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The 5th Batt Buffs were a part of the 36th bde of the 78th Div( Battleaxe) which landed in North Africa as part of 1st Army in Nov '42 - they landed - variously in Italy around the 9th at Reggio followed by the main party at or near Termoli /Bari around the 22nd September'43 with 8th Army - capturing the Foggia Airfields soon afterwards. They were involved in many Battles around the Sangro River area before being sent over to the central sector and becoming involved in the Kiwis third battle of Cassino - and the fourth battle as well as the drive through the Liri valley.
After Rome in June '44 they went up the Eastern side of the Appenines with US 5th Army and took part in the battlee of Lago Trasemino before heading for Egypt for rest and refit. Returning to take part in the Gothic Line battles - the Winter Line on the Senio and final breakout in the spring through the Argenta gap to finish up at Trieste before heading for the Occupation of Austria where they were based in Vienna !
The 36th were known as the "fire brigade" as they always seemed to be in the thick of it - somehow - we sometimes thought they just stirred it up !
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