1st Battn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Italy May 1944

Hi,

Researching the wife's granddad and whilst know a few bits and pieces but got some gaps and hoping for help to plug these…… we know he served in North Africa and Sicily, but it's his time in Italy that we're looking for help with…….
relevant details from his service record are:

Name: John Thomas Shaw
Regiment: Was with the 2nd Highland Light Infantry in Italy initially from Sep 1943, but TFD to 1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in Italy from 01-Feb-44.

He was wounded in action on 23 May 1944.

Family stories report that he talked about being involved in the Battle of Monte Cassino…… he was in a bunker with 2 friends when a grenade landed, exploded and killed his two friends - he was uninjured. Also, he used to talk about how he saw many of his friends drown when crossing a river, and it was only a piece of rope he used to drag his kit behind him rather than carry it across that saved his life. From research I assume this river crossing was the Rapido.

Question: Does anyone know where I can find details on the movements of the 2 HLI from Sep 1943 to Feb 1944.

Question: I can't find any decent records on what the 1st A&S H were up to in Italy from Feb to May 1944. I can't get to NRA but any pointers for articles and / or info on their movement and actions during this period would be great.

Question: Can anyone tell me what action he was likely involved in when he was injured… 23 May 1944, 1st A&S H……. I don't know whether it was after the Battle of Cassino or not.

If I've not included stuff that would help you to help me then please shout up.

Cheers.

 

They were in 8th Indian Division.
Have a read of these 2 books online.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_Infantry_Division_%28India%29

http://www.ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Tiger/triumphsTC.html

https://archive.org/details/OneMoreRiver-TheStoryOfThe8thIndianDivision

 

Little bit about the 1st Btn. AS&H, supporting 8th Indian Div. in the Imperial War Museum book, War in Italy 1943-45 by Field Marshal Lord Carver

Para 6, Breakthrough to Rome May to June 1944. Pages 185-187

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, of 19 Brigade, were in a tight spot. This Battalion (the 1st) had crossed the river at a point where it formed the shape of the letter V. All day, the Battalion were hemmed in this V shaped piece of ground, unable to move, the cross fire of automatic small arms pinning them to their slit trenches. They were in an impossible position to push forward and nothing could be done to relieve them during daylight. Under cover of night it was decided to withdraw the Argylls to the east bank of the river, and to push the Battalion across again higher up, at a place where the Punjabis had crossed in the initial assault the night before, and where a bridge now spanned the river.

Artillery support was required to carry out the operation, to keep the enemy quiet and thus allow the Argylls to move. The Battalion had only one assault boat left and the operation was, therefore, painfully slow. Nevertheless, the major portion of the Battalion regained the easterly bank. Arthur was duty "ack" (the Assistant to the Forward Observation Officer on duty) that night and he told me that the guns were firing in support of the Argylls for most of the night. On the night of 11/12 May, the guns fired over five hundred rounds per gun to get the Battalion across the river. On this night, 12/13 May, the guns again fired over five hundred rounds per gun, but this time, it was to get the Battalion back across the river.

Private J Carradice was with the Argylls and wrote this account:

The battle had begun. On reaching the river bank, the Battalion had sustained several casualties. Our company Commanding Officer, Major 'Jock' Hunter, had been killed. Major Scales was severely wounded but his company managed to have him evacuated. Lieutenant McPhee had been killed but Lieutenants Smith and Scott were wounded. It was virtually impossible at that stage to estimate the number of other ranks among the casualties. During the barrage, the Germans had fired smoke bombs into our group making it almost impossible for us to see a hand in front of our faces.

Now things really did begin to go wrong. Our Company had only managed to push eight boats to the water's edge. The other companies did not have much success either. This shortage of boats had made it necessary for many of us to wade across the swift floating river. To add to our increasing difficulties, barbed wire had been placed on the other bank by the enemy. I was with the lucky few who had managed to find a gap in that barbed wire defence. With Lieutenant Lannard, our platoon continued advancing from the river, until, by dawn, we were well into the open valley, in full view of the enemy as they gazed down on our ready-dug trenches. The situation was serious.

