Photos of the capture of Incontro Monastery, Italy 9th August 1944 (8th Army)

Incontro Monastery Captured, 8th Army, Italy 9th August 1944
Sgt. Ronald Pinckney Lambert No. 2 Army Film and Photo Section,
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The sign that greets our troops on the track which leads to the Monastery. (IWM NA 17685)

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Prisoners taken in the Monastery area are being searched at Battalion H.Q. (IWM NA 17686)

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Men of the D.C.L.Is wait in slit-trenches before moving up in their Bren carriers (IWM NA 17687)

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5 Warrant Officers of the Panzer Grenadiers are interrogated at Battalion HQ by the "I" Sergeant (IWM NA 17688)

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Panzer Grenadiers - captured by the D.L.Is - being marched back to Brigade HQ. (IWM NA 17689)

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The damaged church in the Incontro Monastery. (IWM NA 17690)

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The damaged church in the Incontro Monastery. (IWM NA 17691)

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The scene of desolation in one of the courtyards of the Monastery (IWM NA 17692)

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A Churchill 75 mm tank of the North Irish Horse guarding the track which leads past the Monastery. (IWM NA 17693)

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The Chapel of the Monastery (IWM NA 17694)

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An interior of the Monastery chapel (IWM NA 17695)

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Churchills of the North Irish Horse under cover in the grounds of the Monastery (IWM NA 17696)

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A monk walks across one of the rubble-strewn courtyards (IWM NA 17697)

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In one of the passages of the Monastery, men of the D.C.L.Is who captured the position, rest and eat. (IWM NA 17698)

The photographs actually give Map references for 106 Sheet 1:100,000 ITALY

 

Can't believe I have only just found this thread!

My great uncle was a private with 2 DCLI at Incontro and Cassino and often talked of his time there. Can't see him in the photos sadly but thank you posting them!

Chris

 

Chris.

I have walked the ground at the Incontro Monastery and been inside. It is still in use but the Benedictine monks have long gone. It is now a location for religious retreats. The views from the top over Florence are quite something and it is easy to understand why its capture was of such importance. 2 DCLi and the rest of 10 Inf Bde, supported by the Churchill tanks of the North Irish Horse did a fantastic job.

I have studied this little battle at length and have mapped out what happened to each of the Rifle Companies so if you would like to see that story do get in touch via my website www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk

2 DCLI also did well at Cassino. They were the beach masters for the 10 Inf Bde and mounted a Rifle Company diversionary operation at the same time. If you ever want to see what happened I am guiding a group at Cassino on 13-17 May 26.

Regards

Frank