Fighting Through to Anzio – Book
Stewart Mitchell, Historian and Museum Research Volunteer has released his new book which uncovers the untold stories of 6th Battalion and 1st London Scottish soldiers during the Second World War.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stewart Mitchell became a Volunteer Researcher at The Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen in 2005 after a career in environmental protection. He is also the author of Scattered Under the Rising Sun – The Gordon Highlanders In The Far East (2012) and St Valery and its Aftermath – The Gordons Captured in France in 1940 (2017).
ABOUT THE BOOK
In this new book, Stewart tells the inspiring story of two of The Gordon Highlanders Territorial Army battalions which saw action in some of the fiercest battles of the Second World War. His personal style, which has proved so popular in his earlier books, provides numerous references to individual heroic actions and a unique insight into the life of these men. There are some humorous tales but also many poignant incidents which affected the soldier’s families.
The comprehensive Appendix names many of the men involved, together with thumbnail images of some of the men of both battalions. The book is also illustrated with some previously unpublished material.
After evacuation from Dunkirk, the 6th Gordons fought in Tunisia, leading to the German surrender in North Africa. The 1st London Scottish (Gordon Highlanders despite their unit name), first saw action in Sicily in 1943 and then fought valiantly in the Battle of Monte Cassino. It was here that, famously, Private George Mitchell was awarded the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious of the numerous gallantry awards to the men of both battalions.
In January 1944, the 6th Gordons were the first British battalion ashore at Anzio. While the landing was unopposed, the Germans mounted devastating counter-attacks but, despite almost 400 men killed, wounded and captured in a single day, the Battalion heroically held on. The 1st London Scottish (Gordon Highlanders) arrived that same day to fight alongside their Regimental comrades, suffering equally devastating casualties but prevented a Nazi breakthrough. After the break-out from the beachhead, the Gordon’s pipers led the liberation parade in Rome. Both battalions went on to fight up through Italy to smash the German’s Gothic Line and on to eventual victory.