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Topic: Mid Italy 1944-Day & night patrol. (Read 132 times)
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george burrows
redpatch43
Veteran 100+ Member
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Posts: 188
2002
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For all of you who want more WW 2 stories, here another good one I think you will enjoy.
At this point in time we were 2/3 rds through the war and there were only a handfull (if that) of experienced men still with the regiment. One afternoon about 3.pm, a officer (from HQ. INTELL) came to our platoon, which was #17 Platoon ,D Coy. and told our Corporal Russ Hawk, that I HEAR YOU HAVE TWO EXPERIENCED MEN IN YOUR GROUP.Cpl Hawk say yes I do Sir. and then proceeded to say Burrows, you and Smitt'y go with the Officer. At this popint we joined the Intelligence officer. Smitt'y had a .303 rifle and I had my trusty Remington Mk 3 Sub MG., plus grenades. So off we went. We followed him along the lip of VERY LARGE RIVER BED, which was absolutely dry. It was at least a third of a mile wide, and had huge islands of earth staggered all through it. We walked for about fiftten minutes, at which point the officer made a left turn to go down a walk path to the river bed, the path being just wide enough to walk on, and it of course was dug into the side wall of the river bank. Down we go , (at this point we are in full view of the enemy observers- although I do not think the officer realized it.) Anyway, when we reach the bottom, which was about 30 feet deep, we found the river bed to be made up of COBBLE STONE. (Terribly noisy to walk on, like mouintain goats walking across a dance floor). We then proceeded toward enemy lines (still full daylight) and using the earth islands for cover, we made our way across the the river bed to the enemy side. Once there,we went up a path similar to the one we went down on our side. When we got to the top, there was a little plataue, about six feet long by about 3 feet wide, to stand on.Then to gain access to the open field in frront of us, we had to step up about 2 1/2 feet, which we did. At that point, I knew ABSOLUTELY, FOR SURE that the Germans were watching us, and porbably laughing their head off. They knew what was up. However, they hid in the bush across the field , I am sure and watched our officer and Smitt'y walk forward about 30 feet into the field toward them, then stop, turn around in various positions to appraise the situation, then turn back toward me. I stayed AT THE LEDGE TO CHECK OUT OTHER POSSIBLE items . When the officer and Smitt'y came back to me , I pointed down to the two holes dug in the ground, and they were in the shape of our current TV. TOWER DISHES. (CONCAVE) they were spaced about 3 feet apart. I asked the officer what he thought these were for. His reply was I DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T CARE.
I have a very,very suspicious mind. I did not like the answer. It showed the officers ALLOFNESS toward lower ranks. To make a long story short, we went back to our base, had supper and then after dusk, ANOTHER OFFICER CAME TO OUR PLATOON. He chose Smitt'y as his guide, and our entire platoon was to follow. ( We were going on a raid to try and capture enmy pow.'s. back to the same site as the afternoon foray) Again, we walked along the path to the afternoon Cut Off point, Smitt'y, not being to observant had not paid attention in the afternoon as to the landmarks needed. I was further back in the platoon where my Morter Crew usually stayed, until I noticed the CUT OFF point marked in the soil. I orderd the platoon to halt, as we had passed the point. the Officer asked for me ( Just think of it, HE ASKED FOR ME, poor little ole me, to get him out of his mess)
Anyway, I went forward, met the officer and told him to follow me. Away we go, turn around, go back to the Cut Off point, and down the sandy clay path to the river bed. I told the officer we had to be very quiet because of the cobblestone base across the river bed to the other side. As in the afternoon route, I too stuck to the earth islands in crossing over to the other side. Once near the base of the path on the enemy side, I KNEW WE WERE SURROUNDED by enemy on the upper ledge of the river bank.
