| Part 3
Well we eventually came to Rome, our company was disbanded and i was attached to Headquarters Allied Armies Italy, they gave me a a chevolet truck and my job was too ( as i had mastered a few words of the Italian language) go out to the country side and buy fresh vegetables for the officers mess, this i was pleased at as it gave me lots of freedom. It was during one of these foraging excurtions that i found myself in Anzio only about 12 miles from Rome, that was where a landing party had overcome fierce resistance from the Germans, burnt out Tanks, Lorries and other war material was scattered over miles of the land.
I found out that farmers and peasants who had the goods werent interested in money it had become less valuable during the war, so i got permission to barter with what they wanted.....flour was one thing and petrol was another. That worked out well. Time seemed to be passing quite rapidly, i had been overseas for 4 years and the war was still being fought in Northern Italy. As i was only on detachment to AAI and was still with the Transport Coy when they were ordered to move i had to go with them. This time to a place called Sienna, its a place where they have a annual horse race and sadly to say i wanst there when there was one on. I wasnt in Siennna long before i was called in to see the the C.O. and he told me i was going home under the Python Ruling which meant that nobody should have to serve over 4 and a half years overseas which i had done. So once again i had to see Naples before embarking there on my trip home, the difference this time was that we went through the Mediteranian Sea stopping off at Valetta Malta. The up to the Mersey in Liverpool where after being on the ship for two days we were allowed to make our own way home, a little different to the severn weeks it took us in August 1940 to get to the Middle East. While we were there we swopped one theatre of war for another. I hope this has been of help.....Eddie
Well that concludes my great uncles war in Italy.....sadly in does not mention his time in North Africa, and i feel he is now to frail to write another letter....i will see what happens. I hope you enjoyed reading it...i will post some pics of the man himself.
Donnie |