Under shellfire in the shadow of Cassino

5th February 1944: A New Zealand soldier describes life in the field in Italy, as experienced by so many Allied troops

Large cloud of smoke from United States Army artillery bombardment on the base of Monte Cassino.

Italy! Cassino under attack, shells from American artillery is seen bursting on besieged Cassino, sending up great clouds of smoke as the town is slowly pulverized to rubble in the fierce fight for its possession.

A situation became critical on the Anzio beachhead there was no improvement further south at Cassino. Here the giant monastery loomed over the battlefield. Whether the Germans were occupying the building itself or merely the surrounding hilltop, they had an excellent vantage point from which to direct their artillery.

Life under shellfire was to become the usual existence of the troops here. The Allies were stuck up against a natural defensive position and the Germans were going to punish them as they sought to find a way around.

John Blythe¹ was a corporal with the New Zealand Division which had just moved into the line alongside the Americans:

Not a great deal of enemy fire was coming our way in daylight, but there was enough to keep us on our toes at times, when we crouched behind banks and the stone remnants of buildings as wicked 88s slashed the foliage and fragments of steel and stones whizzed overhead to rattle against the gun shields and buildings.