Lt. George MacPherson Poe. British Army, 2nd Btn. Cameron Highlanders. (d.5th Aug 1944)
Lieutenant George Poe`s military history (September 1942 to August 1944) with 2nd. Battalion Cameron Highlanders
In writing this investigation the principal reason was to be able to focus on the events that George was involved in. All the information contained in this document has been collected from the following sources:
George`s diary, letters home during the campaign, The Regimental History of the Cameron Highlanders Vol.5, recollections from colleagues in the Battalion and various books on the campaign in Italy (see acknowledgments)
The information has always been verified by at least one source. I have used the information contributed from the above sources to try and create a biography of his involvement in this period and the situation from his perspective. Various points have stood out during researching this period, the most prominent being:
The average life span of an allied officer in the Italian campaign was only 6 weeks
and the contribution by the Indian Army was enormous and far outweighs any credit given to them by the authorities. They were the largest volunteer army in history with over 2.5 million men by 1945, yet they got scant attention from the media in films or publications of the period or today. It is a fact that the Indian Army inflicted more casualties on the Japanese Army by 1945 than the Americans did in all their Pacific operations since Pearl Harbour.
The Italian Campaign was also dubbed the forgotten war because it was overshadowed by events on D-Day. They suffered from a lack of supplies and equipment that were diverted to the Normandy invasion and hence hampered the advance on this front.
The Campaign was also a truly international affair with troops in the 5th and 8th Armies from 27 countries.
George Poe`s military history (September 1942 to August 1944)- Biography
From the first entry into George`s diary we know that when he left home at Dalwhinnie to enlist, he chose to join the Guards at Caterham Barracks near Reigate in Sussex, which he did on the 23rd. of September 1942 . Why he chose to join the elitist Guards is unclear but he may have looked on it as a good “career” move. His diary does not begin until the 13th. of December 1943 by which time he had been transferred to the 2nd. Battalion `A` Company of the Cameron Highlanders Regiment. We also know from one of George`s letters that while he was training in the ranks of the 2nd. Battalion Guards at Pirbright, near Woking in Surrey, he was given a good report and recommended for an Emergency Commission by his Commanding Officer Bowen Colhurst. He received his commission as a 2nd. Lieutenant on the 20th. of November 1943. According to his colleagues, after receiving the commission he would have had 2 weeks leave before returning as an Officer, about a week before he began his diary. In one of his letters home he confirms that he “joined `A` Company at Bridge of Allan along with (Lieutenant) Douglas Robb” (see group photograph). During this period, there was a lot of movement of officers and ranks between and within the Regiments, and as the Camerons had been badly depleted at Tobruk in North Africa, George was transferred. We also know from his colleagues that he spent some time at the Shetland Islands training and so how much officer training was done at Pirbright with the Guards and how much at the Shetlands with the Camerons is uncertain. Officer Training at this time due to the Emergency took a period of about 6 months which would mean he spent from September 1942 to May/June 1943 on basic training with the Guards.
According to the Regimental History of the Cameron Highlanders, (RHCH) Volume V - 2nd. Battalion, a new 2nd. Battalion was created after the capture of Tobruk in North Africa by the Germans where most of the remaining Battalion had been killed or captured. The new Battalion, formed on the 20th. of December 1942, was then situated in the Shetlands where they trained until the 3rd. of November 1943 when they left Lerwick and travelled to Bridge of Allan arriving on the 5th.
The new Battalion had 5 Companies i.e. `H.Q.`, `S`(Support), `A`,`B`,&`C` which were rifle Companies and `D` Company which was an anti-tank platoon. Their Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel C.S.Clarke and their Adjutant was Captain Gordon Munro.
The Battalion Headquarters at this time was the Bridge of Allan hotel
and George`s diary confirms leaving the camp at Bridge of Allan on the 13th. of December by train, arriving at Gourock to board the SS Stratheden (see picture). The following 3 days consisted of taking on troops, boat drill and PT. The strain of the time was evident as George records that a man on board the ship shot himself in the foot on the night of Tuesday 14th in order to avoid embarkation.
The large convoy departed on Thursday 16th through the submarine boom between Toward Point on Bute and Skelmorlie on the mainland. That night on the boat there was an ENSA concert with Harry Roy and his Band. At that time he was a big name in the music world and his wife, Princess Pearl, was the band`s principle singer. She was the daughter of the last white Rajah of Sarawak which is now in North Borneo and part of the Malaysian Federation. Rajah Brooke had come to Sarawak in the late 19th. Century and had been acclaimed by the local waring tribes as a King (Rajah). He had three daughters but no son and Pearl was one of the daughters. The presence of such a well known band on board the ship, along with the fact that most of the men and women on board were young and were going abroad for the first time to places they had only heard or read about, helped with moral.
