Last month much was written, locally and nationally, about the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, popularly known as D Day.

But the story didn’t end there, of course, and the progress of Hertfordshire troops as they battled their way across mainland Europe was, at least to some extent, detailed in the following weeks’ Watford Observers.

There wasn’t a vast amount, of course – the element of surprise being vital to the operation. But in July 1944, two very different ‘tales from the front’ appeared in the Observer’s pages.

Firstly, on July 14, came the following, headed Peaceful Sunday in Normandy.

It reads: “The Watford Observer was the paper being read under the trees, bordering a narrow lane in Normandy, on Sunday afternoon, by Corporal John Gadsden, formerly a butcher, now a “Desert Rat” of the 7th Armoured Division of Hazeltree Road, Watford.

“Looking over his shoulder was Trooper Alfred Bartholomew, in peacetime a scaffolder, of Streatham.

“‘So quiet today,’ said Gadsden, ‘we might be in Hyde Park.’

“He was right. Apart from the distant spasmodic murmur of artillery there was not a sound of war. A peaceful spot to find men who have been through the desert and Italy with the vanguard of the Eighth Army but life in Normandy today is like that.

“Sudden fierce ‘hates’ that die down as swiftly as they rise, leaving a rural peace that rivals that of an English meadow.

“Tinkering with a German motorcycle was Sgt William Riley, ex secretary of Chingford. He looked up smiling and said: ‘Nice day for a run down to Southend.’

“It is difficult to realise that the Panzergruppen are only four miles away.”
But the comparative peace of northern France was not reflected over in Italy, as the Watford Observer reported the following week, July 21, 1944, in a piece headed “Beds and Herts” in Historic Battle.

“There was an uncanny tenseness in the air. The blackness of the late evening seemed to radiate expectancy. Suddenly, precisely at 11pm, there was a vivid flash, followed almost immediately by a dull explosion. This was speedily added to by hundreds more.

“The greatest artillery barrage of the Italian campaign had started.

“For miles up and down the valley of the river Rapido the sky was illuminated, sometimes fitfully, sometimes for minutes on end, by the flashes which spurted from the gun barrels.

“This was the signal for a battalion of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire regiment to approach the river Garl, which runs through and south from Cassino.

“From Mt Trocchi, about two and a half miles to the south-east, the men marched through thickly wooded country to the railway between the mountain and the river. Along the railway embankment the men rested. Here they waited for that most dismal of all early hours, 2am, to board the tiny assault boats in which the crossing was to be made.

“The crossing was not easy. With his heavy guns, the Boche pounded the ferries incessantly. His Nebelwerfer [smoke mortar] multi-barrelled mortars were never silent. Many of the boats had jagged holes torn in their sides.

When they sank beneath, the men of the Beds and Herts, these infantrymen, had to swim with rifles and Bren guns held high above their heads. A number were wounded before reaching the opposite bank, but most of them got over.

“Thus it was that the battalion found itself attacking with little more in the way of weapons than the men themselves could carry.

“But this did not deter them. Pushing onwards through the fields of waving corn, they headed towards ‘Queensway’ as the parallel track was later named by us. Through minefields, and against considerable machine gun fire, some 600 to 800 yards of shell-torn country was covered by the Beds and Herts.

“From their sangers, well-built machine gun emplacements, prepared weeks beforehand, the Boche gave ground grudgingly. Under the storm of shells and mortar bombs, one machine gun post after another was ‘winkled out’.

“From the left flank and somewhat to the rear of the Beds and Herts, Jerry machine guns were very active and caused several casualties.

“‘Queensway’ was reached, but further progress was impossible that day. The men dug small trenches and held their newly won positions throughout the night.

“Then came the order to advance and capture Point 50, a hillock strongly held by the Boche, and from which he had good observation of the battleground.

“In the first hour and a half of this battle two of the companies had all their remaining officers either killed or wounded.

“It was then the NCOs displayed initiative, bravery and remarkable leadership. Theirs was no easy task. Men are apt to become dispirited when their officers become casualties but the sergeants and corporals lived up to the highest traditions of their ranks. Under their guidance, after 50 minutes of the toughest fighting yet encountered, the objective was reached and captured.

“Soon after dawn patrols returning to headquarters reported no sign of the Boche. Immediately a platoon went forward to clear another small knoll.

“This hill was taken without opposition. As a climax to this historic battle, in which a famous British infantry division crossed the river Gari and went on to capture Cassino, the Beds and Herts patrolled to and cut Route 6, on which a party of Huns were shot up.

“The enemy scattered, leaving three wounded, but quickly reorganising, counter-attacked using sub-machine guns. This effort to break through the cordon, which now was drawn round the whole town, met with dismal failure.

“Six of their number were killed, one wounded and three more were captured.”

By the following week, the problem was rather less dangerous – though just as aggravating, to locals at least: cyclists in Cassiobury Park.

Plans were afoot to allow cycling in the park but the view of the council – and the editor of the Watford Observer – was that just because there was a war on, didn’t mean standards should be allowed to slip.

In his leader article of July 28, 1944, the Editor writes: “Among other wartime laxities in our district is the prevalence of cycling in Cassiobury Park.

“The park was acquired for the recreation and enjoyment of the public. At the various entrances notices are displayed prohibiting cycling within the park.

“The use of certain portions by units for military training led to a relaxation of the conditions in their favour, but this concession has been followed by a general disregard of the prohibition.

“Walking quietly along the paths the pedestrian is at any time liable to be overtaken by cyclists or warned by the ringing of a bell that they require right of way. At the present time this indiscriminate cycling constitutes both a nuisance and a danger.

“To deal with the situation, the Estates Committee recommended the Town Council permit cycling on a track from the entrance near The Gardens to the entrance near Shepherds Road, with the proviso there should be no riding past the tea pavilion or nursery centre, and none in any other part of the park.

“Members from all parts of the council chamber opposed this recommendation and voted for its deletion.

“We are glad to find the council so alert to its responsibility to conserve the park for the enjoyment of the public, and trust this decision will be rigorously enforced and offenders brought to judgement.”

Quite right too!