1st Bn Royal Sussex Regiment

I sent you my email Mike.
I've read some of your posts on another site about 15 years ago with Ron Spiers relative. It's a shame he seems to have lost interest now.
I found some time ago a copy of a letter asking for a posthumans award for a linesman on Cassino. I wish I had saved it, as I think he was 1st Royal Sussex.
Seeing that there was so few people to a section, it should be possible to name most of them.
From my Sisters story the chap that had his shoulder blown off must be recorded somewhere, or buried close to Cassino.
I'm sure I've posted these before, but I've love to know where the location is and what the group photo was about.
Could it be the same place in Austria they gave equestrian training after the war?
Notice both pictures are the same location.

Mark

 

I suppose his first meeting with American soldiers may have been less than auspicious.

When 1 Royal Sussex and 4/16 Punjabs relieved the various battalions of US 34 & 36 Division, U.S. numbers were low owing to attrition and some soldiers were so exhausted and frostbitten they had to be carried from their positions on stretchers.

I have the following for 1 R.Sussex: Complete by 0500hrs 14/2/44:

A Company relieved 2 Battalion, 135 Regiment, 34 US Division at 835291
B & C Companies relieved 1 & 3 Battalions, 141 Regiment, 36 US Division at 836217
D Company relieved 1 Battalion, 135 Regiment, 34 US Division at 838220

I am no expert on the U.S. army, but from what I have read of their soldering at Cassino, they were brave and determined troops set an almost impossible task and getting bloodied doing it. That there were indeed positions for 4th Indian Division to relieve is a testament to some seriously hard work.

 

I don't know if he was in the 2nd Royal Sussex or the 1st. when he first met up with the Americans Charley.
I know he was glad of their equipment and I expect food too.
He said the tanks they supplied were fast, even faster in reverse.
Apparently if they were hit, every one died!
He never said too much about North Africa, the most upsetting was that when someone stole a pint of water the shock killed him!
How dehydrated much someone to have been.
They had been drinking their own urine!
He said small groups were sent out into the dessert with a few days rations and an anti-tank rifle.
The were told if they found a lost Tank to destroy it.
I know my Dad would not have killed anyone if he could have helped it.
I think they captured this one below and returned with tank and crew.
One might guess they were now being punished?

 

James.

Are you sure about the A Company location? I have it squarely in the French sector.



The other Company locations are correct.

Regards

Frank

 

Frank, did you read the draft I emailed to you about 135th? They didn't like Cassino.

Mark

 

Crikey, I think that's my Dad again, third left! Thanks Mark!

 

A typo for A-Coy: 835219.

 

Mark.

I did but to be fair - nobody liked Cassino. It was utterly grim.

Your father may not have rated the Americans but they were actually pretty good. You have to remember that their Army grew from five Divisions in 1940 to 97 Divisions in 1942. That is a fantastic pace of growth.

Without the Americans’ manpower and equipment, the Allies would never have won the war. Period.

Regards

Frank

 

Frank, don't think for one minute that I have any disrespect for any of the people that served.
As for the management of what happened during ww2 that's another story that I won't enter into here.

Mark

 

I guess that's not the Tank from the story then, highly unlikely they were in the same section in North Africa.
I do think they are being punished for something though.

Mark

 

Where does my revised grid reference fall on your map--more plausible?

 

James.

GR 835219 is here which is ban on. It would be the depth position on Snakeshead Ridge.

Regards

Frank

 

Did you look at some of my earlier pictures in the post Mike?
Your Dad is supposed to be in the football team and I think in the Platoon? group picture.

Mark

 

Indeed Mark. He is certainly in the football team, and in the sigs pltn photo and in all probability the tank photo. I think he is also 7th right middle row in the Austria photo. He (or his double!) also appears in four of Melchy's photos, including another football team shot, top right lined up outside a building and crouching in a white t shirt. So that's 8 photos that made my Xmas! Can't add anything about the tank "punishment" but as you say, most probably Italy and not N Africa.
Mike

 

Out of interest, can anyone identify the tank in Mark's photo above?

 

Here is another picture of the tank, I never realised it was the same one. Titled Italiano Agaria Institute. I wonder if anyone knows were that is?