6th Gordons at Anzio

I found a USA account that suggested that the 6th Gordons were defending a bulge in the Allied lines in Anzio and would like more info.
My father's uncle George Gardiner was a WO2 in the 6th and I can recall him saying after one action there were 2 companies who only had around 30 men each left the rest were killed, wounded, captured, or missing.

 

Hi, I'm assuming you are referring to the events of early February 1944. Attached are the WD pages for the battalion for this period.

 

Thanks very much for this diary entry. It pretty well sums up how my father's uncle George described things to me over 40 years ago. I remember him saying that "Jerry put up an awesome barrage" at that period.

 

Anzio February 1944 Written by myself From sources (including photos) from families of the men in the 67th Field Regt. in support of 2 Infantry Brigade 1st Infantry Division.
6th Gordons were supported by 266 Battery.

By 3/4th February 1944 1 Division had succeeded in forcing forward, pushing out the perimeter, unfortunately the flanking units had not been able to follow suit creating a salient up the main road past The Factory. The two vulnerable flanks were manned by 2IB and the Guards Brigade.

The enemy came in a pincer movement from the west and east. The Gordons were the first to be attacked on the 3rd Feb when an SOS was called at 2315 by Major Shepherd Commander of 266 Battery from the Gordons Battalion HQ. Between then and 0900 the next day he and Capt Jupp called for Regimental and Divisional fire on targets against a partly seen enemy in the pitch dark night with sleet and rain obscuring visibility.
Each of the Gordons Companies were cut off from the other in an attack involving six Tiger Tanks who isolated their Battalion HQ. Due to their determined and skilled action both Major Shepherd and Capt Jupp Commander of C Troop 266 Bty succeeded in preventing a very nasty situation becoming incredibly grim, due to their control of the Divisional Artillery in the morning one of the companies was recaptured complete with its German Escort and the situation partly restored. Allowing the Guards and 3IB to withdraw to a new defensive position. Major Shepherd was awarded a Military Cross, Capt Jupp an immediate MC and his OP Carrier driver/signaller who had spent the whole time on the radio in the carrier under fire, earned a Military Medal.

The Gordons were reduced to two companies D,A and C being cut off in the darkness with treacherous weather and a heavy bombardment of High Explosive and Smoke. In these conditions the radio’s became unreliable and co ordination was lost. The Gordons were having to send out men as runners to keep their HQ informed of the situation.
An unenviable job when under fire from not only small arms but the formidable Tiger tanks. With their 88 mm guns these leviathans were knocking down buildings burying men and farm animals.
The battle area was Dung Farm now to become known by the Gordons as Horror Farm due to the carnage experienced there. (see The Perilous Road to Rome via Tunis by Edward Grace) HQ Company and nearby B Company were the only survivors.
Major Shepherd as Battery Commander was in the Gordons HQ to liaise and plan Artillery support for the Battalion alongside the Battalion Commander Lt Colonel James Peddie.
The Gordons were eventually relieved by the London Scottish and Lt Colonel J Peddie replaced by Lt Colonel JB Clapham. Both men were old comrades as Peddie himself was from the London Scottish. The then Major Peddie and Captain Clapham fought together as Commander and 2 i/c in a Special Commando unit in Norway. Lt Colonel Peddie was awarded the DSO for his actions at Anzio..
A German communique read: German Shock Troops cutting in front of a British Spearhead surrounded two British Battalions. So far 983 prisoners have been counted, their entire equipment captured. Six Sherman Tanks have been seized and several hundred British dead and wounded cover the battlefield. Attempts to break out were smashed as were attacks by reinforcements from the south. Colle Valletta a hill to the north of Aprilia is again in German hands and German guns now dominate the coastal plain down to the sea.

A somewhat inaccurate synopsis but never the less partly true. Their guns did not in fact begin firing on the 67th until the 4th Feb after the Regt had been firing for over four hours. When the Germans did turn their attention to the gunners the shells mostly fell short or were duds, although the Scottish Horse Medium guns did have several nasty casualties in the Bosco behind them.

 

I am really indebted to you for this graphic account.
Best regards.

 

If you should want any more info ref 6th Gordons others may have their War Diaries. Otherwise I could assist in that wherever Major Shepherd went he was in the 6th Gordons Battalion HQ from post Dunkirk 1940 until his disappearance on 10th December 1944 on Monte Calderaro, Monte Grande. Prior to Anzio he accompanied Lt Col Peddie in Tunisia and afterwards Lt Col Clapham.

 

Thanks very much.
I have George's Italy Star up my loft. Time to get it out and have it framed and on my wall, beside photos of my grandfather's who both fought in First World War in France, one in Border Regiment and the other in Scots Guards. The box that came with Italy star has George's service number and name and rank so that might help me to get more info. Thanks again for all your help and your recent offer of more.

 

William.

Start a conversation with me and I will happily send you a map showing where the 6 GORDONS Companies were deployed along the ridge between 3 Inf Bde in the north and Smelly Farm. I have walked the ground many times and have concluded that they did not really stand a chance. The ground that they were allocated to defend was on a forward slope in full view of the Germans to their east.

If you were not aware, there is a memorial to the battalion on the coast to the north of Anzio at Lavinio.

Regards

Frank

 

Owen.

In that case, I will see if I can work out how to get the map loaded onto here.

Regards

Frank

 

William.

This is the bulge that you mention. It was known as the Campoleone Salient.

You can see 6 GORDONS positioned below 1 KSLI.

Regards

Frank

 

Thanks very much Frank for this very informative reply. It is much appreciated.

Regards
William

 

Taken from the war diary WO 169-10266 "B" Sp Group 2/7 MX.

