The Fourth Battle of Cassino (11 May – 5 June 1944)

Operation DIADEM: Polish Corps’ plan

The fourth battle of Cassino was incorporated into Operation DIADEM (the code name for the planned spring offensive in Italy 1944). It would be fought and conducted with a level of planning and resources that Freyberg lacked in the two previous battles. No longer would it be uncoordinated attacks on a narrow front. This time Alexander’s armies would be employed in a carefully coordinated offensive that would make best use of Allied air power and artillery resources. Both the US Fifth Army and the British Eighth Army would combine in a two-fisted punch while VI US Corps at Anzio would break out and threaten the German rear.

The German defensive line was threatened along a 20-mile front. Kesselring was led to believe that a further amphibious operation was planned, which forced him to hold his reserves back from his overstretched frontline divisions.

The main thrust was to be by Leese’s Eighth Army up the Liri Valley along Route 6 with 4th British and 8th Indian Divisions creating a bridgehead for 78th British, 1st Canadian and 5th Canadian Armoured Divisions to exploit and break through. Behind them 6th Armoured Division was held in reserve ready to reinforce success. The two divisions of the II Polish Corps would tie down the defenders of Monte Cassino on the right flank. On the coastal flank Clark’s US Fifth Army would attack, with the French Expeditionary Corps, through the mountain passes on the coastal range. At Anzio VI US Corps would break out and cut communications behind the retreating German forces.

The attack began at 11 pm on 11 May with an artillery barrage along the entire front and an equally savage German response. The Eighth Army divisions fought their way forward in the mist against stubborn defence. Tanks and infantry edged their way forward. In hard fighting the British XIII Corps ruptured the Gustav Line. Tank fought tank as Canadian and British armour broke through.

On the coastal front the Americans and French fought their way forward. By 13 May they had cracked open the German defences on their front by advancing on and breaking into the Hitler Line, the next defensive position across the Aurunci mountains, six miles behind the Gustav Line. Here French troops used their ability to fight in the mountains and provided the key to the breakthrough.

In the north Major-General Richard Heidrich’s paratroopers grimly defended Monte Cassino against attacks by General Anders, II Polish Corps. Attacking in a wide encircling right hook from the north, Anders’ Polish troops were initially held and driven back in savage fighting. A Polish officer wrote:

…the German guns blasted us so effectively that we were obliged to throw ourselves flat and crawl around looking for cover… It seemed impossible that men could live in such a holocaust. Breathing a prayer, I groped blindly towards a shellhole. It was filled with bodies, sprawling on top of each other. Most of them were lifeless, but… I clawed frantically at those on top in an effort to burrow deeper.

Taking salute after General Alexander invested General Anders with the Order of the Bath in recognition of Polish services at Cassino, 24 May 1944

The Polish Carpathian and Kresowa Divisions attacked again on 16 May. It was savage fighting against a stubborn defence with Heidrich’s paratroopers determined to hold onto ‘their Monte Cassino’. However, holes had been torn in the Gustav Line in the Liri Valley below and by the US Fifth Army further towards the coast. On 17 May the garrison slipped away and the ruins were abandoned. A Polish officer wrote:

‘We hung on grimly until the exciting news arrived that the monastery was in our hands. I shall never forget the pure joy of that moment. We could hardly believe that at long last our task was done.’

Cassino had fallen. It was a victory clouded by Clark’s decision to head for Rome instead of cutting off the retreating German Tenth Army as Alexander intended. The fall of Rome took second place to the news of the D-Day landings in Normandy. The Italian theatre would become a backwater.

Victoria Crosses

The Victoria Cross is the British realm’s highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. It has precedence over any other of our Sovereign’s awards or Commonwealth decorations.

The Victoria Cross was founded by Royal Warrant on 29 January 1856. The Cross itself is cast from the bronze of cannons captured at Sevastopol during the Crimean War. The design, chosen by Queen Victoria, consists of a cross with the Royal Crest resting upon a scroll bearing the words ‘For Valour’.

Since its inception the Victoria Cross has been awarded 1354 times. The youngest recipient was 15 years old and the eldest was 69 years old. Three cases exist where both father and son have won the Victoria Cross; four pairs of brothers have also been recipients.

Twenty members of the British and Commonwealth forces were awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in the Italian Campaign. Five of these were awarded in the attempts in the battles for Monte Cassino and the attempts to force the Gustav Line.

CAPTAIN (TEMPORARY MAJOR) WILLIAM PHILIP SIDNEY
Grenadier Guards
Extract from the London Gazette, 30 March 1944:

During the period 7 – 8 February 1944 at the Anzio Beach Head, Italy, Major Sidney led a successful attack which drove the enemy out of a gully. Later he led another counter-attack and dashed forward, engaging the enemy with his Tommy gun at point-blank range, forcing a withdrawal. When the attack was renewed, Major Sidney and one guardsman were wounded and another killed, but he would not consent to have his wounds dressed until the enemy had been beaten off and the battalion's position was consolidated. During this time, although extremely weak from loss of blood he continued to encourage and inspire his men.

FUSILIER FRANCIS ARTHUR JEFFERSON
The Lancashire Fusiliers
Extract from the London Gazette, 13 July 1944:

On 16 May 1944 during an attack on the Gustav Line, Monte Cassino, Italy, the leading company of Fusilier Jefferson's battalion had to dig in without protection. The enemy counter-attacked opening fire at short range, and Fusilier Jefferson, on his own initiative, seized a P.I.A.T. gun and, running forward under a hail of bullets, fired on the leading tank. It burst into flames and all the crew were killed. The fusilier then reloaded and went towards the second tank which withdrew before he could get within range. By this time our own tanks had arrived and the enemy counter-attack was smashed.

LIEUTENANT (TEMPORARY CAPTAIN) RICHARD WAKEFORD
The Hampshire Regiment
Extract from the London Gazette, 13 July 1944:

On 13 May 1944 near Cassino, Italy, Captain Wakeford, accompanied only by his orderly and armed with a revolver went forward and killed several of the enemy and took 20 prisoners. When attacking a hill feature the following day his company came under heavy fire, but although wounded in the face and both arms, Captain Wakeford pressed home the attack. He was wounded again, but reached the objective and consolidated the position.

MAJOR JOHN KEEFER MAHONY
The Westminster Regiment (Motor)
The Canadian Army
Extract from the London Gazette, 13 July 1944:

On 24 May 1944 at the River Melfa, Italy, Major Mahony and his company were ordered to establish the initial bridgehead over the river. This was accomplished and for five hours the company maintained its position in the face of enemy fire and attack until the remaining companies and supporting weapons were able to reinforce them. Early in the action Major Mahony was wounded in the head and twice in the leg, but he refused medical aid and continued to direct the defence of the bridgehead. The enemy saw that this officer was the soul of the defence and consequently made him their particular target.

SEPOY KAMAL RAM
8th Punjab Regiment, Indian Army
Extract from the London Gazette, 27 July 1944:

On 12 May 1944 at the River Garigliano, Italy, the company advance was held up by heavy machine-gun fire from four posts on the front and flanks. The capture of the position was essential and Sepoy Kamal Ram volunteered to get round the rear of the right post and silence it. He attacked the first two posts single-handed, killing or taking prisoner the occupants and together with a havildar he then went on and completed the destruction of a third. His outstanding bravery unquestionably saved a difficult situation at a critical period of the battle.

Monte Cassino today »