[2002] SID’S WAR

0049 - Sidney Lane War Diary 33

[this is an extract of the war diary, 'An Ordinary War', by my uncle (Sid Lane, my mother's brother) War End] 

7/5/45 

I must record this tragic event. Today E Troop, who are camped five miles away, had one man killed and five wounded. The man who was killed had lit a fire to wash his clothes. Unfortunately he used what he thought was a bar of iron. It was a bangalore torpedo - one of our own - it's ironical. 

As a battery we have been very lucky. Our troop have had one man killed (a Basuto) when an ammo wagon turned over into a canal, and other minor injuries - none caused by enemy action. E Troop had one man seriously wounded and six slightly wounded in the Sicilian campaign and now this. [Though not recorded here, he did later tell my mother of the time when he saw a soldier simply open a farm gate, only to be blown apart by a booby trap - presumably that soldier was not from is troop, so didn't count!] 

Looking back, I have been bombed, dive bombed, shelled and sniped at as well as being uncomfortably near exploding mines. I have been very lucky. But these incidents have been spread over years and are as a flea bite to what the gallant lads of the 303 artillery put up with. The P.B.T. are the true soldiers who really win the wars. 

23/5/45 

I suppose I should write something here to end a record of the fighting. Following the surrender in Italy the war in Europe rapidly came to an end. The Germans have been thoroughly beaten and on 8/5/45 we celebrated the end of hostilities. It was a terrific night and though I did not keep my long standing promise to get really tight, I was pretty goggle eyed before I retired. 

It has been a long and bitter struggle and, judging by the revelations made by the prime minister, at times a much grimmer one than we dared to think. The Germans made a colossal mistake when they attacked Russia. This must have been the turning point. Russia's immense manpower proved too much and when America and ourselves poured our supplies over to them the Russians showed that given the weapons they could really fight. The entry of the Americans made victory certain and,  though my personal contacts with the Yanks have caused me to make caustic comments at times, I must, when looking at it in a sober light, admit that they must be good. I am convinced that their best troops are in the Pacific and quite rightly so. In France the army was two thirds American and, despite the fact (and none will deny it) that the bitterest fighting was against the British troops the Americans proved themselves goog soldiers and well generaled. 

I must say a word about the partisans: and I judge all partisans by what happened in Italy. The radio and press have published a very false picture of the rats. Far from being the heroical guerrillas they are just rats who parade around when a town has been captured and terrorize the inhabitants. They adorn themselves with grenades, rifles and revolvers and tell marvellous lies of their heroism. They round up the remaining officials, and cut the hair off women collaborators. 

That's all they are good for, cutting hair and making war on women. This happened in Italy. I have more regard (I couldn't say admiration) for the Fascists who continued the fight. The trouble to my mind is that the official view and version will go a long way to mitigate Italy's offences and make us more lenient towards them. Blast the Italians, they are all dirty gutless swine. And their volunteers - the gallant Cromona group. Oh lord how my belly laughs. 

24/5/45 

We now spend our time in sport waiting, waiting. We packed up our guns and equipment and got rid of them in good time thanks to Major Thorpe - A man after my own heart. "No bull" he said "Enjoy yourselves. You've earned it." Details of release are coming through and I should at least be home for Xmas. Very shortly we are starting educational courses - To keep the men from fretting mostly I think. Taken all round life is pleasant. We take more interest now in the Japanese War, and the sooner we get our troops out there to help the Yanks who are taking the brunt of it the better. 

Letter 25/5/45 

Two days ago Dennis and I took the jeep and visited Venice. We left Bondini, the little village outside Ferrara in which we are billeted, at 6.30 a.m. and were there for 9.30 a.m. Of course something had to go wrong and we found the blasted gondoliers on strike - the rats. This was because the M.P.s would not allow them to raise their charges. However we were able to borrow a launch and its Iti driver from a N.A.A.F.I. Sgt. and we certainly gave the place a going over. It would be very hard to describe so I won't try, but it is the one city that I have so far seen which is worth visiting. There is no doubt about it is unique. 

Last night we saw a splendid show by Nervo Knox at Ferrara and then on to a party cum dance at Regiment finally getting back to camp at 3.00 a.m. 

I am due for seven days leave and if the leave centre at Venice is opened by then I shall go there. If not I shall see Rome again, as I don't think much of Florence which is the only other alternative. 

Yes V.E. Day was a good day. I was O/Sgt. but no matter. The capitano, myself and Gordon Larkin went by jeep over to Forli - They to locate a Sherwood Forrester and me to see Harold. He had moved and was then at Ferrara. We came back via Bologna, a round trip of 220 miles at an average of 40 mph. Oh it is a lovely feeling driving those little fellows. We got to Bondini as the revels commenced and with cognac and advocaat it was soon hectic. The major led the revels. He's a jolly good egg and as I started to go to bed they were all piling in trucks and jeeps and with the cry "Rape, Loot and Arson" were off to paint the town red. 

The following day I noticed that the jeep was much the worse for wear about the bumpers and the lorry did not come back till midday. The Mess is a mad-house and a stranger walking in would think we were talking Chinese. "Pudden", that Pappy Richards, is taking the brunt of it at the moment. He is M.T. Sgt. with the outstanding record of ditching two Matadors in one day. we never let him forget it and that together with his bald head and false teeth (another new set) are giving him much trouble. Charlie is still driven mad by such remarks as "Pistol Packing Page" and "Trigger Finger Charlie" and the like. From which you may gather that he once had a little bang with his cannoni all by himself. 

That six foot streak of grinning imbecility Crogdon is the worst to bear. We call him "Rocking Horse" because he stretches his neck and shoves his teeth in your face for all the world like a horse on the roundabout. 

4/6/45 

We are in a delightful place at the moment and I must tell you about it. It is just north of Padua at the foot of the hills which make a pleasing break in the flat monotony of the Po Plain. 

Hot sulphur springs are plentiful and the hotels here exploit these and it is a kind of spa. At the moment all these hotels are hospitals containing wounded Germans. In fact that explains our presence. We are guards. To prevent the wounded Jerry being beaten up by brave partisans. 

This hotel is well equipped - good grounds, quite a nice swimming pool, plenty of baths and showers. Hot and cold. A deep grotto formed into turkish baths - little dungeon-like caves, each hotter than the last. 

I never felt so clean in my life as I did after my first sweat and subsequent ice cold shower. So what with swimming and deck tennis I am really fit. This afternoon we had a water polo match. Two men to a room with a bathroom adjoining. I hope to wrangle a trip to Udine where I have learnt Harold is stationed. The trouble is transport - we are left with so little. Our drivers and vehicles are scattered all over Italy and Austria on one job or another. I may get a motorbike though I have had enough of that on the last move. First the horn dropped off, then the footrests and finally the carburettor jammed, and as I had no spanners I rode for near 40 miles switching the petrol on and off. 

16/6/45 

Here I am in Venice at last. It really is wonderful. The powers that be have once in a way put themselves out to do things in style. Really magnificent hotels, still run by civilian staff, which in peace time were the millionaires' playgrounds are at the troops disposal. 

24/10/45  

Arrived Newhaven.

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