|
PLEASE HELP KEEP THIS SITE ON LINE!
|
|
PLEASE HELP KEEP THIS SITE ON LINE!
|
The Battle for
|
| 3rd October, 1943 | S. R. S. with No. 3 (Army) Commandos and No. 40 Royal Marine Commando land and attack Termoli. The Special Service Brigade under Brigadier J. Durnford-Slater, DSO took the beach area and town, with casualties, their opponents being German parachutists. Captain J. Tonkin's S. R. S. section was surrounded and captured in the town, he later escaped. |
| 203919 | lieut. | Alexander Melville WILSON | Gordon Highrs | (C) |
| 2616121 | L/Sgt | George Edward CASS | Cold. Gds | (C) |
| 327865 | L/Sgt | William Mathew McNINCH,MM | R. A. C. | (SR) |
| 2719054 | L/Sgt | Christopher O'DOWD,MM | Irish Gds | (SR) |
| 4128862 | L/Cpl | John McDONALD | R. N. Fus | (SR) |
| 6028881 | Pte | George Cassidy | Q.O.R.W.Kents | (SR) |
| 2617852 | Gds | Arthur Thomas DENCH | Gren. Gds | (C) |
| 3058778 | Pte | William Muir McALPIN | 6th Gordons | (SR) |
| 5437461 | Pte | Emrys POCOCK | King's Own | (SR) |
| 1883722 | Spr | Alexander Grant SKINNER,MM | R. Engrs | (SR) |
| 1609969 | Gnr | William STEWART-JOHNSON | R. Arty | (SR) |
Quando l'8° armata raggiunse la linea difensiva tedesca sul Biferno, Montgomery decise di utilizzare i pochi mezzi da sbarco per aggirare il fianco nemico dalla parte del mare con un assalto anfibio, mentre la forza principale attaccava frontalmente. Conquistando Termoli, una piccola città 3 km a nord del Biferno, avrebbe efficacemente tagliato la linea della ritirata tedesca lungo la statale n. 16. Termoli era occupata soltanto da un piccolo distaccamento del Genio ferroviario, rinforzato da un plotone di paracadutisti, il cui battaglione d'appartenenza copriva nell'entroterra il fiume Biferno verso ovest. L’attacco iniziale fu eseguito da due unità di Commandos britannici, che fungevano da reparto d'assalto per la 78° divisione. Il piano prevedeva lo sbarco dei Commandos davanti alla città prima dell'alba del 3 ottobre, mentre l'l1° brigata, il 56° reggimento di ricognizione divisionale e sei carri armati Sherman del 3° Yeomanry della Contea di Londra dovevano attraversare il fiume per raggiungerli. I pochi mezzi da sbarco disponibili sarebbero allora tornati indietro, avrebbero preso a bordo la 36a brigata (naturalmente ridotta a dimensioni d'assalto) per sbarcarla a Termoli nella notte fra il 3 e il 4 ottobre. I Commandos della 3a armata e quelli del 40 Royal Marines ripulirono Termoli dai nemici; quelli non catturati vennero rapidamente dispersi. I tedeschi avevano fatto saltare il ponte stradale sul Biferno, ma i genieri, per quanto a corto di materiale, costruirono un ponte di barche sul quale riuscirono a passare i pezzi anticarro e qualche veicolo da combattimento del reggimento di ricognizione divisionale, mentre la fanteria guadava a piedi l'acqua non troppo profonda del fiume. A questo punto il «generale Fango» prese in mano le cose. Il 3 ottobre cominciò a piovere forte, le acque del Biferno arrivarono a un livello alto abbastanza da impedire il guado, e le deviazioni intorno alle zone demolite sulle strade di approccio si ridussero a una palude vischiosa in cui s'impantanavano gli indispensabili carri armati, l'artiglieria da campo e veicoli che trasportavano munizioni. All'interno della testa di ponte, si rivelò impossibile spostare i cannoni anticarro fino al perimetro difensivo dove c'era urgente bisogno di loro, perché al «generale Fango» si era aggiunto l'ancor più temibile generale Sieckenius.
