Kiwi Soldier Web George Watson's War.
This site is the story of George Watson.
George served in the Second World War as a member of the British Armies East Surrey Regiment.
He saw active duty in Italy as a member of the London Irish Rifles.
London Irish Rifles Regimental History
May - June 1944
May 1944
15th
14.00 Heavy enemy shelling and mortaring of Bn concentration
area 840168 during afternoon.
16.30 One shell hits C.O.'s carrier: C.O. died of his wounds. Major Phillips
and three O.R.s wounded.
17.00 2 i/c goes forward to take over command of Bn.
17.30 E Coy report enemy tanks on track 829173. Bn suffer heavy
casualties from mortars. Lieut Lovatt wounded.
F & H Coys attack postponed.
19.40 C.O. & I.O. go to Bde for conference.
Enemy aircraft dive-bomb area forward of H Coy.
16th
09.00 Bn attack 821179 supported by tanks.
11.00 Enemy A/Tk gun reported on track 8418.
H Coy (left) on objective. F Coy (centre) out of touch with tanks.
12.00 Tanks report enemy tanks and infantry at 822168.
14.00 Derby Yeo. to go through Bn to 819185. Lieut Clark (H) killed
14.15 Lieuts Searles & O'Connor wounded. Report only six men
left in one platoon of H Coy.
14.30 Tanks report 824167 clear of enemy.
18.30 Tanks (Lothians) move into 'F' Echelon area.
19.00 Enemy counter-attack from west. 'F' Echelon take up
defensive positions. Attack coming in from area Ria
Piappdo 823169 with covering fire from 842170 across
hill 834169, through Northants positions. Tanks take up
defensive position on hill 843168 firing west and 846168
firing north-west. Infantry of 'F' echelon in position in
front of tanks at 843168.
20.00 Situation restored. Bn has taken all its objectives,
suffering about 100 casualties. Last light Bn positions:
BHQ 823177. Coys 818177, 821117, 824177, 824179 &
824176.
102 POWs taken during day from 361 PGR, etc.
4 enemy SP guns and 2 Mk IV tanks knocked out.
17th
07.00 1 R.Ir.Fus pass through Bn area to attack forward
10.00 Very heavy shelling of BHQ farm.
10.10 Enemy tank appeared in valley. Dealt with by own tanks.
10.20 6 enemy prisoners arrive at BHQ.
11.30 C.O.IS recce party forward.
11.35 Rifle Coys move forward to defensive area 815185.
11.40 5 Buffs arrive at BHQ farm. BHQ moves forward.
12.30 Bn halted on road at 820184. Area 815185 cannot be occupied
until after dark.
13.00 Bn heavy shelled. No casualties.
19.00 Bn arrives in area 810815. Intermittent enemy shelling.
18th
07.00 Coys send out patrols to clear area of enemy remaining
and gather information. Information received that Poles
are in Montecassino and that 4 Division cut Route 6 at
840197
13.00 Brigadier visits BHQ.
18.15 Draft of 50 reinforcements arrive at BHQ.
19.00 C.O. proceeds to Bde Tac HQ for conference.
19th
05.00 C.O.'s recce party goes forward to locate route and position
in new area.
06.30 Bn move forward.
08.30 Move completed to area 783193.
09.30 BHQ and Coy positions heavily shelled for 20 minutes.
2 O.R.s wounded.
10.00 C.O.'s '0' Gp.
10.30 C.O., I.0. and Coy O.C.s recce Bn area. Coys established
at 779206, 778205, 782204, & 783205. BHQ in farmhouse at
779200. Periodic shelling of Bn area.
21.00 Bn area and approach routes shelled intermittently. No
casualties.
20th
19.00 C.O.'s '0' Gp. Information that 2 LF are at 763203 and
1 E. Surreys at 755195.
21st
11.00 Lieut Barker proceeds with advance party to new area
810185.
15.00 56 Recce advance party arrives at BHQ to take over Bn
positions.
17.00 Lieut Barker reports no room in area 810185. c.o. decides
to move coys back to rear of BHQ on their relief by 56 Recce.
