![]()
South African Force
World War II
Volume VVictory in Italy
Neil Orpen
TO ALL WHO SERVED
CONTENTS
The Casablanca Conference saw the capture of Sicily as the completion of the North African campaign. The Americans did not want the Allied war effort diverted from the Western and Eastern European fronts by opening up a new front in the Mediterranean. Hoiwever, in May 1943, at the TRIDENT Conference in Washington, the decision was taken and the Supreme Commander Mediterranean, General Eisenhower, was directed to: Chairman's Foreword
- Eliminate Italy from the War.
- Contain the maximum number of German divisions in Italy, thereby denying their use elsewhere in Europe or Russia.
After losing Sicily
Division but by the many other non-divisional units, including the 21 SAEC companies operating in Italy. There were many SouthC.G. KERR
Chairman, War Histories Advisory CommitteeJune 1975
MEMBERS OF THE WAR HISTORIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE:Mr C. G. Kerr, Chairman
Commandant (Dr) C. M. Bakkes, MA, representing the Human Sciences Research Council.
*Brigadier J. B. Bester, DSO
Brigadier F. W. Cooper, DSO
Brigadier J. T. Durrant, CB, DFC
Colonel G. R. Duxbury
Colonel K. T. Gilson, DSO, ED
Mr Guy Hart
Mr A. K. Hunter
Commandant F. J. Jacobs, representing Central Documentation Services, SADF
*Lt-Colonel A. H. Johnstone, DSO, ED
Mr W. H. King
Squadron-Leader F. E. M. Lord, DFC
Mr J. W. Maasdorp
Colonel E. O'C. Maggs, CBE
Lt-General H. J. Martin, SM, CBE, DFC
*Mr Stanley Osler
Colonel (Dr) J. Ploeger, MA, MEd, DPhil, Acad
*Colonel R. Reeves-Moore, DSO, MC
Mr L. E. A. Slater
*Major A. B. Theunissen, MBE
Mr L. H. Walton
Colonel J. A. Williams, DSO, DFC
Commandant C. A. Twomey, SM, JCD, Hon. Secretary.Note: The asterisks indicate the Members of the Land Forces Sub-Committee.
Die Casablanca-konferensie het die val van Sicilië as die ende van die Noord-Afrikaanse veldtog beskou. Die Amerikaners wou nie die Geallieerde oorlogspoging up die Westelike en die Oostelike Europese front deur die opening van 'n derde front in die Middellandse See aflei nie. Desondanks is in Mei 1943 op die TRIDENT-konferensie in Washington so besluit, en die opperbevelhebber van die Middellandse See, genl. Eisenhower, is opdrag gegee om: Voorwoord Deur die Voorsitter
Ná die verlies van Sicilië was dit Duitse belied om die Geallieerdes
- K Italië uit die oorlog te elimnineer.
- So veel as moontlik van die Duitse divisies in Itali&eumml; vass te pen ten einde hul gebruik elders in Europa of in Rusland te verhoed.
In compiling this record of operations by South Africa's land forces in Italy during World War II, it has been my privilege to enjoy the willing co-opreation of many men who were personally involved in the fighting from Cassino to the Alps. Additionally, I have received great assistance from official sourcds not only in South Africa but also in Great Britain and the United States, without which help no authoritative narrative covering these events could ever have been completed. Author's Acknowledgements
permission to use information from Field-Marshal Viscount Alexander'sNEIL ORPEN
1 July 1975
List of Abbreviations
ADMS
Assistant Director of Medical Services
A/Tk
anti-tank
Btry
battery
CFA
Cape Field Artillery
CIGS
Chief of the Imperial General Staff
C-in-C
Commander-in-Chief
Coy
company
CTH
Cape Town Highlanders
DCGS
Deputy Chief of the General Staff
DCM
Distinguished Conduct Medal
DSO
Distinguished Service Order
EBW
Engineer Base Workshops
FC/CTH
First City/Cape Town Highlanders
Fd Ambulance
Field Ambulance
Fd Coy
Field Company
Fd Pk Coy
Field Park Company
Fd Regt
Field Regiment
Fd Sqn
Field Squadron
Fs Svy Coy
Field Survey Company
FFR
Frontier Force Rifles
Gnr
Gunner
HQ
headquarters
Hy AA
heavy anti-aircraft
ILH
Imperial Light Horse
ILH/KimR
Imperial Light Horse/Kimberly Regiment
Inf
infantry
Lt AA
light anti-aircraft
MBE
Member of the Order of the British Empire
MC
Military Cross
Med Regt
medium regiment
MM
Military Medal
Mtn Regt
mountain regiment
NMR
Natal Mounted Rifles
NZ
New Zealand
OBE
Officer of the Order of ther British Empire
PAG
Prince Alfred's Guard
PR
Pretoria Regiment
'Q'SC
'Q' Services Corps
RA
Royal Artillery
RAMC
Royal Army Medical Corps
RCA
Royal Canadian Artillery
Rd Const Coy
Road Construction Company
RDLI
Royal Durban Light Infantry
RE
Royal Engineers
Recce
reconnaissance
Rly Const Coy
railway construction company
RNC
Royal Natal Carbineers
SAA
South African Artillery
SAAF
South African Air Force
SACS
South African Corps of Signals
SAEC
South African Engineer Corps
SAMC
South African Medical Corps
Sqn
squadron
SSB
Special Service Battalion
Svy Coy
survey company
THA
Transvaal Horse Artillery
'T'SC
Technical Service Corps
WR/DLR
Witwatersrand Rifles/De la Rey Regiment
Transcribed and formatted by Patrick Clancey, HyperWar Foundation