4 Recce War Diary & Map

Discussion in 'Recce' started by Smudger Jnr, Jul 10, 2009.

  1. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Found this and thought some may find interesting.

    An overlay from 12th Inf Bde in the 'Gari' Battle and taken from the 4th Recce Diaries.

    Regards
    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Nice one, Tom.
     
  3. Damiano

    Damiano In the shadow of Monte Cassino

    Wow...very thanks guys for the maps. I'm here for any problem.
    Smudger, please...could you scan all the diary? It seems to be very interesting for the battle of the Gari!

    Best Regards, Gurdjieff (Damiano)
     
  4. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Owen/Gurdjieff,

    Can you provide the date the action started and finished as I can go straight to the diary pages and provide them for you.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  5. SPERO56

    SPERO56 Member

    Thanks Tom. I remember my grandfather telling me when he was with 4 Recce at MC that one night he and a troop of Gurkhas were taking up supplies and that they had to hide in the bushes as some German troops walked past. He could just see their boots as they walked by. He said it was perhaps only for a few minutes but seemed like hours. He had huge respect for the Gurkhas - not sure why he was being supported with them as he was a Major in 4 Recce.

    Noticed in the recent diary posting by you that Lt. Colonel Prescott was somewhat frustrated by 4 Recce's role at MC - mostly taking supplies up to the front line.
     
  6. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Gurdjieff,

    I think the month of may 1944 is what you require and includes the crossing of the 'GARI'

    From the book, The 4th Division 1939-1945 by Hugh Williamson, there is chapter on the Assault on the Gustav Line.

    On the morning of the 14th May 1944 the Congo bridge was ready for the infantry and on the night of the 14th the Sappers also completed the Blackwater bridge (mentioned in the Recce Diary), which crossed the 'Gari' into the Divisional Sector, south of Pioppeto.

    Regards
    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

  7. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Spero,

    You will see that written many times by the commanders. The Recce were at their best pursuing the enemy to see where they were regrouping.

    When the lines became static as around the defensive positions in Italy, the Corps were used for almost anything at times although mainly holding sections of the front line.

    In fact they relieved the troops in the Castle, which was a really dangerous place as it was overlooked by the Monastery mountain positions.

    I have found a referernce to Don (Smudger) Smith (Unfortunately no relation) when he was a Sergeant winning his MM in Tunisia.

    Page 64 in 'Only the Enemy in Front' the Recce Corps War by Richard Doherty.

    I will post it when I get chance to scan it.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  8. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Tom, Saved you the trouble, I don't have to scan.

    B Squadron had pushed up slowly from Korba, meeting considerable opposition and one LRC had been lost with its crew as casualties. There was still much mopping up to be done and Germans were still trying to escape by sea on rafts but the war in Tunisia was almost over for 4 Recce. But in the dying gasps of the campaign Sergeant Don 'Smudger' Smith of B Squadron earned an immediate award of the MM:

    At 2130 hrs on 12th Maya patrol of light and heavy cars was at road junction 571403 (rd Beni Khalled-Korba) when a German tank knocked out the Troop Commander's Heavy Car (Lieut J.D.Wigham). Light cars came back from the front of the Troop Commander's Car and took back wounded. Sgt Smith dismounted from a light car and took up a forward position with a Bren and a total of 7 men. Four 3-ton lorries of enemy infantry approached, Sgt Smith withholding his fire until they were 100 yards away. He then opened fire, the infantry dismounting and continuing to advance until driven off by further fire from Sgt Smith's Bren gun. Sgt Smith's efforts undoubtedly saved the leading vehicles and their crews from destruction.6

    Don Smith's own account of the incident differs slightly from the official version on a number of points:

    ...all of a sudden round a bend I saw a blaze and it looked like one of my 'Heavies.' I shouted to my driver to stop but we were going that fast it took him a quarter mile to do so. I grab a TSMG [Thompson submachine-gun] and a couple of mags and ran back down the road. Sam, the driver of the skipper's car, Captain Jack Wigham, MC, (later Major) was running towards me in a terrible state in shock and with blood allover him, and gasped they had been hit by an 88. I told him to go to my car and wait whilst I sorted things out and going farther down the road to the blazing car I heard somebody staggering towards me, and yelled out 'Halt, what gives?' and Jack Wigham recognised my voice [and] identified himself. He was wounded and said Kiper O'Neill was dead. I don't know what happened to the fourth member of the team; looking back they must not have had one. Anyhow I got the captain back and found a carrier and sent him and his driver back to the medics; Jack had only a bit of shrapnel in his backside and [he] was back a few days later.7


    Cheers
    Paul
     
  9. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Paul,

    Thanks a bunch, my better half is using the other computer and printer/scanner as she is completing her dreaded tax return!!

    Obliged.
    Tom
     
  10. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Tom, I digitised my copy a while back for quick and easy reference.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  11. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Gurdjieff,

    Following your request I have put together the following which I hope you and other forum members will find interseting.

    These reports are attached to the Diary.

    They refer to the fall of Cassino including holding the Castle on Castle Hill and taking the railway station.

    I think that you will find then an interesting read.

    Regards
    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

    dbf and Damiano like this.
  12. Damiano

    Damiano In the shadow of Monte Cassino

    Superb work!

    Many thanks, let me print it and to read!

    All the best, Gurdjieff
     
  13. SPERO56

    SPERO56 Member

    Chaps

    Any idea what happened to Colonel Preston of 4 Recce? I have seen some of the diaries and his comments and I remember my grandfather saying he had to take over the Regiment for a short while after Preston was wounded. Preston by all accounts was very popular with the 4 Recce Officers and Men but can't seem to find anuthing out about him. Any ideas who he was or where he ended up??
     
  14. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Tim,

    I think that you will find this page of the Diaries interesting.

    It shows Lt Col PGC Preston being transferred on the 28th July 1944 to HQ 28 Inf Bde to assume appointment as Brigadier.

    28th Infantry Brigade (from December 1943) :

    • 2nd Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry
    • 2nd Battalion, the Kings Regiment
    • 1st Battalion, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
    • 2/4nd Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment
    4th Division



    Hope this helps your search.

    Regards
    Tom
     

    Attached Files:

  15. SPERO56

    SPERO56 Member

    Thanks Smudger... really appreciate it. Another lead to follow!
     
  16. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Tim,
    I have also searched using his name but came up negative.

    If he is deceased then there may be an archive obituary entry with a newspaper.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  18. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    Found this little snippet on the other Forum and I quote:-

    "In Allied documents you can read very often that the German soldiers hereafter were more or less POW, who were guarding themselves. Not so. While on 9th May of1945 GenMjr BENTHACK had signed the surrender in Heraklion, the German forces required to surrender to the British 28th Infantry-brigade (CO was BrigGen P.G.C. PRESTON), the Germans waited in vain for the British occupation troops. Then, on 11th of May, however, an emergency call of the British arrived, as these were in heavy combat with the „ELAS“ (the communist Greek resistance movement). A German assault unit/task force with a tank battalion liberated the British and drove back the Greek partisans. Afterwards, the car of BrigGen PRESTON was always escorted by two German tanks."

    This ties in with what Tom found on him going to 28th Infantry Brigade.
     
  19. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Robert,Owen,

    Very well found articles. It's nice when pieces of the jigsaw fall into place.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  20. SPERO56

    SPERO56 Member

    Thank you to you all for your efforts. Colonel Preston was very well respected by my grandfather during their time together in 4 Recce.

    I have found out the following:

    Name: Patrick Guy Carbery Preston
    Born 1903 India
    Died: Alderney CI 1978

    After 4 Recce took over 28th Infantry Brigade (2 batt. Somerset LI, Kings Regiment 2 Batt; Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 1 Batt; Hampshire Regiment 2/4) Along with 4 Recce I think they headed for Greece in the autumn of 1944 - hereafter the trail goes cold. 4 Recce I think went too but was disbanded/amalgamated afterwards.

    On a completely separate note found a great book amongst my grandfather's things - have you chaps heard of it - 'The Fourth Division 1939 - 1945' published by Newman Neame by Hugh Williamson in 19561 - fascinating read...

    Spero
     

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