4 February 1944
There was shelling the night of 3/4 February on 6 Gordons area and Lieutenant Bartlett's 7 Platoon received fifteen 88mm shells on their area. At 05.00hrs Bartlett received information that about two companies of enemy had penetrated 6 Gordons area with tanks supporting them. Also an enemy machine gun had been established on the main road near the railway bridge 880382 (this was at Campoleone).

By 07.00hrs 6 Gordons were counter-attacking with tanks in support. At 07.20hrs Bartlett's 7 Platoon opened fire on an object believed to be a tank. There was much rain and mist in the morning, making visibility very poor. About 60 German prisoners were seen being brought back from the 6 Gordons area. The C.O. 6 Gordons [expressed his regret at ordering the cancellation of the harassing shoot by 7 Platoon the previous night, saying that he had done so as he was under the impression that another platoon would be carrying out the shoot]. Unfortunately, this other platoon was unaware of the positions occupied by 6 Gordons.

THE REDUCTION OF THE SALIENT 2-4 FEB MAP No.4 Taken from THE HISTORY OF THE FIRST DIVISION ANZIO CAMPAIGN January- June 1944. Fighting continued throughout the day on the 1 Division's front and the (five) platoons of "B" Support Group 2/7 Middlesex were in action intermittently. The rain, thunder and poor visibility continued. At 15.00hrs No 3 Company were warned that 6 Gordons would be withdrawn after a counter-attack by 1 London Scottish had been put in to relieve the pressure and regain lost ground. 7 & 9 Platoons (9 being my Grandfather's) (No. 3 Company) were to cover the withdrawal and the move to a new area.
Major Robotham (O.C. No.3 Company) arranged with the C.O. 6 Gordons that 7 and 9 Platoons would remain in position for 15 minutes after 6 Gordons were clear. More bad luck. However, the message could (not be passed on to these platoons as wireless communication had failed). I'm guessing that Private Harry Dopson is not best pleased with his C.O.

Pte Harry Dopson (9 Platoon ), early February 1987 The next morning, down the road, was our Commanding Officer (Robotham). Making signals, he wanted to know if he could come down or if we wanted him to crawl. We made him crawl. When he reached us he said that he'd have us later that day. He also told us that the shoot we had the night before, the Recce had been there. There were fifty dead Germans and the wounded they took away must have been many hundreds. Our four guns made such a hole in that German line that their attack was cancelled. No major attack at that time. Our C.O. got a medal for doing his job under shell fire. The one we made crawl to us after that night shoot. He got a medal for it! How cruel of the men of 9 Platoon.

On 4 February the line held by 2 Brigade had to be altered, and this meant that some units had to withdraw for about 2,000 yards. As the W/T communications had failed, Major Robotham set out himself to carry the orders, and to do so had to cross much ground under heavy fire, being also unaware of the enemy's exact whereabouts. He successfully contacted all his platoons, and it was largely through his efforts that withdrawal was successfully accomplished. He was awarded a well-deserved M.C. for this action. ("Middlesex Regiment 1919-52")

The five platoons of 'B' Support Group 2/7 Mx experienced shelling and mortar fire throughout 4 February, and although Lieutenant John Friar's (O.C. 8 platoon jeep was hit by shrapnel and the wireless damaged, there were no casualties in the Support Group. 9 Platoon were due to cover 7 Platoon's withdrawal at night, but [owing to ANOTHER misunderstanding] they withdrew at 21.00hrs and proceeded to the area north of the Lateral Road, at map reference 8928. 7 Platoon then had to cover the withdrawal of what remained of 6 Gordons, who had been badly mauled. The following illustration shows "Smelly Farm", or Shit Farm has I prefer. That's what the 46 Royal Tank Regiment called it. I think that is appropriate. Taken a month earlier and is from the 5 Grenadier Guards war diary.


When the 6 Gordons withdrew from the salient and took up a reserve position during the night of 4/5 February, they had lost the best part of three companies. Just after midnight, the platoon commanders of 'B' Company 6 Gordons were told they were to withdraw in one hour. "As we marched past the farm, he (James Peddie, 6 Gordons' C.O. was standing there besides the blazing barns, waiting until the last man passed."
Source: "The Perilous Road To Rome Via Tunis" by Edward Grace, a 'B' Company Lieutenant in 6 Gordons. This description by Lt Edward Grace is borne out by Major Bruce's memory, 1961. "Only one company of Gordons returned, followed by their Middlesex (machine gun) platoon. I met one returning platoon in pitch darkness and rain followed immediately by the O.C. 6 Gordons bringing up the rear- looking "brave" in his kilt and with a walking stick."

Edit: Major E.M. Bruce was 2 I/C of No.3 Company 2/7 Middlesex Regiment at the time.

Regards,
Stu.

 

From the battalion history:

 

Frank, whats it called?

Turn right out of the Grand Hotel dei Cesari, then turn right again onto the Via Ardeatina and head for Lavinio. Is it to the south of the town on that road. Roughly, how long to walk it?
Looked on google maps, but can't see it.

Regards,
Stu.

 

Stu.

Sorry, what is what called?

F

Are you looking for the 6 GORDONS Memorial?

F

Stu.

It is at the junction of Viale Virgilio and Lungomare Enea in Lavinio.

 

Yes, the 6 Gordon's memorial. The Elf has a quick march when i get going. How long to walk it from hotel?
Much ta.
Stu.

 

Stu.

1 hr 20 mins each way.

Regards

Frank

 

Thanks very much for this diary entry. my grandfather served in the REME and landed on Anzio beach head.