Reply To: D Company, 10th Royal Berkshires, Anzio

[Frank de Planta]

Alison.

He was indeed at Cassino but for the First Battle only which took place on 17 Jan 44. 10 R Berks were part of 168 Infantry Brigade who participated in the crossing of the Garigliano downstream of Cassino.

When Anzio went badly wrong on 29-30 Jan 44, 168 Infantry Brigade and 10 R Berks were taken off Monte Damiano near Castelforte and shipped into the beachhead. Here they moved to an impossibly difficult position in the British sector where they took a terrible beating.

I am a battlefield guide for both Cassino and Anzio.

Get in touch with me through my website at http://www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk and I will happily send you the detailed story of both the Garigliano crossing and their time at Anzio.

I was walking the ground with a group earlier in the week.

Regards

Frank