15 Sep 1944: Bob’s leave is extended to train newcomers at Vasto. “Every day counted in this dangerous game”

The 6th Battalion returned to Italy after only six weeks’ rest in Egypt. . . while it was there, the battalion was brought up to full strength by drafts from reinforcement depots and other units in Egypt. Disembarkation took place at Taranto on 15 September 1944. Training of the newcomers then began in earnest, with the emphasis on platoon and section work

– The Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment 1920-1950 by Lt Col H.D.Chaplin (Naval and Military Press)

Bob’s diary:

“While in the Middle East, the Division had received many reinforcements from artillery units who had been a surplus to requirements and were therefore being changed to infantry. This had resulted in the Bn being much stronger than was necessary in action and accordingly a reinforcement Coy was formed to proceed to Vasto until required.

“6 RWK decided to put all the men who had seen most action into this Coy. . . and I, together with a 100 or so men, was despatched to Vasto while the Bn went north by road to resume their fighting days. The break we had in Egypt had in no way restored my morale for further fighting and I welcomed this stroke of luck in having the rest period extended, even if the break only lasted a week or so. Every day counted in this dangerous game.”

The Battle of Termoli: “Life is sweetest when death is nearest”

Battle of Termoli, October 1943

Bob’s diary:

“We moved off very early and a small party of us dashed off in the jeep ahead of the main body, although no-one was told why. Soon we reached a long stream of traffic, resembling Wembley on an international weekend – vehicles nose-to-tail for nearly a mile and the head of the column halted at a blown bridge which the REs were hurrying to replace with a pontoon. During schemes, no vehicle had been allowed to approach nearer than 50 yards to another, but here was the real thing. We prayed the German Air Force was not around this morning as we were still 400 miles short of the PO and not anticipating trouble, although the Salerno bridgehead was rumoured to be the scene of heavy fighting and the advance to on the West Coast almost at a standstill.

“Safely across that bridge, I heaved a sight of relief and within a few minutes we were in Termoli, where to my amazement I found the Bn had landed from the sea the previous night. I joined my Company who were just having breakfast and resting in a large house. Scarcely had I got indoors before an air attack started and the machine gunning and sounds of diving planes filled the air. Rumour had it that we were to walk from here and as we were still several hundred miles from our declared target – the PO – this didn’t sound too pleasing a prospect. Someone else said that the Germans were holding the hills outside the town but as I had just come into the town by road, I didn’t think that possible. 

“Next we were told that our own Commandos had landed here the previous night, ahead of the Bn, taken 60 Germans prisoner, captured a large amount of stores and we were in a slender bridgehead which had to be enlarged that afternoon. 

“Soon after leaving Termoli, enemy shellfire came into our district. Obviously there was some sort of prepared line here but still no news was forthcoming and I just followed the man in front of me and gazed out over the Adriatic as we walked along back towards the blown bridge. The enemy artillery had arrived since we crossed the bridge by jeep. We marched three miles, during which trip enemy fighter planes dived on us but they were on their way back to base and out of ammunition. We lay down in a small spinney at the foot of a ridge. The platoon officer was called away to receive orders and he came back with news that we were to attack along this ridge at 2.15 and dig in a mile or so away. Opposition on the way was expected to be light but on the objective, heavy mortaring and shelling was almost a certainty.

“This ‘light opposition’ story was always told before an infantry attack and nearly always spoke extremely badly of our intelligence system – but it was one way of giving encouragement to men walking to almost certain death or disfigurement for life, however costly such a false impression might prove to be.

“I was with 17 Pl of D Coy on this day, but was not on the strength of the platoon, as I was there to understudy the platoon officer and get first hand knowledge of how a platoon behaves and exists in action.

“No high-flown textbook phrases here – but instead a blue sky, a hot autumn day and a stronger desire to go on living than I had previously noticed. Life is sweetest when death is nearest.

“2.15 arrived at last and we moved off in single line through the trees towards our starting line. We slowly picked our way across a ploughed field and then into a wood, where we passed two stretcher cases already being carried back. Whose turn next – would we be as lucky?

“As we climbed through this wood, we were halted for a few minutes as the artillery were not quite ready with their support. I lay down again and thought what else I might have been doing on this day. I could not think that I was to die that day because I still lacked knowledge of such outings. Danger could surely not be lurking in such a beautiful spot in such beautiful weather.

“Prepare to advance! Advance! And then out of the wood, just as our artillery opened up, the first shells dropping 50 yards to our left. Still, they were our own. Why worry? Why didn’t someone tell me?! The whole Company now broke cover and advanced in single line abreast along the southern side of the ridge which itself ran east and west. 17 Platoon was on the left flank and with our backs to the sea, we went forward, keeping a watchful eye on our right and a watchful ear for shells and mortar bombs.

