Fus Frank Jefferson VC
Click here to go to the Frank Jefferson Feature

Luigi Trevisan, our erstwhile supporter in Italy, has sent me these pics of the museum in Roncofreddo (near the City of Cesena) in the area of the Gothic Line where the 2nd Bn had such a hard fight.
Click on photos to enlarge them
Luigi has added, " Mr Paolo Savini, the curator, is preserving fantastic memorabilia of your ancestors as memento for the adults and students about the sacrifice of the British Army for our freedom. I'm very happy for that effortis.Now he is restoring a Bailey bridge of the Royal Engineers used to cross the many rivers and streams of that area."

Many thanks Luigi, we are grateful for your continued support and praise for the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Termoli Italy 28th September 1943

This short piece concerns the 2nd Bn and the action at Termoli Italy at the end of September 1943.

The most experienced patrollers were assembled and formed into two officer-lead vanguard platoons. They were ordered to push ahead to successive tactical features and report them clear or otherwise.

The plan worked well; after each bound the Battalion moved confidently forward and then rested until the next feature had been secured.
The vanguards met some minor opposition from snipers and small patrols, but they were strong enough to deal with those.
A German artillery officer with his radio operator was flushed out of a church tower into the Bn game bag.
The CO requested Brigade HQ to give our anti-tank guns priority in the queues of vehicles waiting to cross the rivers where bridges had been blown.
He was relieved when this was granted as intelligence reports had indicated that the 16 Panzer Division had left the Naples area and was heading towards Termoli.
It seemed that the Bn's advance up the east coast had achieved the object of drawing enemy forces away from the hard-pressed Fifth Army.
So we could expect action soon.

The vanguard patrols continued their progress and on 3 October, the Battalion arrived at the demolished road and rail bridges over the river Biferno on the southern outskirts of Termoli.
They were lucky to find some rowing boats in which they ferried the heavier supporting weapons and ammunition.
Rifle companies waded across.

On the north side,it was reassuring to learn that two Commandos had landed early in the morning and completely surprised the weak German garrison in Termoli, capturing its Commandant and other officers in their pyjamas.
As the town was secure, the Bn veered westwards towards the wooded escarpment that ran inland from Termoli beyond the course of the river Biferno.
It was obvious that this high ground had to be held to cover the valley and the bridge site near Campomarino.
The CO joined the leading troops and, as they approached the top of the escarpment summoned the `Order Group' to assemble while he went on to look at the country ahead.
All was tranquil.
There was not the slightest hint of danger.
The Commandos were happily consolidating their hold in Termoli, no doubt pinching the best billets after their successful night operation.

On reaching the crest, the CO beheld an astonishing sight, one that infantry soldiers dream about but seldom see.
About four hundred yards away was a mixed column of 16 Panzer Division's soft-skinned vehicles, armour and guns nose-to-tail on a road stretching as far as one could see to beyond Monte di Coccia, a high hill over on the Bns left.
The CO quickly withdrew below the crest trembling with excitement.
Fred Majdalany was ordered to get the MMG and the 3-inch mortar platoons into firing positions; thank goodness, they were in the right order of battle and already across the river. The company commanders were allotted defensive localities.
There was no time to be wasted; detailed orders were unnecessary; they were all veterans at the game.
The battle patrol was sited to protect the bridge and the rear of the Battalion. Everyone was warned to crawl into position. No one was to fire until the CO gave the order. The aim was to completely surprise the Germans with a shattering blast of fire from all our weapons. Our 25-Pounders were miles behind out of range waiting to cross a river but the battery commander arranged for medium guns to support us.

`16 Panzer Division!' The words spread like lightning. Men forgot their fatigue from the long marches and wading through rivers. The fog of uncertainty had cleared.
Fusiliers doubled up the escarpment. Those carrying 3-inch mortar bombs dumped them beside the mortars mounted ready to fire.
'16 Panzer Division!' The news had reached the bridging sites where men struggled with renewed energy to get reserves of ammunition forward to us. Messages were flashed through Brigade to Division, Corps to Army. Commanders and staffs at the various headquarters all down the line were no doubt busy ordering other moves for countering this latest threat.
But at that moment, the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers stood alone.

