A gun crew in the trenches

22nd October 1943: The Royal Artillery must shelter from counter-battery fire - and from mosquitoes in Italy

British gunners of the Shropshire Yeomanry in action with a 5.5 inch Howitzer under camouflage netting.

Bombardier Spike Milligan had arrived in Italy on 23rd September but had almost immediately contracted Malaria, and had spent most of the time in hospital and then recuperating. It was a very common illness that would affect many troops in Italy.

On the…