18.00 Relief commenced. BHQ moves back to farm 783195.
Casualties from shelling during day: 4 killed & 4 wounded.
One coy O.C.'s jeep destroyed.
K.i.a. 3910646 Rfn Albert Ernest Bowen
14381009 Rfn Anthony Duckworth
14203073 Sgt Gerard Keegan (MM).
14203191 L/Cpl William Gadd
22nd
18.00 Canadian tank regt L.O. arrives at BHQ.
23rd
Quiet nothing to report. 14359742 Rfn Arthur H.C. Smith D/W.
25th
07.00 C.O. and I.O. proceed to Bde HQ.
07.30 Bn ready to move.
21.00 Enemy aircraft bomb forward and rear Bn positions.
3 killed and 4 wounded.
K.i.a. 3711835 Rfn Harold Raymond Clarke
7021802 Rfn Samuel Ernest Fry
14280625 Rfn Albert Charles Snelgrove
26th
06.00 Bn embussed for move forward. Order of March: E, G, F Coys,
BHQ, H, S Coys.
08.30 Bn arrive harbouring area 718232
20.00 C.O.'s 'O' Gp.
27th
08.30 C.O.'s 'O' Gp.
17.00 Bn move forward. Plan to attack Ceprano.
18.30 Bn arrive area wood 658272.
19.00 Int Section move forward with 1 R.Ir.Fus on recce of routes
21.00 Bn ordered to consolidate in present area.
28th
18.00 C.O.'s 'O' Gp.
29th
06.30 Bn move forward. Order or March: 'R' group. 'R' Gp vehicles
BHQ & 'O' Group, E, G, F, H, & S Coys, 1 sqdn of 3 Hussars,
Kensington Support Group, RAP. Wheeled vehicles to follow if possible.
09.20 Bn arrive in area 597272.
09.55 Bn move forward to take over 1 R.Ir.Fus. area 593277.
1 R.Ir.Fus. move forward to cut Strangolagalli-Ripi road.
12.00 F Coy move forward to Pt. 207 (573299) to cover left of
1 R.Ir.Fus. 6 Innisks move into F Coy's vacated area.
16.40 BHQ move forward to farm 586293. E Coy move forward to
occupy Pt. 255 (553312). pioneers protected by Battle
Patrol, forward to sweep in Bn area.
17.30 pioneers and Battle Patrol return.
19.30 C.O.'s 'O' Gp.
20.30 Tac HQ moves forward to 586293. E Coy report mg and rifle
opposition on Pt. 255; withdraw and call for artillery on point.
30th
00.05 to 00.27. Artillery barrage on Pt. 255 followed by E Coy's
occupation.
00.30 CQMSs arranging hot meals for coys. Direct route forward
impassable for vehicles. Difficulty resolved by proceeding
along Route 6 to join track leading forward to Pt. 255.
06.00 Main BHQ move forward from 553312 to Tac HQ.
07.35 Main BHQ arrive at Tac HQ.
10.30 Brigadier visits Main BHQ. to plan attack on Ripi.
11.00 F, G, & H Coys move forward. E Coy in reserve.
12.30 One coy encountered minefield -gap soon cleared and coys
pass through to assembly in valley.
13.20 Coys move forward from assembly area.
14.15 F Coy reported on 546318.
14.16 Bde report 6 unidentified tanks at 518335.
14.30 Tac HQ moves to 546318.
14.40 E Coy " "
14.50 Left flanking units (36 Bde) reach 531331. Brigadier orders
2 LIR to halt there to avoid confusion. Tac HQ being shelled.
15.00 E Coy report on 540321.
15.15 H Coy report small arms firing on their right flank and
ask for supporting tanks to deal with it.
16.15 G Coy reported on 536236. Another coy moving up to consolidate.
17.00 Own tanks approaching 531331. Enemy SP gun and enemy tank
reported 1500 yards south-west of Ripi.
17.10 Brigadier orders Bn to fix limit of advance for night at
528335, and to send patrols forward to Ripi. He warns that
village might possibly be occupied by advanced right-
flanking troops.
18.20 C.O. asks permission to move on to Ripi.
19.00 531331 reported occupied at 18.00 hrs. Battle confused.