By the next day, the sea was so rough that everyone on board was sea-
sick including the 200 WRNS and 300 nurses. Most of the Friday and Saturday George spent in bed suffering. Lieutenant A. Findlay describes the scene where, as Orderly Officer, he had to go round the troop decks at 10.00pm with the civilian ship`s Trooping Officer. “The troops were in very low spirits, as was everyone, and the troop decks were an evil and insanitary place to go”.
The only remedy was to be `bloody minded` and get them out of their bunks to clean up their own filth and get them vying with each other until things improved”. By Sunday and Monday, the sea was much calmer and the days warmer, allowing some on-board exercise.
The following 3 days George spent suffering from a cold, censoring letters and feeling bored with the confinement of the ship, although there must have been suspicion of submarine activity on the Wednesday when 5 depth charges were dropped off the ship`s starboard bow.
On Christmas Eve the west coast of Africa was sighted and Christmas Day was spent passing Gibralter, seeing Tangiers in the distance and socialising. The lights of Tangier were the first time they had seen a town/city light up since September 1939. The bar was open for 2 hours on Christmas Day so that 2,000 First Class passengers could get one drink if lucky. Christmas Day meals were served and a copy of the ship`s menu has signatures of some of the Cameron officers among others enjoying the meal (including GM Poe).
On following the North African coastline, the convoy halted at Algiers the next day but continued at 5PM with all on board. Monday 27th. was a lovely clear day but, due to an air attack, a smoke screen was set up by the convoy ships to hid from the enemy bombers. There is no mention of any bombing or sound of bombing so the aircraft must have continued on to other targets. The next day, while passing Malta, the pipes and drums on the ships played `Retreat`.
On Wednesday, George was made Orderly Officer. The next 2 days the convoy passed Benghazi, Tobruk and Derna while in the evenings they were entertained by ENSA concerts.
On Friday 31st. the convoy arrived at Port Said in Egypt, and the next 2 days were spent watching children diving for 6d pieces, celebrating New Year, sunbathing going for a route march through Port Said and attending a service on Sunday morning.
On Monday 3rd. of January 1944, George and his Battalion left the boat for the station and travelled by rail to Giza via Cairo, a distance of about 150 miles. He arrived the next day at a military camp near Giza called Mena (see photo P.9 . This was about 3 miles from the famous pyramids at Giza. The 3rd. battalion Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH), the Durham Light Infantry (DLI), the 2/7th. battalion Gurkhas and 3rd. Rajiputane were also there, the latter two being part of the 4th. Indian Army.
The Gurkhas, at this time, were part of the Indian Army, which was the largest volunteer army in history and amounted to over 2 million men. Due to Indian Independence and a mutual disregard by India, Britain and the former Commonwealth countries, their story and history of involvment in the war has been largely ignored.
The next 3 days involved route marches to the Pyramids and Sphinx, PT,Drill checking equipment,football ( they beat the DLI team 2-1) and socialising in the evenings. Spirits were high as the food was good and the washing facilities reasonable
although on Saturday 8th. they went to Mena House Hotel for a bath where, W.Jack recalled, the “Gyppo” hotelier charged them 2/6d {£5 in todays` money} for the loan of a bar of soap.
On Tuesday 11th there was a raid on the camp, reputedly by Arab Nationalists. The following day, the General Commanding Officer (GOC) of Egypt General Stone visited Mena Hotel, the grounds on which the camp was located. There had been an assassination attempt on the train that Stone had arrived on and 2 people were killed along with 2 Scots soldiers wounded.The following day,George gave a direct blood transfusion to one of the injured soldiers from this incident. He also records that Churchill, Roosevelt and Chiang Kai Check visited the British Indian Cemetery on that day. On Saturday 15th. 150 men from his Battalion were drafted to the A&SH.
The next day he had his photograph taken, along with the other officers of the 2nd. Battalion. The tent rigging and dessert sand are clearly visible.
