The Middlesex Yeomanry Association conducted a battlefield tour in the Naples region of Italy on 22-24th September. The tour focused on the activities of 22nd Armoured Brigade Signal Squadron (Middlesex Yeomanry) and the part it played in the Salerno landings and the advances northwards in late 1943, as well as providing an opportunity for us to commemorate those Middlesex Yeomen who died in WW2 and who are buried at the CWGC Cemeteries at Salerno and Caserta.
This was the first battlefield tour that the Association has undertaken without the guidance and leadership of our Hon Sec, Capt David Gibson, whose recovery from a knee operation is taking a little longer than we had hoped. Nevertheless, 6 members of the Association set out from Caserta to Salerno Bay and identified the precise location where 22nd Armoured Signal Squadron came ashore on 21st September 1943. From the viewpoint of the Ponte Fosso Bridge under heavy rain we analysed the repeated efforts by 201st Guards Brigade to take the tobacco factory NW of Battipaglia and the relentless attempts by the Germans to throw the Allies back into the sea.
We then went on to the CWGC Cemetery at Salerno and placed a cross at the grave of Cpl Dougla Norris (see history section of Newsletter sent to Members).
Following in the footsteps of 22nd Armoured Brigade we advanced to the location of the vineyards and maize fields of Afragola on the outskirts of Naples where we studied the Battle of Cardito which took place on 3rd October 1943. The vineyards etc are long gone and have been replaced by a rather depressing suburban sprawl, home to all sorts of ne’er-do-wells, but we were able to identify some of the key points before moving on swiftly.
Members will not be surprised to learn that we wined and dined in fine style that evening.
On the second day we visited the CWGC cemetery and laid crosses at the graves of Sjt Copestake, LCpl Williams, Sigmn Hugo and Sigmn Kearns. As shown in the photograph below, Col Linda Coe laid a wreath at the memorial, and Binyon’s The Fallen was spoken by our President, Lt Col Don Grocott.
We concluded our visit at the small town of Grazzanise and identified the location of the bridge built by the engineers of 7th Armoured Division over the River Volturno and alongside it the position where some of the tanks of elements of 22nd Armoured Brigade forded the fast-flowing river.
A full Report with pictures can be found in the latest edition of the Association's Newsletter.
Plans are already being hatched for another tour in 2024. Details will be published in the next edition of the Association's Newsletter.
Middlesex Yeomanry Association - Report on the Battlefield Tour to Italy (22-24 September 2023)
Middlesex Yeomanry
18th October 2023 · 2 min read
