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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 12th January, 1945
With Marshal Tito’s Partisans
Rushden Man’s Adventures in Yugoslavia
To be able to exist in Yugoslavia one has to belong to the Partisan Movement under Marshal Tito, in the opinion of a Rushden soldier, Cpl. William Frederick Steel, R.A.S.C., of “Park View,” Bedford-road, after his return from an island off the mainland for 35 days’ leave.
 The service is not compulsory, he said, but there is very little other employment, apart from the vineyards in the right season, and if you want food you must belong to the Partisans. The young people are all right, but there is nothing for the old folk.
Every girl, even younger than 18 years, up to 30, wears full battle-dress and carries a Sten gun and hand grenades. They go into battle and take exactly the same chances as the men. Children – both boys and girls of 14 and 15 years – go with them on their raids.
It was in September that Corporal Steel left Italy for a small island off the mainland, his particular job being the supply and rationing of water for the British Army.
Our troops received a welcome from the civilians, he said, but there is no entertainment at all. The island produces nothing except grapes and goats. It used to trade with Italy; quite a number of Italians still live there, and some speak both the Italian and Yugoslav languages.
Barter System
Money is of no value at all on the island. Everything is done by barter, and a packet of cigarettes is of high value, as also is a tin of meat. You could get a good glass of wine, and when invited out for this purpose, you were expected to take something in the food line for the Yugoslavs to share.
The much discussed “V” cigarettes are gratefully received by the Partisans, a small monthly ration being issued by the British Government.
This is the same island that has been in the news recently for having saved so many bombers and their crews, following raids from bases in Italy. There is a runway large enough for one plane to touch down and following a big raid they have known as many as 20 planes to come in. This happens when they have been damaged or are short of fuel. Repairs are carried out by a staff of American and R.A.F. engineers.
Corporal Steel was surprised to find that a lot of customs, particularly around the Christmas season, were identical with our own.
Going in February, 1941, Corporal Steel first went to Egypt, and became a member of the 8th Army at its formation. He was in the retreat to El Alamein, went back with the 8th to Tunis, and was with the New Zealanders after Tripoli.
The Mule, Too
In September, 1943, he went across to Italy and was there until September, 1944. He said he was very disappointed with Southern Italy – it was most dirty, and the peasants were of the lowest class. The average home consisted of one room, which was occupied by mother and father, all the children, and, if they were fortunate enough to possess one, the mule, too. There people would do any mortal thing for the church.
He met one other Rushden man, Flying Officer E. Jaques, of Tennyson-road, while he was in Italy.
Corporal Steel started his journey home on December 15th, and arrived at Wellingborough station on Sunday afternoon. He managed to get a taxi home.
He has been serving since June, 1940. He is aged 40, and is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Steel. Formerly he was employed by the British United Shoe Machinery Co., and is a past secretary of the Y.M.C.A., a member of St. Peter’s Church, and of the Athletic Club. His younger brother, Corporal H. Steel, is with the R.A.F.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 12th January, 1945
Had Chat With Marchioness
Rushden Man on India Hospital Staff
 A Rushden man who is an instructor in woodcraft at a British troops’ hospital in Calcutta – Pte. Stanley James Shrive, Northamptonshire Regiment – met the Dowager Marchioness of Reading when she paid a visit to the hospital in December.
In conveying the news to his wife at 132, Highfield-road, Pte. Shrive encloses a newspaper cutting from an Indian paper which tells of the Marchioness’s visit and has a photograph of her chatting with Pte. Shrive. She shook hands with him and wished him all the best for 1945.
Pte. Shrive, who was a carpenter in pre-service days, working for Messrs. Drabble, builders, has been engaged on this work for several weeks. He instructs patients mainly in toy-making, and the hospital is organised by Diversional Therapy workers.
On Christmas morning, he informs his wife, he met Sergt. W. Bates, also of Highfield-road, in the wards, and another local man named Danby. He mentioned the splendid arrangements that were made by the Red Cross for the patients and staff at Christmas.
Pte. Shrive is 38 years of age. He has been in the Army since May, 1943, and went to India 12 months ago. He is a member of the Y.M.C.A. and has been through the Baptist Sunday School. Pte. and Mrs. Shrive have three sons and one daughter.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 12th January, 1945
Sports Gift From East - Soldier’s Help for Town Ground
A Rushden soldier serving in the East with Paiforce has sent his contribution to the Town Ground Restoration Fund. It is a gesture which will appeal greatly to all local sport lovers and may give the fund a fillip far beyond its cash value.
The donor is Cpl. S. Dickens, whose home is at 61, Trafford-road, Rushden. Enclosing ten shillings, he wrote by registered air post to the Editor of the “Echo and Argus” :-
As I receive the ever welcome ‘Echo and Argus’ regularly every week, I am able to keep in touch with local activities and news, and so was greatly interested to read that at last something really concrete is being done to ensure that in the realm of sport Rushden is taking steps to cater for the hundreds of us who will soon, we hope, be returning home for good, not forgetting, of course, those of you at home who have been and still are holding the fort. I am referring to the Rushden Sports Appeal.
