Part 6 - One Son's Father, The White War, Trentino, 1916-1918

Prologue

From November 4 to 10, 1916, the infantry of the Macerata Brigade were transferred from the Doberdò area—where they had participated in the Ninth Battle of the Isonzo—to Ala and Pilcante in Vallagarina, near Lake Garda. On November 11, the Brigade entered the front line, under the command of the 37th Division, in the Monte Baldo sector (Mount Baldo - Mount Giovo - Besagno - Castello di Tierno (Mori) - Malga Val Gatto - Cima Mezzana - Passo Buole - Malga Zugna). 

Map showing where the 121st Regiment served in 1916-1918, in Trentino, part of the White War

As Brian Mockenhaupt wrote in Smithsonian Magazine:

“In subzero temperatures men dug miles of tunnels and caverns through glacial ice, They strung cableways up mountainsides and stitched rock faces with rope ladders to move soldiers onto the high peaks, then hauled up an arsenal of industrial warfare: heavy artillery and mortars, machine guns, poison gas and flamethrowers. And they used the terrain itself as a weapon, rolling boulders to crush attackers and sawing through snow cornices with ropes to trigger avalanches. Storms, rock-slides and natural avalanches — the ‘white death’ — killed plenty more. After heavy snowfalls in December of 1916, avalanches buried 10,000 Italian and Austrian troops over just two days.”

Although the 121st Infantry was not part of this "welcome" to the White War, the sister 122nd Regiment was part of this "avalanch-acre". Despite all the hardships of a war in the alpine 

Location of the Brigata Macerata  Avalanche in Val di Gatto - White Friday (December 13, 1916) occurred at the Italian Front of during World War I, when an avalanche struck an Austrian barracks on Mount Marmolada, killing 270 soldiers at Gran Poz. During the following weeks several other avalanches throughout the Italian front (including these) were lumped together. It is estimated that 9,000 to 10,000 soldiers perished.  Though the major occurrence at Gran Poz took place on a Wednesday in 1916, the term White Friday was applied.

heights and glaciers, this theater of war had a distinct advantage over the Isonzo for the everyday soldier.  This advantage was that there was no war of attrition here. There were localized (often intense) firefights, small battles and occasionally a large battle (usually instigated by the Austrians so not on the scale of the Battles in the Isonzo) to try to break out of the trenches and accomplish a pincer move to the main battlegrounds to the east. To the Italian command this was not an offensive war zone. Although there were originally plans existent to move up the Val Lagarina and into Trentino, the main goal was to keep the Austrians from breaking through and trapping the Italian main force at the easternmost Isonzo front, similar to what nearly happened during the Strafexpedition in May 1916. 

Here as in the Isonzo area the Austrians had abandoned the political borders in order to retreat to high ground which was easy to defend. But here the Italian objective was the same - DEFEND and protect the rear of the Isonzo troops.

The White War pushed soldiers to a different limit. Troops were forced to dig trenches and shelters in the rock and ice of the mountains, climbing carrying munitions and artillery pieces, fight between rocks and in Trento, the deep snow (no glaciers), often with inadequate equipment. At altitudes of over 2-3,000 meters, with temperatures freezing even in summer and which could reach 30 degrees below zero in winter, the most insidious enemies were exposure and avalanches, which led to incessant extra work in freezing trenches and claimed victims among the patrols keeping watch in the mountains. In later years my father commented that, “It was the coldest I’ve ever been in my life.”

In these sectors there were occasional battles, even half-hearted assaults, though otherwise troops which were assigned to protect the fortifications in this region lived out the war in relative safety. The actual fierce front action in this White War took place farther north towards the glacier regions of the Presena and the Adamello massif with its peak at 3,554 meters elevation.

Actions in 1916

The initial encampments of the Macerata Brigade were at Val di Gatto, Cima Mezzana, Passo Buole and Malga Zugna. In 1916 there were no specific large battles or enemy actions encountered by the Brigade.  The Brigade history noted: “They (the troops) alternated between the front and rear and performed constant patrols with occasional firefights with the enemy. They performed extensive defensive fortification building marred by many avalanches in the winter causing many losses.”

Passo Boule, Mt. Zugna

The Brigade had to undergo mountain training “on the go”. The Alpine landscape was challenging: mountains up to 2,000m above sea level, with some slopes of up to 80°. There were minimal road and rail connections to the area and in order to make the landscape more suitable for warfare, intensive road-building programs took place; both opposing armies also had to build bridges across mountain ravines, and to construct forts, barracks and huts to serve as accommodation, as well as digging trenches (where possible) or using explosives to create networks of underground caves and tunnels for protection, accommodation and storage. The Italians used cable cars and mules to transport food and munitions up to the mountain-top front lines – and to take the wounded back down to the plains, where hospitals were situated.

Paths at Cima Mazzana

Temperatures remained below freezing for at least four months of each year and snow was a constant presence in winter, with improvised snow trenches being used for defense. Both armies equipped soldiers with ice picks, ropes, snow suits, cold weather clothing and goggles.  Cold and frostbite were real problems for all men in the high Alps, especially when it came to treating the wounded. 

Actions in 1917

The Brigade moved its troops in 1917 to the western Brentonico sub sector. The entire year of 1917 was spent in Vallagarina, in the this sector (Crosano - Ala - Castello di Tierno (Mori)- Besagno - Cazzano - Castuine - Mount Giovo), where the Brigade rotated its units between front-line shifts and rest periods, as well as between patrol activities and front-line construction work.

The front line in these sectors remained more or less static until the end of the war in October 1918, with two armies perched on this strip of land separated by between 700 and 900 meters of no man’s land.

Italian Command Bulletins (Settore Val D’Adige), although not specific to the Macerata brigade, give an idea of what life in this theater was like when the shooting started:

• January 5 - In the area between Adige and Garda on the night of the 4th, an enemy unit violently attacked our advanced lines, greeted by intense firing and machine-gun fire folded up into disorder with considerable losses.
• 21 January -1 February - Between Sarca and Adige enemy movements and artillery duels.
• February 11 - On the front, thirty scattered actions of the artillery; ours targeted the enemy positions of Monte Creino (north of the Loppio depression).
• March 20 - On the slopes of Dosso Casina (south of the Loppio depression) one of our squads occupied an advanced enemy position, taking possession of ammunition and materials.