Back Row
1. Lt.R.MacKenzie - George`s friend, mentioned in many letters(see RHCH p.342) 2 Lt. CGS Maxwell - died of wounds at Monte Cassino 3. Lt.W.MacGillivray * Lt.G.M. Poe - killed at Monte Grillo 4. Lt. G.Mackie - killed at Cassino 5. Lt W.Jack - POW at Bibbiano (ref. Letters Appendix ) 6. Lt. W.N. Cameron - son of Colonel of Regiment - killed at San Marino 7. Lt. GG Macdonald - POW - escaped through France and over Pyrenees after St. Valery 8. Lt. A G Findlay ( refer letters Appendix ) 9. Lt. E. Chevasse (son of WW1 double VC)
3rd. Row
10. Lt. J.Stirling - wounded near Bibbiano 11. Lt. RCH Collier- wounded at Cassino, won MC in action before Bibbiano 12. Lt. H.Waring 13. Lt. DR Galloway - awarded MC in 1945 for excellent service in Italy 14. Lt.S Mackay 15. Lt. I.Anderson
16. Lt. T. Fairbairn 17. Lt. Rae Johurst - mentioned in George`s diary
2nd. Row
18. Lt. P. Laughton - wounded at Cassino 19. Padre RA Smith - mentioned in George`s diary 20. Captain J.Malcolm. 21. Captain E. A. Cameron - awarded MC as Signals Officer at Cassino for continuing bravery under fire (seeRHCH p342) 22. Captain HG Hall - medevac from Cassino 23. Captain R.Stark 24. Captain I.Jack - killed at Cassino 25. Captain RB Marriot 26. Lt. (QM) G. Peaston 27. 2nd.Lt. KCG Morrison - wounded at Cassino 28. Lt. (MO) F. Hamilton- Leckie RAMC - awarded MC for conspicuous bravery by maintaining the Regimental Aid Post close to the front line at Cassino without protection of the Rex x (29) Lt. JA Swain
1st.. Row
30. Captain JA Cochrane DSO MC ( both awards for previous actions in Egypt and Eritrea. He still had not fully recovered from his wounds when went up to Cassino as O/C `C` Company. He also wrote a book called `Charlie Company`. 31. Captain AF Lauder 32. Major A.Todd
O/C `D` Company 33. Major GH Munro Battalion 2nd.I/C 34. Lt. Colonel CS Clarke M.C. - MC awarded for service in Palestine in 1937 35. Major D.B. Mitchell O/C `B` Company - as Sargeant of a platoon he evaded capture after St. Valery and was medevac from Cassino
36. Major D. Douglas DSO - awarded DSO after battle of Keren in Eritrea 1942 37. Captain W.W. Watt (Adjutant) (38) Captain M. Underwood O/C `A` Company - escaped after Mont Grillo ref. George`s diary & RHCH page 409 .Sitting (39) 2/Lt. A MacKintosh - Last Governor of Singapore (40) Lt. I U Gow 41. 2/Lt. DH Burns - MC at Orsogna 42. 2 Lt. D. Robb - wounded at Cassino
On Monday, the camp was hit by a sand storm. That day was spent giving lectures `with medium success` and preparing to move. The entertainment that evening was Nelson Eddy.
The following day, the tents were struck and the Battalion moved to Giza station where they left by train at 5PM and travelled overnight the 150 miles to Alexandria. The train arrived at 12 midnight and they were kept on board until the next day when they transfered to the docks and George boarded the liner HNT`Ranchi`. The ship was full with soldiers from Poland, West Africa and the U.S.A. On this ship, George was detached from his Battalion as they were on a different ship - the HMT Princess Kathleen. The ship left on Thursday afternoon in the same convoy as the ship he had arrived in, the Stratheden. George records that he did not feel well as there was no ventilation and he was sea-sick on the ship. Early in the morning, the ships guns practised and he heard they were bound for Taranto on the Italian mainland.
By this time, the Allied armies in Italy consisted basically of the British and Canadian forces ( 8th. Army) on the eastern Adriatic and the American 5th. Army on the West. There were a total of 27 nationalities in the Allied Armies including Goums (French speaking Arabs - as mentioned in the book “Private Angelo” by Eric Linklater), Poles,Italians,Czecks, Free French etc.
On Sunday morning there was an air attack on the convoy but it could not have been big as he spent most of the day playing cards and writing letters. The following day they passed a snow covered Mount Etna and later arrived at Taranto on the 25th. On disembarking, they made their way to a camping area 3 miles out from the town.
With the Camerons were the `little men` of the 2/7 Battalion Gurkhas and the `tall men` 4/6 Rajputana. On Thursday the 27th. They were told they would be “moving up in about a week with the 4th. Indian Division as part of the 8th. Army”. The days were fine and warm but the nights were cold and there was “no sign of letters yet”. Over the next 4 days the weather remained the same, as hundreds of Liberator bombers flew overhead on raids. There were casualties in the camp –1 man died from pneumonia and a Cameron was run over by a Polish truck. There were also food riots in Taranto at this time and so it was declared out of bounds on Wednesday 4th.. During this time he also managed to see some variety shows in the evenings.
On the following Tuesday, George was given innoculations (INOC) and vaccinations (VACC) after a route march in the morning. They were also issued with leather jerkins to protect them from the cold.
On Friday 6th. of February, reveille was at 2A.M.. They were
moving up with the 5th. Army under Brigadier Griffen. At this stage, the 8th. Army offensive in the Adriatic side of Italy was discontinued and the 4th. Indian Division, along with the New Zealand 2nd. Division were moved to the 5th. Army. At 5 AM they marched to Taranto Station and boarded cattle trucks. The truck that George was in had both Camerons and Gurkhas and he describes the conditions as` rough`. They travelled overnight and arrived at Salerno early next morning (see map `A`). Salerno was in chaos. They moved on passing the Isle of Capri and Mount Vesuvius which was covered with snow. They stopped for a while in Naples, `a terrible joint` where it rained all day and was very cold.