C.O. asks for one hour to straighten things before moving
on to 528335. Own casualties - 8 wounded. 12 POWs taken.
21.40 528335 captured.
21.50 CQMSs arrive with meals for Bn. Ripi believed occupied by
right-flanking troops.
22.30 BHQ at farm 531331. Coys: all round defence.
31st
08.00 6 Innisks pass through Bn and proceed beyond Ripi.
08.30 Brigadier visits BHQ.
Officers joininq Battalion in May
17.5.44 Lieut J.A.S. Hunter Mddx.
Lieut W.C.W. Hood RUR
18.5.44 Lieut G. Dunseath R.Ir.Fus
Lieut A. Sargood R.Ir.Fus
Lieut J. Gartside Lancs Fus
2/Lieut F. Wood West Yorks
20.5.44 2/Lieut H. Montgomerie RA
Rapido Batt1e - 15th-17th May 1944 - Ki11ed in action/ Died of Wounds
15 May
Lieut Michael Owen Wynne Clark (M.C.)
Lieut-Col Ion Malise Goff
7016254 Sgt William Harry Roberts
7011863 Sgt Frank Wakefield
3775900 L/Sgt Harold Henshaw
3783833 Cpl Christopher Dean
7021058 Cpl Robert Jackson
7021698 Cpl Charles George Williams
3909409 L/Cpl Raymond William Harrison (M.M.)
14397137 L/Cpl Thomas John Spain
14125600 Rfn Patrick James Flynn
14381453 Rfn Herbert Arthur Hutt
6204277 Rfn Bernard Frederick Lee
7012007 Rfn Francis Trotter
14581978- Rfn Charles Richard Wilson
16 May
7015959 Sgt Edward Charles Mayo (M.M.)
7014328 Cpl Edward O'Reilly (M.M.)
6200158 Cpl Joseph William Willison
14622920 Rfn Michael Duncan
7022637 Rfn John Fitzgerald
14336451 Rfn Cyril Bertie Meldrum
7022505 Cpl James A. Barnes.
17 May
7022244 L/Cpl Joseph John Brodie
6096721 Rfn James Ryalls
June 1944 1st
09.00 Bn bathing at MBU.
13.30 Major M.J.F. Palmer arrives at BHQ as new 2 i/c.
20.00 Draft of approx 30 men arrives at BHQ.
Lieut J. Hudson, RUR, joins Bn.
2nd
14.00 C.O.'s 'O' Gp.
18.00 C.O. attends Brigadier's conference on WIT communication.
19.00 Battle Patrol disbanded and personnel returned to rifle coys.
Reason given: that the Patrol, ideal for static warfare,
could not be gainfully used in swift advance.
3rd
14.30 Officers and NCOs parade for lecture on tanks.
16.00 B Echelon arrives in Bn area.
22.30 Tanks of 3 Hussars (9 Armd Bde) ceased to be attached,
and left Bn area for other duties.
4th
09.00 Bn bathing at MBU.
21.00 ENSA film show in Bn area.
5th
16.00 C.O. addressed a parade of Signal Platoon and congratulated
them on their good work during the recent operation's.
6th
11.00 Bn bathing at MBU.
7th
12.00 Bn at four hours notice. Recce party at one hours notice
to RV at 439393.
[ 2 pages missing ]
17th
18.00 Brigadier visits BHQ.
18th
05.00 Bn warned for move.
09.45 Bn move by transport.
13.45 Bn arrive in area Montegrove BHQ at 485816.
14.30 SITREP: Piegaro in our hands. Enemy paratroops hold Citta
della Pieve. (1 R.Ir.Fus entered Citta della Pieve on 16th,
killed 25 enemy and took 50 prisoners -then handed over
town to 1 East Surreys who lost it again).
19th
07.00 'O' Gp on immediate notice to move.
13.00 Bn warned to move at 15.00 hrs.
19.00 Bn arrives area Tavernelle. BHQ established at 498813.
20th
09.30 Bn warned for move later in day.
15.00 Move forward postponed. C.O.'s 'O' Gp. Intention:
Bn to surge up west side of Lake Trasimeno after 11 Bde
establish Start Line.