B, C and D Companies were still being held up by the barbed wire in full view of the enemy. They lay in shallow irrigation ditches and any attempt to move or organize parties to cut the wire was met with a hail of fire from the opposition. On the other side of the river, A Company and Battalion Headquarters lay in equally shallow irrigation ditches and were constantly ravaged by shellfire. Our own link with Brigade Headquarters had failed, making communication seem like a forgotten dream. The Commanding Officer decided that, until the tanks could get across the river and work round the three companies on the far side, the Battalion could only 'sit and take it',

The enemy continued their hammering for thirty-six hours, until it forced those gallant men to withdraw across the river. Major Elder, who was in command of the withdrawal, displayed the coolness and courage, which resulted in the award of a well deserved Military Cross.

The small, successful platoon of ours, which had crossed the river and gained its objective, was still in the thick of the action and was supported by the Punjabis of our Brigade. We were still holding onto our well-earned position, which had helped to form an important bridgehead across the river. In our trenches, we were ordered to keep hold of our positions until the tanks could move towards us with those much need reinforcements. My saturated pants were quickly becoming unbearable. So I decided to do something about them. Off they came, to be squeezed out in an attempt to make them at least bearable to wear for some time to come. At that moment, a plane flew towards my position, it had come from the direction of the enemy lines. I instinctively jumped from the trench, grabbing the bren gun, which was mounted on its tripod, and took full aim at the plane. I ignored the sounds and danger of the enemy's guns, as they fired down on us from the Monastery ahead but I allowed the wind to take the upperhand. By blowing my shirt flaps upwards, the wind revealed to enemy, in the midst of battle, a full view of my private quarters. The laughter that this generated was tremendous and it served as a morale booster for my comrades, although for myself when I learned that the aircraft had been one of ours, the episode did nothing at all. The plane had been on a reconnaissance flight for the Poles in their second attempt to capture Cassino.


Lesley


edited:typo

 

Here you go for 1 A&SH actions at Cassino during their attempt to cross the river.

Regards

Frank

 

Wibs12.

Get hold of Drew 5233 and he will get you the War Diaries for both 2 HLI and 1 A&SH for the periods that you are searching for.

FdeP

 

Here is a summary of the movements of the 2nd Highland Light Infantry from September 1943 to February 1944:

8th Army – 10 July 1943 to 23 October 1943
At midnight on July 9th, the Dilwara, Tegelberg, and Reina del Pacifico carrying No. 32 Beach Brick dropped anchor off Avola on the southeast coast of Sicily. The troops landed at 0630 hours on July 10th with the Brick supporting the 5th Infantry Division in XIII Corps. The battalion captured a coastal battery, but unfortunately a sniper killed the CO, Lieutenant-Colonel Thorburn. The battalion continued in its role as a Beach Brick through August 17th. Its coordinating administrative headquarters was HQ 86th LOC Area (later HQ 151st LOC Area) while on the beach. On the 17th, the battalion moved to Catania to prepare for the invasion of Italy.
No. 32 Beach Brick landed in Italy between Reggio and Villa San Giovanni in Calabria on September 3rd, 1943 enabling the 5th Infantry Division to pass through and take Scilla. After its duties were over on the beach, the Brick moved to Vibo Valentia on the 14th. From there it moved in stages to Gambarie and Taranto. No. 32 Beach Brick was disbanded there on September 23rd, 1943.

GHQ Middle East Force – 23 October 1943 to End-April 1944
The battalion embarked on the Llangibby Castle from Taranto for Augusta, Sicily on October 23rd. After stopping at Augusta in Sicily for two days it sailed on the 27th for Alexandria, Egypt. On October 30th, the battalion arrived at Alexandria and disembarked the following day. On November 1st, it moved into a camp near the pyramids in Egypt at Mena. A week later the battalion moved to another camp in Egypt at Beni Yusef. Some low category men were exchanged for higher category men in the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. At the start of December 1943, the entire battalion left for camp in Syria to continued training and spent a fortnight at a temporary camp in Sidon, until moving to a newly built training camp in the Lebanon at the foot of the Gebel Sannine. The battalion began to train as a mountain battalion for service in Italy and reorganised into three companies. By April 1944 the battalion was fully trained and returned to a camp outside Alexandria in Egypt. It embarked at the end of April from Alexandria on the Derbyshire and Circassia.

