Ron. That is my point. 11 Inf Bde were part of 78 BR Inf Div and supported for their medical needs by 11 Fd Amb. Just because they were in Prezensano does not mean that that would be where a 10 Inf Bde casualty, from a completely different Inf Div, would go. My money is on 10 Fd Amb being in Prezensano along with other Fd Ambs. Regards Frank
Frank Don't know if you can understand that in the midst of battle there comes a point when the various Field Ambulance staff are overwhelmed and wish that the bodies would just stop coming at them and tell the RASC drivers to take them to anywhere else - for example - one battle that I was involved with at the Gothic Line - in ONE week- we suffered 150 KIA and 650 WIA - DAILY - now that adds up to 1050 KIA and 11,900 WIA - in ONE BLOODY WEEK and for the duration of that month long battle we suffered 14,000 KIA and numberless WIA - I guess it didn't matter which field ambulance was allocated to your division - they all had people to treat wounded men and send them on to the CCS or Gen Hospitals…OR bury them now the fighting at Cassino - at times equalled that rate PLUS the fact that on one document it states categorically that he died and was buried in the 11th FA cemetery… look it up for yourself…as it is one thing to explain in detail as to what happened in this area 70 years ago- and quite another to show how to dig a hole in a rock with your bare hands in avoiding the various death dealing units aimed at your head... I think the main problem for people to understand what battle is all about is the TV show "MASH" which was the equivalent of our CCS' with surgeons all over the place and nurses by the dozen-lots of laughs etc BUT even they sent on difficult cases… Cheers
Hi Bods - I have also received something similar to you from the MoD regarding my uncle who died of wounds in Italy. I have been advised (by Tom Canning) to get back to them at Glasgow and demand the FULL details. In my case those two small pages were so dark that even a professional photo-shop could not copy them. I shall certainly be doing just that and have already drafted a letter, but printer problems today have prevented me sending it. I wish you well with gaining the information you seek. Evader
Bods / Frank Evaders uncle is one of the WIA of the Gothic line week that I referred to in Post 42 and I am getting the thought that it is becoming plain that anyone who is KIA - died of wounds then his records are no longer viable - this is totally wrong as people still want to know - and I can appreciate the shortage of staff at Glasgow to do all work necessary - BUT - it has to be done… Cheers
Hello everybody Well off to Cassino next week. Just to finish off this post. The CWGC sent me an email to say they had come across the map reference for Presenzano Military cemetry and when we plotted this and looked using Google earth we found the view matched exactly with an old photos of the 8th British Surgical Unit and New Zealand CCS. So we can now visit Sids resting place before Cassino and the area he almost certainly died. Thank you to everybody for all your help,a great site. Paul
Paul, Good luck in your travels. I'll be at the Beds and Herts memorial on 16th - will confirm a time later. Watch out for the Giro which finishes at mts 484 on Thursday http://www.gazzetta.it/Giroditalia/2014/en/percorso-tappe/tappe.shtml?t=06&lang=en best
To anyone visiting the CWG Cemetery at Cassino this year. Spare a thought and perhaps visit the grave of Geoff Burnard ? http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/54/a3757854.shtml Ron Ps My thoughts will be with you http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/86/a4062386.shtml
Ron, My thoughts will be with you, my Dad and all your mates and comrades - wherever they may be.. BURNARD, REGINALD GEOFFREY Rank: Gunner Service No: 14316033 Date of Death: 14/04/1944 Age: 42 Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery 49 Lt. A.A. Regt. Grave Reference III. G. 18. Cemetery CASSINO WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Reginald Awdry Burnard and Edith Mary Burnard; husband of Evelyn Mary Burnard, of Ilminster, Somerset. best
Just to confirm there'll be short memorial occasion at the Beds and Herts memorial (near Cassino CWGC) at around 1830 on May 16th... all are welcome to join us.
Excellent meeting with Paul and his wife and his mother in law at the Beds and Herts memorial tonight...very moving indeed. Paul will no doubt further feedback details of his journey in due course. Photos from me tomorrow. Best
Richard Thanks for the visit to and photo of Geoff's grave site. At 42 he was very much the oldest member of our Diver/Op draft and his untimely death was a surprise and worry to us all. Ron
Belatedly, a couple of photos from the Beds and Herts memorial on 16th May. It was an absolute privilege to meet with Eileen, Paul and Cindy and spending extended time reflecting on the memory of Private Sydney Hyde and his comrades. Thanks are due to Paul H, who had coordinated the mounting of the memorial back in 2009 and for arranging a wreath from the Royal Anglian Regiment and to John Howes (son of Major Tom Howes MC) who helped to clear the site early that day. best
Hello everybody I will try in this post to post some photos of Eileens Cassino Visit. The trip was a great success due in great part to the help of our many new friends at Cassino and on this site. We went to see the area where sid was wounded and then onto visit Presenzano where Sid was treated and then visited the map ref. supplied by the CWGC for Presenzano Military Cem.which was where Sid was buried before being moved to Cassino the place now being a civlian cem.This was a very moving occasion and Eileen picked and has pressed a few poppies from the site to remember it by. We then attended the 70th anniversary at Cassino and then onto the reception wher Eileen met Prince Harry who asked her all about Sid. A great and moving day! Two days of our trip was on Franks fantasic battlefields tour which gave us an real insight into Sids role and movements. If any body thinks we might have any photos which might feature them or be of interest let me know. Also if anybody has any photos with Eileen on ,especially with Prince Harry we would be grateful Paul
Hi Paul Thanks for the lovely post and photos. I have quite a few of the reception but unfortunately Eileen is not on them. (The security guy at the back of Harry always looks miserable-his face is exactly the same on my photos :wink: ) Hope you had a great time, I wouldn't have missed it for the world Lesley
