205728 Gdsm. Jim Edward Horrocks British Army 5th Btn. Grenadier Guards from:Caterham I lived in Caterham just behind the Guards Depot in Wellington Road, and joined up in the summer of 1942 aged 19.
I chauffeured Captain Sydney VC, the son-in-law of Lord Gort VC, while on maneuvers on Salisbury Plain in 1942.
I served with the 5th Batallion in North Africa, landing in Algiers, marched 25 miles to Cap Matifu Camp, then on the cattle trucks we travelled to Tunis to join the 5th batallion. We spent 8 months in Tunisia, as the batallion was dessimated after the Battle for Tunis. Many had to recover before we could continue into action at full strength to Italy. We sailed from Bizerte to Tarranto in Southern Italy. From there we transferred from the Adriatic side westwards towards Salerno where we'd be destined to land on the Anzio beach head in preparation for the capture of Rome.
I served as a number two on the bren gun with my colleague Jack Titley, who was killed on the beach head in that battle whereupon I had to take up his position as number one for the rest of the campaign.
After the campaign I returned to England where we were transferred to the 2nd batallion who were in Germany, until the time came for my demob which was in January 1947.
|