6th Gordons at Anzio

William, my Father fought with the 2/7 Middlesex machine gun platoon in support of the Gordon Highlanders, we were able to access the ‘smelly farm’ area of the battlefield on a trip to Anzio this summer. The other posts below give fascinating accounts of the action …

 

My father Pte John George Rigby of 6th Gordons was wounded and taken prisoner on 4th February 1944 at Anzio.

 

Welcome Ian,
I assume that you have read the postings to date on this thread.
You have here more information than you would get from any one book.

There is also a thread which gives information about the 1st Infantry Division of which the 6th Gordons were part.
There are a number of maps and photos on the thread including photos that I posted of what was left of Dung Farm with Major DCL Shepherd who won his Military Cross in the action on 4th Feb along with his assistants taken after the battle.
1st British Infantry Division Histories - Digital Versions

I am sure that Minden 1759 or Stu Avery and others will be along to assist you further.
You might also consider what happened after he was taken prisoner.
There are specialists on the forum who can help you with this as well.

My studies surround the Divisional Artillery 67th Field Regt in particular.
They were heavily engaged in the events of 4th Feb as their 266 Battery were from 1940 until 1945 supporting the 6th Gordons, their Battery Commander being almost permanently in the 6th Gordons Battalion HQ to control fire support.

His Troop Commanders were the Forward Observation Officers out in the Infantry Lines calling in direct support.
As their citations clearly state, it was their control of the Divisional Artillery that enabled the infantry to withdraw recovering a group of their men who were being taken away as POW's.

Enjoy the adventure.

 

Ian.

I have researched the story of the collapse of 6 GORDONS on the fateful night of 3-4 Feb 44.

Get in touch with me via Start a Conversation and I will happily share what I have.

If you are interested, I am guiding a group to Anzio on 14-17 May 23 during which we will be looking at what happened to 6 Gordons.

Were you aware that 6 GORDONS erected a memorial at Anzio to their casualties? It is at the point on the ground where they landed on 22 Jan 44.

Regards

Frank

 

Frank,
Yes I would be happy to see what you have on 6 Gordons 3-4 Feb 44

 

Ian.

Get me through my website.

www.Cassinobattlefields.co.uk

Regards

Frank

 

Apologies does anybody have any information on 6 Gordons between 9 and 13 February 1944.
I am researching 14632899 Private John Livingstone. He joined 6 Gordons on 9th February 1944, but was seriously wounded four days later on 13th February, and died of his wounds 10 days later in 96 General Hospital in North Africa.

 

6th Gordons landed as part of the assault wave at Anzio on 22nd January 1944.
They took heavy losses in German attacks on the 4th - 7th Feb and were reinforced by men from the London Scottish, their Territorial sister battalion. (need to check the dates)
Your man might have arrived with them.
My line of study is the Artillery who took a pounding and were forced to withdraw on 8th -10th Feb in order that the infantry could move back to "last stand" lines under covering fire.
It was about this time that the London Scottish arrived with 56 Division.

There are some excellent specialists on Anzio (see previous postings) who will no doubt be along soon.

 

Might be a question of terminology but for clarity 1 London Scottish didn't provide reinforcements for 6 GH. They were committed as a battalion as part of 168 Brigade; indeed 1 London Scottish received drafts from the Black Watch while at Anzio.

 

6 Gordons WD for 9th-13th February.

 

Thanks Gary,
That conflicts with info from others on here but we must not forget that Lt Col Peddie OC 6 Gordons was ex London Scottish and replaced from their ranks by Lt Col Brian Clapham both of whom served together in a Commando unit Norway in 1940 evidently there was some connection. I believe that the Gordons took a number of replacements from their ranks although Grace does comment that later reinforcements arrived from GB.
Attached clip from The Perilous Road to Rome and Beyond by Edward Grace (Pen & Sword edition)

 

I'm not sure what the conflict is. I'm not doubting personnel badged as London Scottish may well have been assigned to 6 GH at various points in the war but that isn't what we're discussing. I've already pointed out BW draft went to 1 LS while they were at Anzio but they came from IRTD.

1 London Scottish arrived at Anzio as a complete battalion with 168 Brigade on 3rd February. I would find it extremely hard to believe personnel were taken from an operational battalion to be used as battle casualties for another - especially when 1 London Scottish were actively in combat at the time.

Infantry replacements for 56 Division battalions came from a variety of unit drafts while they were at Anzio. Certainly, in the case of the 8 and 9 Royal Fusiliers, these men were left behind as replacements for other units when 56 Division departed in early March.

 

Thank you for the battalion diary. John was a recent draft from the UK. He had been serving with the East Lancashire Regiment in the UK. I assume he joined Gordons as they needed lots of reinforcements on 9th February. He must have been a victim of mortar fire on 13th February.

 

That settles that then. Back to the house work!

Appreciate the advice Gary and thanks for providing his background Jonas.
So many never come back to tell us these things.

No point in being here if we learn nothing. No one knows it all.

 

Hey there Frank,been reading your articles,and we wonder if you can point us in the right direction,my wife and I are heading to Anzio in a few weeks,and as her father was a Sargent in the6th Gordon's we would like to try and walk in his footsteps so to speak,any directions or info would be much appreciated,,,, cheers John and Shirley,,,,,

 

John.

Get me through my website cassinobattlefields – Explaining the past today and I will happily give you some pointers.

It is now more difficult to walk the actual ground because much of it is covered in solar panels but from the Caruso road you can still get a really good feel for the hopelessness of the battalion’s position.

I am out there 14-17 May 23 if your dates coincide.

The memorial is well worth seeing.

Regards

Frank

 

It’s well worth the trip, I visited last year and got access to Smelly Farm where my Dad saw action. The Battle of Aprilia museum is well worth a visit and despite the language difficulties the guys there are extremely knowledgeable and helpful … Monte Grande in a few years maybe ? Tim

 

Tim.

I was on Monte Grande in Sep 22. The feature is enormous and dominates the area. I approached it from San Clemente in the south and had a look around Monte Calderaro and Monte Cerere too.

Being the most northerly position in the whole of US Fifth Army and with great views into the Po Valley, I can see why the Germans wanted it back.

Regards

Frank

PS. Who did you speak to to get into Smelly Farm? I used to just wander in before the put the enormous gate up. Then one day, I got chased off by an Italian and his big dog.

 

Hi Frank, we went with local guide Danila Bracaglia - we managed to drive through the estate and visit the farm but on leaving some very unhappy farmhands gave us a hard time … worth the hassle though ? Great to see you are still keeping the memories alive !! Tim

 

Tim.

Did she explain exactly what happened to 6 GORDONS and did you stand on the ground that the Battalion occupied before being overrun? Most of the site that the forward Companies occupied is now a solar farm.

If you ever want to go and follow the whole beachhead story from landing to breakout, do get back in touch.

Regards

Frank