“I had taken part in an identical Company attack, line abreast, at Malvern in 1940 and I thought back over the severe reprimand we section leaders had had at the end of it – what lay at the end of this one? The whole Company behaved splendidly and no man hesitated when heavy mortar fire began to burst just ahead, apart from odd individuals who, through force of habit (quickly acquired on battle!), went down on one knee, but then carried on immediately. The next moment, a German came running up with hands high over his head and back went one prisoner! Morale was at its highest and this was easy. 

“Pressing on along the ridge and climbing gradually too, towards a small house which we could now see and recognise as our objective, 17 Platoon suddenly came under machine gun fire from two directions. Here then was a taste of real infantry life and then two bullets were zipping very close. The only protection we had was the slight convex slope of the ridge and if we ventured higher, no man stood a chance of survival.

“The order was given for 17 Pl to work round to the left and take the enemy behind, but as soon as this was tried, another machine gun post opened fire and inflicted two casualties. The whole Company was now at a standstill and everyone started sniping at the Germans who could be seen against the sky line. I admired their courage. Three of them were in a slit trench which had an open stretch of 100 yards in front of it and the machine gunner would fire at 17 Platoon on our right; pick up his gun and then fire at us. The other machine gun on our left didn’t allow us to take rifle-range aim but we fired away as best we could without any apparent result.

“A bayonet charge was ordered and our officer was immediately shot through the side and one section leader killed. As soon as the Germans on our left saw the bayonets, they ran for it, but not so the three on top of the ridge. They carried on firing at 18 Pl until the leading men were 20 yards from their position and and 18 Pl officer was shot through the stomach by a revolver from point blank range. One of the Germans now lost his nerve and scrambled out of the trench and ran for it, to be shot dead by angry bullets before he covered many yards. The other two put their hands up as they stood in the trench but both were quickly bayoneted.

“18 Pl had heavy casualties in the final assault and we carried on to consolidate the objective, occupying trenches just vacated by the fleeing Germans. Some had not yet reached cover at the foot of the hill and we tried to pick them off with rifles. The range was too great, however.

“Eight hundred yards or so away, three enemy took refuge behind a lone tree in a ploughed field. Ammunition was now low and some had to be kept in case of counter attack. Those men who had not been quick enough to get into a German slit trench now began to dig one while the luckier ones kept watch for enemy actions. Mortaring and shelling was not as heavy as anticipated but the hay rick by the house was set on fire and our platoon position was lit up all night. A very uncomfortable feeling this, as it was an excellent aiming mark for the enemy’s night firing. We suffered no further casualties that night and during the evening we shared out a box of German toothpaste, writing paper and shaving blades which had been left behind, had a cold meal, checked our weapons and then sat in our trenches to rest as much as possible.

“We decided to have a look round the position in the semi-light just before dawn, as once it became light we would have to stay in our trenches. The hay stack was a black smouldering heap as we passed it on our way over to the small house, which no-one had given a thought to enter. We pushed the door but it would only partly open and on closer examination, we saw that it was held by the body of an old Italian farmer who was lying in a semi-conscious condition with a large blood stain on his clothes. He had been there all night in this dreadful condition and I felt very upset that we had not discovered him earlier. He was too weak to speak but just looked at us. We quickly roused the stretcher bearers and as soon as they arrived on the scene, we carried on round the back of the house where our own dead were lying.

“There were three bodies there and it was somehow impossible to believe that yesterday these shapes had personalities and plans of their own. The sight did not upset or unnerve me but made me realise that war was completely crazy. One thought that always struck me on these occasions was the fact that the next of kin would be going about their everyday tasks the same as usual that day and the news would not reach them for several days yet. The bottom was on the way out of several peoples’ worlds – or could it be that this would solve a complicated and tricky family problem? It was impossible to know how to feel and that maybe accounts for the non-registration of sorrow at this oft-described scene of horror. I had come to accept all conditions of life and here was the condition of death being accepted in the same unprotesting manner.

“We continued along the hedgerow which enclosed the small orchard and 20 yards along it, we discovered an enemy trench which had received a direct hit from our artillery fire. Two Germans lay dead, partly covered over with earth – on the first, our sergeant found a revolver, and on the other, a wrist watch which he handed to me. I could not have touched that body at this stage of my career but the experienced fighting boys wasted no time giving ‘stiffs’ the once-over. I decided to keep the watch. Death was in the air and that day I completely resigned myself to this state of affairs and could not hold out many hopes for my continued existence. Comradeship reaches its highest peak under these conditions and could men but work together thus in more favourable surroundings, the world would be a better place to live in.

“Rain started to fall and soon after 7 o’clock. . . the OC told us that the bridge over the river was not yet strong enough to allow tanks passage and the Germans were known to have reinforced overnight with tanks and infantry. A counter attack was almost certain and if tanks came among us, we were to retreat rather than sacrifice ourselves, uselessness against hopeless odds – nothing was said of the place we were to retreat to.

