167 Brigade at Anzio

A wander around the Fortress area in Wadi Michelle and La Cogna.
Rained overnight so good job I had my rough walking kit with me.
In places the undergrowth is very thick. It looked better in the wadi bottom than looking down from the high ground yesterday.

1 - General view looking south from a location approx 50m from via Scrivia on high ground. Looking right over the top of all the wadi dead ground. The hill at GR 834304 that I took photos of yesterday is on skyline left - large umbrella pine trees. The Germans view effectively.

2,3,4,5 & 6 - Moving south through midway part of slope down into wadi. Platoon areas located around here. Photos looking east & west then south down to wadi bottom,
Very slippy going.

7 - last bit of path into base of wadi between platoons/ coy and Bn HQ. Looking south.

8 - same path looking back up north from wadi bottom.

9 - mortar round tail lying on wadi floor.

10 - wide part of wadi at entrance looking south toward Bn HQ.

11 - wadi narrows towards HQ. Notice steepness of slope to left.

12 - Bn HQ location. Quite dark in places due to large trees blocking light.

13 - beyond Bn HQ moving south down Wadi La Cogna towards RAP posn.

14 - looking south again beyond RAP. The main supply route up the dead ground.

 

Gave a wide berth to a large pile of mortar rounds found while walking down into the wadi yesterday. Met a local chap walking his dogs in the area who reported their location (30m south of via Scrivia near photo 1 from yesterday) to the authorities.

The nose end caps look still fitted and in good condition. I think they had been recently disturbed or dug up.

Also managed to end up being chased by wild pigs when I strayed into their territory.
The pigs have dug lots of the ground up on the downhill slope into the wadi.

Don’t know which was the more dangerous !!!

 

Nigel, thanks for starting a conversation with me and providing your email address. Will talk later when you get home. I think the B&B is going to be what I need regarding what I need to do in the middle of May. I will email a bunch of maps that I'm sure you will have seen before? About thirty-five ish. Eight of them will make all of the beachhead. I was correct that they originally came from Italian Army. You will see what I mean in time.

I think they are apt for what you are doing. Keep coming with the photo's. Nice work. MAP NO. 16. 17 FEBRUARY 1944. ANZIO BEACHHEAD (22 January-25 May) American Forces in Action Series Historical Division DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY Historical Division Washington 25, D. C. 1 October 1947.

The second one is: THE GERMAN ATTACK FEBRUARY 15-20. It's taken from a book that was printed in 1947. It's the only original I've come across. Seen two different reprints. The maps are not all the same has the original. This map is from GMDS (German Military Document Section) Military Intelligence Division War Dept- Camp Ritchie - Maryland. The German Operation at Anzio. Produced at GMDS by a combined British, Canadian, and U.S. Staff.

I think it's ace that you out there for two weeks. I will be out there for near enough that many days in May. Not many people have the chance to be out there for that period of time.




Regards,
Stu.

 

Cheers Stu. Only have the 6 days but blimey I’ve crammed a lot in.

Spent two days in and around the Fortress area re-Tracing my Grandads footsteps to the grid reference where the survivors of X Coy, 8 RF were sent on the 17th.

It took me a full day and a bit to go through my matrix in the Beach Head cemetery checking all graves against the lists I’d compiled. Then eliminating any unknowns I can.
Apart from one grave (not 167 bde) most were correct.

Funnily enough I’m ex Queens Lancashire (23yrs) and the only grave the CWGC have got wrong is a Loyal (one of our previous regiments prior to amalgamation).

I’m a member of the Loyals Facebook group (my father in law was a Loyal).

Photos showing the issue. In a nutshell human error methinks.

Plot 2, Row B, Grave 8.
Unfortunately the headstone should read as per the cemetery register:

3865974 Sjt J.M.Clitheroe M.M.
1st Bn Loyal Regt
KIA: 03/06/44

Instead it looks like a newer headstone has been placed on his grave reading “An unknown Soldier”.

Discussed with Loyals Association already and I’m going to flag it with CWGC upon return Wednesday.

 

Also Stu if you are here in May the local historical group do an anniversary meeting (period kit etc, they seem into that) not compulsory for visitors etc.

The event is staged on the Bulgari Olive farm land in my photos around the large umbrella pines overlooking the Fortress wadi.

Access free. Ample parking if anyone is interested.

The B&B is owned by Diego Cancelli and his wife Emmanuella.
Diego is the local historian with a mass of knowledge of the Anzio action.
Photo of book attached by him.

He has also assisted authors researching the battle. That’s how I found out about him after reading an authors thanks page in a book about Anzio. Google assisted search did the rest.
He is a great guy, how his missus puts up with the amount of kit he’s accumulated is a miracle.

 

Gary Tankard posted a page from the GH war diary that I found quite interesting while wandering around yesterday.

I plotted the positions onto a map I’d blown up with my scanner.
Feel free to advise if my grids are slightly out.

My assumption is they occupied previous units positions.
I’m plotting 8 & 9th RF positions separately to check.

 

This is a very interesting thread Nigel - thanks for sharing. I was in Rome this past December and took a day trip down to Anzio, although you have covered a lot more ground than I had the time to do. I'll post some of my pics on a previous thread that I started a while back.

My grandad served at Anzio with the RAMC 167th Field Ambulance, so I found visiting there - especially the cemetery - a very moving experience. Your images and maps lend a greater perspective.

Thank you,
RC

 

Glad to help.

Don`t know if you`ve read the book "Blood & Bandages" about life in the RAMC ?
Photo attached. very interesting reading. Good chapters about Anzio and wider experiences in Italy.