 

All,

Just wanted to say slightly bowled over by the speed and thoroughness of so much help………. this was my first post on the forum and am just hugely grateful for the weight of useful stuff that's come through so far. The various links to external books etc have been really insightful and I'll take up the various offers of individual help, so thank you.

Will try an post something about my other grandad to see if I can get a similar amount of help!

Cheers all…..

 

Here is a summary of moves of the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from February to May 1944:

28th Infantry Brigade – 5 January 1944 to 2 February 1944
The battalion moved to Ataqa on January 6th, 1944 and joined the brigade as part of the 4th Infantry Division in Egypt. The first draft of men due for repatriation to Great Britain was detailed to sail on January 18th, 1944 aboard the HMT Dilwara, and they were replaced by newly re-assigned recruits from the Cameron Highlanders. The battalion left the brigade on February 2nd and embarked for Italy on the 8th.

GHQ Middle East Force – 8 February 1944 to 13 February 1944
The Argylls moved by sea from Egypt to Italy.

HQ Allied Armies Italy – 13 February 1944 to 28 February 1944
The battalion arrived in Taranto and was sent north to Castel Frentano along the German Gustav Line. It joined the 19th Indian Infantry Brigade on February 28th.

19th Indian Infantry Brigade – 28 February 1944 to 6 June 1945
On March 8th it took up positions at Poggliofiorito and fought its forst action near ‘D’ Company’s postions at ‘Harrington House’ that night and again five days later. On March 31st, 1944, the 1st Battalion was back in position at Castel Frentano, It participated in an exercise on April 3rd with the 93rd Anti-Tank Regiment, formerly the 6th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Renfrewshire). The battalion returned to the line on April 5th. On April 10th, the battalion was sent to Larino, on the hills above the Biferno River, during which time it practised amphibious assault landings and river crossings. The 1st Battalion moved to the Volturno area, south of Venafro on April 23rd, and five days later returned to the front for the final assault against the Gustav Line, taking over positions at Zupparielli on the evening of April 28th. For the next week, the battalion conducted reconnaissance and traveled down Route 6 for further training. At 2230 hours on May 11th 1944, ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies moved forward while ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies followed as the battalion crossed the Rapido River on a Bailey Bridge with armored support under heavy German artillery fire. Three days later, the battalion cleared the Liri ‘Appendix’ and was given the task of advancing to and holding the line at Masso-Tiscoe-Conte Murro, which was accomplished by the end of the day. On May 16th, the battalion again traveled Route 6 to a bivouac area for rest and refit and received a draft of 4 officers and 100 other ranks. The 1st Battalion moved out on May 19th, in support of reinforcement operations while the II Polish Corps completed its operations against Cassino and Piedemonte. On May 25th, the battalion again moved up to Castrocielo, reporting enemy activity at Roccasecca the next day.
On May 28th, 1944, the 1st Battalion approached the Melfa River, with orders to cross the Liri River, and were transported to Arce two days later. By June 1st, the battalion had arrived in Casamari Monastery, where it rested at Veroli and performed flank guard duty in the vicinity of Colleherardi. On June 8th, it successfully seized Arsoli, and advanced through Tivoli to Acquasparta and Massa Martana. On June 16th, the 1st Battalion liberated Assisi and two days later advanced along the east bank of the Chiascio River before being pulled out of the line for a week’s rest and refit on June 27th. The battalion moved its encampment to Spoleto, where it was reinforced with a draft of two officers and 48 other ranks. On July 8th, it took over positions northeast of Castiglione Fiorentino, overlooking the main Arezzo road. After several encounters with the Germans, the battalion withdrew again to Spoleto for continuance of their rest and refit on July 13th, only to be transported to the Siena sector on the 19th. Castel Fiorentino was disputably in French hands, however, the battalion encountered enemy resistance that was not eliminated until it pushed forward on the 26th and 27th of July 1944 approaching the Arno River. Two days later, ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies were patrolling Empoli, and were the first to reach the river. The 1st Battalion was sent back to a bivouac area at Bonriposo on August 4th, taking up positions at Greve on August 7th. Florence was liberated on August 23rd.