On Sunday they arrived at Capua (see map `A`) where they joined up again with the rest of his Battalion having been separated in Egypt at Alexandria on different ships. They then moved from there to Pietramelara (see map `B`) which was muddy and bomb shattered. He spent the first night there in an old barn and the nights were still cold. George also noted that day that he could hear `the big gun show` at Monte Cassino which was about 25 miles away.
On Monday 8th. of February he received some letters. It was snowing but the men were in good spirits and some were now bivouaced in tents. The following day George was assigned to an LOB ( left out of battle) party and he records that he was `disappointed in a way`.
This party went on a route march which passed closer to Monte Cassino (approximately 20 miles).
On Saturday 13th., George records that the 5th. and 7th. Cameron
Companies were now in action at Cassino and that his No. 2 Company (minus the LOB party) were going up the next day.
On Sunday, the LOB parties were relocated in new billets which were more comfortable. The LOB parties from the other divisions were all billeted together. He was also given a present of a Kukri knife from one of the Gurkhas ( According to the Gurkha museum curator, this gesture is considered to be a mark of respect)
This Kukri was returned with his personnal effects.
He also records that `Captain Underwood was in hospital`. He was later to became a Major.
On Tuesday 16th., the monastery hill at Cassino was bombed. The men in the LOB party managed to get a wireless working and heard that they were in action which helped to boost spirits. On the 19th., the main Battalion moved up to Cervaro and on to Portella near the Rapido river and the front line. The next day, some LOB`s came back along with the Padre. They reported fierce fighting at the front with the monastery still not taken.
On the 21st. there were heavy casualties from `A` Company reported when they were shelled in the Quarry at Monte Cassino with 9 killed and 12 wounded
The story of Monte Cassino and the Cameron involvement is described in RHCH pages 338 – 344.
On Monday, George noted in his diary that he contacted Subadar Major Sahib of the 3rd. Rajiputane. A Subadar Major Sahib was the highest non-commissioned rank in the Indian Army. On Wednesday, he received 8 letters and went to a hospital in Caserta to visit some wounded colleagues from his time in the Guards.
On Friday 16th. of March, his diary records a big allied bombing campaign was underway . This was the 2nd. `big attack` on Monte Cassino. This attack backfired in that, by reducing the Cassino buildings to rubble, it gave good cover for the Germans to defend their position. According to the RHCH (Page 342), on the 10th. of March George`s Reserve group (LOB) from `A` Company were sent forward to reinforce the Battallion at Point 593 (see map). However, according to George`s diary, they and the reserve with `B` Echelon transport group did not move up until the 16th. of March after the attack was finished. Bob Wheeler recalls that all the reserves had to be called up because there had been such heavy Cameron losses (nearly half the Battallion). During this period, George recorded that the 1/9 Gurkas were cut off on monastery hill and had to be supplied by air because the Germans had been well dug in after the bombing raid which had given them better cover.
The route taken was from Pietramalera up to San Michelle where they met up with the supplies and reserve `B` Echelon group. They then followed the established pack mule supply route to Portella, crossing the Rapido river at night and then up to Cairo village . They then continued through the trenches up to Point 593.
George`s period of involvement at the front line is described in pages
343 &344 of the RHCH. Conditions in the trenches at point 593 were `hellish`. Bob Wheeler recalled “ you lived under a constant bombardment of machine gun fire,mortars,snipers, bombs and rain which all caused casualties.
This bombardment went on day and night contributing to an average of 8 casualties per day in George`s Battalion . The rain was incessant and added to the misery of the trenches which were filled waist high with water and worse. Basic hygiene was impossible and men developed dysentry among other conditions including trench foot which had not been seen since the 1st. World War. Throughout all this, `the mule packs always made their incredible journey at night and unloaded there packs with supplies, sometimes within 250 yards of the enemy positions, while during the day the stretcher bearers carried down the wounded and dying`. The daily toll continued until the Camerons were relieved at point 593 by the 2nd. Lancashire Fusiliers. On the 26th. the remainder of the Battalion moved out at night using the same supply route from Point 593 i.e. Cairo - Portella - across the Rapido river at dawn and then on to the `B` Echelon transport base at Venafro.
At Cassino the Battalion lost 250 ( 51 killed and 199 wounded) of it`s 600 strong complement in the period 19th. of February until the 25 th. of March.