However, up the path I go with our officer and Smitt'y right behind me.At this point in the raid, I am #1 in command and must lead the show, unless the officer decides to take over ( which he does not). When we reach the parapet at the top, REMBER I said there was a step up of about 2 1/2 feet to main field level, Well I took the first step up to level ground, followed by the Officer on my right and by Smitt'y on my left. I started to move forward very slowly, still standing erect ,(still thinking of those two convex holes I saw that afternoon) and had not taken more than three short steps, when TWO HEAVY GERMAN SPANDAU MACHINE GUNS OPENED UP IN CROSSFIRE MODE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. At this point, I was standing at the APEX OF THE CROSSFIRE. I immediately dropped to the ground, as did both the officer and Smitt'y. I lay there on my stomach, arched up on my elbows visually thinking what would be the next best "SMART'move to make. Several options crossed my mind, One was I could open up my Mk 3 sub, and take em out for sure. I did not do that because I felt more soldiers would have been stationed very close for back up, and once their MG,s started they would be in position to take us out, for NO GAIN.
THE NEXT THOUGHT WAS TO GET DOWN BELOW THE PARAPET, AND TOSS HAND GRENADES, HOWEVER THE SAME RETURN RESULT MAY ALSO APPLY. To waste life unnecessarily was very stupid. Our only option, I felt at this point was to try and return safely down the path and go back home. Up to this point ' JERRY' had treated us very fair. He had us in his sights all night, both coming over and while on his turf and he had not tried to kill anyone or shoot to wound.I felt if we could safely leave and return to base with all lives intact, WE COULD CALL THE NIGHT A DRAW. Neither side won anything that night. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE THOUGH, THIS WAS.
The lesson learned here is that if ANY THOUGHT AT ALL HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE PROJECT, THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AN OPEN SEARCH IN ENEMY TERRATORY DURING THE FULL DAYLIGHT HOURS. This was a flaggarent, stupid dedcision, by somebody who had NO FIELD EXPERIENCE AT ALL, WHO JUST BRAZENLY THOUGHT WHAT HE PLANNED WOULD TURN OUT SUPER. UNDER NORMAL field activities, the Germans would have slaughtered all of us, OR taken all of us as POW'S during the afternoon foray.
At this point I would think there were may have been only a half doxen or so Pachino landed vets still in the rifle companies. As you may not know, therewere only 34 survivors FROM PACHINO LANDING STILL WITH THE REGIMENT AS AT THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER 1944
THESE CONSISTED OF 9 OFFICERS AND 25 OR'S,OF WHICH i AM ONE.
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Holy freaking sheeeet George!!!!
I got goosepimples running up the back of my neck!
What a story.... and SO WELL TOLD!
I'm going back to read it again a few times... if not more. Great read, brother, don't be stopping now....
Hey, how bout starting at the beginning. When did you join, what was it like prior to Pachino and, considering the horrific attrician rate, how did you survive till the end.
Between you, me, the hundreds of Royals soon to read this and the fencepost, this is the most real, poignant writing Ive ever had the pleasure to read about the Regiment in WWII. I'm not kidding, you got one HELL of a way with words!
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Jim Hickson
CWO H.J. Hickson, MMM, CD. (Retd)
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Pro Patria
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Hi George
You have one hell of a way of telling stories, so don't stop now!!!!!!!!
Jim
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1961-Depot San Lenorado
1962-1st Bn RCR Ex Gagetown
1962-JR NCO Course Grad 19 Oct
1962-1965 Germany B-C-D-A Coy (Revecated Nov 64)
1965-1967 Sigs Pl Cyprus Prom CPL 'til xmas and C of Drums
1967-1973 Cpl, MCpl, Sgt, Sigs, D Coy
1973-1977 CFOCS Chilliwack Prom WO
1977-1982 UEO, Sigs, Pl WO RECCE, CSM B&A Coy,
1982-1984 SIT School
1984-1988 Career Manager (Prom CWO 1986)
1988-1990 RSM 1RCR
1991-1995 CWO Adm(Per) - C Of S
1995-1999 Base CWO Wainwright
1999-Retired
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
Ultimate 2000+ Member
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Hi George ,and thanks again for another jim dangy, i have to agree with Mike and Jim that you are a very good writer,especially with fact and as it was, please keep them coming, i too will read and reread, thanks,ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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