I hope this isn't appearing as a self-indulgent thread, rather more as information shared. Reading in Rome '44 by Raleigh Trevelyan about this action. He says the Gulley was a pozzolana quarry , as it appears it still is looking at the GE image. Lt Paul Freyburg, son of the New Zealand General Freyburg VC, was captured in the same action. Marmaduke Hussey was also wounded & captured there too. The Gulley was attacked by No7 Company of Grenadier Regiment 147 , under Leutnant Heinrich Wunn, who would win the Knight's Cross for his bravery on that & subsequent days. There were also men from the US 504 Parachute Regiment involved in that action too. When the Germans had captured the Gully it appeared to have been used as a supply base. Everthing was arranged in piles-rifles, ammo, barbed wire,spades, uniforms, Red Cross material . Some motor-bikes & lorries loaded with food. The Germans ate what cold rations they could but were weary of booby-traps. Staff-Sergeant Bernhard Luy was annoyed to see some pigs eating a dead Tommy so he shot at them so he and another man buried the half-eaten Tommy. He commented that 'Is this what we're fighting for ? To be eaten by pigs?' Later they found several tins of cigarettes and a lot of chocolate.
This photo is taken from the side street to the left of the north end of The Gully on the GE image looking south. This image is taken from a point on the GE image by the "N" of the compass looking north. I think 64 years of industrial activity has filled in the ditch somewhat. The ditch contunes behind us and is very deep. We could easily image the Germans running up and down looking for a crossing place with Major Sidney and others holding them back.
It was quite some place to visit - the far end was very deep and we saw 'caves' in one far bank which we could imagine both sides using. Very much off the beaten track, but a fascinating place to visit. Similar view to Owen's:
I hope this isn't appearing as a self-indulgent thread, rather more as information shared. Don't be silly, that's the function of my threads. Has got me thinking again about Humphrey Littleton though, a good chance he was here. I've tried without success to track down more than the sparse info about Humph's service, but inevitably find nothing but jazz or "clue" data. Any ideas? cheers,
Has got me thinking again about Humphrey Littleton though, a good chance he was here. I've tried without success to track down more than the sparse info about Humph's service, but inevitably find nothing but jazz or "clue" data. Any ideas? Wrong Battalion. This was 5GG. Humph was with 6GG, he'd have been with them at the Monte Camino battle if he was still with them after Salerno, 6GG & 201 Gds Bde would have been near Trimonsuoli in the Aurunci Mountains west of the Garigliano when 5GG was fighting this action at Anzio, early Feb 44. Need to check war diaries really to be sure he was still with them.
Hi Owen Just cought up with your question regarding Humphrey littleton, yes he did serve in the 6th G.G. as was at the Salerno landings, at the end of the battle for Salerno Humph suddemly left the battalion and returned the England, not sure why although I am in touch with the Guardsman that was with him when they had to crawl forward to repeir telephone cable which had become damaged during the shelling, he believd that Hump contracted jaundice (which was prevalent at that time) quite a few 6th G.G. went down with it as well as Malaria. That same Guardsman then joined No 2 Coy and was the otehr radio Operator with my Uncle on Camino and was with him when he was killed. He now lives in Hinckley Liecs and will be attending "Black Sunday" Grenadier Guards Regimental remebrance day at Wellington Barracks May 16th, I shall be there as well, if there is anybody that wishes to talk with a few Old Grenadiers (not many left now) why not come along Regards Mike (Rotherfield)
Hi Owen Re your message regarding the V.C. won at Anzio, I have spoken to a couple of Grenadiers that were there and they are of the opinion that it should have gone to the Sgt who was priming the grenades that maj Sydney was throwing at the Germans, but never got a mention. Maj Sydney's family own Penshurts Place Kent if anybody is interested, it is open to the public Mike (Rotherfield)
Hi Owen Re your message regarding the V.C. won at Anzio, I have spoken to a couple of Grenadiers that were there and they are of the opinion that it should have gone to the Sgt who was priming the grenades that maj Sydney was throwing at the Germans, but never got a mention. Maj Sydney's family own Penshurts Place Kent if anybody is interested, it is open to the public Mike (Rotherfield) Hi Mike, Do you know who the Sgt's name?
Sorry to bump this, but I'm researching the 65th Infantry Division (to whom Grenadier Regiment 147 belonged) which includes translating the divisional history published in 1974. If anyone still has images of the area in which Major Sidney and Leutnant Wunn fought, it would be of interest to me.
Frank, did you get any joy? I would be interested in seeing the translation. Hats off to Michael if he has completed the all of it? Regards, Stu.
I have the 65. ID history but there are not any maps that illustrate the attack on 2 North Staffs and 5 Grenadiers. Those above are the best I've seen so far. Kampfgruppe Gericke was from 4. FJD albeit under command of 65. ID.
Great stuff. Have included the middle one in my Anzio Info Pack. Out there in Mar guiding a group from 4 Regt RMP so will use it then.
Hussey and other Grenadier Guards officers that went missing in Anzio. Lt. Eric Duncan Collie Lt. Anthony John Courage Lt Paul Richard Freyberg, M.C. Capt. Norman David Melville Johnstone, MBE looks like he was SOE Lt. Richard S. Longman POW card states he was captured on the 17th March 1944 at Laterina.
