The caption reads: "Mt. Camino Sector, Italy. Crews of the support to the 168th Brigade, 56th Division (British), firing 4.2 mortars at Monastery Hill. The terrific shelling was a telling factor in the capture of the hill." Photographer: Paris, 163rd Signal Photo Company. Date: 5 December 1943. III-SC 187513, Credit NARA. Typed in red on the back of this image is "RESTRICTED -- For Official Use Only Within the War Department." The caption reads: "Mt. Camino Sector, Italy. Crews of the support to the 168th Brigade, 56th Division (British), firing 4.2 mortars at Monastery Hill. The terrific shelling was a telling factor in the capture of the hill." Photographer: Paris, 163rd Signal Photo Company. Date: 5 December 1943. III-SC 187515, Credit NARA. Typed in red on the back of this image is "RESTRICTED -- For Official Use Only Within the War Department." The caption reads: "Mt. Camino Sector, Italy. Crews of the support to the 168th Brigade, 56th Division (British), firing 4.2 mortars at Monastery Hill. The terrific shelling was a telling factor in the capture of the hill." Photographer: Paris, 163rd Signal Photo Company. Date: 5 December 1943. III-SC 187516, Credit NARA. Typed in red on the back of this image is "RESTRICTED -- For Official Use Only Within the War Department." Bernhardt Line - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia If anyone would like high-resolution versions of these photos, just let me know. Nara xix - a set on Flickr Dave
Beautiful photographs. The 4.2" mortar was a very effective weapon, possibly the best British mortar of the war. Germans on the receiving end of the 50th Division's 4.2's in Normandy described their fire as "hell." I presume the guys firing them here would be from the Kensingtons, the 56th Division's support battalion.
I presume the guys firing them here would be from the Kensingtons, the 56th Division's support battalion. No by 1943 it was 6 Cheshires MG Bns 1 Kensingtons: 11.11.41 - 20.5.42 6 Cheshire: 12.1.43 - 31.8.45 56th Division be interesting to see war diary entry for day photo taken & see it posn can be pinpointed & if mention made of photographers visit.
I'm not sure whether the MG Bns had their 4.2-inch Mortars as part of them by that point. In researching 7th Cheshire (5th Div) it's clear that they didn't re-organise to the 3 MG Coy / 1 Mor Coy until post-Anzio. Not sure if 6th Cheshire did the same. Before this time, the mortars were an Independent Company attached to the Brigades. Not sure of cap badge but would welcome knowing. Regards Richard
5 Div's 4.2" mortarmen - some of them, at least - wore the Middlesex capbadge from joining 13 Bde's 'support unit' (Dec 1943-ish) until they were formally absorbed into the Cheshires whilst in Palestine.
