since that date has been honoured by visits from several well furnished with tables and chairs and brightly decorated.
distinguished people, amongst them Field-Marshal the There was a grand variety of drinks such as:
Viscount Alexander, Lt.-General Sir Charles Loyd, Lt.-
Pear
Cognac Stock Medicinal Double Kummel
General Sir John Harding, Major-General J. Y. Whitfield
Peach
Cognac to the Egg Grappa
(commanding 56th London Division) and Brigadier M. D.
Plum
Coffee Cream
Punch (hot)
Erskine (commanding 24th Guards Brigade). These, ,
Triplesec Vermouth
Red Wine
together with Major H. J. L. Green, Major W. A. G. Burns
Lemonade
and Major R. F. Mortimer, have all been made Honorary
Cherry Brandy White Wine
Maraschino Rum
Anisette
Members of the Club.
The Club consisted of a handsome hall with reception Adjoining the bar room was the dance hall. Here music
desk, complete with signature book for visitors and a was provided every night for dancing, sometimes by the
steward to look after the coats. There was a large writing and Italian orchestra and sometimes by the battalion band. An
reading-room, and quite an innovation here were the crested extension on Sunday nights to 2330 hours, granted by the
notepaper and envelopes provided. A large variety of Commanding Officer, was greatly appreciated. Nothing
magazines and periodicals were also available for readers. but praise could be given to those who strove their hardest
Next to this room was the games room, comprising three in the very beginning to provide the amenities to be found
small billiard tables, a table-tennis table, a dart-board, in this excellent Club.


The Bar
The Writing-room


The Games Room
The battalion band playing in the Dance Hall
310
FRUITS OF VICTORY
Bathing at "The Brown Jug”, Miramare


Mickey Hoare
Ashley Ponsonby


Raoul Robin
Dermott Magill, looking himself like a little brown jug
311
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”


Meat-packing on the docks
Cpl. Passifall, Sgt. Hobbs, Sgt. Mawer and Sgt. Harris


Martin Stanley was battalion expert with any form of sailing-
boat. He is here preparing a“ Star” at the Trieste Yacht Club


The inevitable “brew". Gdsm. Farley and Gdsm. Skelton refresh
Gdsm. R. Girdlestone at Barcola Beach
“How much are we down, Quartermaster-Sergeant?
Martin Stanley in difficulties at the pay table
Jamie Leveson and David Kerr-Wilson on their way to
shoot duck near Trieste
themselves on their way back to Trieste from leave in Rome
312
FRUITS OF VICTORY


11.
VJ-Day Victory Parade Service in the Piazza del Unita, Trieste
The ex-prisoners of war return to England. CSM Allen calls the roll


KON
Tim Patrick
Chiromante, pride of the stables


An epic cricket match took place in Trieste between
the officers and sergeants. The officers batted last, the
ninth wicket
falling with one minute to go and the score
level. John Horlick was last man in, and we watched
breathlessly as he took guard and CSM Gartside
thundered down to bowl. Unfortunately, John missed
the ball by a good six inches and the middle stump
was knocked clear of the ground. The match was thus
a draw
Back Row: Sgt. Myhill, CQMS Dunford, Sgt.
Speake, Sgt. Shooter, Sgt. Harris,
Sgt. Dent, Sgt. Perry
Front Row: CSM Gartside, CSM Grainger, Sgt.
Bytheway, CQMS Davidson
224
313
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”


The sergeants' mess, Trieste

“Good-bye and good luck”: CSM Pittam (right) drinks to CQMS
Moore on the latter's departure for England

Sgt. Pottage, Sgt. Shooter, Sgt. Russell, Sgt. Jamieson and
CQMS Burns

PANCES
Sa Bundy
CSM Kirk (now D/Sgt.)
“There is nothing like a pint or two to strengthen you for parade”
(D/Sgt. Pickford)
314
FRUITS OF VICTORY
Racing at Aiello
Photographs taken at three Winter Meetings


“Can you give me the winner?”
Anthony Sturdy and Rex Whitworth discuss the prospects with
Miss Della North and Mrs. Lorna Twining
Ronnie Strutt wins on Chiromante, with Tommy Bulkeley on Fliap
a fairly close second


Brig. Malcolm Erskine prepares to mount Hillman
“Don't look so surprised!”
Dick Westmacott, Eddie Crutchley, Noretta Rodinis and Anthony


2 BN. COLDSTREAM GUARDS
TEA TENT
Refreshments were by Clowes
Sturdy
Dick Stratton, John Bowker, Bing Bovill and Martin Stanley look
pleased with the result of the last race
315
“NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
The Football Match versus HMS Liverpool



7113
Nico Collin prepares for the game
Paul Mortimer was a successful goalie, though perhaps a little unorthodox


The opposing team looked very professional in their white shorts
John Lloyd and David Helme dash into the attack


The final result was one goal to each side. Lt. Moncarda is here seen
We had twenty officers on our side playing in relays of ten minutes.
Here are Dermott Magill, Bing Bovill, David Helme, John Horlick,
John Lloyd and John Bowker
scoring for us
316
FRUITS OF VICTORY
SESANA
February, September 1946
By Paul MORTIMER

Sesana
In February the battalion left Trieste itself and moved up
into the hills some ten miles from the town, and just short
of the Morgan Line. Headquarter Company, Support and
No. 2 were billeted in Sesana, No. 3 in Tomadio, while
No. I and No. 4 Companies were at Storie and Poverio
respectively, with road-blocks on the Morgan Line itself.
The move caused a certain number of misgivings, as
Sesana in mid-winter wears a depressingly bleak and chilly
aspect, rather resembling the drabber parts of Palestine.
The battalion which preceded us in the area had apparently
drifted without much resistance into a condition of squalid
apathy. Not only had no attempt been made to make itself
comfortable, but the billets and surroundings had become
crusted with grime and encircled with refuse. The local
inhabitants were remarkable only for their mean looks and
unaccommodating manners, and they devoted much of their
time to disfiguring every available building with crude
political slogans.
Sesana was a centre of communist activity, and the leaders
were for the most part plain vigorous girls of about eighteen
who wrote off the battalion as fascist reactionaries and had
a very busy time detailing the more sedentary members of
the population for "spontaneous demonstration”. From
time to time Commanding Officers Orders would be inter-
rupted by a turgid stream of rather unenthusiastic spon-
taneous demonstrators, waving small flags and chanting
“Tito and Stalin” in tones in which utter boredom was
mingled with faint disgust. The village of Tomadio proved
an exception to the general attitude, and No. 3 Company
quickly established most friendly relations. Here piety and
the influence of the Mother Superior had proved stronger
than intensive propaganda judiciously mixed with terrorism.
All companies gave dances at regular intervals, but
except at Tomadio the local ladies held aloof. They often
came and stood at the back of the hall, content to watch but
determined not to dance. Occasionally they unbent suf-
ficiently to accept a bath bun and a glass of vino, but it
cannot be truthfully said that they added to the gaiety of
the occasion. In consequence, trucks used to go down to
Trieste to bring up some of the girls who had formerly
been regular patrons of the Lilywhite Club.
Incidents at the road-blocks were fortunately few, but
there was a constant and sometimes bewildering flow of
traffic as the time drew near for the arrival of the Allied
317
NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'S

Commission in Trieste. The Russians, in particular, bobbed
about from one side of the line to the other, armed with
every variety of pass and visa, mostly invalid, and it is
believed that the name of General Bugermylov is printed
across the heart of the Officer Commanding No. 1 Company,
even if it is not actually mentioned on his conduct sheet.
The visit of the Commission itself went off smoothly. A
large number of slogans were painted up; one Guardsman
offered to assist a painting party, but instead of doing a
nice “Zivel Tito”, he obliged with “Zivel 2664113 Gdsm.
Smith, J., our company cook.” The Commission duly
arrived headed by Captain Bovill, who was loaned for the
occasion. He received a most encouraging reception until
The officers' mess, Sesana
the crowd discovered he was not, in fact, the Russian
delegate. The Sesana Temperance League brass band took
a prominent part in the proceedings, the front half play-
ing the “Red Flag” for all they were worth while the
larger instruments in the rear stuck gamely to “Flag and
Empire”. The route was lined with triumphal arches,
temporary structures of a most vulnerable and inflammable
nature which offered a very strong temptation to anyone
feeling in form, as even the Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel
remarked on his way back from dinner with the Brigade
Commander.
The Yugoslavs were very sensitive to any approach to
their side of the line, and anyone indiscreet enough to
Poverio
cross over was usually arrested. We had our casualties, but
nothing to equal the sensational disappearance of the
Commanding Officer and second in command of the ist
Battalion Scots Guards, who were carrying out a re-
connaissance with more enthusiasm than discretion.
The battalion kept twenty-two horses at Sesana, and
riding became a very popular pastime. Early on Sunday
mornings a very determined looking party used to set off
composed of D/Sgt. Kirk, ORSM Betts, CSM Dixon and
Sgt. Reed. The drill sergeant retained a fair measure of
control by familiar barrack-square methods, while SM Betts
adopted a more defensive technique and dismounted
rapidly of his own free will at the slightest sign of vivacity
CO's Orders at Sesana. In centre stands DSgt. Kirk, about to deliver
upon the part of the horse. Military race meetings took
his famous lecture on the right and the wrong way to "march in
place monthly at Aiello. Chiromante was probably the best
horse in the stables, and, ridden by Dermott Magill, was
twice beaten by very narrow margins in good-class races.
At the final meeting Sweetheart, an ancient grey mare
owned and ridden by Desmond Chichester, won a two-
mile steeplechase with consummate ease. Sweetheart is
seventeen years old and was formerly the property of
Major Borwick, Royal Scots Greys, and accompanied him
to Palestine in 1937. The battalion horses were under the
care of Cpl. Hillier, and both officers and other ranks owe
a great deal to his industry and enthusiasm and the way
he kept the stables going with only most inexperienced
assistants.
Two vital members of the officers' mess. Gdsm. Hastings and Gdsm.
As was to be expected, the battalion accumulated a great
Collett behind the bar
number of dogs, which were more or less kept in check by


WH

318
FRUITS OF VICTORY
-
occasional purges in the miniature range and by the steady the column, slightly out of step, one hundred yards before
toll taken by the battalion MT. Senior Dog, until liquidated the eyes right, and disappeared with equal suddenness
by the MT, was David Toler's “Sludge”—a unique immediately afterwards.
animal from Tunisia, full of character, which looked like a The Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel visited the battalion
bearskin condemned by the viewers. Her place has now been in April, staying for a week. A feature of the visit was the
taken by “Tosh”, a small dog with a very elastic moral dance and cabaret put on by members of the sergeants'
code, which has rather come down in the world. His first mess. This was a really first class evening, and memory
owner was Gdsm. Tingle, the battalion butcher, and after lingers delectably on the delicate and alluring strip-tease
two years in that privileged position he found difficulty in act performed by D/Sgt. Kirk.
accommodating himself to the rigours of the officers' We were all very sorry when Colonel Billy Steele left
us at the end of April, and our best wishes went with him
A Victory March Past took place in Trieste on the 2nd to the Staff College at Haifa. Colonel Dick Gooch arrived
March, the battalion finding two detachments, under in May to command the battalion, and soon after this
Desmond Chichester, of three officers and one hundred and political tension increased and it became necessary to adopt
twenty men per detachment. Unfortunately, we were not rather more warlike dispositions. This unfortunately led to
permitted to march past the saluting base with the battalion cancellation of spring drills and the trooping, and the
drums in front, and we had to make do with the Scots battalion once again began to dig slit trenches, with mines
Guards pipes, which were well in rear and almost inaudible. and wire and all the minor discomforts that usually ac-
Nor was the situation helped by the action of Brigade company them. Nothing very drastic materialized, however,
Headquarters detachment, which, disdaining to take part in and after six more weeks in Sesana the battalion began their
the long and arduous march through the town, popped journey home. Before the end of September we had once
rather shamefacedly out of the Excelsior Hotel and headed again set foot on the shores of England.
mess.