When they were all deployed, a profound silence reigned.
Fusiliers in the woods looked over their weapon sights patiently waiting. the CO instructed the Adjutant to signal Brigade that he urgently needed our anti-tank guns.
He looked towards Major Majdalany, as eager as a dog for a bone, and nodded.
`Fire!'
The order reverberated through the woods and along the crests.
The whole machine gun platoon opened fire together and triggered a larger orchestra of fire that rippled around the countryside.
The CO stood behind observing the effects; out in front the enemy ranks were in confusion with vehicles bursting into flames - an unforgettable sight!
In the excitement of the hour, some officers attempted to take over from the machine gunners. Quite rightly, they refused. However, the CO was honoured when a Corporal Number One looked up, 'Would you like to have a go, Sir?' He fired at a group of lorries. 'You're hitting the wheels, Sir. Up a hundred - that it! Right on target.'

The Germans soon retaliated. Enemy artillery fired smoke shells to help their surprised troops extricate themselves.
The CO warned the companies to dig in deeper while the mortars and machine guns continued firing; they had not had time to erect any overhead protection and shrapnel from shells bursting in the trees was causing casualties.
By dusk, both sides were licking their wounds. Our 25-Pounders were now within range so defensive fire tasks were soon registered in. Some divisional 17-Pounder anti-tank guns had arrived and were deployed to support our own 6-Pounders. As darkness descended our reconnaissance patrols exchanged fire with enemy positions. Star shells lit up the battle area intermittently. There was nervous tension all along the front.
At dawn, the hills to the north reverberated with the sound of guns. Shells whined overhead towards our divisional gun areas behind the river.

As our artillery retaliated in kind, the furious fire power of 16 Panzer Division was turned on to our positions.

The ground all around erupted with the bombardment.
Showers of bullets zipped, cracked and whined away in ricochet.
There was a shout, 'Tanks in front!' - an armoured attack with infantry following.
Companies were soon calling for their pre-arranged defensive fire tasks, which were quickly answered by our gunners. Medium guns were engaging enemy armour.
The battle area had become alive as both sides became locked in battle.
The contest raged throughout the day with several enemy armoured and infantry thrusts coming in from different directions, but the Battalion position held.

Termoli 29th September 1943
We last saw the 2nd Bn Lfs being furiously engaged by 16 Panzer Division outside the port of Termoli as night fell and fighting patrols encountered more and more of the enemy, some as close to our defensive positions as 300 yards.

At dawn, it was soon clear that a major assualt by the 16th Panzers was imminent.

Weapons and ammunition was checked, no one could afford a stoppage.

Our forward company ( D Coy)reported that some Buffs on their left had withdrawn, leaving the LF Company vulnerable from the flank, the Germans were quick to see this and began an attack.

The CO ordered the exposed Company to fall back a little to a more favourable defensive position.

This also allowed us to keep all our Observation Points protected, from which the road to Termoli could be kept under observation.

Suddeny, the radio crackled into life with the news that the enemy tanks had broken through the main Buffs position and were sculling about on top of the escarpment.
This provided an opportunity for the 25 Pounders in the valley to revert to the drills used at Waterloo and fire over open sights at tanks on the skyline.

The situation was becoming critical, the 2nd Bn Lfs were exposed on a salient and being threatened from several directions.

The order went out that Companies were to hold their small arms fire until the enemy were within 3 hundred yards.

This was it! A large scale Panzer attack around both our flanks, supported by artillery, mortars and some aircraft.

We retaliated with everything we had, we had to stay put at all costs !

The attackers fought to within 150 yards of us, our defensive fire SOS fire tasks were called for repeatedly (in effect, you almost call fire down upon your own positions -Editor )

Our Sherman tanks and our Anti tank guns were engaging targets all around us.

