The Battle of Mozzagrogna | Royal Fusiliers & Gurkhas | November 1943

Discussion in 'Italy' started by davidbfpo, Nov 28, 2021.

  1. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    The battle at Mozzagrogna appears in a small number of threads, mainly due to the role of the 1st Royal Fusiliers and the 1/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles, starting 27/11/1943, with bitter street fighting in the village, that led to their withdrawal the next day. The village overlooked the River Sangro.

    Today I found a new, short YouTube clip on the battle, the author appears to be a forum member Sliben who has not been aboard since 2016 (PM sent 30/12/21).

    His introduction:


    Link:

    I'd never heard of this battle, nor the use of flamethrowers using a Panzer Three chassis.
     
    Last edited: Dec 30, 2021
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  2. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

  3. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    At the Regimental Chapel of the Royal Fusiliers in the City of London, I recall seeing a monument erected to this battle. I was there in 2019 and it had only recently been erected in the Memorial Gardens. I did wonder at the time why this battle had been singled out.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  4. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    My father, Edmund, remembered the scene in Mozzagrogna when he arrived in the town on 30th November soon after the successful assault by 2nd Bn London Irish Rifles.

    "Closely following E Company, I travelled along the road from Mozzagrogna soon after the attack had been completed. I saw the preparation of funeral ghats for the many Indian dead, casualties in the attack. I continued into Fossacesia and arrived just as the company moved a piano into the street. One of the lads was playing it..."


    A photo here of the Memorial to Indian forces at the Sangro River CWGC Cemetery:

    A previous thread on this period:
    Attack on the Winter Line at the Sangro River, November 27th 1943.

    P1080971 - Copy.JPG
     
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  5. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    That is a great video. From "Tiger Kills"

    Major Morland Hughes had established battle headquarters in the church in the main square. A first-aid post was set up in the shelter of the altar. The roar of enemy tanks grew louder, and Fusiliers took station at the doors with limpet bombs to meet the panzers, should they endeavour to break in. Major Morland Hughes climbed to the belfry to reconnoitre. At that moment two enemy tanks, a flamethrower and a Mark Four, lurched into the square and bore against the church. The flamethrower hosed the walls with blazing oil. Across the square Major Warner of Royal Fusiliers swiftly swung a PIAT by rope to a roof top. The first well-aimed bomb blew off the flamethrower’s turret. As its commander climbed out, Major Morland Hughes shot him. Detecting the sniper high overhead the Mark Four sprayed the belfry with its light guns, missing the marksman but hitting the peal of bells. The carillon rang wildly as Major Morland Hughes climbed down in some haste. Before the Fusiliers’ PIAT could score again the second panzer withdrew and no equivalent liberties were attempted thereafter. The battle reverted to a man to man struggle.

    [​IMG]

    Source of image

    I guess that building behind knocked tank is a church in which Major Morland Hughes, from 1/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (F.F.) established his HQ. Cross is visible on the right top part of the building. I will look into some award recommendations for this battle and post it here during next week.

    In May 1945 the 1/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (F.F.) presented to the 1st Royal Fusiliers a silver mounted kukri (now in the Museum at the Tower of London) to recognise their long association in Italian Campaign. I found this, quite small, photos from that occasion.

    royal-fusiliers-5th-gurkha-rifles_360_042e9091d142c214c4d93e202c130f681.jpg royal-fusiliers-5th-gurkha-rifles_360_042e9091d142c214c4d93e202c130f682.jpg royal-fusiliers-5th-gurkha-rifles_360_042e9091d142c214c4d93e202c130f683.jpg

    Source
     
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  6. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    The Memorial on Mozzagrogna as it looked in 1943 and how it looked a couple of years ago when I visited it.

    mozzagrogna.jpg

    P1090018.JPG
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2021
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  7. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Major (T/Lt. Col.) Henry Cuthbert Partridge
    1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    The Distinguished Service Order

    During the battle at Mozzagrogna he was CO of 1st Royal Fusiliers. He died in a plane crash in the Adriatic Sea on 23 January 1945.

    [​IMG]

    Source
     

    Attached Files:

  8. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    W/Captain (T/Major) Peter Eric Henry Warner, MBE
    1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    Recommended for DSO, awarded the Military Cross
     

    Attached Files:

  9. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    WS/Lieutenant Harrison Staveley Adams
    1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    The Military Cross
     

    Attached Files:

  10. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Captain James Alexander Lyon Naughton
    The Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to 1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    The Military Cross
     

    Attached Files:

  11. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Corporal Albert William Pegrum
    1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    Recommended for DCM, awarded the Military Medal
     

    Attached Files:

  12. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    L/Sargent James Reynolds
    1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    Recommended for DCM, awarded the Military Medal
     

    Attached Files:

  13. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Fusilier Geoffrey Kirby
    1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    The Military Medal
     

    Attached Files:

  14. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Fusilier Kenneth Snelling
    1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
    The Military Medal
     

    Attached Files:

  15. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    From "Desperate Encounters" by R M Maxwell, about 1/5th Royal Gurkha Rifles at Mozzagrogna

    IMG_0632.jpg IMG_0633.jpg IMG_0634.jpg IMG_0635.jpg IMG_0636.jpg
     
  16. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    W/S Lieutenant Tom James Whiteside Allen
    1st Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
    The Military Cross
     

    Attached Files:

  17. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Jemadar Jitar Ghale
    1st Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
    The Indian Order of Merit, 2nd Class
     

    Attached Files:

  18. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Subedar Ujirbahadur Gurung
    1st Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
    Recommended for MC, awarded the Indian Distinguished Service Medal
     

    Attached Files:

  19. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Naik Dhanbahadur Thapa
    1st Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
    The Indian Distinguished Service Medal
     

    Attached Files:

  20. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    Naik Nepte Ghale
    1st Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)
    The Indian Distinguished Service Medal
     

    Attached Files:

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