Italian soldiers at Dosso Casina

• April 4 - On the Trentino front, occasional actions of the artillery, more active also yesterday in the Adige valley where, in retaliation for persistent enemy shots on Ala, we renewed the bombing of the military works of Riva, Arco and Rovereto.
• April 8 - Usual artillery actions. Ours carry out shots on military systems near Mori (Valle Lagarina).
• April 11 - To the renewed enemy medium-sized shots on the inhabited areas of Limone (Garda) and Ala, our batteries responded with retaliatory shots on the enemy lines near Arco and Rovereto.
• April 29 - From Garda to the Brenta on the day of the 28th persistent activity of the enemy aircraft that launched a few bombs on Ala (Lagarina Valley) ...
• May 10 - in the area of ​​Valle d'Adige the night on the 9th the enemy, after preparation of the artillery, launched small attacks on the slopes of ... Dosso Casina and against Sano (south-west of Mori). He was retorted before he reached our lines. Small nuclei that entered our place near Sano were immediately driven back by a counterattack.

Italian Front Lines at Tierno Mori and Talpina with Lake Loppio in background

• May 22 - Between Garda and Adige, after intense and prolonged artillery action of all caliber, the enemy attacked the position of Dosso Alto (south-west of Lake Loppio). The assailants were thrown back with serious losses.
• July 24 - Yesterday the enemy brought more activity on the Tridentine front: his units harassed our workers near Tierno (Mori).
• 25 July - On the Tridentine front, enemy attempts to surprise our advanced places near Lake Loppio were promptly repressed.
• July 27 - In Malga Zures (east of Garda) ... our patrols provoked small actions with a favorable outcome for us.
• July 30 - Yesterday the fighting activity on several points of the Tridentine front: small actions with a favorable outcome took place ... in the depression of Loppio (east of Garda).
• August 11 - South-east of Mori in Val Lagarina, in the night on the 10 strong enemy nuclei, having overcome the resistance of a new advanced place, they managed to penetrate it, but they had to immediately clear it in front of our prompt hurries.
• October 15 - Attempts by enemy nuclei against Dosso Alto (Val Lagarina) remained unsuccessful.
• October 17 - South of Mori, our small guard units, attacked by enemy patrols, repelled them and took some prisoners.

Brentonico after artillery attack 

A 121st Regiment (3rd Battalion Engineers) structure marker on the road between Brentonico and Castione

During the year, there were several artillery and small battles that affected the plain of Mori and the locality of Sano, Lake Loppio, Dos Casina and Dosso Alto di Nago. 

Although the lines of this front remained substantially unchanged, with the Italian defeat of Caporetto on October 24, the advanced positions in the area of Mori and Lake Loppio retreated, and fell back onto the slopes of Monte Baldo Nord, in the Castione area. The stations there are strengthened to resist any follow-up breakthrough attempts.

Castione in 1918

Actions in 1918

In January 1918, the Macerata infantry were still in the Brentonico sector but now further west (Brentonico - Castione - 912th Hill - Dosso Alto di Castione - Mt. Altissimo Sector - Mt. Giovo - Coste di Tierno - Crosano - S. Cecilia - Cazzano - Talpina) and were then rested between Avio and Sabbionara until March 1st, being replaced by the Foggia Brigade (280th, 281st, and 282nd Infantry Regiments).

From March 2 to April 30, the Brigade shifted operations in the Monte Altissimo sector (Mt. Altissimo - Doss Casina - Doss Romit [804th Hill] - Cazzano - Cornè - Resistance Line - 630th Hill - Doss Spirano - 1125th Hill - Roccioni - Malga Rigotti - Malga Sorgente).

Again, from the Italian Command Bulletins (Settore Val D’Adige): 

• January 4 - In the mountain area yesterday there were many concentrations of fire in the Lagarina Valley ... and greater activity of the enemy batteries against our positions at the Altissimo (east of Garda).

Barracks at Mt. Altissimo

• January 13 - Our patrols were very active in the Loppio depression ...
• January 22 - In the Zures regions ... the artillery explained persistent and lively actions.

View of Malga Zures today

• February 4 -... our scouting corps carried out coups in Castione (su di Mori) ... capturing prisoners.
• February 14 - Between "Garda" and "Adige", our "Arditi", overcame several orders of barbed wire enemies, they unexpectedly reached the opposing line in two points, killing several lookouts and drawing some prisoners.
• March 5 - In the Loppio region (Val Lagarina) there was a lively exchange of cannon shots and our patrols with successful harassment actions raised lively alarm in the enemy line.
• March 6 - South of Tierno enemy patrols, which tried to reach our lines, were repelled with losses.
• March 19 - To the east of Garda our advanced places dispelled opposing patrols that tried to surprise them.
• April 21 - To the west of Mori our assault corps attacked the small enemy guards in the region of Sano and, after lively struggle, managed to destroy two and to repel a third; some prisoners brought back.

Then between May and June the Brigade left the Vallagarina and were engaged in a period of exercises and training in Valeggio sul Mincio, in the Verona area, The training was all in anticipation of the Battle of the Solstice they were now transferred to the Piave River front in the Treviso area.

Pilcante on the Adige River, Rest and recuperation behind the front lines in The Monte Baldo Sector ca. 1904

Part 5 - One Son's Father: The Battles of the Isonzo River, 7th, 8th and 9th, The Trieste Offensive, September - November 1916

Prologue

After Gorizia, Cadorna turned his attention to the remainder of the Karst Plateau. Three successive (and short) offensives between September and November were begun and then brought to a halt by a combination of heavy enemy gunfire and bad weather. Together they would cost the Italians 125,000 dead and wounded, as opposed to 85.000 Austrians.

The Austrian command correctly believed that Cadorna would strike on the Karst Plateau again intent on trying to reach Trieste.  The Italian Navy had a plan to use an amphibious assault using a division sized force in concert with a land attack on Trieste. The landing of a division-sized force behind Austrian lines would have turned Boroevic's (the Austrian commander) vulnerable left flank; combined with a general offensive, such a joint army-navy operation might easily have enjoyed strategic success, including the capture of Trieste from the rear. Cadorna had enough troops to spare, but he was uninterested in any plan that was not his own and was not focused on the Isonzo front. 

