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Lucky number 13 all part of a Gunners war - Part 4
People in story: Cross R.A.F (Gunner)Royal Artillery
Location of story: Italy
Background to story: 41 Troop Royal Artillery
Total time covered by diary June 1944 till the end of war
Ronald Arthur Francis Cross known as Roy Cross 1906 -1970
Transcribed from original incomplete war diary in December 2005 by Adrian Dowding

My Second Time in Italy

4th June 1944
Now I am back in Italy again, returned from Egypt a week ago, after an uneventful crossing of the Mediterranean on ‘The Hell Ship Banfora’ packed like cattle, food bad, troops all suffering from diarrhoea, and sea sickness. Landed at Taranto stayed at a transit camp a few days awaiting a posting. News, Rome fell to us yesterday. Second front still pending?

6th June 1944
Still at the Royal Artillery transfer depot. Just got news that the second front had been opened, landings made in several places and paratroops are on the Seine.

26th June 1944
I am still at the transfer depot, pottering around doing guards, fatigues etc, waiting posting. The news of the second front Cherbourg is now almost in allied hands. Fighting is going on in the streets of that port.
The Russians are pushing on, and the 8th and 5th are making good headway through northern Italy. Terrific bombing of Berlin and occupied territories continues. Jerry is sending robot planes over England.

Note by AD
Unfortunately this is the last account we have from Roy’s war diaries, although we do know he happily lived out the rest of his life, with his wife Lucy in Hastings then in Guildford.

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