December 1943

As 1943 drew to a close, the 111 Fd Regt were across the River Sangro and looking to push further north. The Germans had planned to create a defensive line from Lanciano to San Vito Chietino, but the allied forces advanced at such pace that the Germans were forced back to the River Moro in the first week of December 1943. The 111 Fd Regt would soon be attached to the 2nd New Zealand Division (who they were with at the battle of the Mareth Line in North Africa) to push north and inland towards Guardiagrele and the foothills of the River Moro.

Map showing the River Sangro and Moro, which would see significant fighting from November 1943 and well into 1944.
Kirrages, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons


1st December 1943 – Torino
Only LANCIANO, of enemy occupied territory remains within range.
2nd December 1943 – Torino
Regiment moved to new positions on South Bank of SANGRO for added range to enable other Division Arty Regts to cross river.
RHQ at 404961.
4th December 1943 – West of Paglieta
Major C. H. A. Barnes returned to Regt and resumed Second-in-Command.
5th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
Regt left 8 Indian Division and placed under command of 2 NZ Division. Crossed SANGRO and occupied position of 3 Fd Regt RA on road CASTELFRENTANO – Guardiagrele.
RHQ at 219983. Dumped 500 rounds of ammunition per gun.
6th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
Regt placed in support of 6 Parachute Battalion.

First Battle of Orsogna – Operation TORSO
7th – 8th December 1943

Operation TORSO was the name given to the plan to conduct a direct infantry assault on the town of Orsogna and the 2,000-yard stretch of ridge that ran north-east from the town, with supporting artillery, tanks and air-power. The plan was to launch the attack in the afternoon of the 7th December so that it would not allow time for the Germans to counter-attack before darkness fell.

The task looked formidable. Although the River Moro was more of a stream in the foothills around Orsogna, it was just big enough to be an obstacle. Only one road ran to Orsogna and it approached the town along a causeway. There was no possible approach from the west of the town unless occupied town of Guardiagrele was taken, where the Germans were very firmly placed with perfect lines of sight. East of Orsogna several parallel spurs ran down to the bottom of the valley. As there had been much rain, movement of wheels or tracks on anywhere other than the hard concrete or tarred roads was already almost impossible, and snow was to be expected.

As the assaulting battalions formed-up, the 4th and 5th New Zealand Fd Regt’s, along with the 111th Fd Regt would fire a ‘creeping barrage’ starting at 13:00 hrs 300 yards in front of the start line and finishing some 90 minutes later approximately 500 yards from the town, with each gun firing a total of 300 rounds. At 13:30 hrs, 13 squadrons of fighter-bombers dropped their first and only bombs on Orsogna. The intention was they from 1330 to 1400 they would bomb the town, then until 16:00 hrs they would harass the German artillery and the roads near Arielli and Filetto. But as the allied bombs dropped the weather closed in and subsequent sorties were cancelled.

Although the infantry managed to reach Orsogna, the poor road surfaces meant that they could not bring up their tanks and anti-tank guns in time, and were counter-attacked by German tanks and flamethrowers after dark. With the enemy fire being so intense, and with no possibility to advance any further, the Allied forces were ordered to withdraw.

Modern-day image of Orsogna
ITALY : EIGHTH ARMY (NA 9706) Original wartime caption: When the Germans endeavour to stem our advance by holding strongpoints, they have to endure continuous dive-bombing and shelling. When they halted the 2 New Zealand Division at Orsogna, the Division artillery put down approximately 37,000 rounds on the German positions. Copyright: © IWM.
7th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
13:00hrs – Fired barrage in support of 5 and 6 NZ Brigades in attack on ORSOGNA. Objective reached.
8th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
01:00hrs – 5 and 6th NZ Brigades ordered to withdraw because they had been unable to bring up support weapons.
17:30hrs – Captain F. Ellis while in his OP hit by shell fragments and died later of wounds. Area RHQ and F troop heavily shelled – with about 40 rounds.
9th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
03:00hrs – More shelling set fire to men’s cookhouse 3 tonner. During all shelling, fortunately only one minor casualty.
17:00hrs – RHQ moved to new area at 251978. Tactical situation quiet on 2 NZ Division position.  1 Canadian Division pressing towards ORTONA.
10th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
14:50hrs – 2 escaped P.O.W’s came om to P Bty O.P. bringing useful intelligence. Prepared attack by 5 Infantry Brigade and 4 NZ Armoured Brigade cancelled.
11-14th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
Activity limited to patrols. Arty firing Corps concentrations of H.F, H.B and D.P. shoots.
14th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
18:00hrs – Captain J. E. J. Woodward set out on O.P. patrol with Platoon of Para Brigade commanded by Captain Ramsey – into enemy territory around PENNAPIEDIMONTE. Received traces of fire plan in support of attack by 5 and 6 NZ Infantry Divisions.

Military Medal awarded to
Lance Bombardier James Entwistle – 111 Fd Regt

“On 14 December 1943, at Guardiagrele, Lance Bombardier Entwistle volunteered to form part of an O.P patrol which was to proceed to a point within the enemy lines, although realising the risks of this enterprise. He carried a No. 18 wireless set over extremely rough country and it was largely owing to his efforts that the patrol was able to maintain communication with his regiment.