Meanwhile, Boroevic after the defeat at Gorizia, was strengthening the second defensive positions. By early September, the 5th Imperial Army had 40,000 construction troops, half of them unarmed Russian prisoners of war, working day and night in the Isonzo valley. They built stone reinforcements, dug deeper trenches, laid foot-high walls of sandbags, placed steel shields and barbed wire in front of entrenchments, and did all the tasks that were required to make the army's positions ready for Cadorna's next attack. They worked especially hard on the Carso, where the next Italian blow was expected. The construction units suffered regular losses to random Italian artillery fire, but remarkably, most of the second defensive line was ready in the second week of September, fortuitously, because Cadorna would launch another direct ground offensive to Nova Vas on September 14 in the Seventh Battle of the Isonzo, also known as the Battle of Nad Logem. Nad Logem refers to a strategic summit on the Karst Plateau, located along the Isonzo Front, near Doberdò. 

Moreover, the loss of Gorizia convinced the Austrian AND GERMAN High Commands of the gravity of the Italian threat, and Boroevic received more new units and replacement battalions than ever before (even drawing troops from the Eastern Front with Germany's consent). By mid-September, the Austrian forces on the Isonzo reached an unprecedented strength of almost fourteen divisions (165 infantry battalions). Boroevic also received artillery reinforcements from the High Command also by mid-September. 

Moreover, the battle-worn divisions broken by the Sixth Battle were being rapidly rebuilt. Only a month after its loss, Austria's 58th Division was again at full strength, but its character had changed; only one-third of the division's eighteen infantry battalions were Dalmatian (locals), the rest being new units drawn from all over the empire. The 17th Division was also reconstructed to look much like its former self. The Austrian VII Corps still held the line on the north and central Carso; the plateau's southern third was garrisoned by a mostly Czech battle group, one and a half divisions strong. In all, Austria had seven brigades-32,000 infantrymen-at Isonzo to beat back the expected coming Italian offensive. The Italians knew little of this rapid recovery.

Battle of Nad Logem

On September 13 the Macerata Brigade had again been deployed to Doberdo as part of the 31st Division – south of Quota 208 Sud and on September 15 is ready for action in the narrow, deep but small valley of Bonetti, south of Quota 208 Sud.

The Macerata Brigade was positioned left of the lake opposite Quota 208 S (see C), attacking into the valley to the right.

After ceasing artillery fire, the II Battalion of the 121st Regiment initiates a bayonet attack to the edge of the Austrian trenches but the lateral troops cannot support the advance and the Battalion is forced to fall back.  They are then reinforced by I Battalion of the 122nd Regiment who make a breakthrough and leap over a sinkhole (dolina) leading to the capture of 20 Austrian officers and 200 troops. The enemy counterattacked and forced the left of the line to fall back.  The 31st Division faired considerably better than its neighboring 19th Division.  This group was torn apart by machine gun and artillery fire well before reaching the Austrian lines.  Then a surprise counterattack by a single company of Austria’s 11th Kaiserjägers pushed the dazed Italian troops back to their own lines.  Also an attempt by the XII Corps to expand its hold on Quota 144 also failed.

Trenches at Quota 208 Sud (South)

From September 17 until 24 the action ebbed and flowed in another bloody battle. The Macerata Brigade is then relieved by the Modena Brigade and moves to Romans d’Isonzo in the rear to recuperate. 

The short nature of this battle allowed the Austrians to continue to rebuild. By this time the Imperial Army was now facing three fronts – the Eastern (Russia), the new Transylvanian (Romanian) and the Italian. The Italian front was still the lowest priority but the high command was able to send two more divisions to Borovic and more work was done in the south sector on the secondary defensive lines towards Trieste.

Map showing the locations of the places involved in the Battles of the Isonzo River (7, 8 & 9)

The Eighth Battle of the Isonzo River

On October 10, the Eighth Battle of Isonzo ensued. Essentially this was a continuation of Italy’s prior attack in September (Nad Logen) which in turn was an attempt to extend the bridgehead established at Gorizia in August 1916 south to Trieste. Cadorna was determined to continue Italian attacks to the left of the town of Iamiano (Jamiano), a policy that continued during the subsequent (ninth) battle - with equal lack of success.

33rd Division Position at Quota 208 Sud

On October 12 the Macerata Brigade is sent again to the front lines under the command of the 33rd Division. Two battalions are sent to Quota 208 and two battalions are sent to the towns of Palichisce and Ferletti under the command of the 47th Division and first to Vermegliano (in reserve) and thence to Boneti to replace the 41st Regiment. 

The Battle could be considered an Italian victory because some ground was gained (but not enough to indicate a path to Trieste). However, what the Battle also showed was that the still beleaguered Austrians had just enough strength to stop an advance but not be overrun.  This was the war of attrition that Italy would be expected to win if no further changes were made.  As long as there were enough infantrymen to sacrifice - “offer up in grey-green clothes” – as articulated by D’Annunzio, the odds would be in Italy’s favor.

It is worth noting, however, that this battle represented at least in theory one of the most dramatic moments for the Empire of Austria-Hungary. Although Cadorna and his military commanders were unaware, the resistance at Iamiano (the small village to the south-east of Doberdò) saved the destiny of that front for Borevic. In fact the Austro-Hungarian commanders, after the withdrawal that had taken place in August, were still re-organizing the new defensive lines in the south. A specialist sent by Vienna to visit the Vipacco Valley suggested the organization of a new fortified line that would be placed further back from the first line (by about three kilometers) and that would take advantage of the maze of rocky paths and of the numerous natural caverns around Mount Ermada.  When the combatants reached Iamiano in this battle, the new defensive lines were still inadequate and if the Italian army had continued along this road, it would most likely have succeeded in breaking through and in advancing towards Trieste. 