The `B` Echelon that George had been with (normally positioned to the right of the main Battalion) was a motor transport group , and had moved at some point from Pietramelera where we know he was on 15th. of March to Venafro where they met up again with the Battalion ( see location 2 on map). A `Special order of the Day`, dated 27th. March1944 by the Divisional Commander Major General Holworthy placed on record the performance of the Division at Monte Cassino.
The Battalion left Venefro on the 1st. of April by motor column to the Taurasi area via Capriata - Alife - Caiazzo - Triess - Ponte - Benevento - San Giorgio Del Sannio
After a few days R & R, the Battalion was ordered to Castelfrentano, 4 miles from the front line on the Adriatic sea. This period was described in the Regimental History as the `Adriatic Interlude`. They arrived on the 9th. of April and after 10 relatively easy days,the Battalion moved to the Arielli sector of the front with George and `A` Company taking up position at Farrar`s Ridge approximately 500 yards south west of Arielli
Although fighting on the front was ongoing in the area at this time, it appears to be of a light nature with few casualties and in stark contrast to the experiences of Cassino. On the 31st. of May, it was announced that 2 Italian Divisions were taking over that part of the front. They were `Mostly from Northern Italy and therefore fighting to get back to their own land and were considered reliable`. The Camerons were relieved on the 1st. & 2nd. of June by the 13Th. Paratroop Battalion of the Italian ``NEMBO`` Division. The Battalion then moved to Ortona and then Tollo on the 9th. They continued to advance on the Germans through Francavilla and Pescara arriving at Montesilvano on 11th. of June (see RHCH map Page 347).
According to Bob Wheeler who was in George`s No.9 platoon and Angus MacKenzie who was in Willie Jack`s No. 8 Platoon, they were the first Allied troops to land in Pescara by using amphibious craft (DUKW`s). Prior to this their platoons had a narrow escape. While waiting by the river bank for orders to cross a bridge over the river Pescara, it was suddenly blown up by the Germans showering them with debris.
Bob Weeler also recollects the welcome smiles of children in the villages that they past through and how they asked for `carmelli` (sweets) or cigarettes and how on one occasion a young girl about 5 or 6 years old, eager to please, stepped aside to pick some fruit as an exchange of goodwill for him and was killed by a landmine .
It was here that the Poles took over from the Camerons on this part of the Gothic Line. The Battalion then moved to an area called Campobasso for training in mountain warfare. The move from Montesilvano began early on 15th. of June moving through Castiglione and Sepino on the foothills of the Apennines ( see map `B` ). Courses at the mountain school began on the 20th. of June with Saturday afternoons and Sundays kept for R&R. The 2/7 Battalion Gurkhas who had been with them since Tarranto were also training there.
In a letter from George on the 23rd. of June he describes bivouacking in tents 5000 ft. high up in the Appenines where supplies had to be brought in by mules and training
consisted of learning absailing and survival techniques.
The month of rest and training was wound up with an exercise on the 15th. of July and the Battalion then began it`s operational move north. On the 18th. of July the Battalion arrived in the Arrezo area (see map RHCH Page 352), and were dispersed as follows:
`A` Company south of San Polo,
` B` Company at Patrignone, `C` Company at Puglia,
`D` Company at Battalion H/quarters in Arrezzo.
On the 25th. of July the King arrived, disguised as a `General Collingwood` to visit the Brigade and Battalion He inspected ` a party of men` and `some of the senior officers of the Brigade and Battlion`. He also had a tour of `Jacob`s ladder` which was a structure made from logs and wire and designed to aid vehicles up steep slopes. By the 1th. of August,
`D` Company had taken Castiglion Fibocchi . On the night of the 4th. of August, a Corps offensive known as `Operation Vandal` began. The operation was designed to sweep the lower alps clear of the enemy and capture Bibbiena further up the valley and open the road to Florence.
The Camerons plan was for `C` Company to take the village of Bibbiano and `A` Company to take Monte Grillo. When this was done, `B` Company could then take the high ground beyond Monte Grillo and `D` Company could then capture the village of Monte Ferrato . An allied artillery barrage on these areas commenced from 19.30 until 21.15 hours.
The Companies then commenced their attack and there was little opposition. When `A` Company reached a farm in Monte Grillo, “Lieutenant Poe killed some Germans in one of buildings` which was established as temporary Company H.Q.George was in charge of No.9 Platoon and Willie Jack in charge of No.8. They were the 2 forward platoons. No.7 platoon remained in the farmhouse to defend Company H.Q. Due to the breadth of the front, the Battalion Commander was obliged to put George`s platoon forward and up to the top of Monte Grillo hill and take a forward defensive position while No.7 was in the farmhouse and No. 8 to the side of No.9 Unknown to the Company Commander, the Germans had been reinforced the previous day with fresh troops from an SS unit.Just after dawn at about 08.00 hours on the 5th. of August, the German counter-attack began with a heavy barrage. Two Infantry Companies of the 115th. Panzer Grenadier
Regiment (approximately 200 men depending on how full the Companies were)
supported by some SS troopers and assault engineers attacked and encircled the hill. George and his platoon in their slit trench dug into the hillside initially took the full brunt of the assault from grenades, mortar and Spandau machine gun fire. The platoon put up a brave fight but were hopelessly outnumbered. Bob Wheeler, the platoon Bren machine gunner, recalls “ I just kept firing my Bren gun and the Germans were going down like ninepins but when I bent down to change a magazine my helmet fell off. I was then hit by a blast from a rifle grenade which blew off part of my head”.Angus MacKenzie, Bob`s life long friend who joined up on the same day, was captured and carried Bob to medical help.