When surprised by an enemy patrol, Lance Bombardier Entwistle displayed great coolness and succeeded in bringing his set away from the O.P which had been established; throughout the operation his determination largely contributed to its success”.

15th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
22:00hrs – Attack by 5 and 6 NZ Infantry Brigades.
16th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
03:00hrs – Enemy counter attack beaten off with aid of Arty D.F. tasks.
05:30hrs – Situation stable by 05:30hrs.
10:30hrs – Captain Woodward returned from O.P. patrol – being 16hrs overdue and having lost one signaller P.O.W – Gnr Evans 211 Bty.
16th-19th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
Patrol activity only.

““Later in the campaign, when the Regiment were bogged down in the hills for the winter at the approaches to Orsogna, ‘F’ Troop commandeered a farm complex still occupied by Italian Civilians, mostly elderly ladies and old men and my gun team were allocated a large kitchen area. After a while we began to share our rations with the natives so that we had fresh baked bread in return for ‘Bully’, etc. When they baked bread the oven was loaded with faggots and after about an hour or so a ‘Tomato Tart’ was inserted and if that cooked in ‘X’ number of minutes the oven was ready and hot enough to bake the loaves. We, of course, enjoyed our share of the ‘Tomato Tart’ so we were enjoying Pizza was back in 1943/4.

We thought it was very time-wasting heating the oven and so one day, Jock, my limber gunner came up with the idea of using the cordite in unused ‘Charge 3’ bags (which resembled spaghetti) to generate the necessary heat. This, thrown in the oven bit by bit, was an immediate heating success and was a miracle to the hard working women. In consequence, we had a better diet of Italian food and they benefited from more of our Hard Tack rations.”

Sgt Ronald E Winch speaking about his time with 111 Fd Regt as part of BBC’s “WW2 – Peoples War” project.
Link

Military Cross awarded to
T/Captain John Edmund Joseph Woodward – 111 Fd Regt

““At Casoli on 14 December 1943 Captain Woodward with two signallers and two members of the Parachute Regt set out into enemy country with the object of bringing observed fire onto positions not visible from our own lines. The patrol set out at 19:00hrs and by 09:30hrs next morning had established itself at a point about 5000 yds from our nearest F.D.Ls from which good observation to the enemies powerful defences covering Guardiagrele could be obtained.

From this point Captain Woodward carried out a shoot on enemy post the effectiveness of which was proved by being able to observe casualties carried away after the shelling. At this juncture however the enemy became aware of the presence of the patrol and though in his efforts to elude his would-be captors Captain Woodward was not able to carry out any further observed shooting he was able to bring back the most useful information. Captain Woodward Remained out for about 40 hours.

On 18 December the room in which Captain Woodward had made his O.P, was twice hit by 150mm guns, bringing the roof down on him and slightly wounding the signaller. Captain Woodward remained completely unperturbed and continued to give most effective support to his infantry from an adjoining room in the same building.

On other occasions during the Sangro battle Capt Woodward has showed great initiative and a complete disregard for his personal safety in the selection of O.Ps in advance of our most forward elements.

Throughout the campaign so far Capt. Woodward has shown qualities of fearlessness and resources that have been an outstanding example to all”.

20th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
14:00hrs – Enemy patrol approached area of Q Bty O.P. manned by Capt. G. Pitt and protected by Platoon of 22 Motor Battalion NZ. Of German patrol of 5, 3 were killed and 2 were wounded.
21st December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
Lieutenant F. W. A. Smallman evacuated wounded.
13:40hrs – Another enemy patrol came up to Q Bty O.P. and threw hand grenades into O.P. house – no damages. Two of the party taken prisoner (one wounded), third member got away.
22nd December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
10:55hrs – Q Bty O.P. very heavily shelled – no casualties.
12:26hrs – Fire plan received by phone in support of 5 Division (17 Brigade) in attack on high ground North ARIELLI.
23rd December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
Received or16:00hrs – Attack by 5 Division.
21:55hrs – 5 Division joined objective.
15th October 1943 – North of Corato
02:00hrs – Opened fire on barrage in support of 5 and 6 NZ Brigades.
04:00hrs – Shot on Barrage.
During the day infantry were repeatedly counter attacked – Many D.F. tasks fired – eventually most objectives held. Heavy rain made attack difficult and necessitated cancellation of proposed attack through ORSOGNA by 4 NZ Division.
25th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
Christmas Day. Generally quiet. Visited at 11:00hrs by Brigadier Weir, C.R.A.
26th – 30th December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
Owing to continued heavy rain, tactical position rendered static activity limited to infantry patrols – and considerably harassing fire and C.B. bombards.
31st December 1943 – East of Guardiagrele
Owing to continued heavy rain, tactical position rendered static activity Received “Happy New Year Fritz” Harassing gun trace to be fired at 08:30hrs on 1 Jan. Very heavy rain all afternoon – leading to strong wind and heaving snow during the night. 24” of snow on the ground.to infantry patrols – and considerably harassing fire and C.B. bombards.