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Those known to have fought in Battle of Monte Cassino during the Second World War 1939-1945. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
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Want to know more about Battle of Monte Cassino ? There are:64 items tagged Battle of Monte Cassino available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Ronald Sydney Turner 2nd Btn. North Satffordshire Regiment (d.8th Feb 1944) Ronald Turner served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Pte. George Grayson Infantry Seaforth Highlanders (d.19th Jan 1944) My granddad George Grayson was only 28 when he died on the 19 Jan 1944 at the Battle of Monte Cassino, leaving his 3 young boys, my dad only 3 years old, orphans and his wife bereft. She never married again. Granddad had a blood clotting condition and should never have been allowed to join up, but wanted to and so did, sadly, at the cost of his life.
We would love to find out out more about the circumstances around his death. Rumours are there was an explosion, and that he died in the field hospital. We always think of him and will forever be grateful for the sacrifice he made for his country. Never forgotten granddad, always loved and thought of.
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Sgt . James Clark Stewart 6th Btn. Black Watch My Dad, Jummy Stewart enlisted at Perth Scotland on 16th of October 1939.
He was sent to France in 1940 as part of 51st Highland Division. They dug trenches etc and Dad called it the phoney war . They stole chickens and eggs from the French to supplement their rations.
When the Germans broke through in May 1940, Dad and his section fell back to Dunkirk and arrived there about 22nd/23rd of May 1940. Dad said the Scottish soldiers were rounded up and reformed and ordered to form a u shape round Dunkirk. Dad called this a rearguard action.
They defended Dunkirk to allow the ships to evacuate the troops. Dad talked about being at de Panne and then being told to destroy the vehicles and guns and fall back (along the coast to Dunkirk.)
Dad returned to Dunkirk on 30th/31st of May 1940 and eventually got off the beach on 1st/2nd of June.
He described wading out to boats/ships. Being strafed by German planes. He described almost getting onto a ship but being turned back as it was over-full. That ship turned and headed out when a German plane dropped a explosive down the funnel. So he was grateful he was turned back. He eventually got on a small boat and then a ship back to Dover. He slept all the way.
He was then sent to the Isle of Wight to defend it as they expected an invasion.
The next recollection was training on the west coast of Scotland in 1941/42 with Lord Lovatt. Here it was abseiling and climbing onto moored ships.
He was then sent to North Africa in 1943. Dad was a driver and drove officers to Meetings etc. One day Brigadier Beak asked him to have his best uniform on and he wasn’t told in advance where he was going. It transpired it was for Brigadier Beak to meet Winston Churchill visiting troops in North Africa. Dad was able to salute great man.
From North Africa Dad was then sent to Italy and he recalls Vesuvius still erupting as they entered Naples harbour.
Dad fought at Monte Casino which he describes as hand to hand battle. The allies took Monte Casino one night then were forced back the next, which went on and on. He describes snipers waiting for them.
Then Dad was sent to Greece to help the Government fight ELAS who were communists.
He did not recall VE Day. He doesn’t think they celebrated it as they were still fighting.
Eventually they boarded trains that took them through war torn Europe to get back to England. In January 1946 Dad was demobbed at Catterick Camp, Yorkshire. He was given a 3 piece suit and either £5 or £10 plus ration book.
In later life Dad attempted to see his book in Name of Gold in Paris which marks Dunkirk veterans. He didn't see it as it was July and all museums were closed.
We took Dad to Dunkirk on a family holiday to see the beaches and Le (De) Panne.
He took part in a Black Watch march in Perth to commemorate 50 years since El Alemein.
At his funeral in 2010 the Black Bear was played.
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Pte. Ronald Bowdidge 2nd Btn. Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry My grandfather, Ronald Bowdidge served in Italy with the 2nd DCLI.
Although he died when I was young, I have been interested in what these men went through as my Mother said that he would not talk about his experience and become very quiet and reflective and almost unapproachable every Remembrance Day.
He fought and was taken prisoner in Italy and that is all my mother knew about his experience direct from my Grandfather. I want to know where these men fought and try to discover what experience these young men endured which moulded them for the rest of their life. My research into the 2nd's time in Italy led me to discover the route of the 2nd Battalion's march up the Italian Peninsula, from their opening battle during Operation Diadem at Monte Cassino to their penultimate engagement on the 25th-26th Oct 1944 in Northern Italy crossing the River Ronco, in which, due to a combination of factors unrelated to the men's bravery, the battalion lost over 120 men and officers killed, wounded or PoW in a single night.
I am looking to fill in more details from any relative of these brave men and also share what I have.
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Pte. Leslie Stephen Thresher Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry My Dad Leslie Thresher fought in Italy and was captured at Monte Casino.
He was transported as a prisoner of war to Stalag 8A.
