Italy

Warwickshire Yeomanry in Italy

By Philip Wilson

Archivist Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum

The Warwickshire Yeomanry in Italy

On 11th April 1944 the Warwickshire Yeomanry learned officially that they were off to their next adventure, the battle for Italy. The bulk of the Regiment together with 3rd Hussars and R Wiltshire Yeomanry embarked on the transport Devonshire, which carried over three thousand troops. The convoy of eleven transports and four destroyers sailed on 30th April 1944 in somewhat rough and cold weather, the men were pleased to be wearing Battledress (BD). WKY had never been in an escorted convoy before, they were unable to admire the views however due to “look out” duties, and the prevalence of seasickness! They docked at the immense natural harbour of Taranto inside the “heel” of Italy.

The 9th Armoured Brigade disembarked on 4th May 1944 and moved just north of Foggia into what became known as “Nightingale Wood”, it was joined by 1st Royal Horse Artillery, equipped with twenty-four self-propelled (SP) 105mm guns mounted on tank chassis. This was an entirely appropriate grouping, as the RHA have just a high opinion of themselves as do the Cavalry and Yeomanry! There was now no Infantry Battalion in the Brigade. Much re-grouping had taken place, and the Allies under command of General Sir Harold Alexander, with US 5th Army under General Mark Clark and UK 8th Army under command of Lt General Sir Oliver Leese, were set a provisional date of 10th May to commence offensive action.

Sherman Tank Warwickshire Yeomanry

The 9th Armoured Brigade were under the command of 78th Division.

Each WKY Squadron was to support an infantry battalion:

“A” to 5th Northamptons, “B” to 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers, and “C” to 1st East Surreys.

The task allocated to 78^th Division was to cross the Melfa River and to advance along Highway 6 to Arce with the 11^th Brigade leading.

’ Now began a period of expectations and uncertainty waiting for the Regiment’s own battle to begin, a period of short moves over desperate and dusty roads leading through country so beautiful that it seemed a pity that war should do so much to spoil it. With demolitions of every kind the order of the day it was difficult for the tanks to keep up but nevertheless a steady progress was maintained, through San Pietro and Ceprano, until by 4 June 1944 the Regiment arrived just south of Frosinoni, still without any direct contact with the enemy.’

The Warwickshire Yeomanry In Italy - 1944

The following are extracts from ‘Yeoman Yeoman'.

The Warwickshire Yeomanry 1920-1956’ by Paul BAKER: ‘On 26 May 1944 the 9th Armoured Brigade moved forward through the devastation of Cassino and the battlefield strewn with knocked out tanks, passing the menacing mountain range on the right, capped with what was left of the Monastery, which had so long dominated the battlefield below and which, in its capture, had claimed so many Allied lives. On to Aquino, where the Warwickshire Yeomanry tanks joined the 78th Infantry Brigade. Each Squadron was to support an infantry battalion.’

‘On the morning of the 4 June 1944 elements of the 5^th Army entered the outskirts of Rome. On the following day, 5 June, as General ALEXANDER was lining up the 8^th Army’s Armoured Divisions for a thrust due north on Terni, Rome was declared an open city in an endeavour to extensive damage to its historic buildings.

On the 6 June came the announcement of the launching of the Second Front and the Normandy landings, just how this great undertaking would affect the Italian battle was difficult to foresee. Would the enemy be forced to withdraw divisions from this theatre as pressure on the new front built up? Would he withdraw at once to the line of the River Po, or even to the Alps. Whatever happened it was probable that he would employ for a time a policy of imposing maximum delay on the advance of the Allied Armies in Italy by demolishing roads and bridges, coupled with careful siting of mines and anti-tank weapons.’

The following is an extract from The Teddy Bear Lancers – the Experiences of a Warwickshire Yeoman in the Second World War’ by Len FLANAKIN.

‘On the 5^th June the 5^th Army entered the outskirts of Rome. The following day came the announcement of the Normandy Landings. On 13^th June 78^th Division reached Castiglione with ourselves in support. We had seen no enemy ourselves yet. It was most eerie. Unlike the desert there were so many places to hide that the German anti-tank guns could afford to wait until they were at point blank range.

