Which British Anti-Tank Regiments took part in the Liberation of Rome?

It is great to see more information coming to light about my Grandfathers possible movements through Salerno and Anzio. I can't really rely on the news article but glad to see the only photo (On the right) of Late grandfather Jebson. In the meantime I will apply for the records but may have delays due to the ongoing national lockdown. I will continue to research deeper and with hope, find more information coming to light on what objectives he was tasked to with his regiments etc. Thank you again.

Here is a link about the US 'Fifth Army' at Anzio with some British personel at 1:16 in this clip.

 

More Anzio Beachhead footage uploaded last year onto youtube channel
PeriscopeFilm

 

All that I can suggest at the moment is watch this space.
There are people on here who can help you if you want to obtain the Regiments War Diary but that wont confirm he was in the Regiment I'm afraid, only Army Records can do that and no one else.
You will need his Death Certificate to prove he is not still alive, otherwise he would have to apply. This might also take time but beware dont use any website other than the Govt or you will pay through the nose. You can obtain the Registration details from sites such as Ancestry there is a member on this site who might help you.
If I find out more I will post it here. It certainly looks like 81 A/T fit the bill as they were training in Salerno along with the 67th Field Regt so the NAAFI meet up looks possible. I will read the paper cutting again.

 

From the Newspaper article it would appear that both Gnr Jebson and Dutton were in the 81st A/T Regt.
This unit served in 1st Division in Tunisia North Africa and is mentioned in A History of the 67th Field Regt as being active in the area of The Bou (see attached) north east of Medjez el Bab on 29th May 1943.

Amphibious training and rehearsals were carried out between 2nd and the 20 January 1944 at Salerno.
The Regiment arrived at Anzio in the assault waves in DUKW’s along with the 67th Field Regt. and 2 Infantry Brigade.
Dutton arrived at Anzio first Jebson arrived later.
This was probably due to Jebson having been ill with Jaundice or Malaria very common illnesses needing time in Hospital in Sousse, arriving at Anzio with a batch of others from the Division most likely on 5th March. This should show up on his Army Record when you get it.

I have not to date found any reference to them being in the Victory Parade in Rome as this was an American affair although the Dukes did take part, they would have been there for several weeks camped in the area of Ostia on the coast near Rome visiting the city and taking part in training as the infantry had been decimated at Anzio and needed a lot of recruits trained up ready for the move to Florence.

 

Despite the Covid difficulties there are a few things that you might try to find out more. They are long shots but you never know your luck.
Within the War Diary pack obtainable from National Archives (people on this site might be of assistance here) is a set of papers called Field Return Sheets.
Your grandfather was an Other Rank i.e. not an Officer so would not normally be named as the sheet lists numbers of different ranks and appointments without names.
However on the Other Ranks Return sheet is a section entitled: "Part C Description of other Ranks whose return to the unit is particularly requested". They are not always there but there is just a chance that his name might appear on one for January, February or March 1944 if the Regiment were short of drivers who were highly valued having to run the gauntlet of fire bringing in Ammunition from the port to the gun lines at Anzio.
The CRA (Commander Royal Artillery) in 1 Division organised a set of Battle and Mountain Warfare exercises and a competition to get the men up to battle fitness called Exercise Starvation set up on the Bou Ficha Artillery Ranges and Djebel Ressas during Ocober/November 1943 prior to their embarkation to Italy in December. This pushed them hard and it seems that quite a number became ill with infectious Hepatitis (Jaundice) possibly either due to the consumption of bad water or lack of hygene on the exercise. Several Officers and men ended up in hospital, after which when discharged had to find their own way to their Regiments via transfer camps. This was an opportunity for many to "disappear" or sit it out in transit camps but many were keen to get back if at all possible to their own mates. It could take months to get through the system particularly as they were in North Africa and their units were in Italy by then. Some but not all these transfers might appear on his Army Record which is just a set of documents regarding his pay centres and changes of rates of pay due to passing courses or being off sick etc. written in Army acronyms which will take some translating (again you can get help for on this site) If you get stuck I can do it for you.
Hope this will keep you interested during the time you are waiting for the official papers to arrive. Dont know about you but patience is not one of my virtues.

 

I'm blown away with the amount of information you bring about the movements of the British through Salerno and Anzio. Unfortunately my grandad passed away post-war due to being diagnosed with a Cancer before my Mum was born in the early 60's but will have to get in contect with further family members for help in regards to a Death certificate etc. Thank you for your research!