Nige

 

Attempted to go to Aprilia on my last full day in Italy. Alas the weather (heavy thunderstorms) was against me so had to retire to a hostelry.

Managed a visit to Anzio area on last morning.

Final photos attached taken of a display board located on Via Moletta near the junction with Via Scrivia.
This area is close to X & Y Coys, 8RF initial positions on 16th Feb 44.

 

Hi Anyone who reads this....I`m pretty desperate to find a copy of the Orbat of each company for the 8th Bn Royal Fusiliers for the Anzio period (I know it changed constantly). Ideally it would list each man in each Coy.

The period just before they were in Anzio (Jan/Early Feb 1944 ) would be like gold dust to me.

I have the Fusiliers TA museum in Balham looking through their files also (they inform me that they are effectively the descendants of the 8th & 9th Bns RF) and have a small museum located in the TA centre site.

I have managed to compile a large list of fusiliers by Coy for the period of Dec 1943/Jan 1944 and 16-8th Feb from a file Gary Tankard sent me with lists of missing soldiers. The pay parade acquittance rolls in the file show individual Fusiliers listed by Coy which was useful.

Hopefully someone can assist or point me in the right direction..


Nigel

 

Update regarding the above issue I discovered during my visit to Anzio Beach Head cemetery earlier this year:
I followed up with the CWGC on return to the UK and informed them of the situation.
I have been informed that the headstone has been replaced today..... result !!

 

File download

Recently received my Grandfathers MOD record via FOI request.
Link above shows his journey to eventually being KIA at Anzio.

 

I returned to Anzio in May again. I walked the Fortress area this time I concentrated on the most forward position I could access.
The narrow tree/bush covered gulley that protrudes out Northwards towards via Scrivia shown on the satellite photo.

This position was very remote when it was established by 8th Royal Fusiliers in February 1944 and was continually attacked. Eventually it was overrun by the enemy on 30th April whilst occupied by 2nd Northants with the loss of 13 Platoon, C Coy.
Six men from this platoon have no known grave. The area is shown on the sketch map from the 2nd Northants. I have tried to replicate the front line drawn on the satellite photo.

The Northants replaced the Green Howards at the Fortress. The book by Raleigh Treveleyan contains his sketch map showing this gully with the forward platoon location marked.
The approximate viewpoint for the sketch (looking West) is marked on the satellite photo with a yellow rectangle.
The blue dot on most of the maps and photos is approximately GR 834304 X Coy, 8 Royal Fusiliers position from the 17th of Feb 1944 where I believe my Grandfather was KIA. This is where an unknown soldier was recovered later in September which I`m currently researching as a possible match.

Finally photos of the forward position and approach up the gully to it.
The warm weather had encouraged lots of vegetation. I couldn`t access the location from the North, West or East due to masses of brambles. I dropped back into the main wadi and approached from the south exactly as units would have replaced each other up the gully. Even then I had to use my secateurs and loppers to progress at times on my knees.
Once under the tree canopy the vegetation opened out a bit for photos.
Unfortunately no sign of any position was visible.

I wish someone could do a LIDAR scan of the Fortress area via a drone. It would reveal all.

 

Hi Nigel,

Is this private land?

I do have a drone, but no LIDAR unfortunately. Also, there are some quite restrictive zones around there when I was investigating. I think there is an airfield quite close.

Regards,
Gary.

 

Hi Gary,
Just rough land at the side of the road.

The other side of the main wadi and the high ground belongs to the Bulgari olive oil plantation (same family as the jewellery people).
This area is private land. The ww2 battlefield museum operated by "The Factory 1944" group is located here and is open to visitors every Saturday. They gave myself and my wife a tour in a Wiley's jeep around the area including right up to X Coys position.
I have Massimo's (organiser) contact email if you ever want to visit.

Last weekend in May when we visited was a large anniversary of the Anzio breakout and liberation of Aprilia.
Large groups of military period uniformed re-enactment enthusiasts along with military vehicles etc and a militaria market.
Weird seeing armed Americans, Brits and German troops sitting down for lunch together.

I may visit again next year dates tbc if you fancy a wander around.

 

Hi Gary,
Thinking of going back to the Fortress area next year.

I've linked up with local groups who investigate and excavate areas hunting for relics basically. May show some interest in the positions I looked at previously.

May stand at a safe distance while they dig though !!

If you would like I can discuss with Massimo if drone flights are allowed on the northern part of the olive plantation which covers a small part of the Fortress.

Nigel

 

Hi Nigel,

Yes, I would be interested in that, even without the drone flights. It would depend on the dates etc.

Regards,
Gary.

 

Am in touch with a chap who has hunted with a metal detector around the fortress area in the past.
He and a colleague have both found Royal Fusilier cap badges.

Am initially thinking about later in 2026 possibly October for a visit but am flexible on dates.
I will chat to the Factory 1944 guys about drone use. They have drone shots on their videos around the Bulgari olive plantation.
Interestingly one of the buildings appears to be the RAP house shown on many air photos/maps which is now a chapel in the grounds.

 

Hi Gary,
Please follow the link for the Factory 1944.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Gn82Hdqk7/

The video they shared for May contains lots of drone footage on the Bulgari land/Fortress area. It appears that drones can be used around this area.
The building that looks like a chapel in the footage is more than likely part of the "RAP house" structure referred to in many war diaries and on air photos. I walked the area earlier this year and had a good look.

Regards

Nigel

 

Hello, Gary. Would you happen to know what company Trevelyan was in the 1 Green Howards? I don't recall him mentioning it in his book and I haven't been able to find anything in this forum here.