As well as my Dad's memory of his time with mules at the Trigno: Mules He spent 3 weeks, during March/April 1944, on a nightly tripse up from the village of Caira to the top of Monte Castellone, pt 771 - he recalled his first night's journey with E Coy 2 LIR on 30th/31st March 1944: "I was taken with my supplies to San Michele and here I was allocated about 30 mules which I loaded with tools, food and water and some of the men’s kit. Following immediately behind the company in pitch darkness, we climbed down the hill and came to a mysterious cavern which I was told was called ‘The Inferno”. From here we continued towards the town of Cassino and crossed the Rapido by a stone bridge. When we were in the middle, a salvo of shells landed on the road. At this point, we had difficulty controlling the mules and the drivers. We set off again, slowly following the overladen soldiers. After getting so close to Monte Cassino that we felt we were almost under the monastery’s walls, we started climbing a precipitous path to Monte Castellone. We had to take particular care as the nervous muleteers were attempting to ditch their loads. I finally arrived at the top with about half a dozen mules. Loads were spread along the track behind us. The whole thing was a tactical mistake. The companies should have moved in first and the mule trains followed after they settled." I've walked up to the top of Monte Castellone in daylight and I do tip my hat to my Dad and his mates.. and to the the mules, of course. There's a nice view from pt 771 when there's no smoke around.
I'm sure I haven't said "mules" within earshot of my phone but this was pushed under my nose: Original 1944 WW2 Saddle | eBay
That's a bit spooky idler. Coincidently, I received the following image after viewing this thread for a while:
Mules in Italy 67th Field Regt Sept/Oct 1944 Hope these might help. Courtesy of Family Album collections.
A 'bound' set of The Journal of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps covering 1941-46 has appeared on Google Books. This might get you the downloadable PDF: https://books.google.co.uk/books/do...ut=pdf&sig=ACfU3U0j9nqaUiRs0yHRpttxRhHgH5ygrQ Maj Witherington gets a mention...
Claire, As you know Barbara is Barbara Lawrence. She last logged on November 2019, so is unlikely to see your message on her profile. Next I will send her a private message (PM) you cannot do that until you have posted five times. Hopefully she will check in. Assuming her email address has not changed since joining and she has not flagged this thread.
HI everyone - this message got to me quickly- thank you for the update. My uncle Kent was with the RASC and towards the end of the war was sent to check out what could be learned from the experience of the Chindits in Burma that might be helpful in fighting in mountainous terrain. I made a leap - with help from people like you - that what tied this together was mules given his experiences in Italy. I've pared my manuscript "Both Sides of the Pond: A Family's War" down considerably but am still struggling to find someone to publish it. I've been told it's a very good and interesting story - but the combination of fact and fiction based on research seems to confound publishers. If any of you want to read it and comment, let me know and I'll send you a copy. For now - being included in this conversation reignites my determination. Thank you.