But the reality was otherwise. As with the earlier, Seventh Battle attack, heavy Italian casualties - this time 50,000–60,000 killed, wounded, missing or captured, compared to 38,000 killed, wounded, missing or captured for the Austrians - required that the short, sharp concentrated initiative be called off pending the army's recuperation. The Trieste-Isonzo onslaught was next renewed with the Ninth Battle of the Isonzo on 1 November 1916.

The Ninth Battle of the Isonzo River

The German command still recognized the gravity of the situation and allowed another single Austrian division to be transferred from the Russian front to Italy.  They would arrive in late October. 

Sketch showing components of the Italian Third Army before the 9th Battle of the Isonzo River, including the Macerata Brigade SE of Boneti

The battle began on November 1, after 24 hours of artillery fire. The Italian XI Corps made a breakthrough of the front in its sector, occupying important positions on Veliki Hribach and Pecinka; on the contrary the XIII Corps was stopped by the counterattack of the Imperial Army. During the night the Austrian counter produced a constant artillery fire on the new positions of Veliki and Pecinka, held by the 45th division; at 4 o'clock they attacked en masse but the resistance of the Barletta brigade saved the day. This part of the battle which lasted more than 12 hours, allowed the arrival of the reserves, practically saving the situation of the 45th division. On November 2 new positions were taken on the Karst plateau in the area of ​​Castagnevizza, while towards the south the Imperial Army resisted the Italian assault. Because of the shortage of ammunition and considering the new positions taken as satisfactory Cadorna ordered the suspension of operations on the evening of the November 2. Then on November 3 and 4 the struggle suddenly resumed, due to the retreat of the Austrians to more backward positions, a retreat immediately exploited by Italian troops that on the evening of the November 4 who occupied all the trenches of Mount Fajtji. But as always, the Austro-Hungarian Army's position on the high terrain provided a formidable natural barrier to the Italians' attempts to achieve the breakthrough to Trieste.

Bombardment during battle near Boneti

Also on November 1, the Marcerata Brigade took its part in the Ninth Battle of the Isonzo River as part of the 33^rd Division - again at the northern flank of the main thrust of the assault. In the initial wave they were able to overrun the enemy trench and at Quota 208, capture 200 Austrians and send many on the run back to their rear. But the flanks were unable to duplicate this success and with the threat of being cut off the advanced units returned to their initial positions. Three other battalions (the I and II of the 122 Regiment and V of the Bersaglieri) launched another attack. The loss of the three battalion commanders (two fallen on the field and the other seriously injured) stymied the effort and as a result the gains were outweighed by the losses on the battlefield. The Brigade (tired and exhausted) eventually took the ridge of the Valtellina after having lost on 17 officers and 546 men. These unit actions were recognized by the award of the Medaglia d'argento al valore militare.

Italian soldiers in trench at Quota 208 Sud

Aftermath for the 121st infantry

The Karst Plateau Campaign was over for the winter of 1916-1917.  The Macerata Brigade was now miraculously to be transferred to the “quiet” Trentino Front - the White War. On November 4 the Brigade is sent to Vermigliano, then the next days to Cervignano and Strassoldo and on November 6-8 moved by rail to Val Lagarina between Pilcante and Brentonico-Passo Buole under the control of the 37th Division tasked with the protection and defense of Baldo sector and Brentonico sub-sector where they spent the rest of the year, the entirety of 1917 and a part of 1918.

  

The Father of Rock and Roll

William John Clifton (Bill) Haley was a most substantial influence on Rock ‘n’ Roll–its development, its popularity and its very existence. Elvis is the King of Rock and Roll, but Haley is the Father of Rock and Roll. For a period of time in the mid-fifties, he was the most popular entertainer on the planet. He sold millions of records. He caused riots. Haley today is seldom mentioned for his influence on rock and roll and his impressive list of firsts:

    • First band leader to form a Rock 'n' Roll group. (the Comets-1952). 

    • First Rock 'n' Roll star to write his own songs (e.g., Rock a Beatin’ Boogie, Crazy Man Crazy).

    • First Rock 'n' Roll star to reach the national charts with music he wrote and recorded (Crazy Man Crazy), 

    • First Rock 'n' Roll star to sell a million records. (Shake Rattle and Roll - 1954)

    • First Rock 'n' Roll star to chart No. 1. ((We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock)

    • First Rock 'n' Roll star to go on a world tour. (1957–England and Germany)

    • First Rock 'n' Roll star to sell a million records in England. (Rock Around the Clock)

    • First Rock 'n' Roll star to star in a full-length motion picture. (Rock Around the Clock – 1956)

    • First Rock 'n' Roll star to appear on a network television show. (May 31, 1955, Milton Berle Show)

    • First Rock ‘n’ Roll star to have a song appear on a national television show. (Omnibus Theater, October 4, 1953 – Flower in the Glory, Crazy Man Crazy)

Born on July 6, 1925 in Highland Park, Michigan, Haley was living in Pennsylvania by age 7. After age 15 he was a guitarist, singer and entertainer with several local semi-professional country and western bands, including the Range Drifters. He gained great useful experience, sang and yodeled with any band that would have him, and also worked with a traveling medicine show.  

The Range Drifters L to R-Brother Wayne, Bill Haley, Bob Mason and Lloyd Cornell

Beginnings

In 1945 he joined his first truly professional band, The Downhomers based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, already on tour in Hartford CT. This was not a successful venture for Bill.  Haley returned to Pennsylvania in September of 1946. He was ill, disillusioned and broke. 

Bill began to work with a new version of the Range Drifters, as another "drug store" cowboy band, such as the Downhomers. Again, this was another unsuccessful venture for him. 

Bill then shifted his focus to radio. He spent the next few years as a disc jockey at WSNJ in Bridgeton, NJ and then as musical director for radio station WPWA in Chester, PA.  He had not completely given up his musical dreams and still found time to play in and start local country and western bands, capitalizing on his new-found radio popularity in Pennsylvania and surrounding states by forming another band, the Four Aces of Western Swing.

The new band was regionally successful and even recorded a few singles in 1948 and 1949, on “Cowboy Records”. The first Bill Haley recordings were Too Many Parties and Too Many Pals/Four Leaf Clover Blues (Cowboy CR1201) August 1948 and Tennessee Border/Candy Kisses (Cowboy CR1202) March 1949.  The band also performed under another name - Johnny Clifton and His String Band, which also released a record, Loveless Blues and Stand Up and Be Counted.

