Home of the Infantry Regiments of Berkshire and Wiltshire
War Diary
Detail
1944-05-17
| Regiment | 2nd Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Anzio, Italy |
| Entry | 0045hrs: Brigade rang up and informed us that a German patrol had reached the lateral road about 400 yds behind our forward positions and had taken prisoners from the Reconnaissance Regiment who maintained a standing patrol at Sheep Pen farm (829297). This audacious patrolling had occurred once before in April when an ambulance was stopped in the same area, and its recurrence presented a problem that would have to be settled quickly. 0445hrs: Considerable mortaring of 'D' Coy area as patrol returned and resulted in 8 men being wounded. 0900hrs: A further casualty was incurred by 'B' Coy from shellfire. After this somewhat noisy start the day passed by without any further incidents. A fairly quiet day with only occassional mortar fire, which caused no casualties. Our own mortars carried out their daily harassing programme without interference or retaliation. Patrols were organised during the day to prevent German patrols infiltrating between our F.D.L's. Nevertheless a patrol managed to slip through and again took prisoners from the same place as the night before as early as 2200hrs and it escaped back to its own lines. 2/LIEUT. CRAWSHAW took out a recce patrol, but brought back no new information about the enemy layout. 2 snipers also went out to lie up all the next day and kill any Germans seen. 3" Mortars harassed enemy positions and tracks during the night. References to Appendices: Ref Map:- ITALY 1/25,000 158 IV SE. |
