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2657365 Francis Albert Bruce MASON, 2 Scots Guards
Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by CL1, Oct 22, 2014.
CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery
MASON, FRANCIS ALBERT BRUCE Rank: Guardsman Service No: 2657365 Date of Death: 22/10/1943 Age: 26 Regiment/Service: Scots Guards 2nd Bn. Grave Reference: VI, D, 7. Cemetery: MINTURNO WAR CEMETERY Additional Information: Son of Robert and Jane Ann Mason; husband of Elsie Wright Mason, of Willington Quay, Northumberland.http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2606225/MASON,%20FRANCIS%20ALBERT%20BRUCE
CL1, Oct 22, 2014
Tullybrone Senior Member
RIP.
Previous pre war service Coldstream Guards per service number.
Steve Y
Tullybrone, Oct 22, 2014
CL1 likes this.
dbf Moderatrix MOD
No way of telling if he was KIA or DOW, nevertheless -
From The Scots Guards 1919 - 1955, David Erskine, pages 177-179:
[October 18]
That night the Battalion had to move again: a march of about five miles followed by a steep climb to the crest of the ridge above San Secondino preparatory to attacking the next ridge at first light.
This ridge prevued to be unoccupied, and the only casualty was Lieutenant G.F. Munday, injured by his own machine pistol in a fall. But the ridge was bare and digging was impossible, and it was overlooked by higher ground to the right. Three men were killed and fifteen wounded before the Battalion moved down into the comparative peace of Fontanelle during the night of 20/21st.
But the rest was all too short, and at ten the next night the Battalion started to climb two thousand feet up the almost precipitous line of hills on which the Grenadiers were established. Everything had to be manhandled, and the Coldstream and many others, including some flighty Basutos, acted as porters until supply dumps were built at the top.
The Battalion then turned north along the ridge behind the Grenadiers, the intention being to turn west along another ridge when the Grenadiers had taken their objective, Point 860, and to capture the village of Rocchetta on its rocky pinnacle overlooking the Savonne valley.
The Grenadiers were successful in their main attack on Point 860, but had to divert the company which should have taken Point 520 near to and dominating Rocchetta. The Battalion's line of attack had therefore to be changed hurriedly to include this hill. Left Flank was to attack Rocchetta and G Company 520. There was heavy artillery support, but no time to gain more than the most general impression of the enemy's positions. The enemy took full advantage of this and waited until both companies had advanced to a cemetery well round the shoulder of a steep hill before opening heavy fire with Spandaus and mortars, not only from the objective but also with two Spandaus from behind and from below. Left Flank was immediately pinned near the cemetery and was unable to move until dusk two hours later when a smokescreen laid by the gunners made withdrawal possible. It had lost Lieutenant J.S. Cunninghame and four others killed, and twenty-four wounded including the Company Commander, Major H.H. Houldsworth, whose injuries were very severe, and whose journey back to the R.A.P. took nearly twenty-four hours. G Company, slightly higher up the hill, found some cover, but lost five killed and four wounded without being able to reach Point 520.
At dusk the attack was continued with more artillery support. F Company was directed on Rocchetta, and after a brief period of Spandau fire on fixed lines the enemy withdrew and the village was occupied without further opposition. On 520 the enemy continued to resist strongly, and Right Flank (Captain A.M. Balfour), passing through G Company, came under fire from about eight Spandau posts on the hill. However, the enemy broke and fled in the face of a bayonet charge led by Captain Balfour; "they went up the side of 520 with a shout that gave me the willies. God knows what the Germans thought! Anyway, after a short scrap the Germans rank, shouting 'Aus, Aus!!', and we got the objective." Lieutenant R.G. Rowe was wounded in this attack, and later in the night Lieutenant D.E. Loder was killed when out on patrol from F Company. Nine other ranks were killed that day, including Lance-Corporal W.M. Millar, MM. One of those who was later to die of his wounds was Lance-Corporal McIlhargey, MM, who had lost a foot when attempting to rescue a comrade in the open. In the agonising journey back across the ridge he had done much by his cheerfulness to encourage others in less grave plights.
The remainder of 520 was cleared next day by Right Flank, and the next morning [October 24] the London Irish of 168th Brigade took the long spur to their west. This the Battalion took over on the 25th, looking north and north-east over the Savonne valley and the much-bombed town of Teano towards the great hills. Those hills held the Gustav Line.
Geoff's search engine identified 17 men from 2 Scots Guards who died between 18/10/1943 and 24/10/1943. 10 of whom are listed for 22nd which tallies with the account above: 5 KIA from Left Flank and 5 from G Company
001 BEVERIDGE A 2698400 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
002 CUNINGHAME JS 186923 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
003 DAVIDSON AJH 2698027 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
004 FARQUHAR RG 2699446 2ND BN 24/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
005 KELLY M 2698991 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
006 KELLY P 2699091 2ND BN 20/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
007 LODER DE 176772 2ND BN 23/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
008 MACRAE J 2694154 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
009 MASON FAB 2657365 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
010 MCGOOCHAN J 2697482 2ND BN 23/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
011 MCGUIGAN W 7340490 2ND BN 24/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
012 MILLAR W 3054492 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
013 OLIVER LG 2698003 2ND BN 24/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
014 RENNIE JF 755665 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
015 SHANKS A 2701027 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
016 SMITH JH 2694423 2ND BN 22/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
017 TWEEDIE DF 2699568 2ND BN 21/10/1943 SCOTS GUARDS
dbf, Oct 22, 2014