“By 9 o’clock, the rain had stopped and the front was quiet. The Buffs were to pass through that day on to higher ground in front of us and we had the satisfaction of knowing we had done our task and got away with it. An hour later, a number of men ran across the front of our position about 150 feet away with gas capes trailing behind and our bren gunner opened fire as more of our troops were known to be there. A few minutes later the platoon on our right came charging through our positions, saying that German tanks were on us. We had heard nothing and were inclined to doubt this. However, we checked our equipment and weapons and in the next minute we too were out of our trenches and on the way south. Enemy tanks had approached unheard owing to the hilly nature of the ground and had caught us unawares.

“We ran on to the reverse slope of the ridge and saw the whole Bn streaming back well ahead of us. A hundred yards from the top of the ridge was a small vineyard and a group of us, plus one bren gun, halted here under cover for a few minutes – not a wise move. The only thing to do was to run for it and hope that with so many targets to choose from, the Germans could overlook me. I kept over to the right a bit away from the rest of the group and after I had covered 50 yards, my gas cape came unrolled and wound itself round my legs. There was no cover available and I had no alternative but to stop and roll it. As I did this a sniper put several shots uncomfortably close and I was soon on my way zig-zagging through a ploughed field. This proved to be heavy going and I was exhausted by the time I reached the foot of the ridge and plunged into the undergrowth.

“Having reached good cover, I paused to recover my breath and to review the situation. I observed three tanks moving in among our platoon position to be followed by a section of infantry who quickly got under cover and held the position while the tanks moved across the top of the ridge towards the sea and Termoli – sitting targets for anti-tank guns, but what few we had were nearer Termoli.

“The enemy made no move to advance down the side of the ridge and I decided that I had better try and find the rest of the Company. The undergrowth I was in consisted of thick brambles and I was forced to abandon my attempt to crawl through them as progress was so slow. I decided instead to crawl over them and after a last look back to see the enemy position, I succeeded in slowly getting clear across the top of the brambles using my rifle to distribute my weight over as large an area as possible. I felt sure that it would be safe to move across the foot of the ridge in among the trees and walked cautiously towards the wood in which we had rested before attacking the previous day.

“I could see the bridge two miles away and just beyond it, in the Adriatic, two tank landing craft were coming in close to the beach. All these targets were heavily engaged by enemy aircraft and  I watched bombs narrowly miss both vessels. The weather was perfect by this time and my heart was very heavy when I considered that the model attack of yesterday had been in vain and would have to be done all over again.

“Rounding a bush I came upon a Scots lad belonging to a medical unit, who was stripped to the waist and had a large hole in his back just below the left shoulder blade. My first sight of an ugly wound but my eagerness to help made me forget to feel ill. I applied my field dressing, gave him a drink and then helped him along as best I could. Soon afterwards we met a party of stretcher bearers and I handed over my charge to them and carried on.

“I now came across Bn HQ and was amazed to find it deserted but with vehicles parked all around it. The road leading back had four vehicles which all appeared to have been deliberately ditched and this was a bitter blow to me. A complete shambles had apparently set in and where was I to go from here?

“The tanks had gone right away now as the ridge was quiet and it was hard not to believe that this was all a dream. I went on and came across one of our lads who was hiding in a ditch and was determined not to move until darkness came to his aid. I wanted to join up with 17 Platoon again however and made up my mind to get back to our starting point. I could see no movement anywhere and on reaching open ground, I was fortunate to find a long ditch that ran in the direction I wanted to take. No-one hindered my progress and I was soon well away from the ridge and could now see figures dressed in battle dress.

“The first person I met was the Coy Cmdr who told me that the Company was now only one platoon strong and was holding a position nearby. We walked back to Coy HQ which was in a farmhouse and rejoined the few. (Most of the Company came back that night but other Companies suffered serious casualties). We dug shallow trenches, carried straw up into there from the farmhouse and I sat trying to get my watch to work.

“About 4 o’clock, Sherman tanks were due to cross the bridge and come up to give their support on the ridge. Four of them were immediately destroyed by the enemy’s guns, but taking this as a warning, the remainder of the Squadron employed craftier tactics and the initiative gradually became ours again. Termoli was held – but only just. That night a severe frost seemed designed to make our defeat even more biting and I was thankful that I had not discarded my gas cape earlier in the day. We held these positions for the next day and were then sent into Termoli town to rest.

The Bn left Termoli the same afternoon, going into farmhouses just outside the town as Higher Command had decided that the danger of air attack was too great to risk losing infantry at this stage. 17 Pl was given a small outhouse for a billet and we cleared out a great deal of oddments – sacks of corn, furniture, farming utensils – to make more sleeping room. One blanket per man was issued and I was comfortably settled on the top of several sacks of corn with a layer of straw on top. Mice used to scamper around but what could matter less – we were much better placed than we had been for nearly a week, so why start complaining now.”