11
-===
LB.
The Victory Parade in Trieste. The battalion marching through the town
319
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'"
'


V
The Victory Parade in Trieste. Desmond Chichester leading the first
detachment past the saluting base


The visit of the Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel
Back Row: CSM Chappell, CSM Sewell, Sgt. Reed, CSM
Poyntz, CSM Dunford
Centre Row: CSM Trimming, RQMS Aylen, ORSM Betts, CSM
Dixon, D/Sgt. Kirk
Front Row: Henry Hewitt (QM), Paul Mortimer, Col. Sandy
Stratheden, Bobs Herschell (Adj.), RSM Ramsden
The Victory Parade in Trieste. Lt.-Gen. Sir John Harding taking
the salute
The sergeants' mess party at Sesana. Sitting at this table are Henry
Hewitt, CSM Trimming, Keith Barlow, Col. Sandy Stratheden,
Mrs. Ramsden, and ROMS Aylen. Paul Mortimer is standing
behind

DUD
LMT OF ZONE DESNUTI
BRITISH
MUTINY OLDTONE
The road block on the Morgan Line at Storie
320
FRUITS OF VICTORY


www
Gdsm. Grace
Sgt. Gourd outside his intelligence office


*ZIVELA
Du
2 Battalion
Coldean Guards
STABLES
Sgt. Reed
Stable boy!
21
321
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”

Aiello. Tommy Bulkeley (S.G.) and Fliap on their way to victory


Aiello. ROMS Aylen, CSM Dixon and CSM Trimming were
keen racegoers
Aiello. Gerald Legge, Bobs Herschell and Miss Whitworth


Aiello. Lady Harding presenting the cup to Tommy Bulkeley,
winner of the Grand Military
Aiello. Desmond Chichester and Sweetheart, winners at the final
meeting, are triumphantly led in by Gdsm. Pennie
322
FRUITS OF VICTORY
No. 1 Company prepares to defend itself against Tito
Near Sesana, May 1946


Sgt. Jermy, Peter Maugham and Gdsm. Bradshaw

Sgt. Thomas and Sgt. Browne, M.M., get down to it
“Come and get it.”
Gdsm. Caton, Gdsm. Ward, Sgt. Scott and Sgt. Goode


H
Sgt. Bowditch demonstrates how wiring ought
to be done
Sgt. Deakin, Gdsm. Robinson, Gdsm. Ayres, Gdsm. Bache and (sitting) Gdsm. Turner
323
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME”
And here, to end, is a personal message from the Old Soldier of the 2nd Battalion,
Sgt. W. LARBEY, the Master Cook-

