DWR 22nd May 1944 Operation ANT Italy

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Peterosgood, Feb 28, 2022.

  1. Peterosgood

    Peterosgood Member

    Hi all! Ive been studying Operation Ant in which my great uncle (James Reginald Osgood) lost his life on May 22 1944, in the area of Pontoni in Italy.

    Ill post a summary of the operation in the thread which I’ve drawn from many different sources (Operation Plans, War Diaries, Rgt Histories- If anyone wants these get in touch I’m happy to share)

    Other than reaching out incase someone has any really good references to this battle, I have a question myself I would love to solve! - What Coy was my relative in?! If anyone likes a challenge here is all the relevant snippets of info I think may help…
    • By all accounts, he was the only one memorialised at Cassino from the battle - Everyone else was buried at Anzio so no body presumably.
    • His family were notified he was wounded in May, BUT in June were told he actually died from those wounds on the same day.
    • He had previously served in many theatres so was probably considered an experienced soldier in comparison with any reserves arriving.
    • Capt C.C Gomm (injured in B Coy) came from the same, small Surrey town as him. Gomm was a bit of a Bn legend.
    • Sgt Emmerson (Killed in B Coy) had his papers stolen by retreating enemy troops but was still buried so over the following days I suspect any left behind were found and Buried.
    • A Coy casualties indicate 3 missing all wounded, 2 of which believed died.
    • C Coy deaths of 2 from Mortar (and 9 wounded) But this was considered 23rd of May not 22nd as indicated by his registered date of death. Leading me to believe he was in A or B Coy.
    What do I think?
    At the moment I think that my relative is likely to have been in A coy. One of the wounded believed to have been Killed (perhaps by artillery or mortar fire on the retreat of allied forces hence no body)

    This is probably impossible, and I dont rule out discovering more. Ive relatives who will be looking at letters when they return from holiday.

    Anyone fancy throwing some ideas out of their own? all greatly recieved!

    Many thanks
    pete

    *Will list casualties later on this thread incase someone searching relatives one day stumbles upon it.
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

    Welcome aboard. So others can find the thread DWR are - of course - the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (British Army; UK). There are forty-two threads that mention them here. Which battalion is your focus?

    Operation Ant is unknown here on a quick search and whilst there are four threads that mention Pontoni none refer to your focus.
     
  3. Peterosgood

    Peterosgood Member

    Many thanks for the welcome! Ant was the name for the 1st Bn Duke of wellingtons attack on the Pontoni area (Welsh Platoon of C Coy Foresters joined on the flank against an area known as ‘Green Bush Hill’)

    It was one of the diversionary attacks which took place the day/evening before the push to move forward from the beachhead by the Americans on 23rd May.
     
  4. davidbfpo

    davidbfpo Patron Patron

  5. Peterosgood

    Peterosgood Member

    Thanks for this unfortunately I think that was a previous attack. I think this area was fought over throughout the months and the front lines changed slightly with every engagement with the enemy. I saw a Diagram of the foresters positions when researching and interestingly by the date of this battle, those positions were back well within German german lines. It would seem it wasnt the place to be in ‘44!
     
  6. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Attached are excerpts from Diaries and History of the 67th Field Regt part of 1st Infantry Division of which the Dukes were part.
    They fired support on a Fire Plan for ANT. There is a short paragraph regarding the attack on Pantoni which took place at the beginning of the Breakout.
    Hope they might be of use to explain the action.

    Edit: Re photo of a map of the Upper Molletta, Anzio with Artillery target markings (might be American) Pantoni is I think named Puntoni
    in Italian just below line 30 to the right of the map. Also added excerpt from operational orders.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 28, 2022
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  7. Peterosgood

    Peterosgood Member

    Wow thanks for these! Great to see reference elswhere. Love the ‘enemy seen legging it’ comment too! :)
     
  8. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    So he was clearly recorded ad being wounded on 22nd May 1944, with it later being changed to died of wounds in a later casualty list. Seems odd he is listed on the Cassino memorial as died of wounds suggest he was receiving treatment at some point and identified.

    1_dwr.jpg
     
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  9. Peterosgood

    Peterosgood Member

    Ive not seen that list thankyou for this Gary! Its a puzzle isnt it?! Do you know what the scribbles mean at the end of the ‘died of wounds’ are on your list?
     
  10. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    They are just a reference to the Casualty List where it had been amended in this case CL 1475/7.

    1_dwr_2.jpg
     
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  11. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    If I am not mistaken there was a similar case regarding a man from the 67th Field Regt who died on board a Hospital Ship while being returned home . He was listed as sick or injured at Anzio but after being listed on their Required to return to Regiment form in the War Diary disappeared. I think he was listed on the Casino Memorial. He died from Lung Cancer.
    It was only a few months ago so I will check my recent postings and hopefully come back soon. Perhaps someone could try looking up the thread as well.
     
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  12. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    We (Myself, Stuart Avery and vitellino ) came across a similar one for 2/7 Middlesex who had been badly wounded at Anzio but died on the ship home and was buried at sea. He is also on the Cassino memorial.
     
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  13. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

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  14. Peterosgood

    Peterosgood Member

    That was an interesting read it goes to show that these mysteries can still sometimes be solved!
     
  15. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Pete.

    Now that is very odd because the Cassino Memorial commemorates all those soldiers whose bodies were never recovered from the battlefield. If it is known that Pte Osgood died of wounds - and I assume that this can be recorded as such because he was processed through the medical chain, how it is that his body disappeared?

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  16. Peterosgood

    Peterosgood Member

    This is the mystery Frank! What I dont understand is why the family were notified that he was injured in may, to then be told in June oh wait, he actually died of those wounds the same day . unless theres some sort of protocol for instant notification, it would seem silly to send one to say he was wounded and then to follow up the same day to say that he died? Unless thats just how it was done because of the sheer numbers and complexities involved.
     
  17. Peterosgood

    Peterosgood Member

  18. Gary Tankard

    Gary Tankard Well-Known Member

    He may have been wounded and recorded as such and passed down the chain. The unit was then later informed he had died of wounds.

    It is likely he was buried near a CCS/RAP but when the bodies were recovered for concentration his did not have any identification as is buried as unknown. If we find the location of the DWR RAP or supporting CCS you potentially see if there were any unknowns relocated from there (especially if there were known casualties relocated from the same site). However, the CWGC doesn't mark or show any info for Unknown graves on their website.
     
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  19. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Hi Gary.

    Thanks for bringing this thread to my attention. All I will say is that i never expected what the outcome would be when I took the photo of that headstone with a lovely lady.

    Forgive me, but I've forgotten her name. Sarah may be. What a dipstick I am. It started off a long procedure that is still going on. I'm most proud of the outcome. Its not every day that anyone gets the opportunity to put a name on the headstone of a missing soldier.

    Yourself, Frank & Janet did your bit. Not sure how to show the thread that its in? Anyone?

    Regards,
    Stu.
     
  20. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    I would like to add: If I had not gone to the Cemetery on that nice evening, then I may well not of come across it? Jumped in a taxi with Sarah, and walked backed to the hotel. By the way-came across a chap from the 10 Royal Berkshires, but no joy with that one.

    Any Cemetery needs a few hours to walk around.

    Edit.. If you have the time that is.

    Bliss.
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2022
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