225295 Pte. Harry Osbourne British Army 77th Highland Field Regiment Royal Artillery from:Glasgow Harry Osbourne was a friend of my great uncle George Cuthbert. He and my uncle George joined the Territorial Army in March 1939, on the same night. Harry was just 19 years old and my Uncle was 23 years old. They served together throughput the war. Harry and uncle George were part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), part of the first Army.
Harry talked about how at the front, before the retreat, all the 'officers' seemed to disappear on courses, even most of the sergeant majors disappeared, leaving the troops to fend for themselves. Harry and Uncle George had to blow up their 4.5 inch Howitzer, as that is the gun they used in 1940. The troops retreated 18 miles to Dunkirk, where the town was being bombed. A brigadier formed them into groups of about 50 men, then told them to go to the beach, find a rowing boat, which had an anchor into the sand with a rope to a puffer (small fishing boat) so that they could haul themselves to the boat, quicker than rowing.
"In the First Army in Africa we used 25 pounder guns, the latest gun of its time, a magnificent quick firing and very good for knocking out tanks due to its high muzzle velocity."
Harry and George were also at Monte Cassino: "We kept sending smoke bombs over the river below Cassino, so that it formed a fog, so the army could build bridges across the large river, which needed to be crossed.
|