George was killed by a head injury. Several men of the platoon were killed or wounded, some were captured and some managed to retreat back to the farmhouse. The German encircling movement continued by`viciously` attacking the house and large farm building in Poggio del Grillo which was the Cameron base.
The Germans also over-ran the forward `A` Company No.8 platoon and, although they were now prisoners, used them and some prisoners from No. 9 platoon as protection in front of their line as a screen to begin the assault on the farm house. .
The Camerons had tried to make the house and farm buildings secure but they were limited as to what they could do.The assault engineers placed pole charges against the doors and blew them open. Close contact fighting then ensued from room to room.
Cameron losses were 60 men and 3 officers, one of which was George.There was a further attempt to retake the buildings by the Camerons but this failed and some men were taken prisoner including Lieutenant Jack . The Company commander, Major Underwood (ref.diary), was taken prisoner but managed to escape when tank fire by the Warwickshire Yeomanry distracted his captors sufficiently for him to make an escape. This area eventually took a full Batallion assault to capture.
George was buried, along with some of his comrades who had also been killed, in a small cemetery just north of Arezzo. This was a temporary arrangement and by June 1945, the British War Graves Association had established a military cemetery with British, Commonwealth and Indian army sections at Indicatore which is 3 miles north west of Arezzo. George was reinterned there during this period.
Actual diary entries from Lieutenant George Poe`s Diary
Words in brackets have been added for clarification although some entries are unclear and are marked with an asterix *.
December 1943
Mon.13th
Left B of A (Bridge of Allan) by train and went on board the S.S. Stratheden at Gourock.
Tues.14th.
Continued to take on passengers. Boat drill.
Wed.15th.
More boat drill. The food on board is perfect. One man shot himself last night.( to avoid embarkation - W.Jack)
Thur.16th.
More boat drill and PT (Physical Training) today. Concert with Harry Roy at night. We passed through the boom at 20.00 hours. (Boom was located between Toward Point on Bute and Fairley ). We`re off!
Fri.17th.
Very rough. Everyone sick, including myself. Can`t eat. Big convoy. Clocks back 1 hour.
Sat.18th.
Still very rough. Still very sick. In bed all day.
Sun.19th.
Much better today. Eating again. Much warmer. Must be nearing the Azores. A Liberator flew over this afternoon.
Mon.20th.
Much warmer. P.T. again this afternoon. Becoming browned off with the confinement.
Tues.21st.
Got a hell of a cold today. Censoring letters most of the day. The heat will probably prevent me sleeping tonight.
Wed.22nd.
Cold better. Five depth charges dropped off starboard bow this afternoon.
Thurs.23rd.
Still at sea. No sight of land. Completely cured.
Fri.24th.
Christmas Eve. Nothing unusual happened. Sighted west coast of Africa. Did not touch the Azores.
Sat.25th.
Christmas Day. Past Gibralter during the night. Saw the lights of Tangier.
(The lights of Tangier were the first time they had seen a town/city light up since September 1939. The bar was open for 2 hours on Christmas Day so that 2,000 First Class passengers could get 1 drink if lucky- W.Jack).
Everybody stocious . Can see land all the time now.
Sun.26th.
Arrived at Algiers. Lovely day. Lovely city. No one allowed ashore. Sailed at 5 in the evening.
Mon.27th.
Lovely day. Smoke screen. Land this afternoon. Air attack.
Tues.28th.
Passed Malta on starboard bow. Pipes and drums played `Retreat`.
Wed.29th.
Orderly Officer today. Passed Benghazi,Tobruk and Derna. Lovely day. Killing time.ENSA concert in the evening.
Thurs.30th.
Lovely day. Still sailing. Nothing to report.
Fri.31st.
Arrived at Port Said. Not getting off until Monday.Beautiful day. Watched kids diving for 6 d`s (6d pieces) .
January 1944
Sat.1st.
Another beautiful day. Route march through Port Said. Very nice. Attended service.Met Selby Wright and Sargeant Charters.( Selby Wright was a well known radio padre).
Sun.2nd.