TWE
WENTY-THREE years ago I joined this battalion. I joined it as people join it to-day,
wondering what I should find and what sort of life I should live. And as I look back I
feel that I have experienced something that I would not have missed. I have experienced a
comradeship that bound men together in life and in death, a comradeship that seemed
to be capable of terrific sacrifice, a comradeship in which honour played the largest part.
There have been times when we swore, and there will be times when we shall swear
again. There have been times when we have laughed, as we shall laugh again. We have
been very happy and we have been very sad. Friends have passed from our sides, new
faces have come and gone, everything seems to be changing. In my time I have seen
many changes, from the red and blue of a peace-time Guard to the mud and rain of a
mountain sentry—from the smooth-worn pavestones outside “Buck” to the dusty roads
of France—from the measured tread of one hundred and twenty to the minute to the
mad race back to Dunkirk.
And yet it has all been worth while. On the surface things may have altered, but the
spirit of the battalion is just the same. And I do not think it will ever change. It is the
spirit that is behind the arguments that go on day after day over “teas and wads”: the
arguments about the 3rd in Africa or the ist in Germany are proof of the pride we have
in our battalions. No matter what the occasion, we have risen to it handsomely.
Yes, I would not have missed living in this battalion for anything: probably because
it is a battalion in which good manners and courtesy mean more than grudged obedience,
where team spirit means more than harsh discipline, where everyone tries to help. I am
proud of my battalion and proud to have served in it. No other battalion can ever be like
it. Long live the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards.
324
HONOURS AND AWARDS
VICTORIA CROSS : 2657545 CSM WRIGHT, P. H.
,
OFFICERS
2nd and 3rd Battalions Coldstream Guards
Notes: 1. The ranks shown are those held at the time of the Award.
2. The undermentioned served in the 2nd or the 3rd Battalion at some period during the war.
George Cross
Brig. A. F. C. NICHOLLS
Distinguished Service Order
Brig. N. W. GWATKIN
Lt. Col. L. BOOTLE-WILBRAHAM, M.C.
Lt.-Col. J. MOUBRAY
Lt.-Col. W. S. STEWART-BROWN
Lt.-Col. E. R. HILL
Lt.-Col. H. R. NORMAN
Lt.-Col. A. W. A. SMITH
Lt.-Col. R. E. J. C. COATES
Lt.-Col. W. A. G. BURNS
Lt.-Col. Earl JELLICOE
Major H. M. SAINTHILL
Lt. D. J. R. KER
Lt. Sir Ralph ANSTRUTHER, Bt.
Lt. P. H. WYLD
Lt. S. J. WHITWELL
Lt. G. A. GIDNEY
Lt. A. J. BOWKER
Lt. M. R. HOLLINGS
Lt. J. E. HAMILTON
Lt. M. E. HOWARD
Lt. J. S. LLOYD
Lt. C. L. LOYD
Lt. J. ALDERSON-SMITH
Lt. B. R. RUDD
Lt. G. W. KING
-
Bar to the Military Cross
Captain D. A. KENNARD, M.C.
Order of the British Empire (Commander of the
Military Division)
Brig. R. G. V. Fitz-GEORGE-BALFOUR
Military Cross
Lt. Col. Earl JELLICOE
Major the Hon. G. W. ff. DAWNAY
Major R. BECK
Major J. M. G. GRIFFITH-JONES
Major D. A. H. TOLER
Captain T. R. D. BATT
Captain D. W. A. W. FORBES
Captain W. A. G. BURNS
Captain B. E. LUARD
Captain D. A. KENNARD
Captain R. A. PILKINGTON
Captain the Lord LEVESON
Captain the Hon. R. J. PALMER
Captain the Hon. D. C. CHICHESTER
Captain I. W. S. Moss
Captain E. H. B. IMBERT-TERRY
Captain the Lord Andrew CAVENDISH
Captain S. W. PHIPPS
Captain J. E. GULL
Captain C. H. BULTEEL
Captain A. C. G. PONSONBY
Lt. J. LLEWELLYN-PALMER
Lt. A. H. G. FORTESCUE
Lt. R. J. V. CRICHTON
Lt. H. G. B. KNIGHT
Lt. M. D. H. WILLS
Lt. the Hon. M. V. BRODRICK
Lt. J. M. LANGLEY
Lt. R. E. PHILIPS
Lt. H. R. B. CALLANDER
Lt. the Hon. J. A. W. St. CLAIR ERSKINE
Order of the British Empire (Member of the
Military Division)
Major G. D. CHETWODE
Major A. H. G. FORTESCUE
Major L. DAWNAY
Major G. E. SINCLAIR-STEVENSON
Major A. D. A. BALFOUR
Captain J. W. YOUNGER
Captain P. A. V. COOPER
Lt. J. M. LANGLEY
Captain (QM) T. J. V. DAVIS
Lt. (QM) J. SAWDON
Lt. (QM) R. SPRY
Lt. (QM) L. ROWLANDS
Silver Star (Awarded by President of the U.S.A.)
Lt.-Col. W. L. STEELE
Czechoslovak War Cross 1939/45
Major H. J. L. GREEN
325
“"
NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
O
-
Mentioned in Despatches
Captain J. H. BOWMAN (twice)
Captain P. H. FLOWER
Lt.-Col. L. BOOTLE-WILBRAHAM, M.C.
Captain the Lord LEVESON
Lt. Col. J. MOUBRAY (three times)
Captain I. E. B. SKIMMING
Lt.-Col. W. D. H. C. FORBES
Captain R. M. CHAPLIN
Lt.-Col. E. R. HILL
Captain the Hon. R. J. PALMER
Lt.-Col. R. E. J. C. COATES
Captain S. V. S. HOWARD-STEPNEY
Lt.-Col. W. L. STEELE
Captain the Hon. D. C. CHICHESTER
Lt.-Col. W. A. G. BURNS
Captain A. J. RICKARDS
Lt.-Col. J. M. LANGLEY
Captain D. E. WADDILOVE
Lt.-Col. D: G. PIRIE
Captain W. J. STRAKER-SMITH
Major N. W. GWATKIN
Captain J. E. GULL
Major W. S. STEWART-BROWN
Captain M. KINCHIN-SMITH
Major T. BEVAN
Captain A. C. GROVER
Major A. McCORQUODALE
Lt. M. D. H. WILLS
Major D. A. F. HOME
Lt. D. R. W. R. WATTS-RUSSELL
Major C. HARFORD
Lt. Earl JELLICOE (twice)
Major M. E. ADEANE
Lt. R. J. S. LUCAS
Major H. J. L. GREEN (twice)
Lt. the Hon. G. H. BOSCAWEN
Major D. A. KENNARD
Lt. A. R. MCDOUGALL
Major A. H. G. FORTESCUE
Lt. A. N. WATNEY
Major R. J. V. CRICHTON
Lt. W. BIRKBECK (twice)
Major G. B. MACKEAN
Lt. C. R. MUIR
Major W. B. HARRIS
Lt. M. R. HOLLINGS
Major G. E. SINCLAIR-STEVENSON
Lt. R. L. SECONDE
Major N. E. KEITH-CAMERON
Lt. A. V. FARNELL-WATSON
Major R. E. FAURE WALKER
Lt. E. R. NARES
Major P. J. D. MACFARLANE
Lt. R. P. CHAWORTH-MUSTERS
Major R. BECK
Lt. M. M, W. SEVERNE
Major J. M. G. GRIFFITH-JONES
Lt. G. H. LEGGE
Major F. W. P. CORBOULD
Lt. D. B. MAGILL
Major P. H. A. BOWMAN
Lt. M. A. F. NEWTON
Captain H. M. SAINTHILL
Lt. G. W. KING
Captain H. M. A. SANFORD
Lt. D. W. SHENTON
Captain Count P. F. de SALIS
2nd Lt. R. C. WINDSOR-CLIVE (twice)
Captain R. DAWNAY
2nd Lt. the Earl of DEVON
Captain B. E. LUARD
2nd Lt. E. J. FITZGERALD
Captain R. G. V. Fitz-GEORGE-BALFOUR (twice)
Captain (QM) W. T. BURTON
Captain H. W. FAURE WALKER
Lt. (QM) R. SPRY
Captain the Lord GILFORD (twice)
326
HONOURS AND AWARDS
WARRANT OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED
OFFICERS AND MEN
2nd and 3rd Battalions Coldstream Guards
Note: The ranks shown are those held at the time of the Award
R.
W.
Award
M.M.
Desp. (1)
1
J. F.
J. E.
A.
S.
J. H.
L.
Desp. (1)
M.M. and Bar
M.M.
Desp. (1)
M.M.
M.M.
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
2656852 Gdsm.
FEWKES
2664204 L/Cpl. FISH
2648273 CSM
GAFF
59824 A/Cpl. GILMORE
2658946 L/Sgt.
GLOVER
2657494 Sgt.
GREEN
2657037 Cpl. (A/Sgt.) GUTTERIDGE
2663672 Gdsm. HALL
2665207 Gdsm.
HARWOOD
2655091 L/Sgt.
HEATHCOTE
2657529 Sgt.
HERAGE
2660313 Gdsm.
HEWISON
2654660 L/Sgt. HILDYARD
R.
J.
L.
S.
R. S.
C. E.
H.
R. L.
J.
G.
R.W.
J.
C.
E.
Award
L.
Desp. (1)
Ꮤ. Desp. (2)
W. Desp. (2)
J. J. Desp. (1)
H. M.M.
C. W.
Desp. (1)
J. H.
M.M.
T. Desp. (1)
R.
Desp. (I
F. H. M.M.
D. W. M.M.
R.
M.M.
T. F. Silver Star
(American)
C. E. Desp. (1)
Η. Η. Desp. (1)
A.
M.M.
E. J. H. M.M.
N. C. Desp. (1)
E, G. M.M.
H. B. T. Desp. (2)
F.
Desp. (1)
J. Ꮤ. Desp. (1)
D.
Desp. (1)
A. V. M.M.
A. H. Desp. (1)
E. P. Desp. (1)
L. J.
M.M.
M.M., B.E.M.
Desp. (1)
M.M.
M.M.
M.M.
M.M.
M.B.E.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (I)
Desp. (I
Desp. (1)
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (I)
Desp. (1
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
Desp.
M.M.
.
2654507 L Cpl.
6213299 Gdsm.
2655078 ROMS
2664864 L/Sgt.
2660711 L/Cpl.
882306 L/Cpl.
2655129 Sgt.
2660165 L/Sgt.
4613653 L/Sgt.
2657301 Gdsm.
2664837 Gdsm.
2663512 Gdsm.
5835809 Gdsm.
2660555 Gdsm.
2655397 D/Sgt.
(AWO I)
2666644 L Cpl.
2659642 L Cpl.
2655871 Gdsm.
2662767 COMS
HILES
HORSCRAFT
HOUGH
Howe
HUGGETT
HUGHES
HUMPHRIES
HURST
HUTCHINSON
HUTTON-Fox
HYLTON
JEANES
JENKINS
JENKINS
J. R.
J. H.
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
2655363 Gdsm. ABSON
2664230 L/Sgt. ACTON
2652748 C/Sgt.
(A/WO II) ALLEN
2655648 Sgt.
ALMONDS
3707287 PSM
ARMER
2653759 Gdsm. ASHMORE
2658249 L/Sgt. AUTY
2654528 Sgt.
BARLOW
2657133 C/Sgt.
(A/WO II) BATTY
2662724 Gdsm.
BENNETT
2660266 Gdsm. BENNETT
2659932 L/Cpl. BENTLEY
