January 1945
By January 1945, the 111 Fd Regt’s days of raiding were over. Considering the daring raids they took part in, the fact they had only lost 5 men during these raids is astonishing. At the start of the month, the 111th were in Trebinje in what is modern day Bosnia and Herzegovina where they would wait for their next tasking.
| 1st January 1945- Trebinje |
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| At the beginning of January, the Regiment under command of FLOYDFORCE in Jugoslavia had no sub-units in contact with the enemy, FANNIN force’s battle (involving 212 and 476 Bty and RHQ) having terminated on 23 December because: – The Partisans considered that our support was no longer required. – The enemy was out of range of our own guns, which could not be moved forward owing to bridges having been blown by the enemy, for the repair of which no material was immediately available. – The lines of communication from the supply base at PORT GRUZ to PODGORICA, a distance of approximately 130 miles were already overstretched. |
| Brigadier Davy (Commander LFA) and Brigadier O’Brien Twohig (Commander FLOYDFORCE) were away at HQ 8 Partisan Corps at SPLIT trying to arrange future operations with the Partisans. |
| Meanwhile the Regiment was disposed: – 211 Bty (Major P. S. Turner M.C. R.A) with FORSYTH at BILECA. Still in a role to prevent any possible threat to the south from MOSTAR – NEVESINJE area. – 212 Bty (Major J. B. H. Daniel R.A) – 476 Bty (Major E. M. Winterbottom RA) with RHQ in old Ustachi barracks in TREBINJE, Herzegovina. |
| 10:00hrs – Chief of Staff XXIX Division NOVJ sent for Major Cheesman and asked that, as his division intended concentrating more troops in TREBINJE, some of the British troops be moved to DUBROVNIK area. |
“Practised my German, heard shots and cries in the night, played football. One night tried to crash a Jug dance and almost was shot up by Partisans, not pleasant to have a revolver half an inch from one’s nose. Doug Harmer belted one of them and we had to duck smartly.
Strolls in the moonlight, alone, by the riverbank, exploring the walled city, looking in the mosques, taking snaps – I loved it there. Then the BC asked me if I would care to go on a course. I said “yes”, so on Thursday I went to Dubrovnik for my boat.”
Diary entry from 1st January 1945 from Sgt Observer Frederick Sidney Williams, 212 Bty, 111 Fd Regt in his family’s memoirs “Our Fred’s War”.
| 2nd January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| Lieutenant A. G. A. Owen MC RA and Lieutenant D. E. Roberts RA left to attend courses at School of Arty and RATD EBOLI. |
| 3rd January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| Major Cheesman and Adjutant went to DUBROVNIK to visit HQ FLOYDFORCE and Regimental ‘B’ Echelon. |
| Mobile cinema visited TREBINJE to give performances to the Regt and 25% Partisans of film “Gentleman Jim”. |
| Brigadier O’Brien Twohig returned to DUBROVNIK from SPLIT. No satisfactory arrangements having been made so far with Partisans. |
| 4th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 10 OR’s sent from the Regt on leave to ROME. Captain B. T. Kieft RAMC moved from TREBINJE to establish RAP with FORSYTH (M.O. with FORSYTH had previously been R.M.O. 2825 Sqn RAF Regt). |
| RAP at TREBINJE was taken over by Captain D. E. MARMION RAMC. |
| 5th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| Captain A. L. McTiffin DSO RA arrived at GRUZ having relinquished command Regimental Rear Details VALENZANO, BARI to Lieutenant K. B. G. Angus (rejoined from Hospital). Captain McTiffin moved to BILECA and resumed command ‘A’ Troop 211 Bty. |
| 6th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 6 OR’s sent from the Regiment (2 from each Bty) to UK on LIAP leave. |
| 7th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| Major Cheesman went to Dubrovnik |
| Partisans celebrated Greek Orthodox Christmas |
