Date                Time   Location         Damage

15/01/1944    0.00    Cranham       1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in meadow 100 yards E of

                                                            Woodlands Moor Lane.  N.D.C.

15/01/1944    9.45    Billericay        1 – A.A. Shell exploded on a shed at the rear of

Tree-tops Western Road.  N.C. but shed demolished.

19/01/1944    1.15    Canvey          A British Aircraft passed over Canvey Island and

Island             jettisoned a petrol tank which dropped on the sea wall about 150 yards W of Benfleet Sewerage outfall and exploded causing a crater in wall 6′.

21/01/1944    1.25    Billericay        1 – A.A. Shell exploded by side of footway at Lt.

                                                            Norsey Road.  N.D.C.

21/01/1944    2.00    Canvey          2 – A.A. Shells exploded on grass verge at Lt.

                                    Island             Brickhouse Farm Northwick.  N.D.C.

21/01/1944    21.50  Hadleigh        1 – A.A. Shell exploded in garden 30 yards N of the

rear of Sea View London Road.  N.C. very slight damage.

21/01/1944                Hadleigh        1 – A.A. Shell exploded in Hadleigh Gt Wood. 

                                                            N.D.C.

21/01/1944                North              1 – Ux. A.A. Shell in ploughed field 60 yards W of

                                    Benfleet         St Johns Florence Road.  N.D.C.

22/01/1944    04.45  Billericay        1 – A.A. Shell exploded on Waractel, Norsey Road. 

                                                            N.C.  Damage to property.

22/01/1944    05.10  Vange            A large container of I.Bs exploded in field 50 yards

                                                            W of West End of Hillcrest View.  N.D.C.

22/01/1944    05.10  Wickford        1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell on footpath adjoining

Southend Road Wickford adjoining Southend Road.  N.D.C.

22/01/1944    05.10  Vange            A large number of I.Bs exploded in the vicinity of

Paynters Hill.  1 fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight casualty.  Extensive (Rest of entry missing on original).

22/01/1944    05.11  Wickford        1 – A.A. Shell exploded in garden 50 yards N of

                                                            Hedgerows, Highcliff Road.  N.D.C.

22/01/1944    05.20  Great Warley 1 – Ux. A.A. Shell on verge of Great Warley St. nr

                                                            Waterworks.  N.C.

22/01/1944    05.20  Great Warley 1 – Firepot I.B. fell on grass verge between track of

Southend Arterial Road A.127 opposite Codham Hall Farm.  N.C.  Water main damaged.

22/01/1944    05.20  Great Warley 8 – Ux. H.E’s fell on grass verge of Southend

Arterial Road A. 127 opposite Codhams Hall Farm.  N.C.  Water main damaged.

22/01/1944    05.00  Pilgrims          1 – A.A. Shell exploded in field 100 yards N of

                                    Hatch             Day’s Farm.  N.D.C.

22/01/1944    05.30  Hullbridge     1 – A.A. Shell exploded in back garden of Valley

                                                            View Windemere Avenue.  N.D.C.

22/01/1944    05.30  Vange            1 – A.A. Shell exploded in pond on Riverside Farm. 

                                                            N.D.C.

24/01/1944    22.54  Billericay        A British Meteorological Apparatus No. B4805 with

Balloon and Parachute attached fell in fields near the Anchorage Buckwyns Estate.

28/01/1944    22.45  Foulness       1 – H.E. exploded on sea wall 100 yards East of

                                    Island             Clarks Hard.  No casualties.

29/01/1944    20.30  Mountnessing          1 – A.A. Shell exploded at Bacons Farm. 

                                                            No casualties or damage.

29/01/1944    20.40  Doddinghurst            1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell 16 yards from

                                                            Maytree Peartree Green.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    20.45  South Weald 1 – Ux. A.A. Shell in field on Sth side of Old

                                                            Vicarage.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    20.50 South Weald 1 – H.E. exploded 240 yards Sth of St Vincents

                                                            Hamlet in open ground.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    20.50  Langdon        2 – Ph.I.Bs exploded in field 100 yards S

                                    Hills                Sanatorium.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    20.55  Hutton            1 – Exploded A.A. Shell.  Slight damage to

                                                            property.  No casualties.

