438524 Private Percival Ewan Chisholm, (1922-15/7/1944). "a very difficult operation"

Percival Chisholm was working in a Southland dairy factory when he joined the Army.  His Battalion, the 25th was attacking a key point in a German defensive line in Italy when he was killed, possibly by "friendly" fire from Allied artillery.

Two months after the attack, it was described by a survivor, Private Shinnick, and recorded in the Battalion's Official History:

‘C Company were to be the first over the start line with 15 Platoon first out. The terrain was such that the start line could only be reached by scrambling almost on hands and knees in single file. C Coy were to take the right flank of the crest, D Coy left flank of the crest, and A Coy the crest itself, with B Coy in reserve. But it didn't work out like that.

‘Just before the barrage commenced a terrific thunderstorm broke, after threatening to do so for several hours. Fortunately it finished before we started the attack. The barrage commenced at 11 p.m. [? 1 a.m.] and the first few shells landed in our positions killing several and wounding others, then eventually went over to Jerry's positions, playing there till midnight [?] when we commenced to form up. Our platoon strength was now 21, and the other platoons were little better.

‘As we were moving into the position our barrage dropped again and landed down below us. It killed and wounded 2 more. Then it commenced creeping up over us and somehow we managed to withdraw 50 yards and miraculously had no further casualties though shells were bursting all around us. As it lifted we again moved, following close under the barrage.

‘We safely negotiated a minefield and managed to get around the reverse side of the spur, formed up with two sections forward and one in reserve and commenced to move forward up the steep face of the main feature. It was terribly rocky and often it was a case of helping one another over the obstacles. Most of the shells fell in front of the feature, but a few came over and landed amongst us, causing no casualties though often the blast knocked us flat to the ground.

‘First opposition was from a Jerry fox-hole, but we silenced it and pressed on over the rocky terrain, until we encountered the next opposition. Another Jerry strongpoint was left in silence. On approaching the ridge of the spur we found that the barrage was still playing on it, so elected to move further to the left and occupy the main crest from where we were receiving enemy fire. We made the crest on which was a very badly shattered building [the red house] and we occupied it. The reserve section was left here while the first two sections pushed on to clear the left flank of it. However they were caught in our own barrage and shortly reduced to the numbers of two and four.'

Twenty-fifth Battalion concluded its task in the Monte Lignano sector at noon on 16 July, when without further casualties it withdrew to 6 Brigade's B Echelon area; its losses in the operations were 17 other ranks killed, 4 died of wounds, and 3 officers (Lieutenant Cameron, and Second-Lieutenants P. A. de Lautour and E. Cardale) and 41 other ranks wounded. At a divisional conference that day General Freyberg congratulated 6 Brigade on its work in the line and said: ‘I do think that the attack by 25 Battalion was a very admirable one and a very tidy one. It was a very difficult operation.’

NZEF Casualties

 Private Percival Ewan Chisholm, who has been reported killed in action, is the son of Mr and Mrs W. Chisholm, of Fortrose. He was born at Fortrose and educated at the Fortrose school and the Southland Technical College. Before entering the army he was employed at the Ryal Bush Dairy Factory. He was a member of the Fortrose Yachting Club and the Gorge Road Football Club. He went overseas in May 1943. He was 22 years of age.  -Southland Times, 28/7/1944.

Percival Chisholm lies in the Arezzo War Cemetery in Italy.

Fortrose Cemetery.