| 8th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| Partisan XXIX Division invited Majors Cheesman, Turner and Lieutenant Kettle Signals Officer to Christmas Luncheon Party which lasted from 12:30hrs to 17:00hrs. |
| 19:00hrs – Officers and NCO’s invited to Partisan Concert and dance. |
| 10th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| Further visit from Mobile Cinema unit. |
| 12th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 211 Field Bty with FORSYTH has a Field Exercise in which a troop 43 (RM) Commando staged an attack on a derelict village supported by Artillery barrage from 211 Bty and a section of 75mm’s. Major Turner led the attack, 30 – 50 yards behind the falling shells. |
| 19:00hrs – RHQ entertained two members of Herzegovina Committee to dinner. |
| 13th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 19:00hrs – Lieutenant-Colonel D. J. F. GRANT MBE RA arrived at Gruz from Italy and assumed command of the Regiment. |
| 14th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 09:30hrs – Colonel Grant attended church parade with Major Cheesman (who resumed Second-in-Command). |
| 10:30hrs – Colonel Grant visited 212 and 476 Btys. |
| 12:30hrs – Major Turner visited RHQ and stayed to lunch. |
| Father Colman R.C. stayed to lunch. |
| Colonel Blagden OBE RA (Commander 64 HAA Regt) visited RHQ with Major Walker and Captain Wakefield, also for lunch. |
| 15:00hrs – Further mobile cinema shows |
| 15th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 10:00hrs – Colonel Grant visited HQ XXIX Partisan Division |
| 11:30hrs – Colonel Grant went to BILECA and visited 211 Bty. |
| 19:30hrs – Officers invited to attend Partisan concert given by SLOVENE Choir of excellent quality. |
| 14th December 1944 – Trebinje |
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| 10:20hrs – 212 Bty reported in action at DANILOVGRAD. Colonel JAGO made daily visit to HQ XXIX Partisan Division. Lieutenant and Quarter Master returned from Italy with 100% issue of General Service caps. |
| 15th December 1944 – Trebinje |
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| Throughout the day 212 Bty and 180 HAA Bty and 11/12 Troop RSR shelled enemy targets north of PODGORICA with success. Colonel JAGO and Major CHEESMAN went forward to NIKSIC area. 20:00hrs – Major Cheesman returned with orders for RHQ and 476 Bty (less E Troop) to move to DANILOVGRAD to join FANNIN Force. |
| 16th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| Lieutenant KISNER UDF came to TREBINJE from 579 A Fd Company RE to give a two-day course on mines. |
| 15:00hrs – Lieutenant A. C. Kettle Royal Signals started RHQ Classes in GERMAN attended by 27 Students. Partisan “ANTI-PETER” demonstrations. |
| 17th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 20:00hrs – Signal received from Floydforce summoning CO and Adjutant to conference at 10:00hrs on 18th January. |
| 18th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 10:00hrs – Colonel Grant and Captain Dishley attended Floydforce Conference to discuss arrangements for compliance with instructions from LFA: “Floydforce will prepare to move to Italy for regrouping and training”. |
| 21:00hrs – BBC News reported Prime Minister’s opening speech in Commons debate on the War. Local Partisans delighted with statement of full support and approval of SUBASIC government. |
| 19th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| Advised of 5 LCT’s arriving at GRUZ to start loading 08:00hrs on 20th. |
| 2i/c sailed for BARI with advance parties. |
| 13:30hrs – 212 Bty moved to Dubrovnik and stayed night at Tobacco Factory. |
| 211 Bty ordered to move soonest. |
| 476 Bty to move early 20th. |
| 20th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 08:30hrs – 476 Bty Column moved out of TREBINJE |
| 12:00hrs – 211 Bty Column passed through TREBINJE on way to DURBROVNIK. |
| 15:00hrs – Colonel GRANT moved to DUBROVNIK to supervise loading and movement. 212 Bty (and part of 476 Bty) sailed for BARI. |
