My Trip to Italy May 2014/My father Ernest Illingworth, 56 Recce

MY FATHER, ERNEST ILLINGWORTH, 56 RECCE

Like most people whose relative served in the war, my father Ernest Illingworth, 56 Recce never spoke about his experiences and I never thought to ask him when I was younger. My journey started in 2008 when I was researching my family history and I applied for my father’s service records. I was surprised to learn that he had served in the above Regiment as I always thought he had served in the Parachute Regiment-well he had, but not until after the war!

I joined this brilliant forum over 3 years ago, and have learned so much about my father’s war after purchasing the war diaries from Andy (Drew5233-thanks again Andy). Many members have helped me over the years and without their help I wouldn’t know half of the things I do now. Many thanks especially to Paul (Recce Mitch), Rob (Ramacal), Tom Canning and Ron Goldstein for helping me from the very start, and all the other members who have contributed to my posts and helped along the way.

I nearly didn’t make my trip because of my husband’s illness, but he insisted I had to go. If it wasn’t for the support and encouragement of Tom Canning (sorry you couldn’t be there with me Tom but I know you were in spirit), Wilf Shaw, Rob and Owen (who nagged me constantly!), I don’t think I would have made the trip, so a BIG public thank you to you all. I now know that would have been a decision I would have regretted as words cannot describe the emotions I felt visiting the cemeteries and attending the 70th Anniversary ceremonies. Seeing and talking to some of the Veterans was a wonderful experience for me and something that I will cherish the rest of my life.

My Italian Battlefield Tour 12th to 23rd May 2014
My 12 day Leger tour started at 5am on a dark, damp morning where I was picked up by mini-bus and taken to Doncaster to join the feeder coach to Folkestone. Our last stop before Folkestone we picked up Paul Reed, our battlefield guide for 12 days. I boarded the Silver Service coach, together with the rest of the party. It was a bit daunting travelling on my own, but luckily I was sat next to a girl called Rachel from Somerset, who was travelling with her four friends, and luckily we got on great for the entire holiday. We were lucky to have 3 Veterans on our coach, Jack Robertson aged 94, Royal Engineers, Richard Hargreaves, M.C. aged 95 from 4 Para and Fred Mason aged 88 who was at Anzio. We were all delighted when they took to the front of the coach during our trips out to tell us their stories.

We spent the first night at Reims, Northern France and the second night at Albavilla, Como, with fabulous views from our hotel. On our way to Cassino we stopped at Florence War Cemetery-a beautiful place, not visited very often. Paul asked if our party would sign the visitors book as the gardeners and CWGC do a wonderful job. We checked in at Hotel Rocca in Cassino and all sat round tables getting to know each other.

Thursday 15th May- Our tour started with a visit to Salerno War Cemetery, then on to Paestum to the Greek/Roman ruins and had lunch in the town. We then visited Caserta War Cemetery and Caserta Palace.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Caserta

Friday 16th May- Started with a visit to Cassino town to meet Damiano at his exhibition
http://www.gustavline.it/index.php?lang=en

We went next to Minturno War Cemetery, then on to the Museum Historiale in Cassino for a tour, where a lovely lunch was provided afterwards. We then went up to the Abbey at Monte Cassino where we parked and walked up Snakeshead Ridge, near Hill 593 and Albaneta Farm to the wreck of the Sherman tank which is now a memorial to Polish troops. There were plenty of Polish visitors around; they had set up camping areas around in readiness for their 70th Anniversary ceremony on Sunday 18th May.

Saturday 17th May- First stop the Sicily/Rome American Cemetery and Memorial (Nettuno), where we were given an introductory talk about the site. There are nearly 8,000 headstones (which represents just over a third of those killed, and over 3,000 missing are on the interior walls of the Chapel. One thing I learned was that there are no inscriptions or their age at death on the headstones.
We had free time for lunch in Anzio, then on to Anzio and Beach Head cemeteries, then to Anzio War Museum.

Sunday 18th May-Visit to the German War Cemetery at Caira, near Cassino on a beautiful sunny morning with wonderful views overlooking the valley. We spent lunchtime in Cassino and then on to the New Zealand Ceremony at Cassino War Cemetery. The New Zealand government had flown in 39 Veterans and their carers. Prince Harry was in attendance and it was a beautiful ceremony.

