Monte Cassino

Gunner William Evans was a Gunner in the - 78th Medium Regiment (Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry) RA.

He came out of the (reserved occupation) South Wales Coal Mines in January 1940 and joined the British Army.

He was posted to a T A - Royal Artillery Unit (78th Medium Regiment) and did his military training in Manchester with one other South Wales man and some Londoners.

His unit was subsequently posted to North Africa and then to Italy (Monte Casino). 

He was wounded by shrapnel from a German Mortar attack at Monte Casino and was hospitalized in Naples.

Whilst recovering from his injuries - he was having a cigarette in the grounds of the Hospital he was shot by a German Sniper - fortunately for him the bullet just nicked his thumb - taking a small piece out of his thumb.

By the way my father did say that Harry Seccombe (Artillery) and Spike Miligan (Signals) were in the same army camp as him in Monte Casino.

One of the other Gun Crew members was Percy Payne from Hawthorn in Pontypridd - the others I don't know who they are / were.

I understand from my late mother - as my father never talked about it to me - that either one or maybe two of the Gun Crew were killed by the German Mortar attack.

Both he and Percy Payne survived.

I do know that 30 years on my father was still having small fragments of shrapnel coming out from the wound area of his back - he had a diagonal scar some 12 or 14 inches long  running across his back.

He was asked to stay on in the Army after demobilisation but he went back to work in the local Coal Mines.

Service with the Colours 20.11.40 - 20. 03. 46 - he was awarded the 1939 - 45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star and Defence Medal.

Notes kindly provided by his son, Mr Wayne Evans in February 2025

Provided by Graham Taylor‎(A SQN DLOY FaceBook Group)  

On this day 12 May 1944, 78 (DLOY) Medium Regt, Royal Artillery were in the line facing Monte Cassino, part of the German defensive positions in the Gustav line. 

The regimental 2i/c Major Seddon-Brown along with Lieutenant Straker, a South African and WO2 Battery Sgt Major Turner paid a visit to A4 gun pit. Shortly after their arrival the position suffered a direct hit from enemy counter battery fire. The three visitors and six gunners were killed outright. The number one on the gun, Sgt Williams had a miraculous escape, being blown out of the gun pit with only cuts and bruises.

All nine were buried at Cassino War Cemetery

1. 58583 Major Denis William Seddon-Brown, aged 33. Born 22 Feb 1911. Son of Lt. Col Sir Norman Seddon-Brown TD, JP of Caton, Lancaster. NOK wife Mary originally of Hoylake Cheshire but living in Tarleton, Lancs.

Grave No. 1.H.18 RIP

2. 111064 Lt LH Straker, aged 25. South African Artillery attached 78 Med Regt. RA. Son of Colley and Clara of Bergvliet, Cape Town, SA

Grave No. 11.A.21 RIP

3. 402905 WO2 (BSM) John Clifford Turner aged 31 of Preston. NOK wife Elizabeth.

Grave No. 1.H.20 RIP

4. 948320 Gunner Michael Jacob Burns. aged 25.

Grave No. 1.H.13 RIP

5. 947720 Bombadier Arthur Hawitt aged 25. son of Richard and Charlotte of Liverpool.

Grave No. 1.H.19 RIP

6. 940954 Gunner Alex Emanuel Holm aged 25

Grave No. 1.H.15 RIP

7. 13047904 Gunner Thomas Murphy aged 24. Son of Thomas and Catherine of Liverpool.

Grave No. 1.H.12 RIP

8. 14272856 Gunner Frank Moran aged 24. Son of Thomas and Mary Ellen of Wallsend, Northumberland.

Grave No. 1.H.14 RIP

9. 1141805 Gunner Horace William Patrick aged 28. Son of James and Frances of Broadwas, Worcestershire.

Grave No. 1.H.22 RIP

10. 1541618 Gunner John Raymond Ellis, 78 (DLOY) Med Regt, RA. Killed in action 10 May 1944 aged 25. Son of George & Gertrude Ellis of Wombwell, Yorkshire RIP

Grave No. I.E.9.

These 9 photos belong to the casualties of 78 Med Regt at Cassino on 12 May 1944. The one missing is of Lt. Straker, the South African who was attached to the regiment. 

They are courtesy of Staff Sgt Andy Taylor who took them whilst on a battlefield tour.