2 Commandos Part 4

No.9 & 40 Commandos fought side by side

The previous page was: "Two Commandos Part Three"

Two-Commandos-4; a fortnight of rest and reorganization followed. Then on 24th February 1944, 40 Commando Royal Marine and No.9 Commando Army found themselves on the move once more, this time to Anzio.

On reaching that forlorn, malarial plain, they were faced with a very different situation from which they had left.

The thrust of General Lucas had failed, and it had failed dismally. The troops, who were supposed to sweep forward in a swift advance, seize the Alban Hills, and enter Rome, had remained on the plain.

Only a few miles of unprofitable ground had been seized.

Frascati and Castel Gadolfo and other little towns among the cypresses and vineyards still gleamed afar off in the fickle winter sunshine.

The attackers were hemmed in and pinned down by the ferocious attacks of four German Divisions determined to fling them into the sea.

Two Commandos Part Three

The battle had raged for the best part

Of a week; the enemy had been held, but at no light cost. All of the troops were exhausted; the infantry battalions of the 56th London Division would very soon no longer be effective fighting units.

It was the 2nd March when the Commandos went ashore. 40 Commando Royal Marines at once joined the 169th Brigade ten miles north of Anzio in flat, marshy ground covered with shrub which hid them from the sight of the enemy but not from his bullets and mortar bombs.

They found the difficulties of digging in impossible, they encountered within a foot, water. They did what they could to scrape some protection for themselves, building earthworks upon the lips of the shallow watery scoops in the ground.

The enemy were two-thousand yards away.

In this comfortless place the Commando maintained itself for eighteen days, carrying out a number of fighting patrols and generally displaying a spirit of marked aggession, whilst at the same time getting the general layout of the district and its inhabitants.

During one of the patrols Lieutenant C.L. Dutton rushed an enemy machine gun post, shot one of the gunners and laid out the other with a punch to the jaw. He and his runner, Marine Bissenden, then picked up the unconscious German and brought him back to Commando headquarters.

Manners, the colonel, despatched the three of them in a jeep to brigade headquaters' and on the way Dutton who spoke no German; described to his now recovered prisoner with the aid of a dictionary exactly what he proposed to do to him should he refuse to answer his questions.

The prisoner provided much valuable information.

West of them No. 9 Commando was

In a similar situation. In eight days they killed thirty-six Germans and took twenty-seven prisoners, for the loss to themselves of four killed and fifteen wounded. Their commanding officer, Tod, recovered from his wounds, and returned to lead them.

On 10th March they were called upon to carry out 'Operation 'C' this had originally been designed as a major attack to be mounted by two Divisions.

The objective, eleven miles north of Anzio and two miles west of the main road, was a number of small hillocks with ravines between them where the Germans; who were accustomed to form up before launching their counter-attacks.

Three of these ravines, which the Commando called wadis, were named 'Haydon' nearest to their position, 'Laycock' furthest away and 'Charles' which connected the other two. Rising from them and enclosed by them on three sides was a small hill called 'Beechers.'

The Commando was divided into

Three squadrons, 'A,' 'B' and 'C.' At 02:00 on the 19th March 'B' and 'C' squadrons advanced against 'Haydon.' They were a trifle slow moving to the start line, their leader, Captain Basset-Wilson, was heard to exhort them to "Hurry up, or you'll be too late to throw your grenades at the Germans."

His concern was unnecessary; before the day was out they had thrown every one.

Crossing at the double the five-hundred yards separating them from their objective, they seized 'Haydon.' This at once provoked a heavy barrage which fell upon the start line where 'A' squadron was forming up. It quickly moved forward until it reached 'Hayden,' where a defensive position was established.

At dawn 'A' and 'B' squadrons moved to do an attack on the next wadi, 'Charles,' but heavy fire directed against them from 'Breechers,' halted their progress and they were forced to withdraw.

Though foiled in their attempt to capture 'Charles,' the Commando seized a small hill which they called 'Bob' and from there they had some observation of the enemy.

'Bob' was dominated by 'Beechers,' for the rest of the day No. 9 Commando could do no more than hold its own against the inevitable mortar fire, to which was added the bombardment of rifle grenades and the unpleasant attention of German snipers and self propelled artillery.

Ammunition began to run low,

And though only five-hundred yards away, no one could return to the start line. That was except twelve wounded who were carried across the open ground under the Red Cross flag; which the enemy respected.

The enemy launched a heavy counter-attack under the cover of smoke. Though defeated on the flanks the Germans had more success in the centre, where they managed to break through. The Germans reached Commando headquarters.

Tod immediately manned the Bren gun with Douglas Brown, the officers' mess cook. For a short while the issue looked doubtful; then with all weapons firing and the pipes playing this battle-hardened Commando surged forward and forced the enemy to retreat.

Hardly had they driven away the foe, when the order came for them to withdraw. The wounded on improvised stretchers went first. No sooner had they left their positions, when heavy artillery and mortar rained down on the exposed and untenable ravine.

This battle cost the Commando nineteen killed, fifty wounded and four missing in action.

Modern-day Pages Fast Boats Pages Joe Wezley Pages

This was the first offensive action

In this area that had taken place. After it the Germans displayed increasing symptoms of nervousness; perhaps this may provide adequate excuse for mounting it.

Both Commandos were taken back to Naples; from there they moved to Milfetta. Sadly depleted in strength since its arrival five months ago. No.9 Commando Army, had fought three major battles.

while 40 Commando Royal Marines had completed two long periods in the front line.

Both were in great need of rest and refreshment; and for a month these were granted to them.

The next Link below will be: "Commandos"

Two Commandos Part Four Commandos

"Pirates Trilogy" $20