I received a telegram from my editor. I was to be immediately dispatched to my next assignment. I would be joining the elite 6th Guards Infantry Regiment. On the morning of 23rd June 1941, with excitement and a mix of trepidation, I began my journey to join the Guards who were located on both the east & west side of the River Prut.

The Royal Guard Division had seized a number of important bridge-heads over the Prut and encamped themselves around Falciu and Bogdanesti in preparation for the morrow’s advance of the main part of the Rumanian Army. On the west side of the river, I was given a tent of my own set amongst a company of guardsmen. I placed my sparse belongings from my reporter’s case inside my new canvas covering and prepared myself for an evening of comforting sleep after the long travels of the day.

Around midnight, I was roused from what felt like a deep sleep by the frantic cries of “Stand To, Stand To”. Emerging from my tent, I took the arm of the first soldier that tried to run past me. “What’s going on” I asked.

“The Russians, they’re making a night attack, they’re advancing towards us, now let me get my things, I need to join my platoon comrades”. This soldier was just one of our brave men making ready amidst a cacophony of muddled sound. Mess tins being rattled, rifles grabbed, backpacks and other accoutrements frantically being strapped on against a background of the harsh voices of the NCO’s barking out orders, directions and instructions.

I soon learnt that a mixed force of Russian soldiers scraped up from the 5th Cavalry Division and 25th Rifle Division supported by tanks were advancing right at us in a daring night assault. Already, the sounds of immediate orders and intermittent rifle and artillery fire could be heard in the distance on the eastern side of the Prut. The 6th Guards, also known as the Mihai Viteazul Regt had the mission to keep the bridgehead open over the Prut and to hold the nearby town where so many supplies were coming through. Whatever happened, they were not to allow themselves to be pushed back over to the west side of the river at any cost.

NIGHT OF THE GUARDS (Eastern Front Scenario No.11)

Upon arrival to the area of action I saw an impressive defence of the town set up by the guards. They had dug-in all the way round in a complete defence of the town and had left the route to the bridge wide open. The logic obviously being that the main body of the Romanian Army were across that bridge and any Soviet incursion there would probably have been thrown straight back over.

In the pitch black it was a matter of awaiting the Russian forces. A mixed bag of infantry, tanks and cavalry advanced on the Romanian guards and after a nerve-jangling 90 minutes, contact was finally made. Soviet infantry began aggressive probing at our dug-in guardsman and in the process of an hour, lost 150 men. Romanian casualties were a measly 25. Taking the rebuff, the Soviets tried again at 0245 hrs. Another 100 Russians fell in this attack though 50 or so guardsmen lost their lives in the cause.

By 0300 hours, the Soviet Commander realized he would not force the Romanians back over the river, and yet, the guards did not have the ability to push the invaders from the bridge. Both sides retired and were happy to accept a stalemate.

I reached my tent by 0500 and was able to grab a precious four hours sleep. For the next week I had the joy of marching through Bessarabia with this fine unit as they liberated our fellow Romanians from Communist enslavement. Such glee I have never seen as our own people greeted the guardsman as their saviours. What fine times these are!