 

dryan67……… just seen you post re locations of @ HLI cheers……… follow on question…….. it talks about there being an exchange of men between 2HLI and 1st A&SH, but it says 'low category men from HLI were exchange for high category men of A&SH'……. what did they mean by low category…. is it a rank thing, or skills / quality / experience?

Cheers,

 

A minor comment on the family lore of the date/circumstances of the wounding of your granddad in law. you will note from the CWGC listings that noone serving with A & SH died in Italy on 23rd May 1944...although one 1st Bttn man, Corporal William Convery was killed on the previous day.
-----------------------------
Quote:
He was wounded in action on 23 May 1944.

Family stories report that he talked about being involved in the Battle of Monte Cassino…… he was in a bunker with 2 friends when a grenade landed, exploded and killed his two friends - he was uninjured....

Question: Can anyone tell me what action he was likely involved in when he was injured… 23 May 1944, 1st A&S H……. I don't know whether it was after the Battle of Cassino or not.

End quote.

best,

 

Cheers bexley84,

Ta for the heads up re the date of his injuries……. apols, I've confused two things and not made the question re his injuries clear.

You're right, the two stories about the grenade killing his friends in the bunker and the river crossing are purely from my father in law, not in any records.

However, his actual Casualty Form on his service record does state "Wounded in Action…. 23 / 5 / 44"………. he's then shown as going to the 104 General Hospital (which thanks to www.scarletfinders.co.uk I've traced to being at Agrafola….. good website re tracing General Hospital info). He went on to be treated elsewhere, transferred to the RASC before leaving he army in early 1946.

It's that action I'm trying to pin down ……. dryad67 helped above with some potential info on that "On May 25th, the battalion again moved up to Castrocielo, reporting enemy activity at Roccasecca the next day."…….. with it sounding like a day in transit rather than a specifically described action might be difficult to get more details.

Thanks,

 

Wibs

In order to find out what happened on 23rd May when he was wounded, it is best to get the war diaries and appendices as suggested. That way you will find out a few more details on what was happening around that date.

Andy (Drew5233) can copy them for 10p a page, send him a PM (private message) if you are interested.

Lesley

 

Thanks…. I'll defo contact Drew.

 

Thanks guys - Annoyingly I have both unit diaries for the previous years, 1942 and 43 but not 43, 44.

 

Here is the page regarding Low Category men in the the 2nd Highland Light Infantry from the regimental history "Proud Heritage". Make of it what you will

 

8th Indian Div were relieved by the Canadians on May 16th, but by May 20th they were supporting the Polish attack on Piedimonte which fell on the 25th May. They continued to push up the northern flank of the Liri Valley after the Poles were withdrawn.

So it would seem he was injured in action supporting the Poles against Piedimonte. As others have said, the diaries may fill in the detail.

 

Hi Dryan67
What was the source for this info? There are some misleading sections.

Perry

 

Perry:

I am going back to my notes to find the source of the May 11th quote for the 1st Argylls. I have a number of sources such as the Indian Official History, The Tiger Triumphs, and the 1st Battalion regimental history. I will try and locate the source for you.

David

 

Hi Ropey………. been researching various books / articles on the Polish II and 1 Canadian activity during May 1944…… I can find plenty mentioned about the Canadians forming a close fighting bond with the 8th Indian Div, I can't find anything about the 8th Indian Div supporting either the Poles or Canadians in the attack on Piedimonte. Can you point me in the direction of where you've found this info…

Like many of you have said, looks like the war diaries are going to be the way to go and I have PM'd Andy about this separately……. as and when I can afford to get these copied I'll post an update note.

Thanks all,

 

I would think that the Indian Official History volume on Italy would be the place to find information on the 8th Indian Division in Italy. I have this volume. If you can post details on the dates and action that you would like information regarding, I will see what I can find and post from the volume.