Monday 19th May-We arrived early for the 70th Anniversary British Ceremony at Cassino War Cemetery with Prince Harry in attendance once again. Paul Reed had managed to get our group a special invitation to the reception in the grounds of the Hotel Rocca where we were all served drinks and helped ourselves to a buffet lunch. Prince Harry arrived to talk to the Veterans waiting for him in the special tented area; he took his time and wouldn’t be hurried along by his security men; he spoke to every Veteran individually for what must have been nearly 2 hours. A wonderful sight to see-something I will never forget, all the Veterans sat around proudly wearing their medals. A very special time.

We then went to the Gari River and stopped at Aquino aerodrome, then a visit up to the Abbey at Monte Cassino.

Tuesday 20th May- Left Cassino on our way to our overnight stop at Ravenna. Stopped at Ortona and had a walk around the town where house to house street fighting took place. A very pleasant visit to Ortona Museum and lunch in the town. We went up the Adriatic coast through the Sangro valley where 78th Division was in November 1943/January 1944. It occurred to me that my father would have had his 21st birthday on the 24th November 1943 and wondered what his thoughts were on that day. Crossed the Sangro River and visited the war cemetery. I found this cemetery a most beautiful place; semi-circles of graves laid out like an amphitheatre with lovely views of the countryside.

We stopped at the Sangro River where one of the Veterans on our coach, Jack Robertson, aged 94, a Royal Engineer helped build the longest Bailey bridge at night under heavy fire in October 1943. Stopped off at Moro River War Cemetery for a brief visit.

Wednesday 21st May-Next overnight stop Niederau, Austria. Stopped at Ravenna War Cemetery and held a minutes silence for the D-Day Dodgers.

Thursday/Friday 22/23 May-all too soon our Battlefield tour was over and we made our way home, stopping at Brussels and then boarding the ferry and coach home.


I must say a special BIG thank you to Paul Reed for all his help and kindness throughout our trip, and for taking care of me! The itinerary was moved around a little bit because of the 70th Anniversary ceremonies but he made a special effort to make sure we visited everything we had hoped to see and a lot more too. Thank you for the special little “extras” you gave to us-especially the invitations to the reception which Prince Harry attended-a lot of strings had to be pulled to make the day special for us, so thanks again Paul. Top bloke with a great sense of humour-thank you for our little chats.

(To Owen-good job you told me to keep a diary, the days were so full I wouldn’t have remembered what we visited on what day!).

It was a long, hard tour, sometimes 12 hour days but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. To walk in places near where my father had been has been an experience I will never, ever forget.

For those members who have not seen photos of our visit, you can see Paul Reed’s Twitter/Flickr/Cassino70 feeds. Some photos of my visit are on my Gallery
[sharedmedia=gallery:albums:702]



From a very proud 56 Recce’s daughter
Lesley

Edit; Added link to Gallery

 

Lesley

Bravissimo !

It was Mark Twain who once said that life does not consist of mainly facts and happenings but rather the storm of thoughts that is forever blowing through one's mind.

The memories of your visit to Italy will now be with you for evermore

Enjoy !

Ron

 

Well done lesley - a good account of your trip - and glad you made it as indeed I was with you in spirit every step of the way

Cheers

 

Lesley excellent post
thank you
regards
Clive

 

Thank you for your kind words

Lesley

 

Great to read your diary of the trip Lesley and thanks for those kind words.

 

Lesley. That is a wonderful account of what must have been both a fulfilling and an emotional pilgrimage.

Steve

 

Excellent thread Lesley, I am so glad that you enjoyed your trip.

Regards Michael.

 

Lesley, a great account to compliment your great photos - thanks for sharing your trip with us.
Regards

 

Lesley a fantastic report of your trip to add to your photos of your trip. Thanks for sharing

Cheers
Paul

 

good day.4jonboy.m.yesterday.03:55pm.re:my trip to italy may 2014/my father ernest illingworth,66 recce.thank you for sharing your wonderfull trip.also the photo's they are great.your discription takes one on the trip with you.you are very discriptive.i admire your love for your dad.i follow your post's and enjoy them.regards bernard85.welcome home :group2:

 

Lesley
Thank you for a great post sharing your thoughts and the excellent photo;s

 

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments.

 

hi lesley,
im so pleased you enjoyed youre wonderfull trip , youre account of everything just makes me want to go myself . it must have been a magical feeling following in youre dads footsteps . loved the photos especially seeing the wonderfull work done by the cwgc and other bodies in looking after those wonderfull cemetries and also the pictures of the veterans ,great to see so many making the trip .
cheers
dave

 

A great read and amazing photos, Lesley. Thanks for sharing them.

 

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read about my trip and thanks also for the rep points too

Lesley

 

Great read lesley

 

Thank you Diane