29/01/1944    20.55  Ramsden       1 – H.E. exploded.  Hut demolished 23 soldiers

                                    Heath             killed.

29/01/1944    20.55  Raweth          A number of I.B’s fell destroying 2 straw stacks. 

                                                            No casualties.

29/01/1944    20.59  Downham     3 – H.Es exploded in Hawkwood Road.  Slight

                                                            damage to 1 house.  No casualties.

29/01/1944    21.00  Coxtie Green 1 – A.A. Shell exploded in grounds of Chafford

                                                            School.  No damage or casualties.

29/01/1944    21.00  Little                1 – H.E. Ux. 300 yards West of Lt. Burstead

Burstead        Church.  No damage or casualties and 4 H.Es fell in fields South of St Margarets Farm.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.00  Billericay        1 – H.E. exploded in field 200 yards E of Whites

Farm and 1 – H.E. exploded in field 200 yards E of Cullis’s Factory Southend Road.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.00  South             A large number of I.Bs fell on Marshland.  N.D.C.

Fambridge

29/01/1944    21.00  Hadleigh        Approx. 100 I.Bs fell on marshes on Salvation

                                                            Army Colony Hadleigh.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.00  Coxtie Green 1 – A.A. Shell exploded in ditch 250 yards NE of

                                                            Chafford School.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.00  Coxtie Green 1 – A.A. Shell exploded in grounds of Chafford

                                                            School.  No damage or casualties.

29/01/1944    21.00  Ramsden       1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in field 300 yards SW London

                                    Bellhouse      Road.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.00 Ramsden        1 – H.E. exploded in Hawks Wood.  N.D.C.

Heath

29/01/1944    21.00  Raweth          1 – A.A. Shell unexploded in open field at Watery

                                                            Lane.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.00  Raweth          1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in meadow 60 yards West of

                                                            Boxes Farmhouse.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.03  Brentwood     A large number I.Bs 10 dwellings slight damage.  1

                                                            slight casualty.

29/01/1944    21.05  Pitsea             A large number of I.Bs Railway signals damaged. 

N.C.

29/01/1944    21.05  Pitsea             3 – H.Es in field Ux. 200 yards -250 yards Sth of

Railway Line and 1 mile E of Railway Station.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.09  Rochford       A large number of I.Bs.  No casualties or damage.

29/01/1944    21.10  Great              1 – H.E. Ux. Fell at Havengore Road Gt Wakering. 

                                     Wakering      N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.13  Ingrave           1 – H.E. and 1 Ph.I.B No casualties or damage.

29/01/1944    21.15 Rochford       Large number of I.Bs 3 straw stacks destroyed.

29/01/1944    21.15  Pilgrims          1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in Awkard Lane.  N.D.C.

Hatch

29/01/1944    21.15  Ramsden       1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in garden 50 yards NE of The

                                    Bellhouse      Blenheims, Glebe Road.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    21.51  Foulness       Large number of I.Bs overhead electric cable

                                    Island             damaged.

29/01/1944    22.10  Childerditch  1 – A.A. Shell exploded on up track of Arterial

                                                            Road.  No casualties or damage.

29/01/1944    22.10  Little Warley  1 – exploded incendiary container full of I.Bs in

garden of “Lyndhurst” Hall Lane, slight damage to tiles of 2 bungalows.  No casualties.

29/01/1944    22.15  Hullbridge     Large number I.Bs one shed on farm damaged.

29/01/1944    Unknown  Wickford 1 – A.A. Shell exploded in field 300 yards of

                                                            Wickford Church.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    Unknown  Mountnessing   1 – A.A. Shell in Main Road.  Slight damage

                                                            to 1 cottage.  No casualties.

29/01/1944    Unknown Raweth    An unignited parachute flare at Hylands Farm.