Moreover, at this time Bill had been a Yodeling Champion (State of Indiana) and also released singles highlighting this genre–Yodel Your Blues Away and A Yodeler’s Lullaby, while continuing to release other more traditional country swing and ballads. Many other songs were recorded but they all were the country and cowboy genre.  

But by 1949, the “Four Aces” disbanded and Haley formed a new band, “The Saddlemen” which was still a country/cowboy band but in turn was ultimately to become the very first rock and roll band in history, evolving into the “Comets”.

The Four Aces of Western Swing, L to R Al Constantine, Tex King, Bill Haley, and Bashful Barney

Transition

By the summer of 1950, Bill Haley and His Saddlemen cut their first records. They were on the Keystone label, a small Philadelphia independent publisher. The songs were still standard western swing tunes such a, "Deal Me A Hand", "Ten Gallon Stetson" and "I'm Not To Blame".

But Haley, still working on radio, was able to indulge his growing appreciation of "race music" or R&B, when the station owner began a daring policy of mixing genres—playing country, pop, and R&B during the course of any given day. Preceding Haley’s country and western DJ show on WPWA, was one of a handful of R&B shows in the east. “Judge Rhythm’s Court”, presented by a white man in his forties named Jim Reeves (not the singer of the same name) under the name of “Shorty the Bailiff”. Reeves’ theme was “Rock the Joint” by Philadelphia's Jimmy Preston and the Prestonians. Haley liked the music that Reeves was playing - in particular, he became a big fan of Big Joe Turner and Ruth Brown - and he started adding some of these R&B songs to the Saddlemen’s setlists. He noticed they went down especially well with the younger audiences. 

The Saddlemen, Back row, Billy Williamson and Johnny Grande, front row, Al Rex and Bill Haley

The Saddlemen were also able to promote their act while Bill was working at WPWA. Like many acts in those days, it was the work on the station that enabled them to reach the listening audiences to help augment their salaries with personal appearances in the listening area. 

One of their frequent venues for performances was a place called the Twin Bar in Gloucester, NJ.  The Twin Bar became an important venue of Haley’s career. “Bill called the Twin Bar the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll,” said John von Hoelle, co-author of Sound and Glory, a 1990 biography of Haley.
 During an 18-month engagement at the Twin Bars in the early 1950s, Haley used the bar as a musical laboratory, a place to experiment with his sound. He introduced a loud, amplified beat that he called “cowboy jive” on the rhythm and blues tune “Rock The Joint” that was enthusiastically received by the Twin Bar patrons.
 But Haley and the Saddlemen were not recording this new sound yet.

That changed in 1951 when Haley was signed to Philadelphia-based Holiday Records and began to move toward “rock", recording a cover of the Delta Cats R&B “Rocket 88." Holiday and its sister label Essex, which also released several Saddlemen records, were owned by Dave Miller, who owned the pressing plant that had made Haley’s earlier records for the Cowboy label. Miller wanted to have hits, and in particular he wanted to find ways to get both the white and black markets with the same records, and here he had an ally in Haley with whom he devised a formula which would be independently re-invented a couple of years later by Sam Phillips for Elvis Presley–putting out singles with a country song on one side and an R&B song on the other, to try to appeal to both white and black markets. 

To that end, Dave Miller heard and thought that it might suit Haley’s band to cover “Rocket 88”. This seemingly was an odd decision–“Rocket 88” was a horn-driven R&B song, while the Saddlemen at this point consisted of Haley on acoustic guitar, a double-bass player, a steel guitar, and an accordion/piano. This doesn’t sound like a propitious lineup for an R&B song, but along with ace session guitarist Danny Cedrone they actually managed to come up with something rather impressive, translating R&B into western swing had ended up with something a little different to a hillbilly boogie one might expect. This recording sold in the 75,000-100,000 range in the Pennsylvania-New England region and Miller and Haley figured they were on to something. They kept trying to come up with something that would work in that style. They put out a few singles (heavy on the "cowboy jive") that were almost, but not quite, what they were after-"Greentree Boogie", "Rockin’ Chair on the Moon", and "Sundown Boogie", as well as Ruth Brown's "Teardrops From My Eyes." 

1952 ad for the "Rock the Joint" Saddlemen performing at the Twin Bar in Gloucester, NJ

Also in 1951, Haley crossed paths with R&B's The Treniers while playing in Wildwood, NJ. Late in 1952, inspired by his now adopted theme song Rock The Joint, Haley would write a quintessential rock song, "Rock A Beating' Boogie" which would be recorded by Danny Cedrone and his group the Esquire Boys. 

"Rock a Beatin' Boogie," (Haley was latching on to the slang language the Treniers were using on the Jersey shore) to also be recorded by The Treniers themselves in 1953. The fact that a white (mostly country) artist was inspiring an African-American band with an R&B song to record was highly unusual, if not completely unique situation anywhere in the US at that time. The Treniers version of “Rock-A-Beatin’ Boogie” did not sell well, but it did find its way into the hands of Alan Freed. Freed used the Treniers “Rock-A-Beatin’ Boogie” as theme music for a period in 1953.

Also in 1952 “Rock The Joint,” was released on record, becoming another one of those records that came incredibly close to R&R. Haley's “Rock The Joint” cover was a remarkable record. As Haley’s version had a drive and a throbbing rhythm that was totally unique for a white act at the time and rock’s first true electric guitar solo by Danny Cedrone (copied from the Esquire Boys' "Rock a Beatin' Boogie"). It was a hyper-fast solo that succeeded in the difficult task of replicating the excitement of the original sax solo and was the template for generations of white kids playing rock guitar.  Moreover, this 12-bar solo, was featured almost note for note, two years later in “Rock Around The Clock.” “Rock the Joint” also sold in the 75,000-100,000 range as had “Rocket 88’.”

