Regimental roots: PWRR soldier honours great-grandfather's role in battle of Salerno
A fierce Second World War battle has been remembered by soldiers from one of the descendant regiments that fought in it.
1st Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment marked the 82nd anniversary of the Salerno landings in Italy with an intense physical training session in Cyprus.
Private William Waldron of Y Company paid special tribute to his great-grandfather Robert Waldron, who landed in Salerno with The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment.
"My great-grandad was in this landing 82 years ago," Pte Waldron said. "It's nice to keep that memory alive and make sure it’s preserved well."
The family of the 22-year-old from Kent has a long tradition of serving in the regiment.
His dad, Carl Waldron, served in The Queen's Regiment.
"It is personal to try and understand what he went through and try and honour that," he said.
PWRR's forebearers, The Royal Hampshire Regiment and The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, fought the Germans in Salerno during Operation Avalanche, which began on 9 September 1943.
Around 2,300 Allies died landing in Salerno, where they met tough resistance.
But by the evening of 9 September - now known by the PWRR as Salerno Day - all objectives had been taken.
As the Tigers pointed out in a Facebook post, although between 10 and 14 September the Germans made every effort to dislodge the invasion force, they were beaten back, the beaches were made secure and reinforcements were landed.
In Cyprus, soldiers in full kit and carrying SA80 L85 rifles ran chest-high into the sea at Lemmings Beach in Episkopi, before building defensive positions and carrying stretchers.
Captain Guy Pim, Officer Commanding Mortar Platoon, said: "It's nothing compared to what they did [in WW2], but it is a good way to remember what they sacrificed that day."
Fifteen members of the battalion will fly to Naples, retracing the footsteps of the regiment along a 100km march while raising funds for its benevolent fund.
Three battalions, which later became The Queen's Regiment, fought alongside three battalions of The Royal Hampshire Regiment in Salerno, amalgamating on 9 September 1992 to form The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Alex Cherry, Commanding Officer of 1 PWRR, said: "We remember the bravery and sacrifice of those before us and trace forward the foundations of our modern regiment.
"The physical training this morning reminds us of their sacrifice and spirit in horrifying conditions.
"It also continues our enduring preparedness and readiness for the challenges of tomorrow as a modern, combat, warfighting battalion."
1st Battalion is currently based out of Episkopi Garrison in Cyprus, where, at high readiness, it is on standby to react to disaster or conflict in the wider region.
Known as the Tigers, PWRR is the senior English line infantry regiment in the British Army.
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