2nd Parachute Brigade HQ and Defence Platoon. WAR DIARY. Dec. 1943

Month and year: December 1943. Commanding Officer: Brig. CHV Pritchard.

Place: Sangro.

8th December 1943.
Bde Comd visited 6 Bn in the fwd posn twice during the day. Bde HQ area quiet, except for short bursts of shelling during the morning. 6 Bn suffered some casualties as a result of shelling and mortar fire overnight. 5 Bn entered ROCCASCALEGNA and est a firm posn at ALTINO. Some opposition was encountered by local Fascists in the latter town: this is, however, not the rule for the Italian opposition elements are either lying low, or have retreated with the enemy. Normally the population is only too willing to help, and their patience is remarkable. Perhaps this is a result of the system under which they have lived for so long. To be turned out of their homes is not to them the same shattering event as it would be to our own people: it is something which has been in the offing for many years now, and which they accept almost calmly.

Once turned out, they often prefer to remain in the area of their dwellings inhabiting the animal’s quarters, even when the battle is at its height, and in the end the accept the missiles flying backwards and forwards with the same resignation as do the fighting troops. The Bde Comd visited the 6 Bn and returned with the conviction that insufficient digging had been done; the deeper one can dig in, even though one’s stay is only for a short while, the fewer casualties will be suffered from the desultory shelling and mortaring, which is the daily routine. Bde HQ itself came under orders to go underground to a depth of at least 24 inches. In the absence of measuring tape, results varied but in general it could be said that everyone had a depression to lie down in by evening.

9th December 1943.
Arrivals from the other side of the line, during the morning, including Polish deserter, from 146 Gren Regt, a Czech refugee from Northern Italy and two NCO’s from 1 Para Bn who were dropped on the 2 Oct last, near ANCONA, to help escaped PW to regain friendly territory. All these had infmn of value to give regarding what was happening behind the Winter Line. Bde Comd visited NZ Div HQ and 6 Bn to tie up details of the proposed relief of the fwd posns.