29/01/1944    Unknown  Ingrave   1 – Ux. A.A. Shell on the verge on South side of

road, 100 yards East of Dairy Farm, Tilbury Road. N.D.C.

29/01/1944    Unknown  Great       1 – H.E. 500 Kg Ux.B. in Codham Hall Wood and

                                         Warley      200 yards N of Arterial Road.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    Unknown  Dunton    1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in field 700 yards due West

                                                            of Dunton Church.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    Unknown  Bentley   1 – A.A. Shell exploded in field 200 yards W of

                                                            White Cottage.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    Unknown  Runwell  1 – Ux. A.A. Shell fell in garden of the Oaks

                                                            Runwell Road.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    Unknown  Little         1 – A.A. Shell Ux. Fell 300 yards SW Sudburys

                                        Burstead   Farm.  N.D.C.

29/01/1944    Unknown  South      1 – H.E. fell in field at Vicarage Lane causing a

                                          Weald      camouflet.

Friday 31^st December 1943.

Had party at Carmelia Ct. Wheatman’s, Jim Graham, Gretel, Pen, Lottie, and myself.  Finished up at O.C., R.A.S.C. mess.  Lottie & I walked all the way home and didn’t remember it!  Poor old Pen passed out in the mess!  Stayed the night (what was left of it) at Lottie’s flat.

Saturday 1^st January 1944.

Very quiet day.  Most civilians still on holiday.  Stayed in camp & early to bed.

Sunday 2^nd January 1944.

S.S.M. Nuttall posted to El Jiya at the BSD.  What a relief!  Visited Yankee Bky at Tel Aviv.

Monday 3^rd January 1944.   No entry.

Tuesday 4^th January 1944.  No entry.

Wednesday 5^th January 1944.  No entry.

Thursday 6^th January 1944.  No entry.

Friday 7^th January 1944.  No entry.

Saturday 8^th January 1944.  No entry.

Sunday 9^th January 1944.

Lt. Page arrived.  Stayed in camp & had an early night.

Monday 10^th January 1944.

Lt. White departed for 33 F.B.  Atmosphere clearer already!  Went with Lottie to Wheatman’s for dinner.  Did not get to bed until 03.00.

Tuesday 11^th January 1944.

Visited Affulch with Page.  Contract there expired.  Wrote to mother.  Major D phoned from GHQ re ovens at Hadera!  Told him we didn’t need new ones.  Bed at 9.30 p.m.  Very tired.

Wednesday 12^th January 1944.

Col Hall cancelled his inspection.  Capt Sterrard, SIS, inspecting accounts, etc.  Catering Advisor trade testing cooks.  Capt Hunt came tom see me.  Knew him in Beirut.  Invited to his mess tomorrow.  Had dinner with Lottie at her flat.  We went on to Carmelia Ct. & joined Page.  Sergt Smith, Cpls Morkillie & Green were there from Beirut.

Thursday 13^th January 1944.

Padre visited the camp.  Started to rain like hell again.  Capt. Perkins arrived for the evening.  Page, Perkins & I went to Carmelia Ct. met Lottie, Greta, Graham etc.  Quite a boozy party.  Got to bed about 01.00 hrs.

Friday 14^th January 1944.

Frightful storm.  Camp flooded.  Lunched with Pen on board the “Saad”.  Shocking tragedy this afternoon.  Pte. Bunn collapsed & died in two minutes.  Leaves a wife & two kiddies.  No previous record of illness.  Dined with Lottie at her flat.  Grand meal, bless her.  Stayed the night in comfort.

Saturday 15^th January 1944.

No rain today.  Extremely cold.  Pte Bunn buried in Haifa today.  Managed to get wreathe in time.  New establishment came through.  Not to be implemented yet!  We had a unit dance this evening.  Quite enjoyed myself.  Band very good.

Sunday 16^th January 1944.

Bloody cold.  Very quiet day in office.  Padre held a service in afternoon.  Collected Lottie in evening & went O.C., R.A.S.C. mess for an informal “do”.  Not very exciting.  Stayed night at Lottie’s.

Monday 17^th January 1944.