Lovely day. Lay sunbathing nearly all day.Pdw party left for Mena Camp near Cairo this morning. Boat was nearly empty.
Mon.3rd.
Left boat entrance at Port Said station for Giza via Cairo.
Tues.4th.
Arrived at Mena camp early. In tents about 3 miles from pyramids.
The 3rd. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and the 1st. Durham Light Infantry (DLI) are in the same camp.Very warm. The 7th. Gurkhas and the 3rd. Rajputana Rifles ( 4th. Indian Army)? are here also.
Wed.5th.
Another lovely day. Checking up on equipment etc. P.T. and Drill.
Thurs.6th.
Lovely day. Haven`t been out yet. Party at night.
Fri.7th.
Route march. Pyramids and Sphinx. Beat the DLI 2-1 at football this afternoon.
Sat.8th.
All got a bath today. Food good. All in good spirits.(They went to Mena House Hotel for a bath where the “Gyppo” charged them 2/6d {£5 in todays` money} for the loan of a bar of soap - W.Jack).
Sun.9th.
Duty officer today.Church service. Lovely day.
Mon.10th.
Lovely day.Route march in morning and P.T. etc. in afternoon.Advance party.
Tues.11th.
Wog raid on camp.Two killed on Stone train. Two jocks injured. Blood test O.K. Good blood. No mail yet.
Wed.12th.
General Stone G.O.C. Egypt payed a visit to Mena Hotel. ?
Churchill, Roosevelt and Chiang Kai Check visit British India Cemetery.
Thurs.13th.
Gave 1 pint of blood to soldier from station? Front today in Cairo. Should move any day now. Scorcher today.
Fri.14th.
Scorcher. Preparing to move on Monday. Losing some of my men. Could see the Citadel in Cairo today,so clear.
Sat.15th.
Warm. Italy. 4th. Indian Division 150 men left today on draft to Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH). Advance party returned from Syria.
Sun16th.
Photos taken today. Seem to be bound for Sicily. Leaving on Thursday 20th.
Beautiful day. Duty Officer tomorrow.
Mon.17th.
Very blowey. Sand storms. Took first lectures today. Medium success. Preparing to move.Orderly officer tomorrow. Saw Nelson Eddy and King Farouk.. Advance party returned from Syria and Lebanon.
Tues.18th.
Tents struck. Moved to Giza station. Left Giza for Alexandria 5pm. Arrived at 12 midnight.Stayed night in the train.
Wed.19th.
Went aboard P & O liner `Ranchi` and unknown destination. Full of Poles,West Africans and Yanks. Detached from Battalion.
Thurs.20th.
Left this afternoon. No ventilation. Seem to be Taranto bound. See `Stratheden` in same convoy.
Fri.21st.
Sea-sick this morning. Guns were practising this morning. Very dull boat but food is quite good when one can eat it.
Sat.22nd
Lovely day. Very calm. Must be off Tobruk. Can see `Stratheden` in the convoy. Clocks back 1 hour tonight.
Sun23 rd .
Lovely day. Air attack in morning. Played cards most of the day.Wrote letters.Should be nearing Italy now.
Mon 24
Passed Mount Etna on port side. Snow covered. Lovely sight. Colder today.
Some ships have left the convoy, including the Stratheden.
Tues25
Arrived at Taranto. Camping 3 miles outside. Conditions not good.
Wed26
Conditions better. Had a bath today. This place has taken some pasting.Food not too good.Gurkhas2/7 Battalion and Rajputana
Thurs27
Lovely day.No letters yet.Very cold at night. Moving up in about a week with the 4th. Indian Division in the 8th. Army. We will lose Ray on Saturday - going to Brig Recce Unit
Fri28
Another beautiful day. Hundreds of Liberator planes flying over today. Fire in ration store last night. Little damage. Food still bad. One casualty died with pneumonia.
Sat29
Went into Taranto this afternoon. Had quite a good time. Saw good variety shows. Tommy Trinder comes on Monday. Man killed tonight by a truck.
( The man killed was a Cameron. He got a lift back to camp in a Polish truck. The driver took a wrong turning so the soldier got out of the truck to guide him from the rear. It was dark and the truck slid down a ditch at the roadside killing the soldier. The driver drove off , unaware of what had happened. W.Jack was given the task of sorting out the situation, as the driver had been put in jail by the Poles.
Cost of living high. Still no mail
February 1944
Sun1
Beautiful day again. Weather exceptional. Went to the service this morning. Did some washing. Going for a bath this afternoon again.
2 Charlie4 2/7 George *
Mon2
Lovely day P.T. 0 *
Tues3
Route march this morning. VACC and INCC ( vaccinations and innoculations) this afternoon. Beautiful day. No night scheme. Issue of leather jerkins.