The following morning while making a probe forward with B Squadron on the road and ourselves C Squadron, supporting on the flanks B Squadron was commanded by Major Dicky SAMUEL, who on the 14th June 1944 was leading through Tordimonte, on the road alongside the River Paglia when it met the enemy’s anti-tank guns, all hell broke loose.

C Squadron had moved to high ground to cover the centre line and to overlook the town of Orvieto slightly to the left. A Squadron had been taken away eastwards to fight a separate battle. The engagement of the enemy by B Squadron was complicated by it being attacked at the critical moment by American fighter bombers, one of which dropped a bomb directly in front of the Squadron Leader’s tank causing it to stall. The moment it stopped it was hit by a shell from an 88 which killed one crew member and wounded Major SAMUEL and his driver.

The full account of this action on the 14^th June 1944 can be read in ‘Yeoman Yeoman – The Warwickshire Yeomanry 1920-1956’ by Paul BAKER. This action led to the crossing of the River Paglia on the 15^th June enabling the 75^th Division to cut in North of Orvieto which was then captured by the 6^th South African Armoured Division.

The following is an extract from ‘Yeoman Yeoman –The Warwickshire Yeomanry 1920-1956 by Paul BAKER:

‘Another fine day dawned on 15^th June 1944 and B Squadron advanced with recce under Capt. Tony ROWCLIFFE and Lieut Bob HARPER’s Troop in the van. Information gave the enemy as having withdrawn up to 30 miles and it was an unpleasant surprise, therefore when the recce vehicle was fired on and the crew forced to bale out were taken prisoner. Small arms fire, including tommy guns, was brought to bear on the surrounding undergrowth but there was no further reaction. An attempt was then made to fire the corn but without success.

Lieut Bill ABRAM’s Troop now took over the advance, moving over the ridge beyond which there was a small valley rising up to a walled cemetery. There was still no sign of the enemy, until ABRAM’s Troop was out in the open with no vestige of cover, it was engaged by the enemy who had a 75mm anti-tank gun sited at the right end of the cemetery wall (see photo).

Almost immediately Lieut ABRAM was killed and Sgt Tommy ELLIS lost a leg and, with the exception of Trooper BROCKIE, all the others were wounded. As the situation for the survivors was now quite impossible they surrendered to save further bloodshed. This left the rest of the Squadron faced with a difficult situation as further fire on the cemetery would endanger the lives of their captive comrades. No further move was made for the time being’.

C Squadron coming up onto the ridge’ saw below the smouldering wrecks of Lieut ABRAM’s Troop and, although there were abandoned enemy machine gun positions close by, the enemy was still actively engaged in bringing fire down onto the ridge (see 3 photos) .

A little later it was decided to engage the perimeter of the cemetery taking care to leave the chapel unhit as it was thought probable that the prisoners and wounded were being held there. A half track was then seen to hasten along the road and there then followed the familiar explosion as the road was blown.’

Later the advance was continued around the cemetery and the attack was pressed home and by the evening the village of Ficcule was cleared and handed over to the infantry. The cost of this action was heavy 6 killed and 15 others had been wounded.

At 0800 hours on the 19th June 1944, B & C Squadrons and R.H.Q Warwickshire Yeomanry moved on with 5th Northants towards Pannicale which had been reported clear; demolitions made the going very difficult and it was late in the afternoon when C Squadron was ordered to cross a canal and enter the village of Macchie.

Len FLANAKIN in ‘Teddy Bear Lancers – the experiences of a Warwickshire Yeoman in the Second World War’ recalls ‘moving towards the village of Macchie; 4th Troop were in the lead and ourselves 1st Troop were in support . The bridge had been blown when over the radio all hell broke loose, but 4th Troop were nowhere on is sight. Our Troop Leader radioed back to report we were going on. We drove through Macchie meeting a 4th Troop tank with someone waving frantically at us to go back but we carried onto the end of the village which led to cornfields. Here we came across a partially destroyed road block and two of our tanks knocked out, but as for seeing anyone – not a sign.