With their new, exciting sound and adoption of “hep” sharp-looking outfits the name "Saddlemen" no longer seemed appropriate. Bob Johnson, Program Director at WPWA suggested the name "Haley's Comets" for a new handle. "Ya 'know, with a name like Haley, you guys should call your group the Comets!" Bill had been told many times his music was "far out" and the idea of a blazing comet searing across the skies appealed to him.  So just before the Thanksgiving holidays in 1952, the world's first true Rock'n'Roll band changed their name and their image. Off came the cowboy boots and the Stetsons. With some regret and more than a little apprehension, four veteran musicians, turned away from country/western music and faced an unknown future as "Bill Haley and his Comets".

After 1952, it was clear that Haley, Caucasian, was connected to white listeners who were already discovering and becoming interested in black R&B in the mid-1950’s and in appearing when he did, it gave that generation of white kids the belief that R&R was their music too.

Bob Willoughby's photo of R&B’s Big Jay McNeely lying on his back, honking his saxophone on the stage of Los Angeles’ Olympic Auditorium in 1951 - the front of the stage is lined with white kids, pounding their fists on the stage, expressions of frenzy on their faces. Bill Haley and the Saddlemen saw it coming and then made it happen.

The Rock'n'Roll Comets

Early Success

The band signed with Essex Records, which released (in 1952) Real Rock Drive/Stop Beatin’ Around the Mulberry Bush in 1952. It was a nice sounding record but with weak song crafting. Haley copied a country record called “Tennessee Jive” and replaced “Real Rock Drive” for “Tennessee Jive” throughout the record.  Haley had previously plagiarized using this technique, rewriting “Rockin’ Chair Boogie,” the flip of “Tennessee Jive,” as “Rockin’ Chair On The Moon.” Haley had a game-changing musical concept in mind, but was thin on original song ideas. However, Haley introduced an echo chamber vocal early on this record in the chorus and Danny Cedrone provided a real rock solo slightly subdued (to fit the slower tempo) from “Rock the Joint”.

In early 1953 Haley began further developing the formula for what was ultimately to become Rock 'n' Roll. He added drums to the line-up (never seen in a country band), and the transformation from Western Swing band was almost complete. Only one last ingredient remained to be added in the form of saxophones.

 

Saddlemen become the Comets. 1952, Clockwise from the bottom: Bill Haley, bassist Marshall Lytle, Steel guitarist Billy Williamson and accordionist Johnny Grande. 

The band also took a risky approach to reaching the youth market and played over 180 high school assemblies (mostly for free). When the kids shoulders started moving, their feet tapping and their hands clapping, they knew that particular tune or style was worth keeping.

In the spring of 1953, “Crazy, Man, Crazy” was released. In one of these school forays, Comets’ bass player Marshall Lytle recalled: 

“We had just finished a gig at Eddystone High School and we were loading our instruments in the car. We asked the kids how they liked our music. One kid answered ‘like crazy, man, crazy!’ Bill quickly wrote down the teenage expression. We were always looking for catchy words or phrases to write songs with. We left and went directly to Bill’s … Bill started strumming his guitar with several tunes, playing around with the crazy, man, crazy idea. I joined in and we began throwing tunes and lyrics together. After several hours we worked out our first song to hit the national charts.” 

“Crazy, Man, Crazy” was released in the spring of 1953 and charted at Number 12 in Billboard (and crossed over in the R&B charts at Number 66). It was also in retrospect, said to be the first R&R recording to be played on national television in the United States (in an episode of Omnibus (American TV program) in 1953).

This was the first rock ‘n’ roll song to chart nationally.  The band was now pioneering a new genre of popular music that had finally been given a name…rock ‘n’ roll…by Alan Freed, a Cleveland DJ. Bill Haley and the Comets were now a real R&R band whatever that meant in 1953.  “Crazy, Man, Crazy” was another great sounding record, and its appearance near the top of the national charts attracted the attention of Decca Records and producer Milt Gabler in New York City.

By 1954, Haley and his Comets were picked up by Decca Records–a major record label. At their first session for Decca in 1954, they cut “Rock Around the Clock” (which had originally been recorded in 1952 by Sunny Dae and His Knights – although it had been written originally for the Comets).  The song was recorded at the end of a three-hour recording session for a completely different song. “Thirteen Women (And I’m the Only Man in Town),” which was chosen to be the A-side of their record by Decca. And so “Rock Around the Clock” (which was recorded hastily in only the last 40 minutes of the session) ended up on the B-side. Despite that Haley and his band had been playing it for months to enthusiastic crowds at their live shows, the label didn’t appear to feel it was strong enough to release as a single. Regardless, the band got the song down in two takes. All of the musicians were live on a single track.  The A-side of the record didn’t exactly create a furor. Although the single did sell a modest 75,000 copies, it was on its way to being forgotten and sliding into obscurity, if not for a very fortunate occurrence to take place a year later in Hollywood.

Meanwhile, later in 1954, Haley did enjoy two million-sellers with "Shake, Rattle & Roll" and then "Dim Dim The Lights".  Haley was a now bona fide rock star.  In the summer of 1954, the battle of two bands between competing versions of the seminal rocker - Shake Rattle and Roll - showed Rock and Roll had indeed arrived. Haley’s cover reached number 7 on the Billboard chart and stayed for 27 weeks. It was the first rock & roll record to sell a million copies. Big Joe Turner’s original crossed over and reached number 22.

Comparing the two versions illustrates the differences between R&B and rock 'n' roll. A simple, stark instrumental backing is heard on the Turner version. Whereas Turner's version uses a walking bass line, the Comets' version features a slap bass. A subdued horn arrangement in the Turner recording can be contrasted with a honking sax riff that answers each line of verse in Haley's version, and the entire band shouts "Go!" as part of the vocal backing.

Although musical revisionists and American media tried to paint Turner as a victim of the music industry racism due to Haley's covering of the song, in fact Haley's success helped Turner immensely although Turner was a well-established performer long before "Shake Rattle and Roll". Listeners who heard Haley's version sought out Turner's and thus the crossover success.

Rock Around the Clock

Despite a lack of commercial success upon its initial release, “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” would go on to reach critical mass a year later after being featured in the 1955 film Blackboard Jungle, a movie about unruly students and teenage rebellion. Peter Ford (then the teen-aged son of the star of the film – Glenn Ford) is credited with getting the song into the movie. His father and director Richard Brooks wanted a modern, up-tempo tune to open the film and raided young Peter’s record collection for ideas.

