London Irish Rifles return to the front at Anzio.

Two days after the renewed German onslaught against the Allied positions at Anzio on 16 February 1944, the 1st Battalion The London Irish Rifles returned to the front where its task was to relieve the 7th Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry - reported to be cut off and surrounded.

The London Irish advanced through difficult wadi country and suffered heavy losses from enemy artillery and mortar fire. Finding the remnants of the Ox and Bucks was not easy as they were surrounded by an enemy holding strong positions.

C Company of the London Irish, consisting of about 35 men under Captain Crozier, attacked on 20 February 1944 but did not succeed; everyone was either killed or captured. Reinforcements arrived during the night of 21 February and on the following day another attack was organised. Aided by a tank, the two-stage attack destroyed the enemy and the Light Infantrymen were rescued.

(The Italy Star, above right, was awarded for operational service in Sicily or Italy between 11 July 1943 and 8 May 1945.)