2658319 L/Cpl. BINDING
2653803 Cpl. (A/Sgt.) BIRKS
2654772 ROMS BIRTLES
2659289 Gdsm.
BLACKMORE
2653577 CSM
BONE
2664933 L/Sgt. Воотн
2663945 L/Sgt. BOOTH
2664126 Gdsm. BOWES
2661225 L/Cpl. BOWMAN
2653959 L/Cpl. BRENNAN
2655488 Gdsm.
BRIDGLAND
2658126 Gdsm. BROOKES
2657765 Sgt.
BROWN
2657378 Sgt.
BROWN
2664917 Gdsm. BROWNE
2653480 C/Sgt.
(A/WO II) BULLOCK
2665898 L/Cpl. BURGESS
2657564 COMS BURNS
2654108 PSM
CALVERT
550722 Sgt.
CALVERT
2658821 Sgt.
CARLTON
2663527 C/Sgt.
(A/WO II) CHAPPELL
2664635 L/Cpl. CLAY
2656171 L/Cpl. COLEMAN
2656874 Cpl. (A Sgt.) COUCH
2664014 Gdsm. Cox
2661397 Sgt.
CREW
2662444 dsm. CROSSLEY
2657881 L/Cpl. CROUGHAN
2654730 CQMS CRUNDWELL
2665828 L/Cpl. CURRIE
2658840 Cpl.
DAVIS
2653671 L/Sgt. DAWSON
2660024 Gdsm. DEAN
2655049 Cpl.
DENNIS
2662408 Gdsm. DILWORTH
4267559 L/Cpl. DIXON
2659082 L/Sgt. DOBINSON
2657916 Gdsm. DODDS
2654745 CSM
DUKES
2653989 CSM
EASTON
2658056 L Cpl. EGGLESTON
2662694 L Cpl. ELLIS
2664484 Gdsm. ELVIN
2664695 L Sgt. ENTWISTLE
2655306 Sgt.
EVANS
2657624 Gdsm.
FAWCETT
A. J.
J. H.
K. C.
W. J.
Desp. (1)
D. H. R. M.M.
A. G. Desp. (1)
A.
D.C.M.
C. E. Desp. (1)
G. D. Desp. (1)
JOEL
JOHNSON
JONES
JOYCE
KEMP
2655948 L/Sgt. KIDD
2653008 PSM
KILBEY
2656056 Gdsm.
KINGSHOTT
2663151 Gdsm.
KNOWLES
2655401 Cpl.(A/Sgt.) LAMB
2662344 L Cpl. LEWIS
2660913 Sgt.
(A C. Sgt.) LILLEY
H. M. M.M. and Bar
G. W. Desp. (1)
S. K. Desp. (1)
R.
Desp. (1)
L. H. B.E.M.,
Desp. (1)
J. H.
M.M.
P. S. Desp. (1)
R. W. Desp. (2)
T.
M.M.
J. G. G. Desp. (I)
N. H. Desp. (1)
E. T.
M.M.,
2659111 Sgt.
LOVELACE
G. V.
E. W.
J. C.
N. J.
T.
G.
C.
J.
F. J.
A. W.
G.
W.F.
E.
R.
J.
H. J.
J. J.
T.
J.
J.
Η. Η.
F. E.
G.
J. T.
T.
G. C.
S. S.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
M.M.
Desp. (1)
M.M.
M.M.
M.M.
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
Desp. (I
Desp. (1)
M.M.
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1
Desp. (1)
Desp. (I
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Posthumous
M.M.,
Desp. (1)
Ea
2658576 Cpl.
LUSH
2662265 L/Sgt. LUTY
2662786 A/Sgt. LYTHGOE
2657269 L/Sgt. McDERMOTT
2657455 L/Sgt. MACDOUGAL
2662170 Sgt.
McKIE
2658325 Gdsm.
MALLORY
2664057 Gdsm.
MANNING
2662166 Sgt.
MARSHALL
2656634 Sgt.
MASTERMAN
2659169 Gdsm.
MASTERS
2663279 L/Sgt.
MEGGITT
2655658 Sgt.
MELBOURN
2665463 Gdsm.
MERRETT
2654787 Gdsm.
MOCKERIDGE
2662503 L/Cpl. MORGAN
2660368 Gdsm. MORRIS
2657317 Gdsm.
MOUNTFORD
2650742 C/Sgt.
(AWO II) MULDOWNEY
A. W.
A.
A. W.
B.
G. H.
G. C.
H.
F. W.
R. Ꮤ.
G. T.
C. C.
H.
R. W.
L. R.
F. C.
C. J.
J. H.
J. R.
Desp. (1)
D.C.M.,
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
M.M.
Desp. (1)
M.M.
Desp. (1)
M.M.
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
Desp (1)
M.M,
M.M.
Desp. (1)
M.M.
2665028 L Sgt.
FERRIS
E. R.
C.
M.M.
327
C6
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
+
Award
Desp. (2)
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
Regtl. No. Rank
2663694 Gdsm.
2655041 L/Sgt.
2659624 L/Cpl.
Name
SNELLING
SOWDEN
SPENCER
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
2659382 A/Sgt. MULHALL
2662316 A/Sgt. NEWTON
3598381 L/Sgt. NIXON
2657166 L/Sgt. O'ROURKE
2661071 L/Cpl. PEA
2658889 L/Cpl. PEACOCK
2657293 Sgt.
(A/WO II) PENFOLD
2661574 L/Sgt. PHILLIPS
2653685 L/Cpl. PICKFORD
2659918 LCpl. POOLE
2652904 OROMS PORT
2655718 PSM
PORTER
2658002 Gdsm.
PULLAN
2659896 Gdsm. PURPLE
2662342 L/Cpl. RACKETT
2654213 Sgt.
RAE
2660174 Gdsm. RAMSAY
2657007 RSM
RAMSDEN
.
LESBIS Beit HELLORAS BACHE JOB Nichord
M. J. Desp. (1)
P. V. Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
M.M.
H. L. C. Desp. (1)
F. R. Desp. (1)
Desp. (I)
G. F. J. Desp. (I)
F. C. Desp. (1)
H. S. Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
M.C.,
Desp. (2)
W. Desp. (1)
D.C.M.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
14316209 Gdsm.
2653415 PSM
2655602 L/Sgt.
2658730 L/Sgt.
2659536 Gdsm.
2656614 Sgt.
2663079 Gdsm.
2656190 L/Sgt.
2657931 Sgt.
2657935 Sgt.
2654714 Sgt.
2039628 Gdsm.
2656974 Sgt.
2667736 L/Sgt.
2655409 Sgt.
Award
J.
M.M.
J. F.
Desp. (1)
G. K.
M.M.,
Desp. (1)
A. J. Desp. (1)
R. L. M.M.
G. A. Desp. (1)
G. H. M.M.
F.
Desp. (1)
W. H. M.M.
J. J. Desp. (1)
R.
M.M.
H. J.
D.C.M.
J. H. Desp. (1)
A.
Desp. (2)
D. G. J. Desp. (1)
J. L.
D.C.M.
W. G. M.M.
G. N. Bronze Star
(American),
Desp. (1)
M.M.
SPICER
STANNARD
STOCKTON
STONEMAN
STOVES
STRACHAN
STRAHAND
SUMNER
SWEET
TELFORD
THOMAS
THOROGOOD
TOOLE
TOZER
TROUT
A. J.
TURNER
2654578 Sgt.
RANGE
2658372 L/Sgt. RAYNOR
2655901 Gdsm. READING
2651807 Gdsm. RICHARDSON
2661151 Gdsm.
RIGBY
2656281 Sgt.
(A/WO II) RILEY
2659878 Gdsm. ROBBINS
2657131 Gdsm. ROBERTS
2657805 Gdsm. ROBERTS
2650815 RSM ROWLANDS
2657315 Sgt.
SAVORY
2656747 Gdsm. SCHOLES
2654058 Sgt.
SHARPLES
2658349 Gdsm. SIMPSON
2657713 Gdsm. SIMPSON
2654727 CSM
SMITH
2662135 CSM
SMITH
2656975 C/Sgt.
(A/WO II) Smy
C. G. G. D.C.M.
M.M.
J. W. Desp. (1)
W. Desp. (1)
Desp. (3)
Desp. (2)
D. J. Desp. (1)
G. C. D.C.M.
J. D. M.M.
M.M.
M.B.E.
Desp. (1)
5382505 Cpl.
(A/Sgt.)
2660979 Gdsm.
2653717 CSM
2654940 Sgt.
2656967 Gdsm.
2660536 L/Cpl.
2660183 Gdsm.
2664930 L/Cpl.
2658252 L/Cpl.
2654977 Sgt.
2660997 L/Cpl.
2657298 Gdsm.
2663077 L/Sgt
2659991 Gdsm.
TYSON
WALKER
E.
WARD
WEATHERSTONE L.
WELLS
WESTON
WHITE
J. W.
WHITE
R.
WHITEHEAD F.
WILLIAMS R. A.
WOOD
E.
WOODHEAD R
WOODHOUSE H. R.
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Desp. (1)
M.M.
Desp. (1)
M.M.
M.M.
M.M.
Desp. (1)
M.M.
M.M.
M.M.
Desp. (1)
Posthumous
M.B.E.
M.M.
C. L.
2651461 RSM
2660216 Sgt.
WOODMANSEY
YOUNG
W. H.
E. W.
D.C.M.
328
THE ROLL OF HONOUR
OFFICERS
2nd and 3rd Battalions Coldstream Guards
Theatre
MEF
CMF
BEF
BEF
BNAF
BNAF
CMF
CMF
CMF
BEF
BEF
BEF
BNAF
Rank and Name
Date
Lt.-Col. T. BEVAN
12.6.42
Lt.-Col. D. W. A. W. FORBES,
13.11.43
M.C.
Major A. McCORQUODALE
1.6.40
Major E. T. WYATT
2.6.40
Major the Hon. A. P. S. CHICHESTER 23.12.42
Major M. D. H. WILLS, M.C. 16-17.3.43
Major the Hon. M. V. BRODRICK, 10.9.43
M.C.
Major J. G. C. CLARK
14.12.43
Major R. C. ALDERSON
10.6.44
Captain C. N. FANE
21.5.40
Captain E. L. GIBBS
1.6.40
Captain R. T. COMBE
2.6.40
Captain Sir JOHN H. PIGOTT-
25.12.42
BROWN, Bt.
Captain R. J. M. HARLEY
14.9.43
Lt. the Hon. E. F. V. BOSCAWEN 20.5.40
Lt. (QM) F. J. McGEE
15.9.40
Lt. J. LLEWELLYN-PALMER, M.C. 16.6.41
L:. R. J. S. LUCAS
20.6.41
Lt. S. STOBART
6.6.42
Lt. A. DRUMMOND-HAY
13.7.42
Lt. the Hon. R. B. GURDON
13.7.42
Lt. T. F. COLVILLE
25.12.42
Lt. J. A. PONSONBY
25.12.42
Lt. 0. O. BREAKWELL
16-17.3.43
Lt. G. H. B. SOWTER
29.3.43
Lt. J. H. CHAWORTH-MUSTERS
12.4.43
Lt. H. W. SARSONS
4.5.43
Lt. A. B. WILLIAMSON
4.5.43
Lt. A. N. WATNEY
I5.5.43
Lt. P. J. STILWELL
15.5.43
Lt. J. H. C. VENABLES
2.9.43
Rank and Name
Lt. E. S. SKINNER
Lt. J. LONGUEVILLE
Lt. J. JORY
Lt. the Hon. D. H. JOICEY
Lt. R. W. O. GUNN
Lt. L. S. BUXTON
Lt. A. R. McDOUGALL
Lt. C. H. TUKE
Lt. J. E. HAMILTON
Lt. A. P. STILWELL
Lt. F. M. HILTON-GREEN
Lt. T. R. E. JACKSON
Lt. H. H. SPENCER
Lt. P. M. GALE
Lt. A. D. TRENCHARD-Cox
Lt. J. G. T. JONES
Lt. N. T. D. GARDNER
Lt. R. P. J. PERROTT
Lt. B. R. RUDD, M.C.
Li. P. J. Q. SHULDHAM
Lt. J. H. LUMLEY
Lt. A. B. M. LONG
Lt. P. A. W. VICKERY
Lt. Sir Peter WILLS, Bt.
Lt. C, P. WHALEY
Lt. G. E. C. PAGE
Date
11.9.43
14.9.43
25.9.43
25.9.43
25.9.43
30.9.43
19.10.43
6.11.43
7.12.43
18.12.43
9.2.44
10.2.44
28.5.44
21.6.44
24.6.44
30.6.44
22.7.44
4.8.44
7.8.44
31.10.44
6.12.44
12.1.45
18.4.45
19.4.45
19.4.45
25.5.45
CMF
BEF
MEF
MEF
MEF
MEF
MEF
MEF
BNAF
BNAF
BNAF
BNAF
BNAF
BNAF
BNAF
BNAF
BNAF
CMF
Theatre
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
CMF
India.
(Evacuated
from CMF)
BEF
BEF
At sea
MEF
MEF
MEF
2nd Lt. C. A. BLACKWELL
2nd Lt. R. D. E. SPEED
2nd Lt. J. F. BOUGHEY
2nd Lt. W. A. R. CODRINGTON
2nd Lt. A. C. O. MAGNIAC
2nd Lt. R. R. BARNES
1.6.40
1.6.40
31.8.40
14.3.41
27.5.41
20.6.42
WARRANT OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED
OFFICERS AND MEN
2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards
Date Theatre
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
2653717 D/Sgt. WALKER
2657004 CSM
CALLAGHAN
2657953 CSM LYNCH
2654811 CSM MANDERS
2654838 CSM
POTTER
2655633 CSM
WILMHURST
2653732 PSM
COURT
5098453 PSM DANCE
2656884 CQMS BURNETT