Left Haifa at 07.30 with Page to visit detachments.  Good car.  Arrived Rafah at 12.00 hrs.  Called at El Jiya on way to Jerusalem.  Conversion set arrived.  Arrived J at 18.00 hrs.  Stayed night at St. Julian’s.  Sing song with some Yanks & ENSA blokes.

Tuesday 18^th January 1944.

Saw Major Thorne in morning.  I left for Sarafel at 10.00.  Had lunch in O.C., R.A.S.C. mess.  Game of snooker.  Called at Hadra on return journey.  Arrived Haifa 18.00.  Stayed in office & went to bed early.

Wednesday 19^th January 1944.

Started to pour again.  D.D.M.S. inspected Pott’s bakery.  All O.K.  Said he would help us re drainage there.  Sumps all very bad & overflowing.  Went to pictures in evening with Lottie.  Saw “Commandos Strike at Dawn”.  All about invasion of Norway.  Extremely good.  Stayed night at Lottie’s.

Thursday 20^th January 1944.

Weather becoming impossible.  Heavy rain & wind.  Floods approaching camp at Haifa rapidly.  Back of Pott’s a foot under water.  Ct of Enquiry held on Bunn’s death.  Died of cerebral haemorrhage.  Wrote to his wife, lousy job.  Saw K**** fight but on points.  Good.

Friday 21^st January 1944.

Camp completely under water.  Potts flooded at rear & sides.  Rain still falling.  Just managed to save ovens at Potts by erecting a barricade.  Had dinner at Lottie’s flat.  Afterwards went to Carmelia Ct.  Lottie had on a new black dress.  Looked sweet.  Met Jim & Gretel.

Saturday 22^nd January 1944.

Rain stopped.  Floods receding.  Glorious sunshine at last.  Spoke to Dudley on the phone.  Expect to see him in Beirut next week.  Went to the “Behal” with Page, Knolles & Atherfold.  Quite good fun.  In bed by midnight.

Sunday 23^rd January 1944.

Glorious weather.  Visited Capt. Hunt at Pet.  Toc mess for a drink at lunchtime.  Page & I went for a long walk in afternoon.  Felt it in my legs.  Hunt & three officers came to tea.  Went to Lottie’s for dinner.  Stayed the night.  Very cold.

Monday 24^th January 1944.

Went to Mafrae with Page.  All O.K.  Lunched in O.C., R.A.S.C. mess.  Back in Haifa by 18.30.  Cleaned up in office & early to bed.  Very weary.  Reading “Vicomte de Cragalone” by Dumas.

Tuesday 25^th January 1944.

Received charming letter from Amiouni.  He is a fine fellow.  Had news that establishment to be implemented at once by “A”.  Notified that Sgts Hogg, McBain, Shephard, Smith & Cpl. Jones to be posted.  Went to pictures with Lottie.  Saw Clark Gable in “

Wednesday 26^th January 1944.

Went to Saisford to see about four new ovens there.  Lunched in the Gat Rimon Hotel in Tel Aviv.  Met Gretel and had a drink with her.  Looked up Chloe after lunch.  Found her home & asked her why she had’nt written.  Promised to see her next time I went there.  Had puncture on way home.  Arrived Haifa 18.30.  Joseph phoned coming Monday.  Splitting headache.  Early to bed.

Thursday 27^th January 1944.

Glorious weather.  Col. Geddes called to see me.  Invited me to dance at Beirut on Feb. 12^th. Page & I lunched with him at Officers Club, Haifa.  Got stockings from Lottie in afternoon.  Had dinner at her flat.  Roast York!!  Went to Orlando afterwards to see cabaret.

Friday 28^th January 1944.

Great day in my young life!  Received my majority.  New establishment through.  Tons of work ahead.  Cabled the news to angel.  Went with Page to cocktail party at 53^rd G.H.  Got a bit tight.  We took two sisters to the Piccadilly.  Quite a cheery night.  Sister’s name was Angela Overs.

Saturday 29^th January 1944.