19.00 11 Bde failed to reach objective. Debussing Point changed
to La Chiusa.
21st
04.00 Bn embussed ready to move.
05.30 Bn reach debussing point and 'marry up' with tanks of
B Sqdn 11 C.A.R. Main BHQ established at Macchie 431870.
06.30 C.O.'s Orders: Bn to attack Sanfatucchio 411893 at 08.00
hrs in conjunction with 2LFs.
07.05 Brigadier arrives at BHQ and proceeds forward to Tac HQ
424888 to confer with C.O.
07.55 E & F Coys move forward.
08.05 RA lay smoke in forward areas to cover advance of Bn and
tanks. Bn A/Tk guns engaging targets since zero hour.
G & H Coys moving into area vacated by E Coy.
08.40 E & F Coys making good progress. G & H Coys following up.
09.00 E & F Coys call for DF artillery fire on 411893 (Sanfatucchio)
Target corrected to 400900.
09.19 One troop tanks on objective. One troop tanks moving round
left of E Coy. E Coy report still held up by enemy fire
from west end of objective.
09.30 Artillery put down smoke for E Coy.
09.40 F Coy held up by opposition on left.
10.10 E Coy report penetration of objective.
10.12 F Coy held up by fire from cemetery at 404890. Tanks asked
to deal with it.
10.17 E Coy report now entering second block of buildings in town.
11.15 Objective fully occupied. G & H Coys called to BHQ for
'O' Group.
11.30 12 prisoners (754 PGR) taken by E Coy in town.
11.32 C.O. asks for 6 Irlrtisks to move into position with Bn
prior to combined move forward.
11.45 G Coy moving on to second objective. (Lateral road 405898
to 424900).
13.55 G Coy reported on left of- objective. H Coy reported
approaching right-hand objective overcoming stiff opposition.
9 more prisoners taken (754 PGR). Main BHQ now at 424855.
C.O. requests dive-bombing of Castiglione del Lago because
of heavy artillery and mortar opposition. Major Woods (H Coy)
wounded. Capt Craig reports to BHQ to take over H Coy.
14.10 6 Innisks and tank support moving up road 4288 and forking
right behind main BHQ along track 424888 - 429889.
Bn casualties since 08.00 hrs. 1 man killed & 2 officers & 15 ORs wounded.
14.30 C.O. calls for mortar fire on 407907 and road junction
406906.
14.45 6 Innisks joined up with their tanks at 427896 but not
yet ready to go forward.
14.50 Coys held up 300 yds above 2nd objective but hope to be
able to continue the advance at dusk.
15.30 One German officer (755 PGR) brought to BHQ.
16.00 Enemy shelling area road 425885.
16.03 E Coy request replenishment of 2" & 3" mortar ammunition.
16.04 Enemy counter-attacking on left flank (H Coy).
16.10 Replacement of 18-set and 38-set operators for H Coy called
for. Enemy believed to have penetrated H Coy defences but
C.O. confident that the counter-attack can be stopped.
16.30 Situation apparently under control.
17.00 6 Innisks begin their attack on right flank.
17.32 17 prisoners passed through BHQ to Bde.
18.00 6 Innisks reach RL33. Strong opposition.
18.20 One wounded German officer and 1 wounded German O.R.
passed through BHQ.
19.07 5 more prisoners (755 PGR) passed through BHQ.
21.50 E Coy being counter-attacked.
21.55 2 more prisoners (755 PGR) passed through BHQ.
22.00 Kensingtons VMGs move up to Bn area to support E Coy, now
being counter-attacked.
22.30 Incomplete total of day's casualties: 5 killed & 55 wounded.
Last light positions: BHQ 413893, E Coy 410897,
F Coy 407900, G Coy 411897, H Coy 404896.
G Coy now in counter-attack role with Kensingtons VMGs.
All A/Tk guns in position.
E Coy was counter-attacked but the enemy halted at 20yds
distance. 17 Field, R.A. with 4.2" & 3" mortars brought
DF tasks down on enemy. Lieut Fay wounded.
23.15 6 Innisks report unable to contact 2 LIR owing to pocket
of enemy between the two bns.
