This year marks the 80th anniversary of Anzio. It was after the Allied victory in Africa (1943), that attention was turned once again to Europe. Whilst many resources were distributed to the Normandy landings, some regiments were to continue to invade the Nazi’s once-ally of Italy. This would include the 2nd, 5th and 14th Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters. To commemorate this anniversary, this month’s blog features an object in our collection, related to this Battle.
Background of Anzio
The Nazi forces were under orders from Hitler to hold the defensive position of the Gustav line, south of Rome, throughout the winter of 1943-44. Whilst some Allied forces tried to break this line from Southern Italy, it was decided that an amphibious landing would be carried out at Anzio (behind enemy lines) in order to assist with this offensive.
It was on the 22nd of January that the 2nd Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters would land in Anzio (25 miles South of Rome), as part of the British forces under the United States VI Corps.
The object
The object we shall be focussing on this month is… a care package for a soldier who was serving at Anzio. It was made for Private Thomas Granville Moore, by his mother Mary Charlotte Moore. Sadly, the care package was never sent as Thomas was Killed In Action whilst at Anzio on the 11th of February 1944.
The care package remained unopened, a symbol of Thomas’ death, until it was donated to the Museum in 1999.
Inside the cardboard box, the following items were loving placed:
- Small pencil
- Two small skeins of grey darning wool “ARAMIS MENDING”
- One small tin of Macleans solid Dentifrice tooth cleaner
- One small tin of vaselene grease
- One small tin of “Cherry Blossom” black boot polish
- Two small tins of “Magic Black” dubbin
- Two bars of red “lifebuoy” soap
- One small pocket “penknife”
- Four small bobbins of cotton
- Two pairs of leather boot laces
- One stick of shaving soap
- One “ever-ready” razor blade
- A strip of silver backed shaving paper for use when cutting face to stop bleeding
Whilst the contents show necessities, it does show a mother’s love for her son, with all the variety of the relatively mundane objects; she did not want him to go without. Whilst the unopened care package may have been a sign of Thomas’ death all these years for the family, it is only a part of his story…
Private Thomas Granville Moore (14611354)
Private Thomas Granville Moore was born in Church Warsop to George Thomas and Mary Charlotte Moore, in about 1909. He would go on to live in Church Warsop with his wife, Ellen Moore. They married on the 3rd of January 1931, aged 22 and 21. Thomas was working as a bricklayer at the time, the same occupation as his Father, George.
Thomas enlisted into the General Service Corps in Mansfield. He was later transferred to the Sherwood Foresters; it is unknown exactly when. Thomas served in the 2nd Battalion with regimental number 14611354.
As previously mentioned, the 2nd Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters, landed at Anzio on the 22nd of January 1944. By midday they had disembarked and marched 3 miles into their concentration area, in thick woods. They remained there for about a week and were subject to frequent dive-bombing attacks during this time.
On the 28th the 2nd Battalion moved to ‘The Factory’, taking over from the Grenadier Guards. The next day they were subject to a very heavy bombardment by the enemy, with ‘A’ Company particularly suffering. A few days later, after an attempted advance, they would be pushed back with the rest of the Brigade, to the beachhead perimeter.
On the evening of the 3rd of February, the 2nd Battalion were able to free some British Prisoners of War (POWs) who were being marched up the road from the South. There were further signs the enemy was closing in… The battalion would withdraw from their position the following day.
After two days of rest and re-organisation, a counterattack was planned. The Battalion suffered heavily in this, with the whole of ‘C’ Company becoming casualties. ‘A’ company was ordered to withdraw to ‘B’ company’s position, with ‘D’ company in the rear. The Battalion remained there for the next 4 days, in bad weather, to strengthen their position. Sadly, it was during this time that Thomas was killed, aged 35 years old.
Thomas is now buried at Anzio War Cemetery (II. L. 3) along with 56 other Foresters who were also sadly killed during the bitter fighting at Anzio. His headstone is engraved with the personal inscription: ‘YEARS CANNOT FADE NOR SHADOWS DIM THE PRECIOUS THOUGHTS WE KEEP OF HIM’.
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References:
Ancestry
Barclay’s ‘The History of the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) 1919-1957’
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
National Army Museum Website