“I was listening to blues music at the time,” Ford recalls. “You had (pop records like) Eddie Fisher singing O Mein Papa, but I was listening to Work with Me, Annie!” Ford says they borrowed three discs: Rock Around the Clock, Big Joe Turner’s original version of Shake, Rattle and Roll, and Joe Houston’s All Night Long. He didn’t know which one was used till he saw the movie.

The single is commonly used as a convenient line of demarcation between the "rock era" and the music industry that preceded it. Billboard later separated its statistical tabulations into 1890–1954 and 1955–present. After the record rose to number one, Haley was quickly given the title "Father of Rock and Roll" by the media, and by teenagers who had come to embrace the new style of music. With the song's success, the age of rock music began “overnight” (although it had truly started after the War, ten years earlier) and ended the dominance of the jazz and pop standards performed by Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and others.

On July 9, 1955 "Rock Around the Clock" became the first rock and roll recording to hit number 1 of Billboard's Pop charts, a feat it repeated on charts around the world. The song stayed at this place for eight weeks. The record remained number 1 for seven weeks on the Cashbox pop singles chart. The record also hit number three on the R&B charts. Billboard ranked it as the No. 2 song for 1955, behind Perez Prado's "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)". 

With sales of more than 25 million copies worldwide, “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock” is one of the best-selling records in history and Rolling Stone has named it #159 on their first list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 

The success of "Rock Around the Clock" took place while Elvis Presley had yet to chart a record nationally; at a point when Chuck Berry's very first single for Chess had barely been recorded; and when Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly weren't even close to auditioning for recording contracts. The reality was Bill Haley & His Comets were the only established white rock & roll band, and the only white rock & roll stars in the world. The Comets were one of the best rock & roll bands of their era, with a mostly sax-driven sound ornamented lead guitar solos (courtesy of Danny Cedrone’s work) with heavy rhythm guitar from Haley, a slap-bass, and drumming with lots of rim-shots; they had the "blackest" sound of any white band working in 1952-1955.

Denouement

Haley and the Comets continued to chart for several years. The next big Haley hit came with "See You Later Alligator". "Alligator" shot to the #6 spot on the Billboard chart in early 1956, selling a million copies within a month after its release. A song called "R-O-C-K" followed and rose to #16.  During 1955 and 1956, Haley and his band had at least 12 US Top 40 records.

April 1956, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Look magazine photographer Ed Feingersh captures the excitement of rock and roll with Bill Haley.

The next big project on the horizon was the band's feature film, Don't Knock The Rock.  As well as performing the title track, Bill and the band performed an excellent version of "Rip It Up" (a number 25), a song that they would feature in their live shows for the next twenty years. The hits continued with "Rudy's Rock" which climbed to #34 in late 1956.

Comets in 1955, L to R counter-clockwise from top, Bill Haley guitar, saxophonist Rudy Pompilli, Bill Williamson, bassist Al Rex, accordianist Johnny Grande, drummer Ralph Jones and guitarist Fran Beecher 

By 1957, Haley decided to tour Britain as his popularity began fading at home. When the first American Rock 'n' Roll star came to Britain, he was met with large and enthusiastic crowds, but the British soon found out what American teenagers already knew. The 30-year-old Haley was old in their eyes, overweight, and rather mechanical when compared to the new rock royalty-Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Buddy Holly, who were younger and whose music was more exciting. Bill Haley And His Comets were the first, but now they were now rapidly becoming part of yesterday.

However, 1958 saw the band reach #22 in the U.S. with "Skinny Minnie" and #35 with "Week End". After that, they recorded a few minor hits and many more that didn't make the charts. The stay at the top was relatively short for Haley and the Comets. 

Haley found steady work again when Sixties rock fans began discovering the music’s roots at events such as the highly successful “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival” concerts, first staged by promoter Richard Nader in 1969. Haley’s career got more big lifts in the early Seventies. He re-recorded “Rock Around the Clock” in 1973, and it was this version that played over the opening credits for the popular TV show Happy Days. The original recording also appeared on the 1974 soundtrack for American Graffiti and became a hit in the U.S. for the second time that year.

Haley died on February 9, 1981 at the age of 55 at his home in Harlingen, TX. The “Father of Rock’n’Roll” had passed on.

Epilogue - Danny Cedrone

Bill Haley and the Saddlemen (later the Comets) did not initially have a lead guitarist. That role was fulfilled by Danny Cedrone (June 20, 1920 - June 17, 1954).  He made a name for himself and supplemented his income by doing (recording) session work. Bill Haley used him initially on Rocket 88’ in 1951. Due to a lack of documentation, Cedrone's involvement in recordings from 1951–52 is not confirmed but is supported by anecdotal evidence from surviving musicians, as well as by books such as the Haley biographies Sound and Glory by John Haley and John von Hoelle and Bill Haley by John Swenson. (Additional source: Chris Gardner's Bill Haley Database at Bill Haley Central.com). 

In addition to The Saddlemens’ country swing, he played on the aforementioned “Rock the Joint” and followed up with performing on the later R&R styled "Rockin' Chair On the Moon", "Stop Beatin' Around the Mulberry Bush" (another early rock guitar solo) and "Real Rock Drive". In 1953, during Haley’s sessions the lead guitar player was Art Ryerson. Meantime Cedrone organized his own new group “The Esquire Boys”. The Esquire Boys and this is believed to be one of the reasons he never joined Haley's group as a full-time member.

Cedrone's involvement with the Esquire Boys kept him off of Haley's recording schedule for most of 1952 and 1953. During this time, Cedrone made a number of recordings with the Esquires, most notably the Bill Haley composition, "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie" (reached #27 on the charts in a second version, 1954), several years before Haley would record it himself. Cedrone works more lead guitar solo magic into this song reprising a modified version of solo in “Rock the Joint”. They also recorded versions of “Guitar Boogie Shuffle” (losing the boogie-woogie and making it rock, even to the extent of a chorus, “we’re gonna rock this joint tonight”) and “Caravan” (which reached #27 on the US charts).

