Page 66 - Hi Res - OR-2016

66 RATCLIFFE’S PAST

CASSINO REVISITED BY OLD RATCLIFFIAN’S FAMILY

Wilfrid Henry Potter (38) was a pupil at Ratcliffe in the 1930s 1
who later served as an officer in the British Eighth Army – 3rd
Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment (19th Indian Infantry Brigade,
10th Indian Infantry Division) – during World War II and fought in
the fourth Battle of Monte Cassino, in May 1944, aged 22.

Drawing on resources from photograph albums compiled by
Wilfrid’s father, his daughter, Sue Hughes, went to Cassino in
May to learn more about what he faced in Italy and about the
men who did not come home. Sue said: “It cannot be called a
pilgrimage because he didn’t die, but I’m here, along with the next
generation, because his name is not on a CWGC (Commonwealth
War Graves Commission) headstone. In researching his time in
Italy from 1943 to 1945, we discovered that many in his battalion
died in May 1944 during severe fighting crossing the Gari river.”

“My father never spoke much about his war years, but if he had
enjoyed good health and still been alive, I suspect that he would
have made this trip. Frank de Planta, an expert on the Italian 2 3
Campaign, took me, my husband and my younger son on an in-
depth battlefield study. Our impressions will add to our family
history for my sons, James (23) and Will (17). It’s very different
making a first visit as an adult in 2016, not as a 21-year-old
soldier who landed in Taranto on a troop carrier in 1943.”

Sue planned to save her 2015 poppy to take to Monte Cassino,
but at Frank’s suggestion, she took 23. Why? Because there are
22 men from 3/8 Punjabis buried at Cassino. Sue and Will placed
one on the grave of every soldier in Wilfrid’s battalion, and
another on the main Cassino Memorial for those bodies which
were never located.

Sue added: “Many were young Indian troops, and it’s unlikely
that anyone has done this for them. Frank took us, along with
another veteran’s daughter, to the site of the river crossings
where our fathers fought; we walked in their footsteps, based
on extensive War Diaries research. We were doubly privileged to
have a 97-year-old sapper with us (fit as a fiddle and bright as 4
a button!); he was one of the men who built the Amazon Bridge.
Not expecting any veterans, due to age, we spanned the age
range of my son, 17, to 97. There is a 17-year-old in the Cassino
War Cemetery, and our veteran also found someone that he
had known.”

Wilfrid travelled to what was British Guiana post-war, became
a journalist and met Sue’s mother. They returned to England
in the 1950s and he worked on national newspapers in London
and Manchester before settling in Hampshire. In retirement, he
travelled to Italy many times. When Sue had children, he expanded
his family tree (which dates to 1691, traced by the Little Company
of Mary, founded by his great-aunt, Mary Potter).
Sue has since located a note from Wilfrid about Ratcliffe: “My
great-uncle, George Stephen Potter, was, I believe, a teacher at
Ratcliffe before I was there. My cousin, George Potter (37), who
was a year older, was at Ratcliffe with me. Another cousin, Martin 1 Bob, Sue & Will Hughes at Point 593 above the monastery
Creswell (34), was also there.” 2 Wilfrid Potter (38) in his Army uniform with his medals
3 Wilfrid in his school uniform at Ratcliffe
4 Poppies laid on the graves in Cassino by Sue & her family
Born on June 8th 1922, Wilfrid Potter died on October 21st 2003.

Register online at www.ratcliffianassociation.co.uk