Poor Page very ill this morning.  He certainly gets a good hangover!!  Had a coffee with Col. Hull at 11.00.  Missed seeing Lottie.  The Sergts had a dance in the mess saying farewell to McBain & Shephard.  I stayed for a time.  Then took Lottie to dinner at Carmelia.  Everyone congratulated me.  We went on to Piccadilly.  A grand eve.  Extremely merry.  Finished at Wheatmas.

Sunday 30^th January 1944.

Shocking cold this morning.  Can’t smell, taste or hear.  Weather lousy again.  Morning in office.  Slept all the afternoon.  Felt a bit better.  Busy in the office until 20.00 hrs.  Phoned Lottie.  Bed at 20.30.  Read for an hour or so.

Monday 31^st January 1944.

My cold a bit better.  Arranged for all personnel at Haifa, excepting H.Q. to proceed to Base Depot on Saturday.  Major Josephs phoned to say he would stay night at Tel Aviv.  Had dinner at Lottie’s.  Went to Carmelia for drink later.  Met Blumenthal on his way to G.H.Q.

Saturday 1 January 1944

Heard this am to go to WO for interview – wires sent to A & L.  Caught 3.50 pm train and had dinner in Perth – sleeper 1^st class in 8.50 train – didn’t get a lot of sleep.

Sunday 2 January 1944

Arr London 11 am – taxi to L’pool St – caught 11.50 train to Colchester.  Met by G in car – after tea wrote A – after supper played Poker Dice with L G & B and lost 2/– A phoned at 5.30 great news.

Monday 3 January 1944

Charles returns – Up in time in have good chat with A – Town 9 – 10.  Caught 10.37 to Town in London at 1.20 and had lunch at G.E.  Taxi to Whitehall.  Taken in front of 2 Cols by Graham Peddie – interview seemed to go OK.  Tea John French – wrote A at Euston 4 Train 7.10 – no sleeper.

Tuesday 4 January 1944

No b’fast – no water – arrived Inverness at 2 ocl.  Shave at Sr Hotel – car came – lunch at 2.30.  Told by Eric K before tea that I had not got job, pity.  Phoned A and wrote 3 super letters from her awaiting my return.  Also letter from John Q.  Bed at 12 – late in office.  Duty offr.

Wednesday 5 January 1944

Usual day – not much work to do.  Hockey in pm, scored 6 eye fairly well in.  Bath & change – office late with George.  Cut up 300 odd ships!

Thursday 6 January 1944

Usual day – no letters.  Still cutting out ships!  Office late – wrote A.  Went down to PO put in £10.  Visit Ness Castle – sep

Friday 7 January 1944

Still no letters – George off on leave – usual dull day – medal up.  Conf for 2 ½ hrs after tea.  Wrote John French – Boyd may be going – Felix too.

Saturday 8 January 1944

Tony returns – Dull morning no mail – hockey in pm.  Chat in morning with John Dawkes, G2 – Wrote A after dinner and phoned Ox Rd.  Scored 1 goal in hockey game.

Sunday 9 January 1944

Took things very easy all day – b’fast at 10 ocl – did certain amount of work.  In pm read in mess til 3 – office til 4 doing stamps.  After tea walk and letters to A etc.  Letter to A to be continued.  Bath.

Monday 10 January 1944

Letter from A at last – p.g. but things will be OK – Gods not being very kind this year.  Dull day – office after dinner finished letter to A.  Airgraph from Peter Rawson.  Walk with Roger Bruman over Golf Course.  Very good sharp frost.

Tuesday 11 January 1944

Haircut in a.m.  Very slack day with practically nothing doing.  Told this evening that I am to return to 7^th Fd tomorrow – saw CRA said ‘No go’ and told him why.

Wednesday 12 January 1944

Film Wed night with Charles, Francis & George Ashly – very good ‘Above suspicion’.

Thursday 13 January 1944

Eileen phoned – great show.

Friday 14 January 1944

No entry.

Saturday 15 January 1944

Parcel from A arrived – incl baccy G.G.  Hockey in pm with Navy – 7 aside very hectic very short.  Out patrolling with Charles until 1 am.

