Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron Goldstein  Owen
This from the Regimental Diaries of the 49th LAA Rgt relating to that period.
At the time my Bty was the 84th:
On 10 May the CO ordered that Major Bent would return to 90 Bty, 280 Bty was to be placed under command 38 Bde and would move with that bde to a cone area at Presenzano. This move took place on 11 May. At 2300 hrs that night the fire plan opened and assault boats left the east bank of R Rapido. On the 13th 84 Bty, which had been under command 12 AA Bde, came under regt command and BHQ and B and C Tps deployed on Route 6 and A Tp on another section of the route.
On 14 May orders came for 280 Bty to cross the river at 1530 hrs and defend the gun areas of 142 Fd Regt and 12 RHA.
On the 16th A and B Tps 280 Bty crossed the river in the afternoon ana went Into action on the West Bank. There were many movements of gun tps during this period which are almost impossible to follow without detailed maps. The regt generally was supporting the operations to isolate Cassino. One unusual task was the protection of the Cassino Task Force which consisted of bulldozers.
On the 18th Rear RHQ crossed R Rapido and A and B Tps 84 Bty crossed the start line at S Vittore for an unknown destination. On the (T5tf)RHQ moved with HQRA 78 Div to M Vertecchi 90 Btv_encountered some enemy shelling andjhere_were casualties^ Ju 88s were over the area dropping bombs. On the 23rd 1 Cdn Dw attack on Pontecorvo began.
Late on the 23rd the Co was informed that when Aquino was taken rapid advances might be made and that LAA would be needed well forward in case the enemy used aircraft to hinder a swift follow up.
Late on the 25th.A/240 was with 165 Fd Regt H. Bty was to defend gun areas of 132 and 17 Fd Regts and 66 Med Regt with A, B and C Tps respectively. 90 Bty was to move to defend Aquin… 138 Fd Regts with B(A^nd C Tps, respectively. These moves ttyl. place on the 26th.
On the 27th 84 Bty was ordered to use all three tps to defend Route 6 from Aquino to MelnTBridge.
On the 28th all btys were informed that their tps would continue to move with affiliated fd regts.
On the 29th RHQ moved with HQRA to Ceprano, about 15 miles SSE of Frosinone. 84 Bty deployed tps to defend the two bridges over R Liri at Ceprano. There was enemy air activity at this time but not sustained attacks. |
Hi Ron Tom and all thought I would like to add a few comments on the subject of whose contribution was the most significant in the four battles for Monte Cassino it is like saying who had the most troops killed or who had the worst possitions in the various battles it was a joint effort for all concerned and it besmirches the memories to all those that fought in that hell hole niccar