3rd Infantry Division, Anzio

Pitstone Rural Museum, Easter 2009

A detachment from the group attended a local MVT event for its third portrayal of the 3rd Infantry, this time one of its earlier Campaigns, Anzio in May 1944.

The display area was a large Orchard on the edge of the farm museum, which was ideal.

 
Operation Shingle, a surprise landing behind enemy lines at Anzio and Nettuno on Jan. 22, 1944 was meant to break the stalemate the Allies faced at Cassino. The British First Division and the American Third Division led the invasion under General John Lucas' VI Corps (directed by Gen. Mark Clark's Fifth Army). As Allied supplies and 50,000 men fortified the beachhead, German Field Marshal Kesselring quickly stitched together a defensive force that would trap them there for four months.

The two vehicles and detachment were to represent vehicles and men from Regiment Headquarters Company of the 3rd Division's 7th Infantry Regiment just prior to the Anzio breakout.

The headquarters men are preparing breakfast before moving up the line to the rifle companies on a resupply mission:
 

Before moving up the line, troops of HQ Admin and Supply report to the QMC Distribution Point to collect new issue uniform and equipment:

A great day out to play Soldiers.  The sun was out and the public, having been subjected to a few bad days of weather, came out to see what was going on.  Over 350 visited during the Easter bank holiday open day.