2655394 COMS FENWICK
4685806 CQMS NEWSOME
2653922 Sgt. BECKETT
2653638 Sgt. CROFT
2658809 Sgt. DALTON
E. 14.4.44
T. 25.12.42
D. 25.12.42
A. 8.5.44
C. 4.3.43
B. 21.2.43
F. 21.5.40
G. 1.6.40
J. 21.5.40
J. 14.5.40
F. 1.2.43
W. 1.6.40
A. 10.2.45
H. 25.12.42
Italy
N. Africa
N. Africa
Italy
N. Africa
N. Africa
BEF
BEF
BEF
BEF
N. Africa
BEF
Italy
N. Africa
Regtl. No. Rank
2655609 Sgt.
2654396 Sgt.
2655287 Sgt.
2654708 Sgt.
2654971 Sgt.
2656500 Sgt.
2658576 Sgt.
2658494 Sgt.
2655658 Sgt.
821140 Sgt.
2657561 Sgt.
2659089 Sgt.
2655395 Sgt.
2658371 Sgt.
Name
ESCOTT
GEORGE
HARDWICK
JACKMAN
KING
LITTLE
LUSH
MASSEY
MELBOURN
NEWTON
NOBES
ROBSON
RODGERS
SCOTT
Date Theatre
B. 31.5.40
BEF
A. 26.4.43 N. Africa
E. 1.6.40
BEF
J. 14.4.45 Italy
J. 9.6.44 Italy
G. 16.9.44
Italy
A. 25.12.42
N. Africa
J. 23–25.12.42 N. Africa
R. 10.6.44 Italy
S. 31.5.40
BEF
J. 25.12.42
N. Africa
E. 17.2.44 Italy
C. 4.1.43
N. Africa
J. 4.10.44 Italy
329
GNO DISHONOURABLE NAME', '
Italy
Italy
Italy
4
Italy
Italy
.
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
Date
Theatre
2657931 Sgt. SWEET (D.C.M.) H. 3.2.43
N. Africa
2654574 Sgt. WAKEFIELD
E. 12.9.40 England
2655442 Sgt. WHITE
A. 7.9.39 England
2661348 L/Sgt. ARLINGTON J. 23.2.44
2662188 L/Sgt. BLOOMER
C. 11.2.44
2661728 L/Sgt. BooCOCK
J. 24-25.12.42 N. Africa
2664594 L/Sgt. DAGNAN
P. 18.4.45
5618251 L/Sgt. DRAKE
D. 24-25.12.42 N. Africa
3855775 L/Sgt. FINCH
W. 25.12.42
N. Africa
2659640 L/Sgt. FORTH
S.
14.2.44
Italy
2659865 LSgt. GREEN
R. 17.2.44 Italy
2655881 L/Sgt. GREY
J. 10.4.43
N. Africa
2657873 L/Sgt. GREIG
T. 1.6.40
BEF
2660830 L/Sgt. GUEST
E. 28.5.44
Italy
2663539 L/Sgt. HANCOX
A. 16.9.44
Italy
2656693 L/Sgt. HODGSON
H. 10.4.43
N. Africa
2657989 L/Sgt. HUNTER
R. 23-24.5.40 BEF
2660379 L/Sgt. HUTCHINSON A. 26.4.43
N. Africa
2665355 L/Sgt. JARVIS
N. 23.4.45
Italy
2662006 L/Sgt. LEWIS
G. 18.2.44
Italy
2657377 L/Sgt. LIGHT
9.12.39
BEF
2656380 L/Sgt. MELLESS
J.
8.5.44 Italy
2658879 L/Sgt. OAKLEY
H. 10.2.44
2658022 L/Sgt. PATTERSON J. 26.4.43
N. Africa
2663299 L/Sgt. PEACOCK
T. 23.4.45
Italy
4104582 L/Sgt. PILLINER
W. 26.4.43
N. Africa
2660683 L/Sgt. PoWNALL
J.
1.2.43
N. Africa
2656954 L/Sgt. ROBINSON
G. 18.4.45
2659165 L/Sgt. SAYERS
W. 11.2.44
Italy
2660403 L/Sgt. SCRIMINGER E.
25.12.42
N. Africa
2659762 L/Sgt. SIMMONS
R. 4.9.44
Italy
2660650 L/Sgt. THOMAS
W. 28.2.43
N. Africa
2657949 L/Sgt. WALKER
J. 7.12.44
Italy
2654563 L/Sgt. WARREN
H. 2.6.40
BEF
2659634 L/Sgt. WILKINSON
E. 26.4.43
N. Africa
2659418 L/Sgt. YOUNGMAN
L. 16.9.44 Italy
14582410 LCpl. AYERS
F. 18.4.45
Italy
2658380 L Cpl. BIRD
S. 21.6.44 Italy
2653483 L/Cpl. BOWERY
S.
29.5.40
BEF
409812 L/Cpl. BOWLES
G. 20.4.40
BEF
2655573 L Cpl. BROAD
W. 21.2.43
N. Africa
2662881 L/Cpl. BROWN
J. 24.2.44
2663181 L Cpl. BUTTERY
F.
23.4.45 Italy
2659127 LCpl. CAREY
F. 10.2.44
Italy
2662937 L/Cpl. CARTER
F. 26.6.44 Italy
2661723 L/Cpl. CURRELL
V. 21.4.44
Italy
4687721 L/Cpl. DEAN
G. 21.5.40
BEF
2661742 L/Cpl. DEAN
J. 4.3.43
N. Africa
2662568 L/Cpl. DOCKER
H. 10.2.44
Italy
2082186 L/Cpl. DONNELLY W. 15.8.44 Italy
2658985 LCpl. DUGMORE J. 23.12.42
N. Africa
2658940 L/Cpl. EDWARDS
J.
6.10.44
Italy
2658255 L/Cpl. ELMS
W. 10.6.44
Italy
2660209 LCpl. FORREST
J. 25.12.42
N. Africa
2666261 L/Cpl. FOZZARD
T. 6.4.45
Italy
2656266 L/Cpl. GAMBLE
L. 23–24.5.40 BEF
2658961 L/Cpl. GREEN
C. 1.2.43
N. Africa
2659617 L/Cpl. HALL
S. 20.2.43
N. Africa
2661704 L/Cpl. HAMMOND
D. 28.2.43
N. Africa
2664337 L/Cpl. HAWKSHAW J. 25.12.42
N. Africa
4448754 L/Cpl. HAWTHORN J. 2.6.40 BEF
2667642 L/Cpl. HOWE
E.
23.4.45 Italy
2657708 LCpl. ISITT
G. 11.6.44 Italy
2662341 L/Cpl. IVIN
R. 4.3.43
N. Africa
2659642 L/Cpl. JONES
S. 9.5.43
N. Africa
2656840 LCpl. KERR
L. 25.12.42
N. Africa
2658793 L/Cpl. LAWLESS
F. 21.5.40
BEF
2660110 L/Cpl. MOVLEY
J. 19.2.44 Italy
2658798 L/Cpl. NEVETT
H. 8.1.40
BEF
4746913 L/Cpl. NUNNS
J. 9.2.44
Italy
2658442 L/Cpl. PATTENDEN A. 25.12.42
N. Africa
2658810 L/Cpl. REAY
R. 1-30.6.40 BEF
2665594 LCpl. RENWICK
T. 18.4.45 Italy
2660134 L/Cpl. ROTHERY
Ç. 18.2.44
Italy
2656304 L/Cpl. SHEWAN
S. 12.9.40
U.K.
2659689 L/Cpl. WALKER
J. 25.12.42
N. Africa
2662093 L/Cpl. WILBY
R. 4.10.44
Italy
4747404 Gdsm. ALLCROFT
F. 30.5.40
BEF
2666025 Gdsm. ALLEN
R. 10.6.44 Italy
2660033 Gdsm. ALLSOP
J. 25.12.42
N. Africa
2660394 Gdsm. ALLSOPP
H. 6.10.44 Italy
2664883 Gdsm. ALTOFT
C. 18.4.45
Italy
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
2661107 Gdsm. ANDREWS
2666127 Gdsm. ASHURST
2660098 Gdsm. BAILEY
2660041 Gdsm. BALL
178221 Gdsm. BARKER
2658864 Gdsm. BARTLETT
2664101 Gdsm. BENNETT
2655372 Gdsm. BENNETT
2655701 Gdsm. BENNETT
2661209 Gdsm. BEVERIDGE
2666067 Gdsm. BINGHAM
1725402 Gdsm. BINGLE
2659631 Gdsm. BIRD
2665493 Gdsm. BIRRELL
2660188 Gdsm. BISSELL
1555037 Gdsm. BLAKEMORE
2658448 Gdsm. BRAND
2655488 Gdsm. BRIDGLAND
2661711 Gdsm. BRISCOE
2662043 Gdsm. BROOKS
2664553 Gdsm. BROWN
2664067 Gdsm. BROWN
863407 Gdsm. BROWN
2667486 Gdsm. BROWN
2663696 Gdsm. BULL
2666488 Gdsm. BULMER
2655112 Gdsm. BURDEN
2660428 Gdsm. BUTLER
2654876 Gdsm. CADDY
2661733 Gdsm. CALVERT
2657890 Gdsm. CAMPION
2653983 Gdsm. CARDALL
2659646 Gdsm. CARLBERG
2659423 Gdsm. CARSWELL
4546878 Gdsm. CARR
2653937 Gdsm. CARR
2654833 Gdsm. CENEY
2664629 Gdsm. CHANT
2662354 Gdsm. CHAPPELL
2658847 Gdsm. CLARKE
2664361 Gdsm. CLATWORTHY
2661000 Gdsm. CLAYTON
2664469 Gdsm. CLEWES
2664703 Gdsm. CONSIDINE
2659764 Gdsm. Cook
2658426 Gdsm. Cook
2659090 Gdsm. COOPE
2660410 Gdsm. COSTER
2659939 Gdsm. COULSON
2665875 Gdsm. COVINGTON
2659626 Gdsm. CROSSLAND
2658560 Gdsm. CROWTHER
2661806 Gdsm. CUTTS
1535796 Gdsm. DAGNALL
2660593 Gdsm. DALTON
2658254 Gdsm. DALZELL
2664373 Gdsm. DANIEL
2660585 Gdsm. DAVIES
2661313 Gdsm. DAVISON
2653349 Gdsm. DAWSON
2667297 Gdsm. DEAN
2661622 Gdsm. DeARDEN
14589859 Gdsm. DRANE
2658601 Gdsm. DYE
2658835 Gdsm. EDGE
2655592 Gdsm. EDMONDSON
2667287 Gdsm. EDRIDGE
858644 Gdsm. EDWARDS
2662703 Gdsm. ELDRIDGE
2664819 Gdsm. ELLIOTT
2659709 Gdsm. ELLIOTT
2664782 Gdsm. ELSWORTH
2664744 Gdsm. EMMERSON
2663544 Gdsm, EVERETT
2659531 Gdsm. FAIRBAIRN
2656915 Gdsm. FIELD
2658878 Gdsm. FITTOCK
2662482 Gdsm. FOOTE
2666117 Gdsm. FORD
2658418 Gdsm. FORSTER
2662614 Gdsm. FOSTER
2663363 Gdsm. FOULKES
Date
Theatre
F. 10.4.43
N. Africa
A. 23.4.45
Italy
L. 26.4.43
N. Africa
A. 18.4.45
Italy
F. 4.10.44
Italy
T. 21.5.40
BEF
E. 27.6.44 Italy
J. 1.6.40 BEF
T. 21.5.40
BEF
J. 10.2.44
Italy
B. 18.4:45
Italy
G. 23.4.45
Italy
F. 4.10.44
Italy
W. 22.10.44
Italy
F. 14.4.43
N. Africa
A. 23.4.45
Italy
R. 31.5.40
BEF
J. 25.12.42
N. Africa
J. 10.6.44 Italy
L. 27.6.44
Italy
A. 9.2.44
Italy
G. 22.10.44
Italy
J. 26.4.43
N. Africa
R. 24.4.45
Italy
A. 23.12.42
N. Africa
G. 31.1.45 Italy
A. 23-25.12.42 N. Africa
W. 17.2.44
Italy
H. 31.5.40
BEF
J. 17.2.44 Italy
J. 1.2.43
N. Africa
A. 19.2.44
Italy
C. 28.5.44 Italy
J. 27.4.43
N. Africa
A. 1.9.43
N. Africa
G. 22.5.40
BEF
R. 23–24.5.40 BEF
H. 28.5.44
Italy
H. 26.4.43
N. Africa
J. 10.2.44 Italy
J. 24-25.12.42 N. Africa
H. 8.6.43
N. Africa
A. 20.2.44
Italy
15.7.44 Italy
E. 12.12.42 N. Africa
T. 23–25.12.42 N. Africa
B. 21.5.40
BEF
E. 24-25.12.42 N. Africa
T. 25.12.42
N. Africa
T. 10.6.44 Italy
S. 18.4.45
Italy
W. 2.4.43
N. Africa
L. 31.8.43
N. Africa
F.
19.4.45 Italy
L. 1.2.43 N. Africa
A. 25.12.42
N. Africa
H. 27.6.44
Italy
S. 24-25.12.42 N. África
H. 4.3.43
N. Africa
H. 19.2.44
Italy
L. 19.4.45 Italy
H. 20.3.45
Italy
D. 7.11.44
Italy
D. 1.6.40
BEF
T. 27.12.42
N. Africa
J. 1.6.40 BEF
F. 19.4.45 Italy
N. 1.6.40
BEF
A. 23.4.45
Italy
I. 10.6.44 Italy
Z. 19.2.43 N. Africa
H. 26.4.43
N. Africa
C. 26.4.43
N. Africa
K. 4.3.43
N. Africa
G. 21.2.43
N. Africa
A. 4.3.43
N. Africa
F. 7.5.44
Italy
R. 22.1.45
Italy
D. 27.4.45
Italy
N. 24.12.42
N. Africa
H. 10.2.44
Italy
G. 26.4.43
N. Africa
Italy
W.
.
330
23-24.5.40 BEF
W.
Regil. No. Rank
Name
2652674 Gdsm. FURSEMAN
2662233 Gdsm. GARRATLEY
2659051 Gdsm. GARRATT
2661314 Gdsm. GARWOOD
2666172 Gdsm. GINGELL
2663049 Gsm. GLEEN
2663226 Gdsm. GOMM
2656333 Gdsm. GOOCH
2658880 Gdsm. GRAHAM
2664254 Gdsm. GRAVES
I1053000 Gdsm. GREEN
2665816 Gdsm. GREEN
2666761 Gdsm. GROVE
2659206 Gdsm. HALL
2665575 Gdsm. HANSFORD
2568087 Gdsm. HARPER
2655360 Gdsm. HARRIS
2653794 Gdsm. HARRIS
2658916 Gdsm. HASMAN
2662902 Gdsm. HATTON
