WWII British Letter. Italy 1944. Killed In Action 1945. 6th Armoured Division.
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:624474 |
*** Please see my other listings for more Active Service military letters. This is an excellent and scarce original WWII British letter, written in Italy in June 1944, shortly after the capture of Rome. There is content about the German retreat, about a German dive bombing at Monte Cassino, and more.
The letter was written by a Sherman tank gunner in the 6th Armoured Division who was killed in action in a battle against German tanks late in the Italian campai...gn, in April 1945. This soldier fought at Cassino, the Gothic Line, the Northern Apennines and more, and was killed in the April 1945 battle for Bologna. The letter was written by 14305334 Trooper Gerald Southwell, 2nd Lothians and Border Horse, 6th Armoured Division. Trooper Southwell was Killed in Action on the 22nd of April, 1945.
*** This soldier was killed at Bondeno, Italy, on the 22nd of April 1945, when his regiment fought a battle against heavy tanks and other German forces, during a series of battles to capture the city of Bologna and link up the British Eighth Army with the U.S. Fifth Army.
This letter was written in Italy on the 17th of June, 1944. The content is excellent, including:
"Just the usual few lines I write when we stop to let you know everything is alright. There is no great reason for you to worry for a very good reason. The Jerries at the moment are running so damned fast that it's quite a job to catch up with them. I've never known a set of blokes in such a hurry in my life. It just shows that the invincible German army isn't so invincible after all.
... The night the birthday cards arrived we had an extremely nasty dive bombing. That was at Cassino."
There is much more. Sadly, Trooper Southwell and his entire crew were killed in the closing weeks of the war.
*** This original letter was written by 14305334 Trooper Gerald Arthur Southwell, C Squadron, 2nd Lothians and Border Horse, 6th Armoured Division. Trooper Southwell was killed in action on the 22nd of April 1945, when the Sherman tank in which he served as a gunner/wireless operator was hit by a German shell during the battle for Bondeno, Italy. This battle was fought in order to link up the British Eighth Army and the U.S. Fifth Army, thereby fully encircling the remaining German forces defending the city of Bologna.
Trooper Gerald Southwell arrived in North Africa as a replacement in the summer of 1943. Shortly after arriving in Africa he was hospitalized for malaria and dysentery. Following his release from hospital he was assigned to the 2nd Lothians and Border Horse, 6th Armoured Division. He landed in Italy with his division in early 1944.
In May 1944 Trooper Southwell fought in his first major action, in the final battle for Monte Cassino. Early in the battle his tank commander was severely wounded by an exploding German shell. Later in the battle Southwell's Sherman tank was destroyed, but the entire crew survived.
Southwell's next major action was in the Gothic Line battles beginning in September 1944. Then, in late November 1944 Southwell was hospitalized, receiving an operation to repair an injured knee. He returned to his regiment on the line in early December 1944. In December 1944 Southwell and his squadron fought in a battle in the northern Apennines, dismounted and attached to an infantry division.
Southwell and his division saw only minor action in the early months of 1945. Then, in April, his division participated in the final Allied offensive in Italy, which was carried out against fierce German opposition.
Trooper Gerald Southwell was killed in action on the 22nd of April 1945, in the fighting for Bondeno. He was just 22 years old at the time of his death.
A scarce and interesting original WWII letter, written by a British Sherman tank crewman who was killed in action late in the Italian campaign. Buyer pays shipping, $2.00 in Canada, $3.00 to the United States, $4.00 Overseas. Immediate payment is required for this listing. I accept Paypal only. Thank you.Please Note: Canadian customers will be required to pay applicable GST/HST on all purchases. Please contact me if you have any questions.
The letter was written by a Sherman tank gunner in the 6th Armoured Division who was killed in action in a battle against German tanks late in the Italian campai...gn, in April 1945. This soldier fought at Cassino, the Gothic Line, the Northern Apennines and more, and was killed in the April 1945 battle for Bologna. The letter was written by 14305334 Trooper Gerald Southwell, 2nd Lothians and Border Horse, 6th Armoured Division. Trooper Southwell was Killed in Action on the 22nd of April, 1945.
*** This soldier was killed at Bondeno, Italy, on the 22nd of April 1945, when his regiment fought a battle against heavy tanks and other German forces, during a series of battles to capture the city of Bologna and link up the British Eighth Army with the U.S. Fifth Army.
This letter was written in Italy on the 17th of June, 1944. The content is excellent, including:
"Just the usual few lines I write when we stop to let you know everything is alright. There is no great reason for you to worry for a very good reason. The Jerries at the moment are running so damned fast that it's quite a job to catch up with them. I've never known a set of blokes in such a hurry in my life. It just shows that the invincible German army isn't so invincible after all.
... The night the birthday cards arrived we had an extremely nasty dive bombing. That was at Cassino."
There is much more. Sadly, Trooper Southwell and his entire crew were killed in the closing weeks of the war.
*** This original letter was written by 14305334 Trooper Gerald Arthur Southwell, C Squadron, 2nd Lothians and Border Horse, 6th Armoured Division. Trooper Southwell was killed in action on the 22nd of April 1945, when the Sherman tank in which he served as a gunner/wireless operator was hit by a German shell during the battle for Bondeno, Italy. This battle was fought in order to link up the British Eighth Army and the U.S. Fifth Army, thereby fully encircling the remaining German forces defending the city of Bologna.
Trooper Gerald Southwell arrived in North Africa as a replacement in the summer of 1943. Shortly after arriving in Africa he was hospitalized for malaria and dysentery. Following his release from hospital he was assigned to the 2nd Lothians and Border Horse, 6th Armoured Division. He landed in Italy with his division in early 1944.
In May 1944 Trooper Southwell fought in his first major action, in the final battle for Monte Cassino. Early in the battle his tank commander was severely wounded by an exploding German shell. Later in the battle Southwell's Sherman tank was destroyed, but the entire crew survived.
Southwell's next major action was in the Gothic Line battles beginning in September 1944. Then, in late November 1944 Southwell was hospitalized, receiving an operation to repair an injured knee. He returned to his regiment on the line in early December 1944. In December 1944 Southwell and his squadron fought in a battle in the northern Apennines, dismounted and attached to an infantry division.
Southwell and his division saw only minor action in the early months of 1945. Then, in April, his division participated in the final Allied offensive in Italy, which was carried out against fierce German opposition.
Trooper Gerald Southwell was killed in action on the 22nd of April 1945, in the fighting for Bondeno. He was just 22 years old at the time of his death.
A scarce and interesting original WWII letter, written by a British Sherman tank crewman who was killed in action late in the Italian campaign. Buyer pays shipping, $2.00 in Canada, $3.00 to the United States, $4.00 Overseas. Immediate payment is required for this listing. I accept Paypal only. Thank you.Please Note: Canadian customers will be required to pay applicable GST/HST on all purchases. Please contact me if you have any questions.
