RE Veterans of the Rapido Bridging Operations April - May 1944
4th BR Div Engrs:
7 Field Company RE
59 Field Company RE
225 Field Company RE
18 Field Park Company RE
Under Command:
8 Field Squadron RE
587 Field Company Corps Troops
586 Field Company RE
7 Field Company RE
3 Platoon 7 Field Company RE
Lt Malcom Sharland RE
Sprs Dennis Gorman & Joe Gilleard
6 Section 2 Platoon 7 Field Company RE
They were best pals for many years
Lieutenants Smart & Hobson MC
7 Field Company veterans
L to R. Brian Roberts, Tommy Riordan MM, Joe Gilleard, Dennis Gorman, Michael Low MBE MC (O.C.)
Three Sappers of 7 Field Company are buried in the CWGC Cemetery Cassino: Spr T. Appleby, Spr S.G.Gunns, Spr T.C Moore
7 Field Company Veterans at one of their reunions:
L to R Standing: Brian Roberts, Tommy Riordan MM, Jack Stamper, Bill Gardener, Paddy Maughan, Joe Gilleard, Bob Lister, Ray Horne, seated: Harry Footit
Joe Gilleard & Dennis Gorman
Lt A.Hobson MC
Lt Hobson MC with 1 Platoon
Sgt F. Clark DCM
7 Field Company Veterans at a reunion
2 Platoon 7 Field Company RE
L to R Standing: Joe Gilleard, Arthur Macklin, Dennis Gorman, Crooke, Bob Smiles, Kelman, unknown
Front L to R: Noble, Fuller, Morris, unknown
Dennis Gorman Joe Gilleard unknown
7 Field Company veterans marching through Cassino 1989
L to R. Michael Low MBE MC, Bill Hogg, Joe Gilleard, Brian Roberts, unknown, Tommy Riordan MM, unknown, unknown
Newspaper clips of reports on 'Amazon' Bridge 1944
225 Field Company RE
:2005860 Spr Cyril Eyre
225 Field Company RE
10 Bde
12 Bde
28 Bde
Under Command
26 Armd Bde
Spr T.Appleby Spr S.G.Gunns Spr T.C Moore
Shiny 7 Veterans
at CWGC Cassino
Cemetery
1 Platoon Nominal Roll 1944
59 FIELD Company RE
Below: A page from 578 Field Company War Diary. Their 2 Platoon did maintenance on the bridge and approaches for two days afterward the bridge was completed, they were still being heavily shelled as the Germans tried desperately to take the bridges out.
The first line of entry is reffering to worn out chesses on the bridge due to the volume of tanks and traffic crossing the bridge
Below: A page from 586 Army Field Company who also did a spell of maintenance on all three 4 Div bridges
This page will updated as new photos and material becomes available
george@shiny7.uk
Links
No 2155697 Spr Abraham Maurice Tribich 59 Field Company RE
Photo by kind permission Jeffery Tribich
Below: page from 225 Fd Company diary 14 May 1944
The four battles of Monte Cassino (27 min film made by RSME Chatham). Includes Jack Stamper and Joe Gilleard of 7 Fd Coy being interviewed by Brigadier A.N. Carlier OBE at Brompton Barracks 1987. Click on the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk8LXiwHwd8
The following awards were awarded in recognition of their services on the Rapido Bridging Operations in 4 Br Inf Div, May 1944
Military Cross:
Major R.C.S. Low MC 7 Field Company RE
Lieutenant A. Hobson MC 7 Field Company RE
Major A.B.T. Daniell MC 59 Field Company RE
Lieutenant P.S. Boston MC 59 Field Company RE
Major R.E. Gabbet MC 225 Field Company RE
Lieutentant J.H. Rutherford 225 Field Company RE
Distinguished Conduct Medal:
Sergeant F. Clark DCM 7 Field Company RE
Military Medal:
Sergeant T.M.J. Riordan MM 7 Field Company RE
Sergeant A. Parry MM 59 Field Company RE
Sergeant J. Woodcock MM 225 Field Company RE
Corporal A.D. Norton MM 225 Field Company RE
Right: Sgt Tommy Riordan's Medals
Lt Bertie Hobson's Medals
Above photo taken 31 May 1944
2193134
Cpl Victor Charles Botterill 225 Fd Coy RE
Photo by kind permission family of Victor Botteril
Cpl Thomas J Garrett 225 Fd Coy RE
Photo by kind permision family of Tom Garrett
Ted Waters, Bill Phipps, T Garrett. Naples August 1944
225 Fd Coy RE
Photo by kind permission family of Tom Garrett
Cutting by kind permission family of Tom Garrett
Photo above and below by kind permission family of Cyril Eyre
Photos above and below by kind permission family of Cyril Eyre
Photos above and below by kind permission Ronald Gilleard
Photos above and below by kind permission Peter Hobson
Sprs: Footit, Docherty, Lawson, Rodbard
of the 7th Field Company RE
Photo taken shortly after the Rapido River crossings,Cassino
733290 Lance Corporal Reginald Rodaway RE, 578 Field Company RE
Photo credits: Mark Rodaway OBE
The 45th Anniversary of the Battle of Cassino Part 1 of 3
https://youtu.be/adH3Lyxwg6E
45th Anniversary of the Battle of Cassino May 1989 Part 2 of 3
https://youtu.be/SrrZOylHVt0
45th Anniversary of the battle of Cassino Part 3 of 3
https://youtu.be/Py2D2_oa__E
Above: L/Sgt Reginald Venn, 7 Field Company.
He was injured during the first attempt to build the ''Congo'' bridge, 11/12 May 1944.
Below: Reginald, September 1990, visits Inveraray, Scotland, the site where No 3 Section, 7 Coy were located in October 1940
Photos courtesy: David Martin.
Photos courtesy: Andrew Whyte
Above, Raymond Horne.
Raymond served as a sapper in 7 Field Company in North Africa, Italy and Greece and took part in the Rapido River Bridging Operations, May 1944.
