No.20
Recently we recorded a podcast on the fighting of the 16th Durham Light Infantry in mountainous terrain after they had crossed the Garigliano River, in Italy, in January 1944. Something that struck an immediate chord for us were the quotes from Lieutenant Gerry Barnet explaining how he was wounded. His platoon had moved forward into a valley and occupied a group of farm buildings at Cedra. Come the dawn they found themselves enshrouded in mist.
“One of the sentries had seen some German soldiers right outside the building. I rushed out, as I was, I didn’t even pick up my ‘Tommy’ gun, I had my pistol on my belt of course. I rushed straight out and there they were a few yards from the door – a group of six to eight German soldiers. There was then something like half a dozen of my men with me, including my sergeant, and we ran at them. Two dropped to the ground in the ensuing melee and the others scattered and ran. Two of the Germans had thrown themselves to the ground and were taken prisoner; the others were still running, so I shouted to the men to fire, and emptied my pistol myself in their direction – I didn’t hit anything of course – you can’t with a pistol!”
They then came under fire from a …