He was liberated at the end of the war and returned to Shenley.
He married his long term girlfriend and had a son.
He died at the age of 74.
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Dvr. John Edward Potter 4th Field Squadron Royal Engineers  Jack Potter joined up in July 1940, after the fall of France.
He was sent to Egypt, completing his basic training while on board ship.
He was posted to the 4th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers.
Jack served against the Italians in the Western Desert in 1940, then Rommel and the Afrika Korps.
He was then detached to the Australians and sent to Greece, in 1941. The evacuation from Greece saw him twice sunk in Piraeus harbour aboard Navy ships, before escaping on a liner commandeered by the Australian Army in Alexandria. Back to the desert war, and the battle of El Alamein, the capture of Tunis, and the surrender of the Afrika Korps in 1943.
Next was the invasion of Sicily, followed by the invasion of Italy, and the slow pushing back of the Germans to Monte Cassino. After taking part in the opening stages of this battle, his unit was transferred back to the UK for a refit prior to D-Day.
He saw action on D-Day, in the battles for Normandy, the invasion of Holland, Arnhem, and finally the invasion of Germany, before de-mob in Feb 1946.
Not one home leave during his entire service!
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Sgt. John Willmott 1st Btn. Derbyshire Yeomanry John Willmott joined up after lying about his age (he was actually 16) and he was involved in the Battle of Monte Cassino.
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F/Lt. John George "Tug" Wilson 150 Squadron John Wilson was a Rear gunner with 150 Squadron Commander Boxwell's crew.
The Crew brought up submarine in Mediterranean. The DFC was awarded to the pilot.
They also took part in the Monte Casino raids based at Kairoan.
John trained as a pilot but stayed as rear gunner when he moved to 150 Squadron. He was a part of two lost previous crews, and was then chosen as part of Squadron Leader Boxwell's crew to go to North Africa.
Known as Boxwell's Bouncing Boys because of pilots' bouncing take off method.
Best man crew mate 'Red' Turnbull's paperwork was delayed on posting to Kairoan. He took a spare place on a Berlin night raid, was killed, and is buried in Berlin.
John was based in England, North and South Africa, and the Mediterranean.
and was a trainer in South Africa.
John was an ex miner who left his job and worked as barman for a week so when he enlisted he was not designated as an essential worker.
He joined the RAF and persevered until he was accepted as active air crew.
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Gnr. Norman Denzil "Nat" Maddock 17th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery My Father, Norman Maddock was in the TA before the war, in the Royal Artillery in Plymouth on coastal guns, and was mobilised to Frieston Shore near Boston Lincs, possibly in 321st Coast Battery R A.
There he met my mother at the Plummers Hotel where they were billeted, then blank posted to the Middle East think Egypt and
Libya then on to Italy as part of 17th Medium Regiment, R A with 55 Medium guns and attached to the US 5th Army and shelled Monty Casino.
My dad was discharged at Aldershot on 22nd of December 1945, ZT reservist until 24th of March 1946.
Medals awarded are 1939 1945 Star, The African Star with 1st Army Bar,
The Italian Star, the Defence Medal, the war Medal 1939-1945
I have a photo of probably 321st Battery on the lawn at the Plummers Hotel Frieston Shore Boston, and a couple of photos of the 17th Medium Regiment marching through an Italian city at the end of the war.
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Pte. Andreas Diacou Yiacoumi Cyprus Regiment Andreas Diacou Yiacoumi fought in North Africa, where he was wounded in the leg and in his side. He then went on to the Italian Campaign, where he was wounded at Monte Cassino. He was an ammunition carrier on mules and donkeys. He and his brother, Nicolose, joined up together as at least they got fed and things were tough in their village. His other brother, George, joined the Merchant Navy. His ship is believed to have been torpedoed and he was listed as missing.
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Recomended Reading.Available at discounted prices.
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Monte Cassino: The Story of the Hardest-fought Battle of World War TwoMatthew Parker
'Monte Cassino is a fitting tribute: an important and beautifully written book, told with real understanding and pathos for those who withstood the Western Allies' bloodiest encounter with the German army' (James Holland, Daily Telegraph )
'Parker has produced a deeply moving, richly detailed and fast-paced account of the most infamous British battle of the Second World War' (Saul David, Sunday Telegraph )
'Published in time for the sixtieth anniversary of the battle, Monte Cassino deserves to be widely read' (Gary Sheffield, Living History )
'Some excellent passages' (Norman Stone, Sunday Times )
'Moving and well-researched' (Economist )
'A pacy and informative addition to the military history of a much-neglected campaign' (Glasgow Herald ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
The Glasgow Herald, September 18, 2004
'Emotional ... Parker produces a vivid portrait of the battle, aided by a compelling interpretation from Tim Pigott-
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