Remembering the heroism of Arthur, who braved German machine gun fire to save men

Rhymney Sergeant Arthur Parry, of the Royal Engineers, played a vital role in the construction of the Amazon Bridge in Italy during World War II. Anna Lewis tells his story

AT 25 years old, Rhymney Sergeant Arthur Parry risked his life by crossing German lines to save his men.

Single-handedly taking out two machine gun nests, his actions not only protected the engineers under his watch, but also played a vital part during World War II.

Now, ahead of the 75th anniversary of his death, his family have shared the story of the war hero to celebrate one man’s astounding bravery.

Born in Leeds, Arthur Parry was a young man with a love of dancing. A plumber by trade, the future sergeant joined the army on March 24, 1937, as a sapper for the Royal Engineers.

During a post training future officers in Hereford, Arthur met armaments factory worker and future wife Doreen at a dance.

By September 1940, the couple were married and living in Rhymney before he was sent out once more to fight at the frontline.

“He went to Dunkirk and from there to a north African campaign for a couple of years and then through to Italy,” Arthur’s son Michael said.

“One of the biggest battles in

Italy was the battle for Monte Cassino and a big monastery at the top of the hill.

“The German lines were in between Monte Cassino and Rome. There were 10 armies fighting – British, Canadian, American

Indian. As the Germans were retreating they were blowing up bridges. My father was in the Royal Engineers, their job was to build even more bridges and clear the minefields.”

In May 1944, the father-of-one found himself working on the construction of the famous Amazon Bridge over the River Rapido.

Built in 12 hours between May 12 and May 13, it was one of 2,832 bridges built by the British, Commonwealth and American Army groups from

1943 to 1945.

As the operation began Arthur and his men were faced with a huge artillery barrage from 900 guns. Describing the scene, Arthur’s friend and colleague Lieutenant Colonel Tony Daniell wrote: “I set up my Bridge HQ at the top of the approach track and at the same time the old bulldozer trundled down the track. “This seemed to enrage the Boche, who directed all his available fire in the direction of the sound.

“This brought the bulldozer to a standstill, wounding one driver but not until he had got almost to the bank. Thereafter, every time he started up, a hail of bullets arrives...nothing could be done in that awful fog with bullets whizzing overhead.” In particular, one Spandau – a German machine gun – had been causing almost continuous interference and casualties, Peter Caddick-Adams, author of history book Monte Cassino, Ten Armies in Hell, writes. Rather than wait for the gunfire to stop, Arthur decided to take his life into his own hands. Crossing the river unaccompanied, the sergeant ran onto the bank before throwing himself onto the ground to take cover. Michael, 77, said: “One night it was really bad – it was about 3am – and my father was a sergeant trying to build the bridge.

“The Germans were shooting at the men and he just had enough. He went across in a raft at the front of the bridge and went across the river to where the shooting was coming from.”

Reports from the time tell how Arthur ran towards the machine guns as they began to