Wed4
Lovely day but Taranto out of bounds. Out on patrol at night. Angus left this morning * ( Rioting was due to food shortages - W.Jack).
Thur5
Lovely day. My * still in Alexandria.Reveille 02.00 hours tomorrow.
Moving up with 5th. Army 42 –dps * Brigadier Griffen
Fri 6
Left Taranto 05.00. Led to station. Men in cattle trucks with 2/7 G.R. (Gurkha Regiment). Better off than most. Travelled all through night. Arrived Salerno early. Utter chaos. Passed Isle of Capri and Mount Vesuvius (snow covered). Rained all day.Very cold. Stopped a long time in Naples. Terrible joint.
Sun8
Arrived Capua. Debussed and joined rest of 2nd. Division 25 miles from Cassino I think. Very cold indeed. Can hear the big gunshow. Slept in old barn tonight.(Pietramelara).
Mon8
Received letter today. Still very cold. Got my clothes done. Food good. Waiting for orders. Men in good spirits. Bivouacing same now in tents.Snowing. ?
Tues9
All letters received today. In LOB ( left out of battle party). Disappointed in a way. Went for a route march 20 miles from Cassino. All is not well there. Moving up on PLON (platoon order of march).
Had a bath today.Now in tents.
Wed10
Bloody awful today. Over boots in mud.Douglas not back. Advance party LOB-me?
Thurs11
Soaked through. Slept in house. Clothes dried but trousers burnt.
Fri 12
Bullets found in 2 1/c British Wing. All divisionsLOB.Billeted here.Lousy day.?
Sat13
Better day. Trying to write. 5&7 now in action. No. 2 Company go tomorrow.
Sun14
Lovely day. Very muddy. New billets found. Settling in OK..Captain Underwood in Hospital.(ref. RHCH page 348). Received Kukri today.(kept by N.Paterson)
Mon15
Attack postponed. Received papers today. Good day. New cookhouse for BOR`s found ( Battalion`s other ranks). GIL and water cooking.?
Tues16
Bombed Monestery hill today. Should take in 2 days of 4nd. DW (Indian Division) fighting (quoted). Quite a few casualties from USA 6 mls.
Wed17
Got wireless going. What a boon you heard that we were in action over radio.
Thur18
Sick. Bad stomach.
Fri19
Plenty of bombing. Lovely day. Usual procedure. Wireless at night.
Sat20
Battalion moved up LOB`s came back + Padre. Fierce fighting up front and monestery not yet taken.
Sun21
Very heavy casualties today. All A Company. Lovely day.( `A` Company were shelled in the Quarry at Monte Cassino on that day. 9 were killed and 12 wounded - W.Jack.
Mon22
Subadar Major Sahab goes.
Changing billets again Capt. Power. 400 live Ammo. Wet again. Very muddy. Nothing to report.
Tues 23rd.
Had a bath today. Had a run on the * motorcycle.
Wed.24th.
Eight letters today. Went to hospital in Caserta (see Map) Saw most of the boys. Also Baron Colhurst. Told me about Smithy POW Herd & Moyes *
Thurs.25th.
Jabbed. Nothing to report. Dull.
March 1944
16th.
Bombed Cassino. Action Ve (Venafro - `B` Echelon) And us.( `A` Company Reserve George was with) - refer RHCH page 343
19th.
1/9th. Gurkhas cut off on Monastery hill. Supplies landed by air. (refer RHCH page 344).
Left home 13.12.43
Arrived Port Said 2.1.44
Arrived Cairo 3.1.44
Left Cairo 18.1.44
Arrived Alexandria 19.1.44
Left Alexandria 20.1.44
Arrived Taranto 25.1.44
Left Taranto 4.2.44
Arrived Pietramalera 6.2.44
There were no more entries in the diary after this.
References and Acknowledgements
Ghurka Museum Peninsula Barracks Romsey Road Winchester SO22 8TS
Photograph No.2 Battalion 7th. Regiment (2/7) Ghurkas 1944
Assistant Curator Gavin Edgerley Harris
Tel. 01962.842832
Indian Army 4th. Division Rajiputanes
(booksearch Waterstones 332.9105– G.R.Stevens)
Commonwealth War Graves http://www.cwgc.org
The Queen`s Own Cameron and Seaforth Highlanders Regimental Museum
Fort George
Ardersier
Inverness-shire
IV1 2TD
Tel. 01463.224380
Curator Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) A.A. Fairrie
The Imperial War Museum 0171.416.5000
War Diary Army Record Office Bourne Avenue Hayes Middlesex UB3 1RF
Brigadier A.G. Findlay Kinrossie, Perth,
Lieutenant W.Jack, Mirefield, West Yorkshire,
Bob Wheeler Inverness
Angus MacKenzie
Peter Laughton Petworth, West Sussex
Neil Paterson
