[2002] SID’S WAR

0037 - Sidney Lane War Diary 32

[this is an extract of the war diary, 'An Ordinary War', by my uncle (Sid Lane, my mother's brother) the Po Valley offensive & the end of the war in Italy] 

13/4/45 

Oh blast, I was just going to record the events of the past few days and how we crossed the Savio when they shouted "Cease firing". That means we are moving up again. This is the third time in five days we have had to do this to keep in range of Jerry. 

14/4/45 

To continue:-

We moved up towards the Savio on the 7th. and on the 8th. the offensive started. At 2.00 p.m. we fired with other Ack Ack to denote - by bursts - the bomb line. American planes, flying too high for the naked eye, started the bombing which lasted for about an hour. The infantry had moved back 400 yds., while this went on. A wise precaution learnt by bitter experience of Yank bombing. As it was, the N.Z.s had two or three killed when one plane unloaded miles back on their Div. H.Q. The Poles on our right flank (The main Polish Div. is on out left flank) had 109 killed and many more wounded. 

- The Yanks received the usual praise - 

Then the barrage opened up. The noise was not as great as I had expected, though in an hour 140,000 shells went over, and under cover of this the infantry resumed their positions and crossed the river. Spitfires now took over and by sham straffing kept Jerry to ground while the infantry consolidated. Phase I was complete and the crossing made. Incidentally the N.Z.s got two brigades (3 - 4,000 men) over with only seven casualties.

At six the barrage opened again and another 140,000 shells went over, this time in a creeping barrage, behind which the infantry advanced. This went on till 11.00 p.m. when targets were out of range. 

Two bridges for mediums were up by midnight and by 04.00 hrs. heavies and tanks were going over. We went to bed at 11.30 p.m. fagged out. The following day we did nothing. 

On the 11th. we crossed the Savio and were in action by 18.00 hrs. Communications were a bit confused and we did not fire until 20.00 hrs. on the 12th. Then we had an air O.P. shoot. It must have been good, the observer seemed quite excited. "Direct hit, repeat, all guns scale 10" and away we blazed. eighty odd shells on that target. I wish we could have seen it. We did little more that day and the following morning were out of range and had to move forward. 

We left at 18.00 hrs. and crossed the Santerno. Traffic on the road was immense and it was not before midnight that we were in action. This time the N.Z. had everything ready for us. The site was surveyed, lines in and out and a big program arranged.

I worked out a few targets and went to bed - It was my night off. 

14/4/45 

The farm we occupy contained German troops until 9.00 a.m. yesterday, so the bed I slept in last night was used by a Nazi the night before - I didn't notice the smell.

I must say they don't leave much behind. A few dead horses and a little equipment, a few Jerry dead up the road but otherwise I have not seen any signs of him, though the areas we had come through were devastated. 

At the moment we are well within range but he is moving fast and I should not be surprised if we move again tonight. The only snag to my mind, at the moment, is that, according to the map, there is nothing on our right flank. The Poles seem to have pulled out and the 78th. (which is the reserve division to whom we should be attached when the N.Z.s pull up) are pushing forward there. So it looks as if the N.Z.s must keep going. Well they area fine mob to be with. 

18/4/45 

We moved forward at 18.30 hrs. on the 16th. and were in action at 22.30 hrs. We fired a little that night, but he was out of range by morning. On the 17th. we moved forward again and went into action outside Ganzanigo. We fired all night and all day today, and again we have a big program for tonight in support of an attack. Jerry resistance is stiffening. This afternoon we had to stop shelling one area as the Gurkas were moving in, and it seems probable that Jerry has withdrawn and that tonight's program may be off. At the moment all guns are changing barrels again. 

The ops room here is distinctly uncomfortable, being right on the main road, and what with the shrieking of the wireless, the bark of the guns (not only our own), the clatter of tanks and road traffic, and the dust - Whew - 

The villages we have come through are badly knocked about, and yet the people profess to be pleased. Mind you Jerry has got them well trained. 

Our RECCE group just look a farm over and say "We want these rooms, clear them and clean them out" and by the time the column arrives the place is ready. At this farm Jerry has displeased us greatly. There were great barrels of Vino, but according to the Iti's he made them empty it into a ditch, saying "The English will be here tonight and if we can't have it he won't". Well I suppose we move on tomorrow. 