2658069 Gdsm. HAZELL
2662989 Gdsm. HEATH
2663220 Gdsm. HEEL
2660136 Gdsm. HERD
2664103 Gdsm. HEWETT
2658549 Gdsm. HINCHCLIFFE
2664649 Gdsm. HINDLE
2664511 Gdsm. HODGKINSON
2660639 Gdsm. HOLDER
407267 Gdsm, HOLDOM
2658526 Gdsm. HOLLAND
2663090 Gdsm. HOLMES
2657829 Gdsm. HOLROYD
2658066 Gdsm. HORTON
2665760 Gdsm. HOUGHTON
2661069 Gdsm. HOWARD
2664481 Gdsm. Howe
2662417 Gdsm. HOWELL
2658670 Gdsm. HUDSON
2663377 Gdsm. HUDSON
2657158 Gdsm. HUDSPITH
2658827 Gdsm. HUNT
4451777 Gdsm. HUTCHINSON
2663448 Gdsm. ISTED
2658828 Gdsm. JEFFERSON
2662551 Gdsm. JONES
2654087 Gdsm. JONES
2665802 Gdsm. JONES
2667623 Gdsm. KNIGHT
2658854 Gdsm. KNOWLES
2658613 Gdsm. LAIGNEL
w
THE ROLL OF HONOUR
Date Theatre Regtl. No. Rank
Name
H. 24.12.42
N. Africa
2660120 Gdsm. OUTRAM
R. 23.12.42
N. Africa
2663308 Gdsm. PAINE
A. 25.12.42
N. Africa 2656888 Gdsm. PARSISSON
H. 4.3.43
N. Africa
2655989 Gdsm. PATTERSON
L. 16.4.45
Italy
2658713 Gdsm. PATTINSON
L. 7.8.44
Italy
2665846 Gdsm. PAULL
W. 9.5.43
N. Africa
4802012 Gdsm. PAY
F. 1.6.40
BEF
2666019 Gdsm. PEMBERTON
J. 22.5.40
BEF
2659905 Gdsm. PERKS
R. 25.12.42
N. Africa
4610567 Gdsm. PICKETT
H. 20.3.45
Italy
2659109 Gdsm. PILBEAN
W, 26.6.44 Italy
2661308 Gdsm. PITT
R. 19.4.45
Italy
2663735 Gdsm. PITTAM
C. 28.5.44
Italy
2655233 Gdsm. PRATT
W. 18.4.45
Italy
875608 Gdsm. PRESCOTT
C. 4.6.40
BEF
2658817 Gdsm. PURDUE
R. 13.6.40
BEF
2663057 Gdsm. PYKE
W. 25.12.42
N. Africa
2658853 Gdsm. QUANT
L. 1.6.40
BEF
2666294 Gdsm. QUINEY
H. 16.3.44
Italy
2666184 Gdsm. QUINNELL
C. 31.5.40
BEF
2663667 Gdsm. RAYNER
S.
4.10.44
Italy
2667671 Gdsm. REEVE
1.2.43
N. Africa
2659971 Gdsm. RICHARDSON
J. 24-25.12.42 N. Africa
2665334 Gdsm. RILEY
A. 7.8.44
Italy
2664918 Gdsm. Rose
J. 6.6.40 BEF
2666297 Gdsm. ROSEBLADE
W. 19.2.43
N. Africa
2659555 Gdsm. RUBERY
T. 24-25.12.42 N. Africa 2667521 Gdsm. SANDERS
G. 7.3.44
Italy
2663281 Gdsm. SELLERS
J. 21.5.40
BEF
2665787 Gdsm. SELLEY
P. 9.2.44
Italy
2655565 Gdsm. SEYMOUR
H. 25.12.42
N. Africa
2659815 Gdsm. SHARPE
J. 25.12.42 N. Africa
2663242 Gdsm. SHERWOOD
C. 23-24.5.40 BEF
2656841 Gdsm. SHIPLEY
C. 9.12.44
Italy
2655675 Gdsm. SHUFFLEBOTTOM
T. 14.4.45
Italy
2663740 Gdsm. SMALLMAN
W. 26.2.44 Italy
2654938 Gdsm. SMITH
A. 20.3.45
Italy
2659974 Gdsm. SMITH
M. 24.5.40
BEF
2663208 Gdsm. SMITH
W. 3.8.44
Italy
2666358 Gdsm. SMITH
W. 21.5.40
BEF
2655756 Gdsm. SMITH
H. 20.5.40
BEF
2666552 Gdsm. SMITH
W. 4.3.43
N. Africa
5960947 Gdsm. SMITH
D. 10.6.44 Italy
2655882 Gdsm. SOPER
T. 26.4.43
N. Africa
2665795 Gdsm. STEPHENS
H. 7.8.44
Italy
2657939 Gdsm. STERRIKER
R. 21.5.40
BEF
2667475 Gdsm. STEVEN
T. 23.4.45
Italy
2666244 Gdsm. STIRLING
H. 23.4.45
Italy
2654788 Gdsm. STOKOE
H. 21.5.40
BEF
F. between BEF
28.5.40 and
2657894 Gdsm. STREETING
1.6.40
2658206 Gdsm. SUMNER
A. 21.5.40
BEF
2660211 Gdsm. SURTEES
23.12.42 N. Africa
2661581 Gdsm. SYMONS
19.2.44 Italy
2658366 Gdsm. TATLER
7.2.45
Italy
2653853 Gdsm. TAYLOR
5.3.44 Italy
2665763 Gdsm. TAYLOR
R. 11.6.43
N. Africa
2659691 Gdsm. THOMPSON
20.2.44 Italy
2654642 Gdsm. TILLOTSON
1.2.43
N. Africa
2667459 Gdsm. TRERISE
H. 20.3.45
Italy
2656493 Gdsm. TURNBULL
A. 23.12.42
N. Africa
2660130 Gdsm. TURNER
R. 28.5.44
Italy
2660342 Gdsm. UNSWORTH
H. 10.2.44
Italy
2652944 Gdsm. WADKIN
J. 27.6.44 Italy
2662302 Gdsm. WALKER
A. 26.4.43
N. Africa
2658568 Gdsm. WARD
W. 25.4.44
Italy
2660563 Gdsm. WARWICK
F. 1.2.43
N. Africa
2662822 Gdsm. WATERHOUSE
4.10.44 Italy
2663627 Gdsm. WATKINS
S. 25.12.42
N. Africa 2659637 Gdsm. WATTS
Ꮤ.
4.10.44
Italy
2661412 Gdsm. WESTBROOK
L. 10.6.44 Italy
2661891 Gdsm. WHARTON
A. 17.2.44
Italy
2658163 Gdsm. WHITE
26.4.43 N. Africa
2658556 Gdsm. WILSON
T. 18.2.40
BEF
4610413 Gdsm. WOLFENDEN
E. 31.5.40
BEF
2657294 Gdsm. WOOD
R. 22.10.44
Italy
2660576 Gdsm. WOOLFORD
D. 18.4.45
Italy
2663855 Gdsm. WRIGHT
E. 20.2.43
N. Africa
2657075 Gdsm. WRIGLESWORTH
J. 28.5.44
Italy
2656734 Gdsm. YATES
N. 17.2.44
Italy
K. 7.8.44 Italy
Date
Theatre
W. 17.2.44
Italy
J. 23.4.45
Italy
F. 1.6.40
BEF
R. 28.5.44
Italy
E. 23.12.42
N. Africa
L.
23.4.45
Italy
A. 1.6.40 BEF
E.
19.4.45 Italy
E. 11.2.44 Italy
S. 4.10.44 Italy
C. 20.12.42
N. Africa
H. 20.2.44
Italy
C. 26.6.44 Italy
G. 31.5.40
BEF
N. 19.4.45
Italy
K. 2.6.40 BEF
V. 20.3.44
Italy
S.
A. 19.4.45
Italy
G. 18.1.45
Italy
R. 25.6.44
Italy
R. 18.4.45
Italy
G. 27.6.44 Italy
E. 4.12.44
Italy
C. 28.5.44
Italy
J. 21.4.44
Italy
H. 15.5.43
N. Africa
T. 18.4.45
Italy
G. 13.5.44
Italy
G. 23.4.45
Italy
C. 14.5.40
BEF
W. 12.2.44
Italy
J. 27.4.45
Italy
24.12.42
N. Africa
A. 31.5.40
BEF
W. 24-25.12.42 N. Africa
A. 21.5.40
BEF
A. 10.2.44
Italy
E. 12.2.44
Italy
E. 19.4.45
Italy
J. 21.5.40
BEF
R. 20.4.45
Italy
W. 19.4.45
Italy
J. 17.2.44
Italy
N. 7.10.44
Italy
O. 24.6.40
BEF
J. 19.4.45
Italy
E. 16.8.44 Italy
A. between BEF
10.5.40 and
30.6.40
R. 1.6.40 BEF
G. 1.6.40
BEF
T. 24.12.42
N. Africa
D. 27.4.44
Italy
M. 23.12.42
N. Africa
C. 22.6.44 Italy
E. 18.4.45
Italy
F. 26.4.43
N. Africa
H. 2.6.40
BEF
J. 23.4.45 Italy
J. 26.4.43 N. Africa
H. 25.12.42
N. Africa
H. 17.2.44
Italy
J. 25.12.42 N. Africa
C. 25.12.44
Italy
C. 21.5.40
BEF
J. 23–25.12.42 N. Africa
H. 29.5.44
Italy
C. 21.2.43
N. Africa
F. 23.4.45
Italy
G. 9.5.43
N. Africa
H. 25.12.42
N. Africa
E. 25.11.44
Italy
H. 10.2.44
Italy
E. 4.3.43
N. Africa
I.
19.2.44
Italy
A. 19.2.44
Italy
L. 10.2.44
Italy
R. 19.5.40
BEF
J.
1.6.40
BEF
2658811 Gdsm. LAKE
2658311 Gdsm. LANE
2664370 Gdsm. LANGRICK
2663403 Gdsm. LEAF
2662500 Gdsm. LEWIS
2657374 Gdsm. LOGAN
2659738 Gdsm. LORD
2660802 Gdsm. McCONNELL
2664957 Gdsm. McKEAN
2656130 Gdsm, McRae
2659187 Gdsm. MANNING
2664410 Gdsm. MARSDEN
2663289 Gdsm. MARSH
2663895 Gdsm. MATTHEWS
2653600 Gdsm. MAYCOCK
2664350 Gdsm. MORLEY
2660368 Gdsm. MORRIS
2662504 Gdsm. MORRIS
2664443 Gdsm. MORTON
2666366 Gdsm. MOSELEY
2664339 Gdsm. MOULTON
2661083 Gdsm. NEWBOULD
2654908 Gdsm. NEWTON
2654826 Gdsm. NIXON
2665944 Gdsm. NORBURY
2665409 Gdsm. NORMAN
5772132 Gdsm. NURSE
2661317 Gdsm. OGLE
2661819 Gdsm. O'NEIL
2664353 Gdsm. ORFORD
cresinemici decBanc BCEAVAZY
331
ONO DISHONOURABLE NAME: ',
3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards
EZÉ CACOBS DC Banciare Daimon CCB
Italy
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
Date
Theatre
2656634 D/Sgt. MASTERMAN,
G. 28.4.43
N. Africa
M.M.
2653347 CSM DOXFORD
R. 14.6.42 N. Africa
2651233 CSM HOLBROW
F. 18.1.41
N. Africa
2648591 CSM
MARCHANT G. 27.5.41
N. Africa
2653805 CSM REDDAWAY
W. between N. Africa
18.2.42 and
20.5.42
2657175 CSM SWINN
C. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
3707287 PSM
ARMER (M.M.) A. 6.7.42
N. Africa
6202795 Sgt. BAGGETT
L. II.II.43
Italy
5669993 Sgt. BAKER
H. 12.11.43
Italy
2657202 Sgt. BROE
I. 22.1.44 Italy
2656033 Sgt. CHERREY
R. 1-17.3.43
N. Africa
2663117 Sgt. DENNETT
J. 17.7.44 Italy
2661494 Sgt. DUMFORD
E. 5.6.44
Italy
2658056 Sgt. EGGLESTON(M.M.) F. 8.5.43 N. Africa
2659061 Sgt. GRINDROD A. 31.12.43
Italy
2657295 Sgt. HOWLETT
M. 13.6.42
N. Africa
2651633 Sgt. JOHNSON
K. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2653303 Sgt. KING
J. 27.7.44
Italy
2659053 Sgt. McEvoy
J.
16.9.43
Italy
2658749 Sgt. PAGE
W. 3.8.44
Italy
2657214 Sgt. PRICE
F. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2656968 Sgt. ROWLAND
A. 27.5.42
N. Africa
2658512 Sgt. ROYLE
E. 29.3.43 N. Africa
2657781 Sgt. SOWERBY
H. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2656460 Sgt. STONEHOUSE J. 21.9.43
Italy
2658730 Sgt. STONEMAN (M.M.) G. 23.6.44 Italy
2656846 Sgt. WRIGHT
B. 27.5.41
N. Africa
2656736 L/Sgt. BEASLEY
M. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2657865 L/Sgt. BEDFORD
P. 19.6.42 N. Africa
2658142 L/Sgt. BELL
F. 17.3.43 N. Africa
2657632 L/Sgt. BIRD
L. 25.9.43
Italy
2657780 L/Sgt. BLAND
J. 19.3.43
N. Africa
2658886 L/Sgt. BONAS
C. 18.10.43
2658965 L/Sgt. BRANTHWAITE
A. 23.6.44
Italy
2657230 L/Sgt. BREWIS
R. 25.1.42
N. Africa
2660048 L/Sgt. BROCK
H. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2665388 L/Sgt. CHAMBERLAIN
W. 23.6.44 Italy
2660901 L/Sgt. CHANT
W. 11.9.43
Italy
2662556 L/Sgt. DAVIES
J. 22.1.44 Italy
2656381 L/Sgt. DENTON
J. 30.12.43
Italy
2662847 L/Sgt. DUNN
J. 16-17.3.43 N. Africa
2661133 L/Sgt. FAIRCLOUGH
A. 25.1.44
Italy
869804 L/Sgt. FRANCE
L. 16.4.41
N. Africa
2662561 L/Sgt. GRITTON