| 20:00hrs – RHQ Officers invited to Partisan “Farewell” Dinner Party and afforded warmest hospitality until 02:00hrs. |
| 21st January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 20:00hrs – Received order for RHQ to move to Dubrovnik 09:00hrs 22nd. |
| 21:00hrs – Order cancelled. |
| 22nd January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| Bad weather holding up movement of LCT’s |
| 20:00hrs – Colonel GRANT sailed for BARI in SS LUBLJANA |
| 23rd January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 20:00hrs – Remainder of 476 Bty embarked and sailed for BARI, and encountered very rough weather. One LCT broke down and had to be towed, considerably lengthening the time of passage. |
| 24th January 1945 – Trebinje |
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| 12:00hrs – Adjutant and Intelligence Officer visited HQ XIX Division to say “Farewell” and stayed to a large luncheon, and exchanged thanks and messages of goodwill. |
| 13:30hrs – RHQ moved to Dubrovnik and loaded vehicles and stores on LCT’s. Personnel accommodated in Tobacco Factory. Officers accommodated at Hotel KOMODOR. |
| 26th January 1945 – Bari |
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| 08:30hrs – Convoy docked at BARI and disembarked personnel and vehicles. |
| Regt moved to billeting area outside BARI |
| 211 Bty – GRAVINA |
| RHQ – With Rear Details at VALENZANO |
| 212 and 476 Btys were already established at SANTERAMO |
| 27th January 1945 – Nr. Bari |
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| 11:00hrs -C.O. addressed 212 and 476 Bty’s at SANTERAMO – giving reasons for return to BARI from Jugoslavia – and details of future: Leave in Rome or BARI for all ranks who had not had leave in the past 3 months. |
| General checking of stores and equipment. |
| Overhaul of vehicles and guns and weapons. |
| Individual training in each job – P.T. and S.A. firing in preparation for further operations, possibly in Northern Jugoslavia in the Spring. |
“After the course finished I had to wait about for a week for permission to leave and I eventually joined the battery at Santeramo on the 4th February. They had just returned from Jugland. The BC gave me my choice of place to spend a leave. Rome or Bari. I was fed up with travel so asked for seven days rest at Bari and off I went.”
Diary entry from 27th January 1945 from Sgt Observer Frederick Sidney Williams, 212 Bty, 111 Fd Regt in his family’s memoirs “Our Fred’s War”.
| 28th January 1945 – Nr. Bari |
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| 08:00hrs – Regimental Chaplain, Rev. J. C. Hill summoned to UK for interview for post of Warden of Theological Students’ Hostel, BANGOR and departed by air for NAPLES. |
| 19:00hrs – 4 Officers and 30 OR’s set off for leave in ROME. |
| Padre returned owing to bad flying conditions. |
| 29th January 1945 – Nr. Bari |
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| 08:00hrs – Padre departed by road for NAPLES. |
| 11:00hrs – C.O. and 2i/c went to GRAVINA. CO addressed 211 Bty on future plans etc. |
| 14:30hrs – Signals Officer and Intelligence Officer met CO and 2i/c at GRAVINA to inspect Convent for new accommodation for RHQ. |
| Signals Officer arranged for telephone linkage via ALTAMURA with BARI etc. |
| 22:00hrs – Padre returned having been unable to reach Naples via POTENZA owing to snow drifts. |
| 30th January 1945 – Nr. Bari |
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| Padre set off by road for NAPLES via FOGGIA. |
| Roads too bad for RHQ to move from VALENZANO to GRAVINA. |
| 22:00hrs – Padre did NOT return! |
| 31st January 1945 – Nr. Bari |
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| 11:00hrs -Signals Officer and Intelligence Officer moved with advance party to new billets for RHQ at Convent GHRAVINA. |
| Line laid to 211 Bty. |
| Lieutenant and Quartermaster Nairn arrived at BARI from DUBROVNIK. |
| Lieutenant J. K. D. LACEY departed for UK on LIAP leave with 3 OR’s. |