Two Commandos Part 2

No.2 & 41 Commandos fought side by side

The previous page was: "Two Commandos Part One"

You will notice that this is the second part of the gallant actions fought by these two great Commandos in the World War II. For a more even pace of these actions it is advisable to read part one: Two Commandos 1, before you read this section.

That night they were withdrawn and billeted a bare mile from the front line, in houses on the cliff road running between Vietri and Salerno. The houses nestled beneath the steep cliff and no fire could be brought to bear upon them.

The men passed the hours away watching the German batteries of multiple mortars pitch as many as forty-eight bombs at a time into the harbour of Salerno, preventing the Navy from using the port. It interfered with, but it did not stop the Commandos bathing parties.

Two Commandos Part One

41 Commando Royal Marines,

Received reinforcements of forty-eight men and one officer; fourteen other ranks of No.2 Commando, missing from a patrol turned up, having slipped through the lines of the enemy. These unexpected arrivals put fresh heart into the weary men.

Twenty-four hours rest was little enough, but it sufficed. Late afternoon found them ready to respond to an order that would take them away from Vietri and La Molina, scene of their stubborn defence, to the village of Mercatello, two and a half miles to the south-west.

There they were to deliver an equally stubborn attack on the other side of Salerno.

The enemy were in possession of the village of Pigoletti and the three hills behind it; these the Commandos had been told had to be recaptured at any cost.

41 Commando Royal Marines advanced immediately to the attack of the hill to which it was soon to give its name.

It was captured withe loss of one man killed and two wounded; the Commando consolidated its position, ready for a counter-attack, but no attack developed.

This was one occasion throughout the fierce Salerno battle, that their task was easier to perform than had been expected.

2 Commando prepared to advance

Advancing up a thickly wooded valley with vines growing along steep terraces; where at the end of which stood the village of Pigoletti. At 18:30, an hour after 41 had begun their attack, they moved off in six columns. The night was dark, because the moon was not up yet.

As they advanced they shouted loudly "Commandos, Commandos are coming," and kept repeating it every few minutes unnerving the enemy.

At the head of the commando was their Colonel, 'Mad Jack' Churchill, with his sword in his hand. He was on the right flank they were more fortunate than the others, 'Mad Jack' had found a road leading to their objective. The Troop advanced faster than the rest; Churchill with Corporal Ruffell outdistanced everyone.

The two men moved silently forward till, a short distance to their right they heard digging. Churchill halted the Troop. He could see a footpath leading straight up to Pigoletti; he went along it with the Corporal.

Entering a street the only sound

They could hear was the chink of spades and picks. Looking around in an archway they saw the glow of a cigarette. Churchill crept along the wall until he could see two German sentries, whom one was smoking.

When they turned around in the archway they were met by a fierce man in British battledress brandishing a sword. He commanded: "Hande hoch!" they obeyed with trembling haste.

It was then that 'Mad Jack' noticed a large German mortar in the middle of the courtyard, with its crew sleeping around it.

Whispering he ordered Ruffell to keep the two sentries covered with his Tommy gun. 'Mad Jack' then advanced upon the crew of the mortar.

They were beginning to stir, once more he shouted: "Hande hoch!" demanding their surrender at the point of his sword. Fuddled with sleep the ten Germans put up their hands.

The Troop were waiting orders on the edge of the village, using hand signals the prisoners were herded together and covered. 'Mad Jack' chose one of the prisoners', taking him with him they visited each sentry in turn. When challenged, with a prod from the sword the prisoner gave the password, when 'Mad Jack' flourished his sword the sentry surrendered.

'Mad Jack' collected thirty-three prisoners; and captured a regimental aid post intact. For this deed that night; Churchill was admitted to the Distinguished Service Order. When the Divisional General asked him why he carried a sword, he replied: "In my opinion, Sir, any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed."

Another No. 2 Commando Troop

Captured a further thirty-five German troops. Like his Colonel, Captain Hemming, their commander, was well in advance with his batman. They reached a belt of dark trees; hearing a voice speaking German, Hemming shouted; "Hande hoch!" the only German words he knew.

The German came forward and surrendered, together with three of his comrades. Delighted by his unexpected good fortune, Hemming was about to return to his Troop when a fourth German ran out with his hands up, followed by a fifth, and a sixth, until within a very short space of time he was surrounded by thirty-five of the enemy, all surrendering.

Hemming was gladdened to see his Troop who came up by his side. The prisoners said later that the noise made by No.2 Commando was so great that it seemed to them, that there was at least a Division approaching.

Altogether in this triumphant action No.2 Commando captured one-hundred and thirty-six prisoners; more that date than the whole 46th Division had been able to send to their cages.

In accordance with orders,

The Commando, having swept the valley, got ready to return to the start line at midnight. But for the brave, as for the wicked there is no respite. They were immediately given the order; "about turn." They were required to hold Pigoletti, but also to seize the hill behind, which the Germans had established a number of strong points.

The Germans here put a brave fight but they were no match for the determined fighting men of No.2 Commando when they stormed the hill.

41 Commando Royal Marines were on the right they had taken the hill and were moving on towards the next target. Captain Wellington led two Troops against their second objective, the Pimple. He was met with heavy machine gun fire and a hail of grenades and was killed, together with many of his men. "He had fought like a lion," said one who was with him at the time. the survivors fell back to the village.

Courage alone could not take the hill.

The next morning both Commandos were much galled by the fire of the German 88-mm guns and heavy mortars. To maintain supplies was very difficult, for much of the way was under fire. The most urgent call was for oil to maintain the automatic weapons and rifles to keep them in good working order.

It is an indication of the powerful spirit of the Commando and of the unceasing use to which they put their weapons.

In the afternoon it was decide that 41 Commando Royal Marine should make a night attack on the Pimple. The men were very exhausted, but as determined as ever. As they were about to move off, heavy artillery fire fell upon the Commando; Major Edwards, in command, fell mortally wounded, and many of his men suffered the same fate.

What heightened the catastrophe was that the fire came not from the enemy but from our own guns which had mistaken their target.

This terrible mistake must prove fatal to success you would think, but one Troop succeeded in capturing the Pimple and driving the enemy from it and occupying it.

The six Royal Marines that remained were ordered to withdraw under a smoke screen the next day.

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By now the two Commandos

They were much exhausted; news arrived that they were to be relieved. They left behind an huge area strewn with dead Germans.

The battle of Salerno was a grievous; but glorious fight. At one time the situation was so critical ships of the Royal Navy were put at fifteen minutes' notice to re-embark troops.

The Germans had been vanquished by the gallantry and supreme efforts of N0.2 Commando Army, and 41 Commando Royal Marines.

First at La Molina and Vietri, and then at Pigoletti they had stood firm when the situation was desperate and their own condition one of extreme fatigue, and they had conquered.

"Such is their Spirit," wrote the General Officer Commanding the 46th Division afterwards. "That it triumphed over all weakness of the flesh, when they got to close quarters they inflicted a marked-and indeed awful-effect upon the Boche."

The price was high three-hundred and sixty-seven killed, wounded or missing in action out of seven-hundred and thirty-eight officers and men that had landed at Marina.

The next Link below will be: "Army's Disbanded Commandos"

Two Commandos Part Two Army's Disbanded Commandos

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