4 prisoners sent back to Bde.
22nd
06.00 6 Innisks in village Pucciarelli 416906.
07.30 4 prisoners (755 PGR) passed through BHQ.
08.00 Total casualties in past 24 hours: Lieut Dunseath & 9 ORs
killed. Major Woods, Lieuts Hunter & Fay with 64 O.R.s
wounded. None missing.
08.45 c.o. begins local ops to clear gap between Bn and 6 Innisks
at 402902, using one platoon of G Coy supported by tanks.
1st objective: 412903. 2nd objective 400901.
09.36 Local ops going well; 30 yds from 1st objective; tanks
engaging targets.
10.20 1st objective taken.
10.30 Gap between Bn and 6 Innisks now regarded as closed.
10.50 3 more prisoners taken.
10.55 G Coy report enemy counter-attack coming in.
11.10 DF fire laid down in front of G Coy. Our tanks move into
G Coy'S area.
11.25 G Coy consolidated. Tanks and mortars engaging houses 800
yds due north. G Coy area being heavily shelled.
H Coy RAP jeep forward to pick up 3 wounded prisoners.
11.35 One platoon G Coy and MMGs under command H Coy.
11.40 Two enemy tanks reported at 423915.
11.41 7 prisoners taken by G Coy in local ops.
14.22 9 more prisoners taken (755 PGR).
16.45 Main BHQ join TacHQ in Sanfatucchio.
17.15 F Coy seize group of buildings 600 yds to north of their
position.
19.45 F Coy report being counter-attacked.
20.00 3" and 4.2" mortars engage enemy.
20.30 Enemy reported to have entered house 402903. Tanks asked
to deal with it.
23rd
06.00 Total Bn casualties since 08.00 hrs 21st, 14 killed &
approx 80 wounded.
09.00 Lieut-Col Dunnill and liaison party from 1 R.lr.Fus arrive
Tac HQ.
20.30 Last light positions: BHQ 411893: E Coy 411902, F Coy
405900, G Coy 408897, H Coy 404896.
Slight shelling and mortaring during night.
24th
08.00 1 R.lr.Fus supported by C Sqdn 11 C.A.R. attack enemy
positions in front of Bn.
08.30 1 R.Ir.Fus 300 yds beyond 1st objective, but held up on left.
08.45 18 prisoners (755 PGR) taken by 1 R.Ir.Fus and passed back
through BHQ.
16.00 Bn casualties so far: 16 killed & 98 wounded. None missing.
Night patrols around coy areas to provide against any
enemy infiltration and to round up any disorganised enemy
still in area.
25th
08.00 10 enemy prisoners rounded up during night in area of
cemetery 413896. 3 more prisoners at dawn in same area.
18.00 8 A & SH pass through Bn moving forward.
26th
12.00 6 enemy air-bursts over Sanfatucchio.
13.30 Brigadier and Bde 1.0. visit main BHQ.
13.45 C.O. & O.C. B Sqdn 11 C.A.R. move forward with Tac HQ
to supervise move forward of two coys.
15.00 Bde and two War Correspondents arrive at BHQ to cover
-Bn's part in previous four days' fighting.
18.00 11 Bde Comdr and C.O. 2LFs visit BHQ to obtain lie of land
for tomorrow's operations.G Coy patrol report village of
Badia 380907 unoccupied.
23.30 Coys relieved from forward positons and arrive at embussing
point in Sanfatucchio.
27th
01.30 Bn leave Sanfatucchio in TCVs.
02.30 Bn arrive in area 4688.
12.00 C.O. addresses Bn on its fine performance during the battle
for Sanfatucchio, and said that, although in reserve to 36
Bde still in the line, there was a possibility of the Bn
being out for quite a time.
13.00 Preparations begin to hand over all G1098 stores and all
vehicles to relieving Bn.
28th
14.00 C.O.'s conference on future movements.
20.00 C.O. gives dinner for officers of 11 C.A.R.
29th
09.00 Bn cadre courses.
10.30 Enemy reported to have withdrawn in Castiglione area.
11.30 C.O. visits coy areas.
19.00 Brigadier visits BHQ.
