1/4 Battalion Essex Regiment Monte Cassino

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Gareth7125, Apr 26, 2018.

  1. Gareth7125

    Gareth7125 Member

    Hi, I am due to fly to Italy on the Monte Cassino battlefield tour, I would like to be able to deliver something to the men on the 1/4 Battalion Essex Regiment, could someone point me in the right direction for the best place to gather information online.

    Thank you

    Regards

    Gareth
     
  2. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Matthew Parker's book on Monte Cassino.

    Regards

    Frank
     
  3. Gareth7125

    Gareth7125 Member

    Thank you, I have just managed to work this site I have now posted a thread, I was also after patrol reports etc
     
  4. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    There's some material on 'my' thread here.

    Family Soldiers [1/4th Essex & 25 Field Regiment R.A.]

    A good starting place would be the documentary on the 1/4th Essex at Cassino (Page 3), but as Frank says that Parker book is very good and the battalion features quite a bit.

    May I ask what your interest in the unit is? My own grandfather served with them 1939-45 and I have spoken to a number of relatives of other members. If you have a relative or soldier you are interested in, I may be able to provide further information--I have rather a lot.

    See also the section of the (shorter) battalion history that covers Cassino in this post:
    Family Soldiers [1/4th Essex & 25 Field Regiment R.A.]

    If you have any specific questions on the Essex at Cassino, I will probably be able to answer them.
     
  5. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    See my reply on your other thread.
     
  6. Gareth7125

    Gareth7125 Member

    Thank you,

    I just been posted to the AFV Gunnery School, we are going on a battlefield tour to monte cassino, there a a few stands and I have been given 1/4 Essex Regiment.

    Thanks
     
  7. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    There are some good accounts from the men themselves here:

    Hazle, Edmund Bryant (Oral history)
    Stringer, Tom (Oral history)
    Stringer, Thomas Alfred 'Tom' (Oral history) [same man, different interview]
    Brock, Cyril Henry (Oral history)
    Bond, Kenneth Cyril (Oral history)
    Humble, William Thomas (Oral history) [4th Ind Div Sigs, but with the unit]

    If you have difficulty accessing these--or would prefer to have them as .mp3s to listen to on the move--message me and I will send them to you. The official history gives 16 pages just to Cassino (and it's well written stuff) --again, let me know if you require a copy.

    See also this chapter and the next:
    The Tiger Triumphs. The Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy. 1946.Chapters 4-5.
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2018
    IKE26 and 4jonboy like this.
  8. Gareth7125

    Gareth7125 Member

    Thanks again, this is exactly what I need brilliant stuff much appreciated
     
  9. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I'll give you the third battle in a nutshell.

    Map-9-The-Third-Battle-large.jpg

    s-l1600-27 copy.jpg

    From A to B via C: simple!

    A: Castle Hill (AKA Rocca Ianula/Janula or Point 193)--originally taken by the New Zealanders (D-Coy, 25 Battalion).
    B: The Monastery--at this stage in ruins, useful ruins (rebuilt in this post-war photograph).
    C: Hangman's Hill (so named as the remnants of the support for the funicular railway / cable car resembled a gallows AKA: Point 435).

    The road up the massif has a number of 'switchbacks' as it winds its way upwards: points 165 (the nearest to the castle), 202 and 236 were supposed to be the way up (holding these points was assigned to 1/6th Rajputana Rifles), but the fighting was bloody and it just didn't happen. 1/6th and 4/6th Rajputana Rifles took very heavy casualties in the area, yet 1/9th Gurkha Rifles somehow made it to Hangman's Hill by going off the beaten track and were stuck there for an uncomfortably long time with elements of 'B' & 'D' Coys, 1/4th Essex. Resupply was extremely difficult and took place after dark with all kinds of units from 4th Indian Division providing porters. Air drops were also attempted, but most of what came down went astray and was deadly to retrieve. Meanwhile, the Germans realised that capturing the castle would shut the door and prevent further entry to the hill and launched a succession of counter attacks which were repulsed at great cost (200 of 250 attackers dead or wounded). 1/4th Essex received--as ever--superb support from 1 Field Regiment R.A. (and also 11 and 31 Fd Regts), without which it is highly likely that they would have lost the castle and been annihilated or forced to withdraw. They finally handed over possession of the lump of crumbling rock to 6th Royal West Kent who were on loan from 78th Division.

    I'm sure Frank will point out any errors--this is typed from memory.

    Most of the material on Cassino in another book is viewable here:
    Monte Cassino
     
    IKE26 and 4jonboy like this.
  10. Gareth7125

    Gareth7125 Member

    Wow!! Thanks ‍♀️
     
  11. Gareth7125

    Gareth7125 Member

    Charley, do you have a copy of the 16 pages of its not too much trouble could you send me it

    Thank you
     
  12. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Yes, direct message me your email address and I will send them.

    (The message system is called 'Conversations' here)
     
  13. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Gareth.

    If you get really stuck for your Stand brief, track me down through my website at www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk. I am a guide for Cassino and a former Infantry Officer.

    You will need to be quick because I am off there on Sunday with HQ 11 Sig Bde.

    Why your organiser gets individuals - without a recce or a chance to understand the ground, to explain specific parts of the battle defeats me. It took me 30 visits to Cassino to properly understand the complexities of the Third Battle that you are being asked to explain.

    Regards

    Frank
     
    4jonboy and Owen like this.
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Have moved the posts from that other thread into this one.
     
    Gareth7125 likes this.
  15. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    I don't have Matthew Parker's book, but all i can say about CASSINO: THE HOLLOW VICTORY The Battle for Rome January-June 1944 by John Ellis is a tomb of a book. Near on 600 pages of most use-full detail. Its still going for cheap has chips.

    Regards
    Stu.
     
    ropey likes this.
  16. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I don't recall where I downloaded it from, but the following essay has some great aerial photographs.
     

    Attached Files:

    IKE26 likes this.
  17. Gareth7125

    Gareth7125 Member

    Hi

    Sorry for the delay in reply! It won’t let me open the essay nor the pictures you sent me from A-B via C, would you be able to email them across if it’s not too much trouble, the audio interviews work great

    Regards

    Gareth
     
  18. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Email sent.
     
  19. Gareth7125

    Gareth7125 Member

    Hi gents,

    You have all helped me research my stand for this week so thank you. I have a friend searching pacerno, could you point him in the right direction please
     
  20. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Gareth.

    What do you mean by 'pacerno'?

    Regards

    Frank
     

Share This Page