D Day Dodgers Group

I have been wondering of late how many if any Canadian or British Italian Campaign men took their Thompsons with them when they left Italy for NWE Theatre. I am currently reading Steel Cavalry (8th NBHs) and there are several mentions of men taking their faithful Thompsons into battle. So this got me thinking if any men took them to use in NWE instead of turning them in for the issued Stens.

Any Veterans know of this happening?

 

Graham
It is my understanding that all Thompsons were turned in before departure as the Canadian army were using Stens in NWE and there would have been ammunition supply problems. All units were required to reduce their equipment stocks to war establishment Level no extra tanks being used as chicken coups no extra trucks for infantry transport, surplus weapons ect all turned in. . The 5th Can Armoured Division was particularly over equipped as they had finally started receive their promised new vehicles in July, August 44, as a result they had shepperded the accumulated inventory in spares. In fact in early 45 it was a bit of a coup for the 8th army as they had been pretty much left out of the supply loop since that Normandy thingy.

 

D Day Dodger that's me Paul. Joining your group.

Gerry

 

Better late than never Gerry
Lovely to see you still posting on the forum

Lesley

 

D Day Dodger that's me Paul. Joining your group.

Gerry

Hi Gerry, this was the first time I noticed your link to your webpage and it looks really good. I have a bullion cap badge from one of your comrades and the NIH deserve a greater recognition than they get I think.

Regards,

Jerry

 

Gerry.

I am out in Cassino in Jun 13 having a really good look at the NIH attack on the Hitler Line. I am really looking forward to it.

Regards

FdeP

 

Bond
All of us who served in Italy were due a better recognition than we have ever had as when we had finally taken Rome - all the reporters scuttled off to France - and we became a secondary theatre - hence this D Day Dodgers group - and Gerry finally joining us and who is more than welcome - and brings lots of history with him...
Cheers

 

Bond
All of us who served in Italy were due a better recognition than we have ever had as when we had finally taken Rome - all the reporters scuttled off to France - and we became a secondary theatre - hence this D Day Dodgers group - and Gerry finally joining us and who is more than welcome - and brings lots of history with him...
Cheers

I know Tom, my Dad was with you there.

 

I would very much like to join this group as my dad was with the 45th LAA and has the Italy Star. I am just beginning to find out his movements and hoping this group might prove useful. Love reading the views of the Veterans.

 

Hi
As the Grandson of a Grenadier Guard at Anzio who has all his medals am extremely proud of his service and I too would like to be part of the D Day Dodger forum (if I am allowed?)

 

Is there a best time to visit Italy? last time I did a trip, Bologna, Sicily and Anzio areas was during May. The weather around Bologna and on Sicily was resonable, with the odd wet / misty day, Anzio was hot.
Did have similar trip, to include Spaduro (Gothic Line) as well, last September but cancelled due to injury, but am looking at booking another trip either later this year early next.
Thanks for any advice.

 

jamesmurrow

depends on where you go as many regions have different temperatures at different times-

the Gothic Line area is good during the first two weeks in September - then the monsoons

set in - and you will be hotel bound - just don't go anywhere near ROME or South in August

May is usually a good month for most as it begins to heat up in that month after the tough

winters
Cheers

 

Hi Tom
Thanks for that and the head up for the Gothic line, yes, with the areas I am looking at, the weather conditions will vary.
Regards James

 

I have read several accounts (mostly regimental histories) that mention the main supply roads getting broken down into deep fine dust. Several of these accounts comment that the dust was yellow. I am working on a Sherman II of GGHG's (CHIMPANZEE) during the Liri Valley battle and I was curious as to what shade of yellow the dust was. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Yellow ?

Nonsense !

I think that I ate my fair share of Italian mud and I tell you now it it was brown.

Ron

 

Liri Valley dust yellow - NAH - as one man said of it " dehydrated Monkey Muck...

Cheers

 

Thanks Ron & Tom.

Was it at least light brown???

What about Sicily? I have read accounts that say that the dust there was white.

 

The Sicilian campaign was fought in August, the dry season.

Lots of dust, very light brown.

We literally ate it and constantly spat it out !

Believe me !

Ron

 

The air filters of a Churchill Tank had to be cleaned often - along with the four carburrators especially in dusty areas - which meant ALL of North Africa and Italy - and we had to agree with the chap who called it Dehydtrated Monkey Muck - which became very dark brown when the monsoons started - and few vehicles moved fast...

Cheers

 

I would like to join the group on behalf of my Dad, I also await service records applied for six months ago. I have spent countless hours reading through the posts, truly fascinating. In regards to the photos posted with St Peters in the background I attach one of my Dad in a group of D Day Dodgers, our belief was that after getting sick from petrol fumes somewhere he was granted leave to Rome maybe that is why they are all there!!!!