Sunday 16 January 1944

Up at 9.30!  No mail – stamps am for Charles.  Bought £1-1-10 worth but in pt exchange for my Coronations.  Quiet pm.  Wrote A & L.  Concert after dinner good fun.  Stamps with Charles in his hut.

Monday 17 January 1944

Dull day – letter from A – good show.

Tuesday 18 January 1944

Dull day – Letter from L, G & E.

Visit to Spey Brg

Wednesday 19 January 1944

Super long letter from A.  Sent wire off congratulating A on promotion – super show.

Thursday 20 January 1944

Visited EY this morning and out in FORRES direction in the afternoon.  EY in good form – one or 2 old faces still about – Gerslip, Sedgwick Gee etc.  ENSA show – very good.

Friday 21 January 1944

Developed very bad cold today – a real snorter.  Kept in most of day.  Phoned 370 but A not there – spoke to friend – A to ring on Mon or Sun.

Saturday 22 January 1944

Hockey this p.m. v RN – Excellent game though it poured with rain during first half – won 5-4 (2).  Had dinner with Charles, George, Boyd, Tury – looked in for 5 mins at Sgts dance.  Washing & stamps arrived.

Sunday 23 January 1944

B’fast 9.45 – EY in morning, lunch there – feeling pretty bloody – waited til 10 ocl in case A phoned – no such luck.  Powders & ‘whiskied tea’ brought along by Wright.

Monday 24 January 1944

Still feeling bloody – marked AQ’s map in am.  Quiet pm – no letters – good tidy up – Back to office after early supper – no sign of phone call from A.

Tuesday 25 January 1944

1500 – Lecture in gym.  Out all day in Elgin area – lunch at Gordon Hotel – sent pc off to Eileen – letter from L & G.

Wednesday 26 January 1944

Duty Officer.  Letter today from A good show – feeling particularly browned right off – duty offr.  Slept here.  3^rd & last inoculation.

Thursday 27 January 1944

Dull day – nothing of any importance to relate.  Over to 101 A/Tk to see a chap about divorce.

Friday 28 January 1944

Nothing at all in the work line.  At 4 ocl went down to town tea with Charles at Station Hotel – film after – Mr Lucky – dinner with C in C Mess.  Chat with C & Q in C’s bunk.

Saturday 29 January 1944

In pm few holes golf with George, tea in Club house – Dinner B Mess with C, G & F.  then to WRENS pty – left early chat & tea with C.

Sunday 30 January 1944

G + C to Dumfries – conference in pm – walk after tea – early night.

Monday 31 January 1944

Nothing of note.

January 1944

(Britain)

The appointment of American General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) as Supreme Allied Commander of Europe preceded his arrival in London to take up his post. Arriving on the 16^th January 1944 the Allied leaders named him as head of Operation Overlord, and confirmed his promotion on the 24^th December 1943, Operation Overlord was the codename for the Allied invasion of Europe in Normandy, the forthcoming D-Day landings in June 1944.

The Battle of Berlin began in November 1943 and ended in March 1944. Commander-in-Chief of Bomber Command, Air Chief Marshall Sir Arthur (Bomber) Harris, believed with the aid of American bombers it would cost “Germany the war”. As a typical RAF night attack, on the 20^th/21^st January 1944, Berlin was attacked by 495 Lancaster, 22 Halifax and ten Mosquito bombers. Low cloud the following day prevented any assessment of the damage suffered. The RAF lost 22 Halifax and 13 Lancaster bombers to anti-aircraft guns and night fighter attacks. The Germans were victorious during the Battle of Berlin as the RAF was unable to inflict a decisive defeat over Germany in Berlin. This was no different to the Nazi Blitz on London in 1940.

