Great thread! Thanks so much for sharing! I love these threads where you take me to the places you've been! Thanks again!!
We'd still like to know what this was. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachments/ww2-battlefields-today/8642d1212837506-italy-trip-may-2008-cavendish-rd-ammo-sm-jpg The percussion cap was rounded, why would that be?
Paul sent me a CD of his photos, here are the mortarbomb-case endplates, just like those in the IWM photo below it. Description: Second Phase 15 February - 10 May 1944: Men of the 6th Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment man a 3 inch mortar on Monastery Hill.
The Monastery as seen from Snakeshead Ridge. I'm trying to find that famous photo of the Royal Sussex in the same place on-line but to no avail. This is the nearest "Then" photo I can find. The Tiger Triumphs. The Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy. 1946. Chapter 6.
This picture was found on Wiki Owen ! it says Polish troops in one place and just Allied troops in another ! Image:Monte Cassino troops.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Annie
Wow....Totally impressed with the pics. I tried to ride there earlier this year on my Motorbike. I took a month off work but only made it as far as the Med- Marseille to be precise but came back due to the weather getting worse and worse. I did manage to get some WW2 pic's though in France http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/ww2-battlefields-today/15031-bike-trip-oradour-sur-glane.html#post145094 This thread makes me even more determined to get there after seeing the pic's !
Excellent post, thanks. Now, concerning that .303 cartridge case then I have two explanations. One, the round was in a fire, it exploded shredding the neck of the cartridge and ballooning out the primer. Secondly, it may be a case of a 'hangfire' where the cartridge was fired in the usual manner but failed to go off. The shooter ejected the round, thinking he had a misfire, only to have the powder ignite a few seconds later outside the weapon, causing the cartridge to blow up and the primer to balloon.
Hi Tommy, I wonder if the round had cooked off due to there appearing to be no firing pin strike on the percussion cap? Justa thought Cheers Andy
Hi Drew, Good point. Could only have happened in a Vickers, though, as the Bren is an open bolt weapon and it is unlikely to have happened in an Enfield. Owen, Was the casing in an area likely to have been used as a Vickers position? Also give it a clean, if you actually have it, and then a Brasso and see if the metal is discoloured which might indicate its exposure to fire.
No Tom, we left it in situ. It was found on the Cavendish Road in a place unlikely to be a fire position IIRC.
Give me the GPS coordinates or paces from the Sherman and I'll pop down tomorrow:p Hahaha Nice one ps I was thinking from a fire rather than a MG Cheers Andy
Just thought I'd bump this up for the newer members who may not have seen it. It was a year today we went, I'm feeling kind of sad. Such a great trip.
Thanks Owen and Paul , a number of folks I presently work with are in this age group - much enjoyed seeing the photos and comments. Thank you.
Yep, hardly seems possible it was a year ago. Great trip - and one I will remember for many years to come.