Outside, it was a great read and gave some useful info so I certainly didn't mean to be harsh about it. My sapper mate loved it so it must have been authentic! Some books are written with care and others seem to be all about the money - rushed out quickly and seemingly not checked for accuracy at all. I would place Daniell's book in the former category, while one example of the latter is Concord's The Fall of Monte Cassino. It would have been very interesting to talk to him. He was a sapper through and through if he served fruit from with land mine fuse. (Some pun about pineapples is trying to find its way out here.)
No, ropey, I didn't think you were being harsh! I was just meaning to show the context under which it was written, which would explain the errors. We were joking earlier how much 'the colonel' looked like his caricature in the back cover of the book, with the distinguished aquiline nose! Its so difficult when people have gone, to work out why we didn't spend more time talking to them, isn't it!
BTW, FdeP, my book is only £31.95 on Amazon. ;^) Just decided what the missus is going to get me for Christmas now Lee
Thanks Lee, you won't regret it. Have a listen to this if you you can stand a Kiwi accent. 37 minutes in through to about 43, with a caller as well. http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/thisweek/hourrecsch/2011.12.07-13.00.00-S.mp3
Hello all, I'm new to the Forum and was following the Amazon bridge discussion. I will be seeing both sights to see and ask locals in the area. I am organisng an RE 70th Anniversary in May 14, any other references would be useful. Thanks
Bandar. If you are interested, I am running a battlefield study to Cassino on 11-14 May 14 with specific focus on Amazon bridge. The programme is written in such away as to be at the bridge site at 0530 on 13 May 14 - exactly 70 years to the minute that the bridge was opened for business after the terrible night. If you are interested, do get in touch. Regards Frank
I find it interesting that while Albert Hobson built the Amazon Bridge - at least another Lt A. Hobson served in the same theatre at the same time. My Dad, Lt. A.H.Hobson served with the 128 Inf Bde Sp Gp D Company Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, and provided mortar support for the construction of, among other things, the construction of the Amazon Bridge. There is an interesting article in the Royal Engineers Gazette too. ref: Parker, Matthew Monte Cassino - The Story of the Hardest-Fought Battle of World War Two, Headline Book Publishing, London, 2003 ISBN 978-0-7553-1176-7
Brilliant stuff. I will be standing at the bridge site with a group on Sun 19 Apr. I tthink that you have your Bdes wrong. 128 Inf Bde was in 46 BR Inf Div - they were the formation that failed to cross the Garigliano on and capture the hill top village of Sant Ambrogio on the night of 17 Jan 44. I suspect that your father was in 28 Inf Bde Sp Gp rather than 128 Inf Bde Sp Gp. On 11-12 May 44, 28 Inf Bde was the left hand assault Bde for 4 BR Inf Div - the right hand assault Bde being 10 Inf Bde with 12 Inf Bde in reserve. Anyway, when both 28 Inf Bde and 10 Inf Bde failed to get their bridges in by the morning of 12 May 44, the Comd RE, Lt Col Nelson, decided to concentrated his whole effort on Amazon Bridge in the 10 Inf Bde area - hence your father being shifted right to support 10 Inf Bde. Col Nelson's decision worked - he committed all three of the Div's Fd Coys RE to the single Class 40 bridge, and it was opened for armr at 0530 on 13 May 44. 2 Bn NF were the Heavy Weapons Sp Bn for 4 BR Inf Div. Your father's 4.2 inch mors would have supported that gargantuan effort at Amazon. Regards FdeP
Anyone interested in "The Amazon Bridge" should go to www.shiny7.uk and follow the link Gustav Line, this is an excelet site on anything to do with this are of The Cassino Battle
Hi Mike and welcome I would concur. I met the owner of the site last week and this week at the National Archives and he's rather knowledgeable on the subject as well as being a rather nice chap. He's a ex member of 7 Company, RE
Hi to all interested in The Amazon Bridge. For the last two years, I have been privileged to stand on the exact build site of The Amazon Bridge at 05:00hrs, the time the bridge was opened. I would like to commend to you all an excellent website, www.shiny7.uk and follow the link to Gustav Line. This site is run by George Cowie and I defy anyone who reads it not to be impressed
Hi Mike, hope you were standing on the exact build site of Amazon, has been a contentious issue in the past. A very nice chap is George, met him a few weeks back, and great work he was done on the Shiny 7 website. Lee
There is an excellent site www.shiny7.uk, Ron will be familiar with this site, as it is run by George Cowie, an ex member of 7 Field Squadron RE c mid to late 60'S. Follow the Gustav Line link forward a very, very informative read.
Literally, just come back from doing Italian Campaign tours, firstly with a Leger group, then with 51 (Highland) Brigade. Had the honour of meeting Michael Gabbetts, whose Father was Major Robin Gabbetts, OC 225 Fd Coy. As mentioned above, an excellent account of Amazon Bridge is given in the book: Mediterranean Safari.
Literally, just come back from doing Italian Campaign tours, firstly with a Leger group, then with 51 (Highland) Brigade. Had the honour of meeting Michael Gabbetts, whose Father was Major Robin Gabbetts, OC 225 Fd Coy. As mentioned above, an excellent account of Amazon Bridge is given in the book: Mediterranean Safari.
Artilleryman4. The name is Mickey Gabbett rather than Gabbetts. His father was Maj Robin Gabbett MBE MC. He won his MBE for service in 1 Inf Div in the BEF in 1940 and his MC at Cassino for his part in building the Amazon Bridge. I met Mickey at the Hotel Rocca and took him down to the site one evening to explain his father's role in this epic achievement. Regards Frank
For those of you following the Cassino campaign, may I suggest the following Youtube videos, from George Cowie BEM 1. 2. 3. 4.