“Would you please be kind enough to forward the enclosed P.O. to Mr. Cyril Freeman, hon. secretary of the Town Football Club, as a small contribution to a most worthy cause, in appreciation of the grand times I amongst many other Rushdenites have enjoyed at the Newton-road ground, and needless to say am hoping to enjoy again when we return to Blighty for good.
“I would like to take this opportunity of wishing the appeal all the success it deserves. May the figure aimed at be reached and passed.
“With very best wishes for 1945 to all Rushdenites, and with the hope of seeing the old faces and places myself in the New Year. – Yours sincerely S. Dickens.”………………………………..
With The Guns in Burma - Rushden Man Tells of Jungle Fight
 If there are any men who earn their pay, it is the infantrymen in Burma, said Gnr. Charles William Denton, of Rushden, home of 28 days’ leave after serving for four years in that country with the artillery.
Gunner Denton went into action for the first time in January, 1944, and this was also the first time that medium guns went into action. It was such terrible country that it was thought impossible to get medium guns forward, but the engineers made a very good job of building roads and bridges, and it was a secret right until the moment they opened fire.
The Japs were artful, and tried to get at their guns, but did not succeed. They were very good at infiltration, and in the bamboo jungle it was possible to pass within a few yards of one another without knowing it.
Fixed Plans
It was a fact that the Japs, once a plan had been made and whatever happened, would never have the sense to alter it. If they were told to be at a certain place at a given time, even if the British had got there first, they would still go there.
To take a prisoner was quite rare. The Japs simply would not give up – more through principle than anything else. When they did it was usually through starvation or being too helpless to kill themselves.
A Jap was a good fighting man in that he did not know when he was beaten. He was no “superman” by any means, and the 14th Army certainly did not consider him as such. They had proved last February that they were just as good, if not better, than the Japs in jungle fighting. Certainly they had beaten them at their own game.
“Before I arrived in England,” said Gunner Denton, “the troops were pressing on a lot faster than before in this campaign, and were making a determined effort. It won’t be so long before the Jap is out of Burma. In the beginning it was just a matter of holding the Jap and keeping him out of India. He was kept out of India, and will now get kicked out of Burma.”
Brave Divisions
The worst fighting period was in February last. The Japs had tried to cut off two of our divisions, with the ultimate objective as the invasion of India. They succeeded in cutting off these divisions, and expected them to pull out. But they stood fast and were supplied by air with food and ammunition, and fought back until reinforcements arrived. For ten days they slept very little, and never at night.
The monsoon season, lasting from June to October – and in parts of Burma this brings the heaviest rainfall in the world – added to their difficulties. The artillery were pulled out before conditions became too bad, but the infantry and field regiments had to stick it out.
Their only touch with the people was when they came across the small villages, with their mud huts and inhabited by a mixed race of Indians, Burmese and others. These people would work for either side, doing labouring jobs. When they worked for the British they always did so under a guard, and were always marched back to the compound.
Living in Holes
“One gets used to living in holes – a position which people back here don’t understand and which you can’t explain properly. A man has got to be in a high state of physical fitness to be out there.”
He praised the field ambulances for the work they did. He himself had malaria, and was moved back 180 miles to a military hospital within two days. Malaria is now being overcome by new treatments, and there is no need for a soldier to be sent right back to hospital – he can receive malaria treatment in a special area.
When in the forward area their rations were made up of plenty of “bully beef.” Then they also received Indian meat and other goods from Australia and New Zealand, which were a lot better, and generally conditions were now improving.
One thing that had not improved was the beer and cigarette situation. The ration was three bottles of beer, per man per month, but you were lucky if you saw one bottle very three months. This was generally Indian beer and occasionally Australian or Canadian, for which they were very grateful.
There was a free issue of 50 cigarettes and two boxes of matches per week, again Indian.
Two Enemies
Gunner Denton added that in the monsoon weather one was lucky if he could strike six matches out of every box. Cigarettes were sent from their homes, but most often did not arrive. Sea mail came through all right, and the “Echo and Argus” arrived pretty regularly.
He agreed that it was true that at times our troops in Burma felt very bitter at not having more mention in the news. They were fighting and dying all the time, although perhaps not on the same scale as the European war. But they had to fight against the elements, too.
In the same unit as Gunner Denton are Gunner Frank Denton, of Irchester, and Gunner Roger Webb, of Wellingborough, both of whom were fit and well when he left them. On other occasions he has met Trooper Darnell, from Newton-road, Gunner Jack Smith of Cromwell-road, Sergt. H. Wiggins, of Rushden, and an airman named Robinson, of 39 Queen-street.
Gunner Denton said that he left his unit for home on November 10th. It was such a surprise that he can still hardly believe it. The given time of service is five years, but just recently was reduced to three years eight months.
His has a wife and two daughters and his home is at 73, Trafford-road.
Gunner Denton is 33, has been in the Army since May, 1940, and went abroad in January, 1941. He went to India first, and then Iraq and Syria, but was invalided back to India after having been wounded slightly in a foot in Iraq. He went to Burma in October, 1943. Previously he was employed by the R.I.C.S. (Bakery Dept.), and was a member of the West End Club.
