Photo Album for a gun commander in 47th LAA Rgt.

[spandau]

After Cassino fell the lads moved up the West coast with the yanks and upon reaching the Arno had their guns taken away and they were deployed as Infantry. This came as bit of a shock as they went straight to the front line and into the diversionary attack of 1944 Bill remembers the Brazilian troops they passed on the way.....

One of the men found a camera and took pictures of them in action but when they got the file developed the Italian who did it claimed the film was blank. This caused a bit of upset in the team and think the developer was "spoken to" . sadly it means that no record exists of them in combat.

After this deployment Bill was in the rest camp at Tarranto and then stationed in Bari. These pics are from that time. The party is new years eve 1944.

[spandau]

The last posting for Sgt Ladlow was the officers mess at Bari. This sequence of pictures show the rather nice facilities being enjoyed by the NCO's when the officers were out.

[spandau]

My Final post is the paperwork that came with his pictures and some keep sakes that have survived the 65 years since his demob. Also pictured are the battledress worn at his wedding and still in the wadrobe at home and the medals awarded.

It was a real honour to spend time with this man and listen to his remarkable story, which he told in such a matter of fact and modest way. It really brought home to me the debt of gratitude we owe the wartime generation and the sacrifices they made.

Thanks you for viewing the thread.

cheers

Tony

[Adrian Stevenson]

Very enjoyable thread. Thanks Tony.

Cheers, Ade.

[FALLSCHIRMJAGER]

Thanks for shareing your grandfathers service with us Tony,very interesting for me personally as my grandfather was in the ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS and fought in north Africa and then on up through Italy(picture of PTE GEORGE WOLSEY in EGYPT attached) .He may have passed your grandfather on his motorbike!! Leon.

[jimpy]

Hi Tony,

First off, congrats on the photos and good luck with the book.

Now a bit of additional info for you, (courtesy of my wife!) with reference to the letter from the Silesian College, apparently it is still in existance on the same site in SW London having recently gone Co-Ed and joining up with John-Paul II school in Putney, SW15 and it is now known as St John Bosco Academy.

Regards etc
Ian D

AKA: Jimpy

[spandau]

Hi Ian

thanks for the info via Mrs D !

cheers

Tony

[jimpy]

You're welcome Tony

Ian D

[Paul D]

Superb Tony , once a Gunner always a Gunner mate !!

[spandau]

Hi

Revisiting this as it was to compliment the post on the battle dress.........

Hope it's of interest to those who missed it first time round.

regards

Tony