I'm currently looking into their pretty horrible time on Hangman's Hill at Cassino: http://www.milhist.net/mto/19gurkha.html - in short. Is anybody aware of either any regimental/battalion publications or veterans' accounts of their activities at and around this time? This seems to exist, but the only copy online is astronomically expensive: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/publication/9805 http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&tn=The+9th+Gurkha+Rifles *shudder* If anybody has the March Diary from WO 169/19006 - I'd also be most grateful to see it.
There is also a more recently-published history of 9 GR which is supposed to be an abridged version of the warry bits from the main histories. You'd hope Cassino would qualify for inclusion on that basis...
Excellent, got a link or a title? Edit: This? http://www.amazon.co.uk/9th-Gurkha-Rifles-Regimental-1817-1947/dp/1851270027 - that seems even more elusive!
If you have not already read there following, perhaps there may be something relevant in these downloads from the Digital Library of India The Gurkhas This is a regimental history. The most likely publication appears to be The Gurkhas by Harold James and Denis Sheil-Small published 1965, London. http://dli.serc.iisc.ernet.in/handle/2015/126645 Official History of the Indian Armed Forces In the Second World War General Editor Dr Bisheshwar Prasad The Campaign In Italy 1943-45 published 1962 http://dli.serc.iisc.ernet.in/handle/2015/111423 I have had a lot of problems with the Digital Library of India recently, but at the time of writing these catalogue links worked. Cheers Maureen
I've seen the second but not the first. Thank you. Edit: nobody got that war diary lying around then?
James. I will check this evening to see if I have the pages from 1/9 GR's time on Hangman's Hill. Regards Frank
I have a copy of The Gurkhas by Harold James and Denis Sheil-Small. Only a short chapter on Cassino. Here it is, I hope you gain something from it:
Appreciated - that's the same text as one of the e-books linked above but easier on the eye. Frank: I'd be most grateful (again) if you manage to turn up those diaries - thank you.
No problem, Frank - cheers for looking. I have an earlier batch of 1/4th Essex diaries in the pipeline now, but think I'm going to request the 1944 diaries for 1/9th GR & 4/6th Raj Riffs for my next batch of files from the National Archives. When I finally get round to it, I'll pass copies to you.
Hi My father Capt. Robert C Miller was second in Command of Company D at Hangmans Hill, Italy. I have the two official books on the history of the 9 GR. This year I was a guest at the 200th Anniversary of 1/9 GR in India.
Welcome aboard, S Miller. I'm glad to see you post here. Did your father speak or write much about his time at Cassino? Sadly, the 1/9 GR War Diary Pages for the battalion's time on Hangman's Hill are missing from the filed copy at the National Archives and I have completely failed to locate any others--do you have any contact with the battalion in India? I am still keen to ask them whether they retain a full copy. Failing that, anything you could post concerning Cassino from the official books you mention would be of great interest to me and others. My grandfather was with 1/4th Essex at Cassino--and as you know elements of his battalion were left occupying 1/9 GR when the rest of the show was called off.
Hi Have you been in touch with the Gurkha Rifles Museum at Winchester they might have a copy of the missing file. If you find a copy of the file I'd be interested in a copy. I'll have a look at the official history to see how many pages cover Hangmans Hill. I met some of the men from the Essex Regiment at the 50th Anniversary at M Cassino. Sheila
Sheila, The Gurkha Rifles Museum: I've been in touch with them, they acknowledged my enquiry last year and promised to get back to me about it, but three subsequent emails to the same address have gone unanswered. Regards Charlie
You are correct, as I know the author or should I say joint author. Had a quick look at the book whilst in India.
Sheila. Funnily enough I was on Point 236 this morning looking down the Castle and explaining the 1/9 GR infiltration on to a Hangman's Hill and their subsequent extraction when it was realised that any further attempt to capture the monastery was utterly futile. If you ever want to get your head around what your father did, do get in touch and you can join one of my groups on the ground. The Castle was open this morning so, standing at its base, everyone got a superb appreciation of the difficulty of the task. I suspect that during the 50th Anniversary event you had little chance to have a good look at this fascinating part of the Third Battle. Regards Frank
Hi Frank I've been to the area three times, first time during the early 1980's but I'll keep your offer in mind. Just to clarify has the 9th Gurkha plaque been returned to Hangman's Hill? Regards Sheila
Just to note that the URLs I quoted above in post 5 for the downloads from the Digital Library of India have changed, and secondly, that there have been mirror editions added to the Internet Archive, Archive.org.The latter links are The Gurkhas The Gurkhas : Not Available : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive The Campaign In Italy 1943-45 The Campaign In Italy : Prasad,bisheshwar : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive Cheers Maureen