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The 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards arrived at Naples form Algeria on 5th February 1944. From Naples the train took the troops to Capua where the company commanders went on ahead by jeeps for a meeting with Colonel Hugh Norman at Sessa Aurunca. The difference in the weather from Africa was making the men miserable. Orders that night were that the battalion was there to help the Anzio beachhead landings.
The battalion arrived at Sessa in TCV’s the next morning at 1am and spent an uncomfortable night on stone floors. Later that morning a reconnaissance was carried out and then TCV’s took them to the river Garigliano where they climbed the mountains on the north bank to about one thousand feet, where a freezing night was spent. During the day the Germans shelled their positions and as darkness came it rained and with the rain came a thick mist, this was used to give the men cover as they climbed further up the mountains where the tracks got steeper and wetter to positions holding Ornito.
The battalion took over from 2/4 KOYLI and was deployed with Bob Palmer commanding No 4 Company on the right holding the Ornito feature, Ian Skimming commanding No 2 Company in the centre on Pt 719, Henry Green on the left Commanding No 3 Company on Pt 711 and Petre Crowder commanding No 1 Company in reserve.
At dawn on 9th February the Germans attacked No 2 company in the fighting the first death occurred when Mike Hilton-Green was killed. The enemy was seen off without any more losses but later in the day Bobby Hyde received an arm wound from a sniper.
In the early afternoon of 10th February about sixty Germans were spotted by No 2 company on the blind side of No 3 companies position, the Germans then used mortars on the battalions positions followed by an attack on No 3 company, resulting in a bad wound to CSM Edgehill. Artillery support was called for the gunners devastated the German positions, which forced the Germans who survived it to retreat. Tom Jackson was killed bravely leading his platoon in an attempt to cut off the Germans on his right, there were about thirty-five other casualties. The Germans shelled the battalions positions during that night and it became very cold and snowed.
On the 11th February No 1 company relieved No 2 company on Pt 719 and No 4 company relieved No 3 on Pt 711 and in the late in the day the Welsh Guards took positions on the right on Monte Cerasola.
Over the next few days bursts of shelling occurred and in forward positions snipers were causing some problems in the forward positions and the weather did not get any better.
On 17th February fighting broke out along the line but No 4 company was at the centre of it. Mortars and grenades were used to stop the enemy advance up Pt 711 but because the Germans were on the other side of the crest Bob Palmers company could not get any shots in but No 2 company could shoot across from Pt 719 and hit their targets, this action with mortars and tommy guns gave No 4 company the advantage and Stephen Whitwell and David Toler led their men over the top of the crest and dispersed the enemy with big losses in the Germans ranks. That evening platoons of No 1 and No 2 Companies assisted No 4 company with Ben Faller and Roddy Sheridan being wounded. That evening No1 and No 3 Companies were amalgamated under Henry Green and D Company 1/4 Hampshires took over No 3 positions. On the 18th February 3rd Battalion Grenadiers took over from No 4 Company on Pt 711.
On 19th February the Germans attacked with about six hundred men with the Welsh Guards in the thick of it on Monte Cerasola but they still had time to help the companies on Ornito by firing in these enemy positions, No 2 Company then helped from Pt 719 the enemy were then completely dispersed on Ornito by a bayonet charge by D Company 1/4 Royal Hampshires. In the afternoon the battalion was relieved and were marched to Pately Bridge were tea was taken, jeeps then took them to Casale to bed.
The Battle of Ornito had taken its toll of nine officers and 181 other ranks, the Daily Express write an article on the battle and credited the British forces.
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