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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 2nd March, 1945
“Argus” Man as Guest of County Regiment
Stirring Story of Exploits of Northants Yeomanry
Chats With Local Men
By F. W. Skinner
This week we present the impressions of a representative of this journal who has just returned from a visit to the 21st Army Group area, during when he spent a day with the Northants Yeomanry, visited general hospitals, convalescent homes, and several places of interest, and encountered a number of serving men whose homes are in this district.
Pulse Quickening Narrative
Northants Yeomanry Have Been in the Thick of the Fighting
The highlight of my trip was a visit to the Northants Yeomanry, which is serving as a Tank unit. I was given a most cordial reception. Officers and men are in high fettle, but I found that they felt rather keenly the fact that though they have taken a prominent part in many important actions, not a word has appeared in print about their exploits. I had to explain that this was not the fault of the local Press, which is always eager for news of Northamptonshire units. This Battalions B and C Squadrons, it will be remembered, were quartered at Kettering Drill Hall at the outbreak of the war.
I promised that, in so far as I was able, I would let Northamptonshire people know what this county unit had done since it went overseas last June. Seated at a table in an estaminet, I drew from an officer a story which, despite its terse and restrained phrasing, revealed the Unit as having played a brilliant part in the fighting. It has suffered losses, but it has inflicted greater ones, and the experiences shared by officers and men have strengthened the camaraderie which was always so marked in the Yeomanry.
It was impressed upon me that the regiment is a very happy one, and certainly everyone I saw seemed to be in excellent spirits.
First in Caen
Now for the plain, unvarnished story of the Unit’s experiences.
The Unit landed in Normandy on June 13th last year, and fought several actions on the bridgehead. They claimed to be the first troops to enter Caen, having a patrol in that town the evening before the date of entering announced by the B.B.C. The patrol got into the town, but found the going was bad, that further progress was impossible without the help of Engineers. The Unit captured the heights under severe shellfire. This was their first major action, and casualties were relatively light.
Following this action, the regiment was held in reserve for a fortnight, and was then engaged in local actions at Noyres, Landel and Tessel-Bretteville. These engagements were fought against heavy resistance, and anything which has been published concerning the part the Canadian troops played in them applies also to the Northants Yeomanry.
After this the Americans began their advance from Avranches, and the military situation developed in a prospective encirclement in the Falaise area.
During this time the regiment was engaged with the Canadian Army in exerting pressure on the left flank, pressing the Germans at Caen and preventing them from sending reinforcements to the American front. When the Americans had advanced sufficiently and the Falaise pocket had been formed, an offensive was “laid on” by the Canadian Army to close the Falaise gap and complete the encirclement of the German troops.
“The Position was Held”
The big offensive took place on the night of August 6th/7th, and the regiment formed the left flank of the Canadian Army attack. An advance of four miles was made into the enemy’s gun lines during the night, and the Yeomanry attacked and captured a village, which they held, whilst other troops mopped up the rear area. After a morning of continuous shelling, the Unit on the afternoon of August 8th was repeatedly counter-attacked by tanks and infantry. In the course of the day 22 enemy tanks were knocked out and many infantrymen killed. The position was held. From then onwards the Unit pressed the enemy to the River Seine, meeting sporadic and at time determined resistance, particularly at Lisieux, where S.S. formations were encountered. When the regiment reached the River Seine it had been fighting continuously for over three weeks. Some notable acts of individual gallantry were performed, and the men were always in good spirits.
Particular credit is due to the lorry drivers, who never failed to bring up the rations personally.
Over 1,000 Prisoners
Following a few days’ rest, the regiment took part in the battle of Le Havre, and well over 1,000 prisoners were taken, without loss to themselves. This was a great tonic to the regiment, and a fitting climax to a month’s hard fighting.
Then came a couple of weeks rest. The fighting had shifted to Belgium, and in the general excitement the Unit began to feel it might not fire another shot. Then they went to Holland and formed part of the British forces engaged in clearing the ground up to the River Maas. This operation was designed, in co-operation with the Canadian Army, to free Antwerp. It can be said that these series of battles were enjoyed by the regiment more than any other. A lot of ground and many prisoners were taken. Experience had taught the men how to fight to the best advantage without unnecessary casualties.
During this period the regiment captured Vught, where the big German concentration camp was, and was also concerned in the liberation of S’Hertonbosch. The campaign ended with the smashing victory at Ramsdank, where 100 Germans were killed, 320 taken prisoner, and eight armoured vehicles knocked out.
The Unit was then sent to the East of Holland, where an arduous campaign was fought in very bad weather to clear the territory up to the River Maas in the region of Venloo.
Christmas Spoilt
At last the regiment could take a rest, and looked forward to enjoying a Christmas celebration peacefully. But this was not to be. Everything was “laid on” – Christmas dinner, concert party, etc. – and the troops were happily settled with Dutch families. Then orders were received at short notice to counter the German offensive.
This takes the story of the Yeomanry exploits up to the end of 1944 which is as far as we are allowed to go.
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