La 16° Panzerdivision era stata ritirata a nord del Volturno per riequipaggiarsi e riorganizzarsi dopo la sconfitta di Salerno. Però era l'unica unità di riserva disponibile, e dato che l'OKW aveva ordinato che Termoli fosse tenuta «a tutti i costi», fu subito inviata al fronte. Due gruppi di combattimento, di cui si è già parlato in queste pagine, il KG Stempel e il KG von Doering, giunsero il 4 ottobre e si lanciarono nella battaglia. Per un breve periodo, la situazione britannica a Termoli sembrò disperata. L’artiglieria della 78a divisione era ridotta a 200 proiettili per cannone, che stava sparando con la massima intensità possibile nel tentativo di fermare i Panzer. La sola speranza di rinforzare la testa di ponte via terra sarebbe stata di disporre di un ponte tanto resistente da consentire ai carri armati di attraversare il Biferno, ma tutto il materiale "Bailey" era stato ritirato dal parco divisionale per riparare le linee di comunicazione. I Royal West Kents erano stati neutralizzati, e il perimetro difensivo si era ristretto alla periferia della città, quando le sorti mutarono. Il materiale da ponti arrivò rapidamente, e i genieri, lavorando di gran lena sotto il tiro del nemico, costruirono un ponte sul Biferno abbastanza solido da permettere ai carri armati Sherman del 12° reggimento corazzato canadese, chiamato «Three Rivers», di entrare in battaglia. Il 6 ottobre, la forza al completo contrattaccò e vinse; fu particolarmente ammirata la precisione di tiro degli armieri dei carri canadesi
TRANSLATION
When l'8° army reached the defensive German line over the Biferno, Montgomery decided to use the few landing crafts for overturn the hostile side from the part of the sea with an amphibious assault, while the principal strength attacted frontly. Conquering Termoli, a small city 3 [km] north of the Biferno, he would have effectively cut the line for the German withdrawal along the government n. 16. Termoli had occupied only by a small detachment of the railway Engineer, reinforced by a platoon of parachutists, whose battalion covered on the hinterland the Biferno river toward west. The initial attack was performed by two units of British Commandos, that acted as assault units for the 78° division. The plan predicted the landing of the Commandos in front of the city before the dawn of October 3, while the 11° brigade, the 56° regiment of divisional recognition and six Sherman tanks of the 3° Yeomanry of the County of London must cross the river in order to reach them. The few available landing crafts would be then gone back, they would have taken aboard the 36a brigade (naturally reduced to sizes of assault) in order to land it in Termoli in the night between the 3 and October 4. The Commandos of the 3a army and those of the 40 Royal Marines polished up Termoli from the enemies; those not captured they came quickly lost. The Germans had made spring the road bridge over the Biferno, but the engineers, through as for short of material, they built a bridge of boats over which they were able to pass the antitank guns and some fighting vehicle of the regiment of divisional recognition, while the infantry forded the river, the water not being too deep. At this point the "general Mud" it took the matters in hand. October 3 it began to rain loudly, the waters of the Biferno came to a high level enough to obstruct the ford, and the deviations around the zones demolish over the roads of approach they were reduced to a sticky swamp in which they got bogged down, essential tanks, the field artillery and the vehicles that transported ammunition. Inside of the bridgehead, it proved impossible to move the antitank guns up to the defensive perimeter where there was urgent need of them, because at the "general Mud" one was added the still more dangerous general Sieckenius.
The 16° Panzerdivision had been retreat at north of the Volturno in order to reequip and reorganize after the defeat of Salerno. However it was the single backup available unit, and since the OKW had ordered that Termoli is kept "at all the costs," he was immediately sent to the front. Two groups of fight, of which it has already been spoken on these pages, the KG Stempel and the KG von Doering, they came October 4 and they threw themselves into the battle. For a short period, the British situation in Termoli looked desperate. The artillery of the 78a division had been reduced to 200 projectiles for gun, that it shoot with the maximum possible intensity on the attempt to stop the Panzer. The only hope to reinforce the bridgehead by ground it would have been to dispose of a bridge as resistant to allow the tanks to cross the Biferno, but all the material "Bailey" it had been retired from the divisional park in order to fix the lines of communication. The Royal West Kents had been neutralized, and the defensive perimeter was narrowed to the outskirts of the city, when the fates changed. The material for bridges came quickly, and the engineers, working with great energy under the shot of the enemy, they built a fairly solid bridge over the Biferno to allow the Sherman of the 12° armored Canadian regiment, called "Three Rivers," to enter in battle. October 6, the full force counterattacked and won; it was especially admired the precision of shot of the gunners of the Canadian tanks
Sunday, October 3, Foggia #8 Rain nearly all day today. We are grounded as the field is unserviceable. Rain again tonight, but champiagn to wash down out low spirits, helped us to sleep. Jerry is still withdrawing and the British are taking their time following him. Well probably move forward in a few days.
Monday, October 4, Foggia #8Had the day off. Went back to Bari with will Tilson. It really is a nice town. Wanted to buy some Christmas gifts, but everything is so expensive. I didn't see a single bombed building. It's a modern town of 275,000. Lots of pretty women, fine shops and some attractive modern buildings. One mission today. No strafing target reported.
Wednesday, October 6, Loggia #8One bombing mission yesterday and more rain. Last night, Jerry came over but no action. Today, "A: party moved out to a new field about 25 miles north of Loggia. We leave tomorrow morning. Three dive bombing missions and for a change, no rain. Not much to write about. The morale of the guys is like the weather, stinking, No spirit. They work without any interest. It's the vino that perks them up a bit. It's the same stuff day in and day out. We've now had sixteen months of overseas duty and 15 months of continuous combat. We wonder how much longer they'll keep ul at it. B our ships are in good shape and that's what counts. Yesterday and today, the ships flew to help the 8th Army hold a bridgehead at Termoli by bombing and strafing troops and vehicles on the roads north and west of the town. The 57th helped break up the main enemy concentration, struck hard against road movement, especially around Isernia, flew direct-support missions over the battle line, and protected the ground troops against a few Luftwaffe raids.
sent to my by Eleanora Golobic, Archives, AFS Intercultural Programs
Eleanora also sent me much more information of the AFS's involvement at Termoli, I have placed it here
October 2, 1943 To hasten the advance along Adriatic coast in British Eighth Army area, 2d Special Service Brig (commandos) of 13 Corps lands, night 2-3, near Termoli and secures the town and port; soon joins 78th Div, which, moving N. along coast, secures bridgehead across the Biferno.