21/4/45 

We came out of action at midday and were in action by six in the new position - Budrio, west of Medicina. The town was very badly knocked about. The traffic on the road was bumper to bumper. I had engine trouble (I ride with the first ammo wagon) and we stopped for 20 minutes alongside a dead bullock which stunk pretty badly.

I have seen some dead but the sights on this particular journey were the worst yet. Headless bodies, half burnt corpses where the flame throwers had been. Bloated bundles, black and stinking, gradually fading into the colour of the countryside by the layers of dust which settled on them from passing vehicles. There was one - a head and an arm and two boots on the road - the rest was a pulpy bloody pile of muck on the road, fast being rolled on by the tanks, half tracks, gun limbers and lorries. We occupy a farm on which the barrage and flame throwers have rested but lightly. Though even this morning it is still smoldering and the smell of fire pervades everything. There were four dead Germans whom we buried, not in a fit of reverence but rather that if left alone they would make a nuisance of themselves. Yes Jerry paid dearly for that hold up. The barrage was greater than that which opened the offensive. We again changed all barrels. Last night we fired 128 rounds per gun, but this morning he is out of range. 

We have just heard that Bologna has been taken and we move forward again today. 

26/4/45 

Heavens above, what a day was yesterday. On the 22nd. we rested, being out of range. At midday on the 23rd. we moved thirty miles over the Idice. Jerry is pulling out fast and we leaguered the night as we were still not within range. On the 24th. we moved forward again at midday and crossed the Reno. Traffic across the bridge was so great that it took us seven hours to move up six miles. Once over the bridge we raced along. Guns, Tanks, Crocodiles, Ducks, Bridge Builders. We went into action 6,000 yds. from the River Po, but did not fire that night so I was able to sleep while on duty in the cattletruck which served as an Ops room. 

The Nazis had already crossed the Po but had to withdraw for safety because the Yanks bombed them out. The following day I was sent in charge of the RECCE to site G.L. for defence of the proposed bridge. We are now within a mile of the river. The G.L. and P.F. arrived at 11.00 p.m. with Wilf in charge, and we worked till 1.00 a.m. getting into action. Then we found the Rx wouldn't work and it was 3 a.m. before we found the trouble, but we had to wait till light before we could make the repair. I am all in. I have been working like a nigger for the last 48 hrs. but still can't sleep. My mind is a whirl of events of the last two days. 

Ho Ho, will I ever forget the way those Gurkas broke into the farmhouse and looted pigs, sheep, hens and even the cooking utensils. 

28/4/45 

Oh dear, we do have fun. For three days we have been Ack Ack in defence of the Po bridge but now we are resuming our field role. We got "Cease Firing" at 4.00 p.m. yesterday and then it happened. The weather here is as treacherous as the Italians themselves, and we were deluged by a terrific thunderstorm. By the time we had got the G.L. station half down I was soaked and when I inspected my kit (I have been sleeping in a hedge under a bit of bivvy canvas) I found my blankets, battledress, in fact everything I possess, bar my greatcoat and a sweater, soaked through. It was impossible to get the guns out of position and by midnight they had been winched as far as the road. The order came by wireless to remain there ready to move. I dried what I could in the Tx and bedded down in the P.F. with my greatcoat (finest bit of army clothing issued) and one blanket. 

The morning is fine and although a number of wagons were ditched in the mud we are now pulled out on the road ready to go. This rainfall has delayed things. First the building of the bridge then the traffic. The N.Zs are already across the Adica ready for the assault on the Venetian line. Up to two days ago they had no artillery support, until 25 pounders were ferried over. 

Judging by the urgency of the wireless messages I reckon there's a job for us. The old 3.7 has certainly proved its worth as a field piece. 

12.00 hrs. A wireless message has just come through. We are again to deploy as Ack Ack in the old position. N.Z.s are almost in Venice and with a final wireless call thanking us for our good work and wishing us luck they have shed us. Ah well, it was good fun but now maybe we can get some sleep. 

The war is over in Italy and curiously I have nothing to say. When the order, for which we have been waiting all these years, "Cease Fire" as against "Cease Firing" came we didn't realise it.  We are moving out and into the village of Bondini to await further orders.

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