(Eastern Front)                            

The two and half year Siege of Leningrad in the Soviet Union ended on the 27^th January 1944, when the Soviets had pushed the German Wehrmacht back 36-62 miles (60-100 km). Following Operation Barbarossa when Germany attacked the Soviet Union the siege began on the 8^th September 1941, after the German Wehrmacht took control of the last road to the city. During the course of the siege the S.U. lost 500,000 military personnel killed, captured or missing. Leningrad also lost one and a half million civilian dead. The German casualties were in the region of 580.000. Prior to the withdrawal the Wehrmacht destroyed many historical palaces of the Tsar and a large collection of valuable art collections were sent back to Germany. At a later date, when asked why they didn’t occupy Leningrad, the German reply was they would have had to feed the occupants.

(Italy)

Count Gian Galeazzo Ciano was the son-in-law of Italian Duce Benito Mussolini. He was an Italian diplomat and politician who served as Foreign Minister from 1936 to 1943. He was seen as the most probable successor to Mussolini as head of government when the time came. Ciano was executed by firing squad for treason on the 11^th January 1944. Alongside him were four others who had voted for Mussolini to be removed from power. When Mussolini founded the National Fascist Party (NFP) and his subsequent “March on Rome” in 1922 he emerged as Prime Minister of Italy. Ciano and his father were with Mussolini. In April 1930 he married Mussolini’s daughter and she bore him three children. Shortly after the marriage Ciano and family left for Shanghai to serve as Italian consul. Upon his return to Italy in 1935 he volunteered for action during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935/36. When he returned from the war as a “hero” in 1936 he was appointed Foreign Minister by his father-in-law. Italy declared war on Britain and France in January 1940 and joined forces with the Axis Power regime of Nazi Germany. Following a series of defeats suffered by the Axis Powers during the war Ciano began to push for Italy’s exit from the war. As a result he was dismissed as Foreign Minister. Being a member of the Grand Council of Fascism he was one of those responsible for the dismissal and arrest of Mussolini. Ciano attempted to flee to Germany but was arrested and handed over to Italy’s new regime, the Italian Social Republic. Mussolini, under German pressure, ordered the death of Ciano and the subsequent trial resulted in in his execution on the 11^th January 1944. The five treason prisoners were tied to chairs and were to be shot in the back. However, at the last minute Ciano managed to turn his chair to face the firing squad before saying “Long live Italy”.

When Italy surrendered to the Allies in September 1943, the Germans were the sole defenders of Italy. The Winter Line was south of Rome and ran north from Cassino and where the terrain allowed it, terminated on the west coast. The western half of the Winter Line which formed part of the Gustav Line-Monte Cassino extended from the east coast to the Lira and Rapido valleys and central mountain spine of Italy. The Germans were located behind this valley-strewn and peaks/ridges line and especially around the historic hilltop abbey which dominated the nearby town of Cassino. German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, commander in Italy, ordered his troops not to include the abbey in their defensive line and informed the Vatican and the Allies in December 1943. As a protected historic zone the area was unoccupied although they did man some slopes below the abbey’s walls. The Allies were aware of the strong defences around Monte Casino as they advanced toward Cassino from the toe of Italy; they were repeatedly bombarded by artillery located on these slopes. The Allied leaders incorrectly assumed the Germans were using the abbey as an observation post. On the eastern side of Italy the Germans were in the process of reinforcing the Winter Line. The battle began on the 17^th January 1944, the Allied objective was to break through the Winter Line and begin to advance on Rome. British General Harold Alexander, overall commander of the U.S. and British armies, launched an attack on the Gustav Line west of Cassino. General Oliver Leese, commander of the British X Corps, replaced Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery when he returned to Britain for his role in the D-Day landings in Normandy in June 1944. The X Corps forced a crossing on the Garigliano River, which ran from Cassino to the west coast, as part of the first assault. Unfortunately the X Corps did not have any extra troops available to overwhelm the Germans and waited for the central attack.  Fierce fighting between the Allies and the German defenders saw the attack being repulsed. Kesselring was aware that if Cassino was taken the Allies would be able to advance on Rome. German reinforcements arrived from Rome on the 20^th January 1944. The central attack was launched by the U.S. 36^th Division which began on the 20^th January 1944. This attack was hindered by strong German defences, bad weather and un-cleared mines/booby traps previously set by the Germans. The Battle of Monte Cassino was to continue into February 1944.