W. 10.11.43
Italy
2655791 L/Sgt. HAINSWORTH A. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2656286 L/Sgt. HARRISON
N.' 6.11.43 Italy
2659158 L/Sgt. HARVEY
R. 6.11.43
2657231 L/Sgt. HELEY
A. 16.4.41
N. Africa
2654884 L/Sgt. HIBBERD
A. 21.1.44
Italy
2661292 L/Sgt. HINSON
T. 3.2.44
Italy
2660059 L/Sgt. HOWEY
J. 25.9.43
Italy
2660165 L/Sgt. HURST
F. 8.1.44
4534001 L/Sgt. JEFFREY
A. 16.4.41
N. Africa
2662265 L/Sgt. LUTY (M.M.) A. 22.12.44
Italy
2656602 L/Sgt. MACK
A. 13.11.43
Italy
2664143 L/Sgt. MASON
G. 2.2.44
Italy
2658767 L/Sgt. MCALLISTER
R. 2.10.43
Italy
2657550 L Sgt. McDERMOTT
J. 6.12.41
N. Africa
2662505 L/Sgt. MILLWARD
B. 3.8.44 Italy
2662356 L/Sgt. MOAT
H. 21.1.44
Italy
4388357 L/Sgt. SHIELDS
R. 10.5.42
N. Africa
2658012 L/Sgt. SHUTER
D. 27.3.43
N. Africa
2025651 L; Sgt. SIMPKINS
G. 22.6.44
Italy
2664515 LiSgt. TREVIS
C. 2.7.44
Italy
2657512 L Sgt. TRIMMER
G. 16.4.41
N. Africa
2658285 L Sgt. WALKER
A. 3.1.42
N. Africa
2654827 L/Sgt. WARRIOR
M. 19.12.43
Italy
2656732 LSgt. WOOLMAN
W. 30.12.41
N. Africa
2657670 L Cpl. ADAMS
F. 15.12.40
N. Africa
2658979 L/Cpl. ALLISON
C. II.12.40
N. Africa
2662335 L/Cpl. ATKINS
C. 27.7.44
Italy
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
Date
Theatre
2661721 L/Cpl. AYLOTT
H. 2.10.43
Italy
2659208 L/Cpl. BAILEY
E, 16.4.41
N. Africa
2656611 L/Cpl. BELL
K. 18.4.41 N. Africa
2658319 L/Cpl. BINDING (M.M.) R. 7.12.43 Italy
2663105 L/Cpl. BLACKHAM
R. 25.9.43
Italy
2659452 L/Cpl. BLAYLOCK
A. 28.5.42
N. Africa
2657349 L/Cpl. BOTWRIGHT
P. 7.6.42 N. Africa
2655345 L/Cpl. BURNETT
25.1.44 Italy
2662228 L/Cpl. CANE
C. 2.10.43
Italy
2661556 L/Cpl. CANT
L. 11.9.43
Italy
2664902 L/Cpl. CLARK
W. 8.11.43 Italy
2659368 L/Cpl. COLLIER
19.10.43 Italy
844973 L/Cpl. DELL
11.9.43 Italy
5249820 L/Cpl. EDWARDS
V. 16–17.1.42 N. Africa
2660072 L/Cpl. GIFFORD
R. 7.12.43 Italy
2657383 L/Cpl. GILLARD
S. 22.2.42
N. Africa
7348956 L/Cpl. GREGORY
3.1.44 Italy
2661781 L/Cpl. HARTLEY
F. 4.12.43
Italy
2659107 L/Cpl. HORN
7.4.43
N. Africa
2660862 L/Cpl. HOWARD
L. 28.6.44 Italy
2663617 L/Cpl. HUCKLE
R. 25.9.43
Italy
2654856 L/Cpl. HULSE
21.9.43 Italy
2661763 L/Cpl. JOHNSON
16-17.3.43 N. Africa
2654131 L/Cpl. KILGALLEN
29-30.1.44 Italy
2658897 L/Cpl. MOLESWORTH V. 29-30.1.44 Italy
2663328 L/Cpl. MORGAN
F. IO.11.43
Italy
2664805 L/Cpl. NEAL
D. 21.1.44
Italy
2663633 L/Cpl. NOBLE
3.10.43 Italy
2654493 L/Cpl. PENROSE
C. 14.3.42
N. Africa
2656997 L/Cpl. PEPPER
24.7.40
N. Africa
14212468 L/Cpl. REGAN
G. 27.7.44
Italy
2665969 L/Cpl. RIVERS
S. 23.7.44
Italy
2664171 L/Cpl. ROBERTS
W. 23.6.44
Italy
2660350 L/Cpl. ROBINSON W. 16-17.3.43 N. Africa
2665306 L/Cpl. ROSE
R. 26.7.44
Italy
2656796 L/Cpl. SCOBLING
D. 6.7.42
N. Africa
2664271 L/Cpl. SCOTT
W. 23.1.44
Italy
2665538 L/Cpl. SESSFORD
A. 3.7.44
Italy
2662410 L/Cpl. SHORROCK J. 22.1.44
Italy
26611IO L/Cpl. SIMPSON
F.
18.7.44
Italy
2658282 L/Cp!. SKEATE
R. II.12.40 N. Africa
2663689 L/Cpl. SLEIGHT
R. 25.9.43
Italy
2657880 L/Cpl. SMITH
A.
14.11.43
Italy
870455 L/Cpl. SMITH
W. 26.12.43
Italy
2659979 L/Cpl. SMITH
W. 4.5.44
Italy
2654385 L/Cpl. STANDRING
W. 5.12.43
Italy
2662942 L/Cpl. SUGDEN
I. 21.7.44 Italy
2664332 L/Cpl. SUTTON
W. 5.5.44
Italy
2661967 L/Cpl. THORP
E. 19.10.43
Italy
2666364 L/Cpl. TINSLEY
S. 2.10.44
Italy
4866633 L/Cpl. TWEDDLE
W. 14.9.43
Italy
2662890 L/Cpl. WAY
W. 21.2.44
Italy
2662584 L/Cpl. WEBBER
G. 29–30.1.44 Italy
2657622 L/Cpl. YORK
E. 27.5.41
N. Africa
2666035 Gdsm. ADLAM
C. 26.8.44 Italy
2664149 Gdsm. AINSWORTH T. 30.12.43
Italy
2660894 Gdsm. ALLCOCK
A. 6.12.43
Italy
2662638 Gdsm. ASHCROFT
J. 24.6.44
Italy
2664613 Gdsm. ASHTON
W. 1.8.44
Italy
2661295 Gdsm. ATKINSON
W. 10.6.44
Italy
2662089 Gdsm. AYRE
J. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2665367 Gdsm. BAILEY
C. 25.9.43
Italy
2661463 Gdsm. BARKER
T. 8-9.5.43
N. Africa
2660262 Gdsm. BARRY
A. 28.1.44 Italy
2653423 Gdsm. BARTON
H. 25.9.43 Italy
2655577 Gdsm. BEAN
L. 28.6.44 Italy
2663703 Gdsm. BEANE
E. 25.9.43
Italy
2664170 Gdsm. BEDDALL
H. 23.7.44
Italy
2662268 Gdsm. BEDFORD
H. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2662684 Gdsm. BESWICK
A. between N. Africa
31.10.42 and
14.11.42
2663493 Gdsm. BIDDLECOMBE
G. 9.9.43
Italy
2660258 Gdsm. BIRTLES
F. II.12.40
N. Africa
Italy
Italy
WOOOO
332
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
2666187 Gdsm. BLACKNER
2666598 Gdsm. BOOKER
14253409 Gdsm. BOSTON
2666290 Gdsm. BRADBURY
2662499 Gdsm. BRAGG
2664465 Gdsm. BRIGGS
2660187 Gdsm. BROOKES
2661001 Gdsm. BROOKS
2653411 Gdsm. BROOMHEAD
2664407 Gdsm. BROUGHTON
2657322 Gdsm. BRYANT
2661470 Gdsm. BULLIMORE
2665447 Gdsm. BULMER
2665091 Gdsm. BUNCE
2665638 Gdsm. BURCHELL
2654843 Dmr.
BURROUGHS
5565793 Gdsm. BUTLER
2663223 Gdsm. BUTLER
3454820 Gdsm. BYERS
2657656 Gdsm. CARR
1.2.42 and
2664543 Gdsm. CASH
2663914 Gdsm. CAWTHORNE
2655843 Gdsm. CHAMBERLAIN
2663365 Gdsm. CHANDLER
2658130 Gdsm. CHARLESWORTH
2659959 Gdsm. CHURN
2665561 Gdsm. CLAPHAM
2653406 Gdsm. CLARKE
2658157 Gdsm. CLARKE
2665202 Gdsm. CLAY
2662685 Gdsm. CLEMPSON
2659934 Gdsm. CLIFT
2664651 Gdsm. CLIFTON
2661093 Gdsm. CLOUDER
2666155 Gdsm. CLUES
854578 Gdsm. COCKBURN
2663370 Gdsm. COLDICOTT
2663558 Gdsm. COLE
2664995 Gdsm. COLES
2664674 Gdsm. COLLINSON
2661563 Gdsm. Cook
2665615 Gdsm. Cook
2654372 Gdsm. COOPER
2663704 Gdsm. COPESTAKE
2665196 Gdsm. Cox
2664687 Gdsm. CRADDOCK
14218047 Gdsm. CRUMBIE
2657876 Gdsm. CULSHAW
THE ROLL OF HONOUR
Date Theatre
Regti. No. Rank
Name
A. 27.7.44
Italy
4126062 Gdsm. GARLINGTON
F. II.II.44
Italy
2663149 Gdsm. GELDER
G. 30.12.43
N. Africa
2666197 Gdsm. GIBBON
L. 14.12.44
Italy
2656626 Gdsm. GIBSON
W. 25.9.43
Italy
2658170 Gdsm. GILLINGHAM
J. 20.4.44 Italy
2665468 Gdsm. GLADDEN
B. 27.5.41
N. Africa
2657716 Gdsm. GODSMARK
R. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa 5721967 Gdsm. GOULD
J. 22.9.43 Italy
2662374 Gdsm. GOULDEN
R. 28.1.44 Italy
2664824 Gdsm. GRAVELING
V. 14.7.42
N. Africa
2663293 Gdsm. GRAVELL
C. 31.10.44
Italy
4122979 Gdsm. GRAY
L. 23.7.44
Italy
2660826 Gdsm. GREGORY
E. 14.9.43 Italy
2661754 Gdsm. GREGORY
F. 18.10.43 Italy
2664573 Gdsm. GRIFFITHS
T. 27.5.41
N. Africa
2662102 Gdsm. GUYLER
E. 31.1.42
N. Africa
2660467 Gdsm. HADGKISS
J. 17.6.42
N. Africa
2664152 Gdsm. HAIGH
E. 8.11.44
Italy
2654383 Gdsm. HALL
E. between N. Africa
2657499 Gdsm. HALL
2657535 Gdsm. HAMMOND
20.5.42
2661874 Gdsm. HARDY
H. 11.9.43
Italy
2664348 Gdsm. HARMS
C. 30.12.43
Italy
2662729 Gdsm. HARRIS
A. II.12.40 N. Africa
6345029 Gdsm. HARRISON
J. 7.4.43
N. Africa
2666199 Gdsm. HART
J. II.12.40
N. Africa
2662378 Gdsm. HEATH
E.
23.9.43
Italy
2666703 Gdsm. HEMINGWAY
N. 6.11.43
Italy
2664601 Gdsm. HENDERSON
J. 11.9.43 Italy
2665775 Gdsm. HIBBARD
R. 8.6.42
N. Africa
2662333 Gdsm. HIGSON
W. 15.11.43
Italy
2661859 Gdsm. HIPKISS
R. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa 6015445 Gdsm. HOBBS
A. 6.12.43
Italy
2660816 Gdsm. HOBBS
J. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2664759 Gdsm. HODGSON
J. 25.9.43 Italy
2661552 Gdsm. HOLLOWAY
D. 23.7.44
Italy
2659125 Gdsm. HOLMES
H. 3.8.44
Italy
2665099 Gdsm. HOLROYD
F.
16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2660786 Gdsm. HOLT
E. 8.12.43 Italy
2660135 Gdsm. HOLYOAKE
W. 28.6.44 Italy
2664401 Gdsm. HOOPER
B. 26.6.44 Italy
2657778 Gdsm. HOPKINS
A. 12.11.43
Italy
2661912 Gdsm. HOPKINS
L. 18.10.43
Italy
2657737 Gdsm. HOPTON
H. 25.9.43
Italy
2659850 Gdsm. HORBURY
S. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
2661482 Gdsm. HORTON
R.
1.9.44
Italy
2661620 Gdsm. HOUSTON
N. 25.9.43
Italy
2657950 Gdsm. HOWARTH
I.
6.12.43
Italy
5733256 Gdsm. HUGHES
H. between N. Africa 14592337 Gdsm. HUNT
2663126 Gdsm. JAMES
20.5.42
2661671 Gdsm. JARMAN
R. between N. Africa 2661503 Gdsm. JEWELL
26.10.42 and
849603 Gdsm. JONES
14.11.42
2663423 Gdsm. JONES
W.
27.1.44
Italy
2665476 Gdsm. KEATES
A. 29–30.1.44 Italy
2664505 Gdsm. KEEN
25.9.43 Italy
2664882 Gdsm. KELLY
B. I1.9.43 Italy
2662949 Gdsm. KENT
R. 5.2.44
Italy
2663454 Gdsm. KERR
D. 19.6.42 N. Africa
2663619 Gdsm. KING
R. 30.12.43
Italy
2665504 Gdsm. KINSMAN
A. 2.7.44
Italy
4456466 Gdsm. KNOX
G. 20.9.43
Italy
2665589 Gdsm. LANCHESTER
C. 27.7.44
Italy
2664775 Gdsm. LEACH
G. 25.6.42 N. Africa
2666228 Gdsm. LEE