Then came the turning point, the Commanding Officer of the Lancashire Fusiliers ordered a counter attack ,and "Fix Bayonets" came the cry!

Through the beautiful olive groves the Lfs moved forwards, bayonets at the ready, firing at anything that moved ahead of them.

Then, a magic moment, the enemy began to falter, a cheer rang out as the LFs pressed home their bayonet charge.

The Germans had had enough and they streamed backwards towards the Brickworks, all the while being shattered by our artillery fire.

Victory at Termoli was assured when the Irish Brigade landed from assault craft.

The LFs had been fighting solidly for 4 days.

Suddenly everyone felt very tired.

Young men suddenly looked old, with red rimmed eyes and faces grimed with dirt and fatigue.

Time to count the cost of a heroic victory.

Termoli Secured, Now for the River Trigno Crossing

Following the assault landing at Termoli harbour by the Special Raiding Brigade and 40 (RM) Commando and the subsequent landing of the Irish Brigade, the enemy had made a determined effort to dislodge the LFs from their strategic position atop the escarpment.
It was touch and go, even the Headquarters personnel in the Command Post had been forced to fix bayonets and fight hand to hand with the determined enemy.
(These turned out to be soldiers from the German 1st Parachute Division - Joe )
The LFs held on in spite of the odds, and despite suffering many casualties.

It was time for a break.

The Commanding Officer of 2LF was sent for by by General Montgomery, the Army Commander, who told him this :-

"Please inform your Fusiliers that I was very pleased with the great fighting stand at Termoli.
I know all about the battle and of the prominent part you played in it.
I am unable to get to see you today, but I promise that I will get to see you all when I next come around "

The 2nd Bn LFs were stood down at a place called Portocannone until the 22nd October 1943, resting and training and receiving replacements for the men they had lost.
Time for new orders and preparations for the opposed crossing of the river Trigno

The River Trigno Crossing

We last looked at the 2nd Bn as they recuperated from their great efforts at Termoli.

Click on photo to go to Ted Settle's story

William J Collins
Click photo to go to his story

The next 9 photos are of
John Mucky Mason
DCM
Click here to go to John's story

Frank Perruzza

James Frederick Ryder
Click on photo to see his photo collection

Fusilier Frank Burgess

Frank's discharge documents and service book

Fusilier Frank Burgess is back row first from left He is also on photo 3C above
back row number 11 from left.

unknown friend of Frank
"Note his Battleaxe Division Signs "

George Hill,
not sure who he is, but is named on the photo can any help with this

I was browsing through the site recently when at the end of 2LFs North African page I noticed amoungst the Dr Stotts medal list the details of Major Kenricks death and the fact that he died of wounds and is buried in Pietermaritzburg Cemetery in South Africa.
My nephew went to University there so I asked my brother to contact his friends to see if they could find the grave in Fort Napier War Cemetery. I gather that a lot of severely wounded servicemen were sent to RSA for treatment during the war and there was a big Military Hospital at Oribi.
You can see from the pictures attached that they have found it. It looks a lovely, well kept, tranquil place but it is a long way from home. He is the only Fusilier in that cemetery.
Pity Kevin Hill has passed on he no doubt would have known this officer. Perhaps there is someone you know who can fill in the details of how he received the wounds that lead to his death? Perhaps there are relatives still around who would like copies of the pictures?
Coincidentaly my Uncle Tom spent six months in the Oribi Military Hospital. He had the uncovetted distinction of being sunk three times in 24 hours when Stukas smashed his destroyer flotilla off Crete. He was bombed in the water and went to PMB to have most of his guts removed. On discharge he became a publican sadly with only half pint capacity though he retained his 12 pint thirst .As a consequence he spent the last few years of his life mostly flat on his face - he went down with all guns blazing in the true Nelson spirit

sent in
by
Maurice Taylor