Cedrone returned to work with Haley's group in 1954. He played a key role in the band's first recording session for Decca Records on April 12, 1954 when they recorded "Rock Around the Clock" in New York City. According to the book Rock Around the Clock by Jim Dawson, Cedrone had been unable to attend the session rehearsal and was uncertain what to play for the first instrumental break in the song. One of the Comets suggested Cedrone repeat the solo he'd played on "Rock the Joint". Although Danny's wife daughter recall an informal rehearsal at their home in South Philadelphia after dinner where the two men ran through a few solos, and the Rock The Joint break was one of them.

Cedrone was paid only $21 ($239 today) for his work on the session, as at that time Haley still chose not to hire a full-time guitarist for his group. Cedrone would also play on the June 7, 1954 recording session for Haley's version of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" although he was not presented the opportunity for another notable guitar solo. 

On June 17, ten days after this session, Cedrone died of a broken neck after falling down a staircase at The 819 Bar in South Philly. His place as session musician in the Comets was then taken by Franny Beecher, who would later graduate to a full-time Comets’ member. 

Danny Cedrone

Danny Cedrone was the likely the very first lead guitarist of rock. He was the first to bring a structured solo into the recording studio and basically take over a song with a fiery guitar lead. But he died well before he knew it!

Part 4 - One Son's Father: The Battles of Gorizia and Doberdò (6th Battle of the Isonzo River) - August 1916

On August 6, 1916 the Italians launched an offensive against Gorizia. The offensive was concentrated in two zones: 1) the hilly area west of the Soča (Isonzo) river near Gorizia and 2) the westernmost edge of the Karst Plateau near Doberdò del Lago (south of Gorizia). On August 8, Gorizia fell and a bridgehead was finally established across the Soča (Isonzo) River. 

Role of the 121st Infantry

The Brigata Macerata participated in the battle first at the southern Gorizia limits and near Doberdò. The command of the troops was now under the 19th Division (XIII Army Corps). On August 10 as part of the southern area of assault, after realizing the pressure from the enemy had slowed down, troops moved to occupy the trenches “Marcottini.” Then the advance continued albeit under heavy fire from the Austrians into present day Slovenia towards Oppacchiasella (Opatje Selo) - Nova Vas and then it was to proceed towards Castagnevizza - Hudi Log - Lukatic – Hrbci.  On the August 11, the advance continued, still under constant enemy fire, until advance scouts reach the western edge of the town of Oppacchiasella, which remained under Austrian control. The objective was to take the main road between Duino, on the road to Gorizia from Trieste securing the advance to Gorizia from the south and opening a route to Trieste.

Diagram of Marcottini Crossroads (NW to Gorizia)

The Marcottini Trench today

At dawn on August 12, two battalions from the 121st Regiment (my father's regiment) reached Oppacchiasella and its reinforced (Austrian) trenches.  Meanwhile the 122nd Regiment advanced into the Mikoli valley and occupied the high ground to the southwest of the town clinging to the western slopes of Nova Vas. The Austrians mounted a counterattack and stopped the advance of the Macerata. 

Italian troops near Oppacchiasella (where the 121st Regiment battled)

By August 15, 1916, the 121th Infantry Brigade, Macerata was deployed with all three battalions in line south of Opatje Selo - Opacchiasella near the town, where together with the Brigade Ivrea they occupied the area up to Nova Vas - Nova Villa.

Abandoned Austrian position at Nova Vas

The regiment was constantly targeted by the enemy with gunfire, machine guns and artillery, which also reached the second lines.  At 9 o'clock a large caliber project hits the 121th Infantry Command Post directly; there are 20 killed and numerous wounded, including all the staff of the Regiment Command and the 1st Major Adjutant.

At 11 o'clock the order to advance in cooperation with the troops on the flanks is given - where cooperation with the lateral (flanking) troops advancing will have to be maximized, towards the left of the road Opacchiasella-Castagnevizza; close connection of the troops in the advance; with gradual use of reinforcements. The battalions of the first line, in the breaks of shooting of their artillery and bombardments, will have to provide, a search of break-through points and the appropriate movements of troops in the vicinity of them.

The advance starts good enough but soon hampered by the enemy fire in close contact, with the Ferrara Brigade, which after suffering serious losses is forced to fall back into the initial positions. Likewise, the troops of the 121st cannot follow the advance and following the retreating movement of the Ferrara Brigade, they stop in the previous positions. During the night exploration patrols are sent and the battalions are relieved.

Positions of the opposing armies, including the 121st Regiment on August 15, 1916, near the end of the battle

The Opacchiasella offensive is vigorously resumed on August 16 but is stopped again by the Austrian defenses. But on August 16 and 17 the advance continues after a strong artillery attack on the Austrians, however, progress is slow and the losses are greater than the advance warrants.  At this point the Macerata is relieved by the Marche Brigade and they return to the rear (between Campolongo and Aiello) to recuperate under the command of the 31st Division. The Italian Command content with having established the bridgehead and capturing Gorizia early, ended the offensive on August 17.

Aftermath

The attack on Gorizia was the most successful Italian offensive along the Isonzo lines and greatly boosted Italian morale - especially since Gorizia had been promoted as a desirable objective, unattainable in earlier battles. In the wake of the battle Italy finally declared war against Germany, on 28 August. However, the optimism was tempered. The Italian generals, in an attempt to make up for their equipment disadvantage, committed the Italian soldiers to frontal assaults, resulting in massive casualties.  The Italian losses in the battle of Gorizia from August 6 to 17 were 51,232 men, of which 1,759 were officers; the Austrians lost slightly less; 41,835 men out of action, of which 807 were officers.

The battle of Gorizia also convinced Romania, on August 27, to go to war with the Entente, against the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary) creating another front for Austria. This led the Italian Command to order the resumption of the fighting, this time to open the road to another symbolic city: Trieste.

The loss of Gorizia also convinced the Austrian command to reinforce the Italian front.  Apparently unknown to the Italian command, by mid-September the Imperial forces reached an unprecedented strength of fourteen divisions with over 165 battalions and much needed equipment and the front was established east of the Vallone – a small valley dividing the Karst Plateau.