Lieut Paul BAKER who commanded 4th Troop of C Squadron recalls ‘that in front across a canal was a village. All was quiet, nothing stirred. As we emerged onto the flat ground I looked around but there was no sign of any movement to left or right; we seemed on our own entirely.’

A Sherman Dozer was called up to break down the canal banks and once the canal had been infilled 4th Troop crossed the canal and proceeded through the village of Macchie. They emerged into open country on the other side of the village, ‘and suddenly the Troop was being hotly engaged ‘Compton Wynyates’ was the first to be hit closely followed by ‘Compton Scorpion,’

Lieut Paul BAKER* in ‘Compton Verney’ was shot and blinded in this action, Paul remembers ‘the feeling of being marked by a letter “M” to show that morphine had been injected.’

4th Troop C Squadron lost two tanks on the 19th June, The Troop Officer was blinded and his gunner received a smashed arm. Nine were taken prisoner but one Sergeant managed to escape and hid in the corn all night. Three others also managed to get back. While B and C Squadrons were continuously probing forward A Squadron supported troops heading towards Castiglione del Lago and Lake Trasimeno. This is how the Italian Campaign was fought. Unlike the desert days together as a Regiment; but now split up and moving to wherever we were needed.

*Paul BAKER is the author of ‘Yeoman Yeoman – The Warwickshire Yeomanry 1920-1956.’ Its thanks to his remarkable memory & research, committed to paper by use of tape recorder and typewriter; together with the support five anonymous ‘Sons’ of the Regiment that we have this book.

On the 30th June 1944 the Warwickshire Yeomanry left the 78th Division and moved across to the 10th Corps front near Perugia.

The casualties between 1st June and the 30th June 1944 were eighteen tanks knocked out or damaged, twelve Yeoman killed and one died of wounds, one was listed as missing and eleven were known to be prisoners.

During the first three days of July, in the 10th Corps sector, the enemy continued to retreat on his left flank by evacuating Camerine, San Severino and Nocera Unbria which were promptly occupied. On the 3rd July 1944 the Regiment joined the 4th Indian Division and moved out to meet up with the 10th Indian Infantry Brigade and thence on towards Castel Rigone.

During the first three days of July 1944, in the 10th British Corps Sector the enemy continued to retreat on his left flank evacuating Camerine, San Severino, and Nocera Unbria which were promptly occupied.

On the 3rd July the Regiment joined the 4th Indian Division and moved out to meet up with the 10th Indian Brigade and thence on towards Castel Rigone. By mid-July the progress of the Allied Armies in Italy had slowed down as the enemy continued to defend the Ancona–Arezzo-Poggibonsi line with great determination and this eventually fell later that month only after much bitter fighting with the Regiment’s tanks in support of the Indian Infantry.

On those that could be spared found themselves went into Arezzo on the 25th July 1944 to meet a mysterious ”Admiral COLLINGWOOD” who turned out to be none other than His Majesty KING GEORGE V1 and they watched with interest a concentrated shoot fired in support of the hard battling going on at Campriano.

By the 1st August 1944 the Regiment had reached Pomaio and the next day it went on through Arezzo to Tregozzano. On the 3rd ‘A’ Squadron came under fire but avoided any casualties as they moved up to Le Casella.

The last Warwickshire Yeomanry tank action occurred on the 7th August when Lieut OATES Troop went forward in support of infantry and ran out of ammunition. Major Peter SAMUEL managed despite considerable shelling to bring up shells in a jeep, during the replenishment Lieut OATES was slightly wounded by a mortar bomb.

This then was the end of War in Italy for the Regiment, on the 8th August 1944 the 9th Armoured Brigade ceased to exist and the White Horse could look back with a certain of satisfaction on having done its job well.

The going had been hard, the country difficult and better results might have been achieved in a shorter time if the problems concerned with infantry/tank co-operation had been more readily appreciated and more closely studied from the start. However, report lines, objectives, code names and the like could be forgotten for a while and all ranks could rest, relax and think of the Avon rather than the Arno.’