Anzio is to the northwest of Monte Cassino on the west coast of Italy. The Battle of Anzio began on the 22^nd January 1944 and ended on the 5^th June 1944 with the capture of Rome from the Germans. The Allied plan was to assault the beaches at Anzio and to by-pass Monte Cassino, thereby trapping the Germans between the two armies. The Anzio beach-head is in a basin and comprises reclaimed marshland surrounded by mountains. The landings began on the 22^nd January 1944. The campaign was launched in a hurry, so no proper training had been possible and insufficient landing craft was another problem for the Allies. The majority of the available landing craft were allocated for the invasion of Normandy later in the year. In what landing craft were available the initial landings were virtually unopposed, with the exception of some strafing runs by the Luftwaffe. By midnight 36,000 American troops and 3,200 vehicles were on the beach. The landings came as a surprise to the Germans and the American troops should have swiftly advanced inland and supported the battle for Cassino. A misunderstanding between Clark and his second-in-command Major General John Lucas did not achieve that element of surprise. Clark, commander of the U.S. Fifth Army, wanted to continue with the attack. Lucas, commander of the U.S. VI Corps, preferred to take time to entrench his positon against any counterattack. The proposed support for Monte Cassino was therefore not forthcoming. With the element of surprise gone, Germany’s Kesselring moved every unit, who were available, into a defensive ring around the beach-head. The mountainous terrain favoured the defenders and as a consequence the Germans were in a position to see every movement of the Americans. 40,000 German troops had arrived by the 24^th June 1944 bringing the total to 71,500. Further arrivals of the U.S. 45^th Infantry Division and the U.S. 1^st Army Division landed on the beach-head by the 29^th June1944. This brought the American attack force up to 60,000 troops, 508 guns and 208 tanks. The Battle of Anzio was to continue into February 1944.

As part of the supporting naval attacking forces the British destroyer HMS Janus (F53) was sunk off the beach-head of Anzio on the 23^rd January 1944. There is some confusion whether Janus was sunk by a conventional torpedo or a guided bomb dropped by a German bomber. Whatever the device was, she sank within twenty minutes of being hit and only about 80 of her 240 crew were rescued. It is recorded that Janus had fired over 500 salvoes of 4.7“ shells in support of the Allied troops.          

(Pacific)                 

Cape Gloucester is located on the far north-west coast of the island of New Britain, which is part of the Territory of Papua New Guinea. The area around Rabaul was the main Japanese supply depot and was located on the north-east corner of the same island. The Battle of Cape Gloucester began on the 26^th December 1943 when American Marines attacked the Cape from east to west in a two-pronged formation. The battle ended on the 16^th January 1944 when American Marines defeated the Japanese defenders of two Japanese airstrips. By the end of December 1943, the Japanese held airstrips at Cape Gloucester. These were over-run by the Marines. The marines began to extend their airport perimeter south toward Borgan Bay on the 2^nd January 1944 and met with organised Japanese resistance. Fierce fighting continued through the jungle until the 16^th January 1944 when the marines captured Hill 660. 0rganised Japanese resistance ended when Japanese commander Major-General Iwao Matsuda had withdrawn from Cape Gloucester. He was accompanied by approximately 1,000 troops evacuating the battle area and heading for the supply depot at Rabaul.  During the Battle of Cape Gloucester, the U.S. lost 310 marines killed and 1,083 wounded and the Japanese losses were 2,000 killed.

The Andaman Islands are part of the Union Territory of India and located east of Burma. When the Japanese left the islands at the end of December 1943 there were unconfirmed rumours that 750 civilians had been murdered. The Japanese had occupied the islands since early 1942 and after leaving authority was handed over to the Provisional Government of Free India. However, the Japanese still remained in control as the leader of the government Subhas Chandra Bhose was pro-Japanese. 44 Indians, the majority of whom were part of the Indian Independence League, were accused of spying and shot in what became known as the Homfreganj Massacre on 30^th January 1944.             

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