Regards,

A.Jacklin

 

If you provide his name and when he died I can look up his details so you can obtain a copy death certificate

TD

 

Coming late to this thread, my father was in 1KOYLI at Anzio and broke out with the rest of 15 Infantry Brigade on 28th May, heading towards Rome but halting under orders (like all British units) about 6 miles south of the centre on 1st May. This was to ensure Mark Clark would be filmed at the head of a purely American army entering the centre of the city on 4th May. My father's story of what happened to him is pertinent.
He said he was on patrol in a jeep a couple of days later when he accidentally strayed into the central zone which was strictly out of bounds to British troops. What exactly happened is lost in the mists of time, but it appears he was detained by the Americans overnight, resulting in getting back late to his Battalion and being put on a charge. He lost his stripes as a result.
The American Generals Clark and Lucas have come in for a lot of criticism over Anzio; a good deal of it justified, to which I add the loss of my father's hard-earned two stripes.

 

Robert.

I think you mean 1 Jun 44.

Regards

Frank

 

Robert.

Go easy on Lucas - in my view he was a capable commander. His plan for the landings at Anzio, given the pathetic number of troops that were going to be landed, was largely the right one.

Do not get me started on Mark Wayne Clark.

Regards

Frank

 

Looking back at this thread Owens #7 Re 24th Field Regt.

Checked in my Booklet: ANZIO The First Division Artillery Page 19
The Div Artillery, reinforced prior to the landing at ANZIO
the 80th Medium Regiment (Scottish Horse) and 24th Army Field Regt (SP) and later for a period by the 78th (Edinburgh and Midlothian) Field Regiment .

Army Field Regiment? Don't think they were SP either. Am I mistaken.
All rather odd from a seemingly authorative account.
On line sellers of the reprint describe the 67th Field Regiment as 67th Forward Regiment

Cant find the photo Owen mentioned.

Anyone have any ideas?

ra 39-45 site has the 24th Field Regt down as having 105 Priests. which matches the SP description in the booklet.
Edit: 24th Field must have been SP with Priests.
Found a model of a 105 Priest on line marked up as theirs.
I believe modelers do much in depth research and are present on this forum.

 

24 Field Regiment was self-propelled.

See this WE for Royal Artillery in Italy, February 1944.

 

Good to know that the old Anzio booklet is a reliable source of information.

 

yes Frank, with a little reflection I see what you mean about Lucas' position on the beachhead. Apart from the obvious issue of the very great differences of numbers and materiel available to the two sides, I guess the experiences at Salerno lent a false sense of the ease of pushing inland quickly, but isn't this also about Allied intel - both what was known about the German Order of Battle but also the assessment of the ability of the German Army to respond flexibly, rapidly and aggressively? Am I right in thinking the OoB was pretty well understood but the fighting capability under-estimated? On which point, are intel reports in public domain?

 

Robert.

The US experience at Salerno - land and quickly march north east to Ponte Selle without armour, only to be battered by the Germans for doing so, made Lucas very wary of pushing out too.

The Allies were amazed by just how quickly Kesselring was able to surround the beachhead with elements of seven Divisions.

Regards

Frank

 

Perhaps it is because I am suffering from Covid at the moment and feeling somewhat bloody minded but I would recommend that you read at least three good books before you decide on Lucas and his strategy at Anzio.
There are a few Battlefield tour guides/historians in the forum who might have differing opinions so I expect a good kicking.

Try "Desperate Valour" Triumph at Anzio by Fllnt Whitlock for starters. He is American and tries to be fair to all including the Brits. There is a low cost option on Kindle. All my other sources are primary un published and British. With the exception of Whickers War DVD or book currently available in the UK and on YT. The Survivor (2005) Whicker's War

Whicker went with Montgomery in a high speed launch to meet Clarke at Salerno where Clarke was considering withdrawal.
Memorial on the beach "Prepare to Evacuate the Beach" Gen Mark Clarke US 5th Army
"Leave water and Ammo on the Beach 45th Infantry Division are here to stay" Troy Middleton US.45th Infantry Div Commander

 

Clark rather than Clarke.

Fatal Decision by Carlo D’Este is the masterpiece for Anzio.

Regards

Frank

 

Thanks Frank. Ordered my copy. Hopefully my eyesight will be cleared by the time if arrives.
Nasty strain of Covid we've picked up. Went from zero to all four of us overnight.

 

Grim. It has yet to touch me. Must be the infantryman in me!

F

 

Fatal Decision by Carlo D’Este is available on line lots of options, ordered a copy for £4.99 should arrive this week. I'm no book collector but found good used copies suit my purpose.
There are even new condition hardbacks if you want one but they exceed my pension finances and take up too much room.

The bug is messing with my heartbeat at the moment nothing to worry about for now. Nothing they can do until "restart required" pops up.