A composite Squadron under Captain John MILLS remained for some three weeks to assist the Indian Divisions in the area of Bibbiena, north of Arezzo, and although the tanks were not called on for action, Recce went out regularly on patrols with the Indian Infantry to study the movements of the enemy who were busily engaged in reforming the Gothic line.

The Composite Squadron then returned to the Regiment on the banks of the Arno.

On the 6th September 1944 the Colonel organised a pheasant shoot on the estate of the Duke of AOSTA and during this he trod on a plastic mine, which blew off his foot. Immediately Cpls EATON, WARNER and SWANWICK went to his aid but the first two of them met with the same fate both requiring amputations. As though this was not enough Colonel JACKSON, on helping himself onto a stretcher put his remaining foot on another mine, his only remark being: “Oh well, there goes another one.”

‘Typically he had the courage and determination to ignore his injuries and to continue his normal life after the War.’

On 9th October 1944 the Regiment entrained with their kit for Naples having handed over most of their vehicles at Rimini and slowly made their way southwards. On arrival at Naples they paraded at the Grand Central Station and new battle dress was issued. All kit was taken aboard the Monarch of Bermuda and the men embarked over the hulls of sunken ships in the harbour. Finally on Friday 13th October 1944 they left Naples Harbour – the Regiment was really going home.

The second anniversary of the Battle of Alamein was spent at sea. After almost 4.9 years of active service the Warwickshire Yeomanry left Naples on 13th October and disembarked at Liverpool Docks on the 24th October 1944. A quiet arrival with no flags or bands to welcome them home but who cared? From Liverpool their journey lay across England to Livermere Camp near Bury St Edmunds.

In December the Town of Warwick extended an invitation to the Regiment to revisit the town and on 20 December 1944 the Regiment paraded under Lieut-Colonel John LAKIN. A thick blanket of fog had reduced visibility to 20 yards by 0900hrs but by the time the Regiment set off from the starting point at Warwick School some two hours later, the fog had lifted sufficiently to ensure reasonable visibility. They went by a circuitous route through the town to St Mary’s Collegiate Church passing the saluting base on route outside the Courthouse, in Jury Street where the Mayor and members including officials of the Corporation of Warwick, took the salute. There were few vacant seats in St Mary’s Church after the several hundred Yeoman and their relatives, distinguished visitors to the town, and the Mayor, members and officials of the Corporation of Warwick had taken their seat for the Memorial Service. The officiating clergy included the Lord Bishop of Coventry, the Rev. R.C. RUDGARD; Vicar of Moreton Morrell and the Rev. L.G. COATES, Curate of St Mary’s.

After the Memorial Service to those of the Regiment who had lost their lives, the Yeoman and invited guests entered Shire Hall for a Civic Luncheon were considering there was wartime rationing, they sat down for a good meal. Enclosed is a copy of the Luncheon Card for that day.

Trooper D.J. GUNTRIP records in his diary that ‘after the meal, with its numerous speeches, one of which bestowed on the Regiment the honour of the Freedom of Warwick, the Regiment could march through the town with “Flags Flying, and bayonets fixed.” I doubt if we could remember how to fix a bayonet, the last time I used one was way back in 1941, during the Syrian and Persian Campaigns for chopping wood and opening petrol tins.’

He records ‘the Yeoman were then issued with leave passes to be home for Christmas, the Scots in the Regiment would return to guard Fordham Camp, we would return from leave after Christmas in time for them to reach their homes in Scotland for the New Year.’ For many Yeoman this was their first Christmas at home after five years of war service.

The Regiment in early 1945 was effectively a Holding Regiment equipped with Churchill Tanks for training personnel and in March 1945 it became part of the 35th Tank Brigade. A life of training exercises and gunnery practice made many think of those early pre-war camps with horses.

Philip Wilson, Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum Trustee and Archivist

http://www.warwickshire-yeomanry-museum.co.uk/