After the end of the war in North Africa in March 1943, the Army Command thought it was time to disband the many "private armies" created for the Desert campaign, such as the LRDG, the SAS, etc, thinking there were no more use for them. Moreover, David Stirling, having been captured in January 1943, was not anymore there to defend his unit and its concept. The remaining officers, under Stirling 2iC, Paddy Maine, fought to keep the unit alive.
The 1st SAS was nevertheless disbanded and broke into two unit : the Special Raiding Squadron, under Major Paddy Mayne, and the Special Boat Squadron, under Major the Earl Jellicoe. The 2nd SAS remained under the command of Bill Stirling (David's brother).
The SRS took part in the Sicily and Italian campaigns, including the Termoli landing, (mis)used in a shock troop role.
In December 1943, a rather depleted SRS was send back in UK for reorganising. In January 1944, the SRS got back its title of 1st Special Air Service Regiment.
As for second query : There was also a group who destroyed an ammunition store in an old fort on the east coast of Italy, can anyone elaborate on this?
The 2nd SAS did several raids on the eastern Italian coast between September 1943 and January 1944. But their purpose was to cut railway lines. Maybe during one of this missions did a group destroyed the ammo store ? Do you have some informations about the date of the raid ?
For another account of the SRS in Termoli, you could read "These Men Are Dangerous", by Derrick Harrison (former SAS and SRS officer), Grafton Books, 1990.
I hope these informations will be of some help.
Best regards, Eric CREPIN-LEBLOND (FRANCE)
I have just noticed your message and am in rather a hurry, if you are interested i may be able to send more detail later. From what i can gather the whole of the 78th division which these regiments belonged was continually being formed into special groups and used as a general assault resource through ought the campaign. my father was in the Kensingtons which operated bren gun carriers And heavy mortars, he recounts that it was often difficult to tell who they were attached to. a bit of a sore point as the British army now denies his activity in north Africa as it was not adequately recorded,and will not give him the campaign medals, but he sure knows that he was there, at Tunisia and the battle of longstop.
David.
"By the end of September (1943), the Allied invasion had fully secured its objectives, the Germans having retreated to defensible positions north of Naples along the Volturno River in the west and, in Eighth Army territory, along the Biferno, which empties into the Adriatic a few miles south of Termoli....Eighth Army began its attack on the Biferno positions on Oct. 1st, with the 78th Division advancing along the coast toward Termoli, while the Canadian 1st Division moved toward Vinchiaturo along the Foggia-Isernia lateral road. On the night of Oct. 2/3, a British commando unit made a seaborne landing behind the enemy lines and linked up with the 78th. Then Termoli was quickly taken, though a German counterattack, beginning on the 4th, bitterly contested the 78th's hold on the city for several days...."
Do these dates tie in with your information? If so, that was your Dad's raid! My friend has no knowledge of Camp Qassassin. I would think the British War Office might have information on this.
Best regards, Eugene Hammond
But speed and surprise were the elements aimed at, and it was decided to land two 85
commandos of the Special Service Brigade in Termoli by landing craft, for 11 Brigade to join them as quickly as possible by land, across the Biferno, and for the other two brigades to follow by sea when Termoli had been secured. As the commander of the Irish Brigade noted, "as far as my Brigade was concerned it was to be a pleasant peacetime cruise, with fighting unlikely for a fortnight or so. And Termoli was known to be a nice little town." Adding ruefully, "Note: this did not go according to plan."
But it all began smoothly enough. The two commandos, 3 and 40, with the Special Service Brigade's reconnaissance squadron, all under command of Lt.-Col. Dumford-Slater, embarked at Bari and landed successfully. By eight o'clock on the morning of October 3-they had easily overcome the weak garrison, and 36 Brigade was able to land unopposed that night and to begin to push towards the north.
from "Algiers to Austria 1942-1946 The History of the 78 Division" by Cyril Ray
Thank you to: Robyn Dowsett
Regards,
ER Lusk
Around mid-March 1943 the Special Boat Squadron was essentially detached from 1 SAS Regiment. The remainder of the regiment, about a squadron (company) in strength were redesignated the Special Raiding Squadron (SRS). Strength about 250 men, organized in three troops. The SRS did take part at Termoli with the Special Service Brigade (commandos).
Two groups of 2 SAS were also on the scene at Termoli - one group in jeeps had advanced overland with 78 Div - another group arrived at the harbour in assorted craft - both on 3 October 1943.
Steve Rothwell
mail about Termoli
