247049 Gnr. Raymond Nicholson "Yorkie" Hampshire British Army 23rd Field Regiment, 60th Battery Royal Artillery from:Barnsley,Yorkshire Raymond Hampshire, my father, left Britain for North Africa on December 26th, 1942 sailing from Glasgow. He served with the First Army, in the 23rd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. His first major participation in battle after landing in North Africa was at Thala and Kasserine Pass (Feb 18th - Feb 23rd). On March 17th he reported that the weather was very wet and cold. Sunday 4th April the unit was attacked by 50 Stuka dive bombers. Tuesday April 6th 90/100 battery Major was awarded the MC in recognition of the battery's gallantry at Kasserine Pass.
Thursday April 23rd, Battle for Tunis - zero hr 22.00hrs 130 guns opened on Longstop Hill, and the RAF bombed every hour for 48hrs. On Friday 60 Battery took the Hill at 14.00 hrs. The Infantry found only 70 living Germans when they took the Hill, all others were dead. On Saturday 24th April they lost part of the Hill but re-took it on Sunday 25th. Battle raged on 28th, 29th and 30th when strong enemy attack was repelled. Battle continued and on May 5th the battery advanced, 700 guns were used in the attack, and battle raged for 20hrs. May 12th Germans abandoned their posts. 19th May, saw a victory march through Tunis.
On September 27th they boarded a US Navy landing craft and left for an unknown destination: eventually they landed at Amalfi. The weather was very wet and very cold. On October 13th there was a 'big push', with 392 guns in action and 300 German dead. The regiment moved up to between Naples and Rome, and were attacked by thousands of mosquitoes! The eventual destination was Monte Cassino and the great battle there. Father lived to tell the tale, but it was a story of horror and death on all sides.
He returned to the family in December 1945 and lived to the age of 77. He was a wonderful father and husband.
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