C. 6.11.43 Italy
2662164 Gdsm. LEE
F. 25.9.43
Italy
2658467 Gdsm. LEE
A. 13.10.43 Italy
2664570 Gdsm. LEWIN
A. 5.6.42
N. Africa
2662307 Gdsm. LITTLER
J. 22.1.44 Italy
2664632 Gdsm. LLOYD
R. 23.6.42
N. Africa
2657660 Gdsm. LODGE
A. 25.9.43
Italy
14225384 Gdsm. LONGLEY
J. 27.5.41
N. Africa
2664728 Gdsm. LOVELESS
C. 22.9.43
Italy
2655411 Gdsm. LUSCOMBE
J. 19.10.43 Italy
2662139 Gdsm. McCORMACK
J. 7.12.43
Italy
2664161 Gdsm. MACDONALD
S. 2.9.42
N. Africa
2658046 Gdsm. MCKEOWN
F. 30.11.41
N. Africa
2665003 Gdsm. McLEOD
Italy
2658006 Gdsm. MARRIS
H. 19.9.44
Italy
2657809 Gdsm. MARSH
J. 22.6.44 Italy
2659998 Gdsm. MARSTON
Date Theatre
J. 26.5.41
N. Africa
F.
21.9.43
Italy
T. 23.7.44
Italy
J. 24.12.40 N. Africa
D. 21.2.44
Italy
A. 13.11.43
Italy
C. 11.12.40
N. Africa
D. 1.3.44
Italy
J. 25.9.43
Italy
S. 8.10.43
Italy
J.
28.4.43
N. Africa
R. 25.9.43
Italy
L. 30.12.43
Italy
R. 23.7.44
Italy
G. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
R. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
H. 25.9.43
Italy
J. 23.7.44
Italy
A. 23.6.44 Italy
G. 14.11.42
N. Africa
R. 16.4.41
N. Africa
W. 30.5.42
N. Africa
G. 11.9.43
Italy
R. 26.8.44
Italy
E. 12.7.44 Italy
C. 23.7.44
Italy
J. 15.9.43
Italy
R. 10.10.44
Italy
T. 9.9.43
Italy
D. 3.8.44
Italy
R. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
A. 6.11.43 Italy
C. 12.12.44
Italy
G. 10.11.43
Italy
J.
28.11.43 Sicily
E. 27.1.44
Italy
C. II.12.40
N. Africa
J.
16.10.43
Italy
W. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
F. 1.7.42
N. Africa
F. 23.7.44
Italy
C. 27.5.41
N. Africa
J. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
A. 27.6.41 N. Africa
H. 27.5.41
N. Africa
H. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
T. 17.2.45
Italy
G. 5.1.41
N. Africa
J. 20.3.43
N. Africa
F. 8.11.44
Italy
A.
12.11.43 Italy
H. 9.9.43
Italy
G. 11.9.43
Italy
T. 17.1.42
N. Africa
W. 15.11.42
N. Africa
O. 9.11.43
Italy
H. 29.1.44
Italy
J. 25.9.43 Italy
C. 5.12.43
Italy
R. 25.1.44
Italy
W. 19.10.43
Italy
A. 3.2.44
Italy
J. I.1.44 Italy
G. 17.12.44
Italy
K. 24.1.44
Italy
A. 1.7.44
Italy
H. 20.6.42
N. Africa
J. 15.2.42
N. Africa
P. 14.11.43 Italy
G. 22.1.44
Italy
W. 17.10.43
Italy
G. 3.8.41
N. Africa
J. 11.9.43 Italy
E.
16.7.44
Italy
H. 27.5.41
N. Africa
L. 23.1.44
Italy
N. 22.9.43
Italy
A. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
W. 28.6.44 Italy
F. 28.5.42
N. Africa
A. 20.6.42 N. Africa
T. 16.4.41 N. Africa
1.2.42 and
2659096 Gdsm. DALMAN
W.
2664544 Gdsm. DARBY
2657459 Gdsm. DAVIES
2662320 Gdsm. DAVIES
14224832 Gdsm. DAYMAN
2664303 Gdsm. DENBY
2659245 Gdsm. DENTON
2664227 Gdsm. DOBSON
2660158 Gdsm. DODD
2663389 Gdsm. DOUGLASS
2654176 Gdsm. DRAKES
2657570 Gdsm. DUNN
771250 Gdsm. DYSON
2662713 Gdsm. EDKINS
2665523 Gdsm. EDWARDS
2657691 Gdsm. ELLIS
2665755 Gdsm. ELLIS
2656729 Gdsm. ELLISON
2662541 Gdsm. ESPLEY
4687152 Gdsm. ETCHES
2659583 Gdsm. EVANS
2661921 Gdsm. EVANS
2658765 Gdsm. FAIRHURST
2657624 Gdsm. FAWCETT
2661653 Gdsm. FLUX
2661705 Gdsm. FOSTER
2663167 Gdsm. FRODSHAM
2661370 Gdsm. GALLAGHER
W. 2.7.44
333
"NO DISHONOURABLE NAME'
W.
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
2657021 Gdsm. MASEFIELD
2656632 Gdsm. MATTHEWS
2662044 Gdsm. MERRIN
2661897 Gdsm. METCALF
2662250 Gdsm. MITCHELL
2665164 Gdsm. MURRELL
2665698 Gdsm. NEAL
2664737 Gdsm. NEWBURY
2664639 Gdsm. NEWCOMB
2660906 Gdsm. NEWLAND
2657634 Gdsm. NORRIS
2663303 Gdsm. NOYCE
2665854 Gdsm. PAYNE
2658912 Gdsm. PEARSON
2658784 Gdsm. PEARSON
2665326 Gdsm. PERRY
2656370 Gdsm. PHEAR
2658548 Gdsm. PHILLIPS
2661320 Gdsm. PHILP
2664989 Gdsm. PICKERING
2664446 Gdsm. PIKE
2659198 Gdsm. POMEROY
2659687 Gdsm. POPPLE
2663306 Gdsm. POTTS
2662256 Gdsm. PRENTICE
3777183 Gdsm. PRESCOTT
2663938 Gdsm. PRESCOTT
4865206 Gdsm. PRESTON
2663184 Gdsm. PUGSLEY
2665568 Gdsm. PURSGLOVE
1837375 Gdsm. PURVIS
2664363 Gdsm. RAINS
2657795 Gdsm. RATCLIFFE
2656522 Gdsm. RAYBOULD
2658315 Gdsm. RAZZELL
2659841 Gdsm. REED
2663332 Gdsm. REEVES
2657262 Gdsm. RICHARDSON
Date
Theatre
H. 26.5.41 N. Africa
G. 15.5.42
N. Africa
G. 30.12.43
Italy
R. 25.9.43
Italy
A. 30.12.43
Italy
11.9.43
Italy
R. 21.2.44
Regtl. No. Rank
Name
2665241 Gdsm. SMYTHE
2657340 Gdsm. SOULSBY
2662490 Gdsm. SOUTHWORTH
2655772 Gdsm. STAPLEY
2659901 Gdsm. STEELE
2661986 Gdsm. STONE
4271336 Gdsm. TAIT
2665539 Gdsm. TAYLOR
2665820 Gdsm. TAYLOR
2664366 Gdsm. TEMPLE
2659963 Gdsm TENNANT
1425291 Gdsm. TEW
2664692 Gdsm. THOMAS
2657824 Gdsm. THOMAS
2663958 Gdsm. THOMPSON
2662234 Gdsm. THOMPSON
11052133 Gdsm. THOMPSON
2659966 Gdsm. THORPE
2662737 Gdsm. TILLY
2658911 Gdsm. TRAHEARN
2661216 Gdsm. TRICKEY
2664774 Gdsm. TUCKER
2662839 Gdsm. TUCKEY
2657431 Gdsm. TURNBULL
2663455 Gdsm. TURNER
2663005 Gdsm. TYRELL
2666554 Gdsm. VARDEN
2665506 Gdsm. WAINWRIGHT
2661566 Gdsm. WALBRIDGE
4925869 Gdsm. WALDER
2653340 Gdsm. WALTERS
2662084 Gdsm. WALTERS
4343894 Gdsm. WALTON
2658121 Gdsm. WALTON
2659319 Gdsm. WARDLE
2658493 Gdsm. WATTS
2660221 Gdsm. WEBB
2657554 Gdsm. WEST
2664144 Gdsm. WHEELER
2666023 Gdsm. WHITE
2665933 Gdsm. WHITTAKER
2665647 Gdsm. WHITTLE
2662934 Gdsm. WILDE
2659833 Gdsm. WILDERSPIN
2661720 Gdsm. WILKINSON
2665106 Gdsm. WILLIAMS
2657846 Gdsm. WILLIAMSON
2665772 Gdsm. WILLIS
2658290 Gdsm. WILSON
2664459 Gdsm. WILSON
837616 Gdsm. WILTON
2662252 Gdsm. WOMERSLEY
CARIBBEACHÖcuvvvvv ISZLncccccrisicovrijveCce o
Date Theatre
26.8.44 Italy
R. 7.6.42
Italy
L. 3.7.44
Italy
R. 25.7.44
Italy
A. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
E.
10.12.41
N. Africa
A. 4.2.44
Italy
J. 15.9.44 Italy
F. 27-28.5.4. N. Africa
W. 16.4.41
N. Africa
G. 26.6.44
Italy
C. 6.11.43
Italy
T. 16.4.41
N. Africa
K. 2.10.44
Italy
F. 28.7.44
Italy
S. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
D. 14.8.43
Italy
R.
14.5.44
Italy
J.
6.12.43
Italy
T. 16-17.3.43 N. Africa
D. 16.10.43
Italy
R. 10.11.43
Italy
W. 3-4.12.43
Italy
J. 1.7.44
Italy
R. 21.7.44
Italy
J. IS.12.44 Italy
W. 21.9.43
Italy
J. 27.5.41
N. Africa
B. 11.12.40
N. Africa
R.
16.10.43 Italy
H. 21.1.42
N. Africa
W. 19.10.43
Italy
C. 21.10.43
Switzer-
land
(Escaped)
L. 27.5.41
N. Africa
G. 6.12.43
Italy
A. II.12.40
N, Africa
T. 21.9.43
Italy
D. I1.12.40
N. Africa
R. 25.9.43
Italy
E.
3.9.40 N. Africa
F. 2.1.45
Italy
R. 26.9.43
Italy
A.
12.2.41
N. Africa
A. 9.9.43
Italy
C. 26.5.41
N. Africa
J. 17.1.42 N. Africa
H. 20.7.44
Italy
R. 15.6.44
N. Africa
W. 9.7.44
Italy
A. 25.9.43
Italy
D. 9.9.43
Italy
A. 25.1.44
Italy
E. 4.8.44
Italy
F. 31.7.44
Italy
N. Africa
R. I1.12.41
N. Africa
H. 6.1.42
N. Africa
W. 20–24.6.42' N. Africa
W. 28.1.44
Italy
J. IO.10.44 Italy
R. 23.7.44
Italy
S. 30.8.44 Italy
R. 5.12.43
Italy
17.5.42
N. Africa
6.9.44 Italy
G. 25.1.44
Italy
10.3.45
Italy
27.12.44
Italy
11.9.43
Italy
8.11.44
Italy
C. 27.3.43
N. Africa
G. 13.12.44
Italy
C. 25.9.43
Italy
16-17.3.43 N. Africa
A. 7.12.43
Italy
J. 3.1.44 Italy
J. 13.12.40
N. Africa
16–17.3.43 N. Africa
25.9.43 Italy
H. 12.12.44
Italy
29-30.1.44 Italy
N. 22.9.43
Italy
F. 28.2.44
Italy
22.1.44
Italy
10.12.41
N. Africa
A. 23.1.42
N. Africa
R. 15.5.41
N. Africa
S. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
13.6.42 N. Africa
A. 17.6.41
N. Africa
J. 27.5.41
N. Africa
25.9.43
Italy
A. 8.11.44 Italy
G. 3.8.44
Italy
C. 16.10.43 Italy
T. 23.7.44
Italy
K. 16–17.3.43 N. Africa
C. 25.5.42
N. Africa
H. 25.9.43
Italy
A. 23.7.44
Italy
S. 25.9.43
Italy
A. 7.3.43
N. Africa
H. 17.3.43
N. Africa
R. 3.12.42
N. Africa
C. between N. Africa
26.10.42 and
14.11.42
F. 6.11.43
Italy
W. 30.12.43
Italy
H. 28.2.44 Italy
R. 24.7.44
Italy
F. 23.7.44
Italy
G. 1-31.7.42
N. Africa
T. 24.9.43
Italy
5772408 Gdsm. RICHES
2664306 Gdsm. RIPPIN
2657858 Gdsm. ROBINSON
2663336 Gdsm. ROBINSON
2657712 Gdsm. ROBSON
2665459 Gdsm. Rose
2658672 Gdsm. ROSEMURGEY
2665664 Gdsm. RUDDICK
2662443 Gdsm. RUTLAND
2658309 Gdsm. SADLER
2663599 Gdsm. SALTER
2657946 Gdsm. SEAMAN
2658883 Gdsm. SEELEY
2662114 Gdsm. SELLERS
830294 Gdsm. SHAW
2661242 Gdsm. SHAW
2664961 Gdsm. SIMMONDS
2664244 Gdsm. SINGLETON
2665312 Gdsm. SMITH
2663623 Gdsm. SMITH
2662598 Gdsm. SMITH
2656010 Gdsm. Wood
2660987 Gdsm. Wood
2659991 Gdsm. WOODHOUSE
2662609 Gdsm. WOODMAN
2664056 Gdsm. WRIGHT
2658314 Gdsm. YEATES
2664780 Gdsm. YOUNG
334
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
3 9015 10467 3655