Italian Campaign - 75th Anniversary

Discussion in 'Italy' started by bexley84, May 16, 2019.

  1. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    IMG_0177 (2).JPG IMG_0185.JPG IMG_0178.JPG IMG_0172.JPG IMG_0173.JPG A well attended day at Cassino CWGC cemetery today, 16th May 2019, at the British Embassy organised commemorative event for the Italian campaign.

    It was very pleasing to meet up with Charles Ward who served with the London Irish Rifles from 1939 to 1943 in UK and Tunisia, then with SoE from 1943 to 1944 in Algeria and Italy, then joining the Royal Signals during 1944/1945 in Italy. Charles joined the LIR on the same day as my father in October 1939 and a third recruit who joined that day, Edward Mayo, was awarded the MM during the Tunisian campaign but was killed on 16th May 1944 at Casa Sinagoga near Cassino. A most moving moment occurred when Charles laid a poppy cross at Eddie's final resting place.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2019
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  3. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Richard,

    may have just missed you. I was with Frank de Planta on a battlefield study that he does from time to time. It was quite interesting has to what happened at 05.00 / 05.30 hrs at Amazon Bridge. I slept through my alarm so i misted it.:oops:. I'm sure he will give the full SP has & when he comes across your thread.

    Regards
    Stu.
     
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  4. zola1

    zola1 Member

    Hi,

    Great pictures, good to see a recognition of the 75th Anniversary.

    Had a great trip on the battlefield study, i've enclosed a few photo's of the 75th Anniversary at Amazon Bridge (sorry only iphone pics so not very good photos).John Heady ..far right in the picture ..his dad was the Bridgemaster ,incredible bravery by all ..sorry i don't know the rest of the people !.

    George Barrick keeled over during Franks speech.. so had a bit of battle getting the Italian medics to let him go, but we rescued him time to get back on the schedule.:cop:


    Regards

    Derrick
     

    Attached Files:

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  5. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Hope George is ok.. I had a chat with him last Saturday at the cemetery during a brief stop in our filming journey following the Irish Brigade's advance from Congo bridge to Piumarola over 14th to 17th May 1944.
     
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  6. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    sorry to miss you - we were staying near the Gari river from 10th to 12th but went up to Trasimeno that day so didn't get the chance to join the group at Amazon.
     
  7. 51highland

    51highland Very Senior Member

  8. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    I'm so pleased Richard has started this thread for the 75th Anniversary. Lovely pics Richard, thank you. :)
    It doesn't seem like 5 years ago since I attended the 70th.

    I've also been following the twitter feed of MonteCassino75 here:
    #MonteCassino75 hashtag on Twitter


    Lesley
     
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  9. 4jonboy

    4jonboy Daughter of a 56 Recce

    100_2753.JPG 100_2761.JPG 100_2759.JPG 100_2764.JPG 100_2762.JPG A double page spread in the Daily Express Newspaper today, 17th May. At least they remembered as I've seen nothing reported on the Beeb yet.
    (Apologies for my poor photos but you get the gist of it:)).
    100_2753.JPG 100_2761.JPG 100_2759.JPG 100_2764.JPG 100_2762.JPG
     
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  10. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    George Barrick was the first to bar after a long day & (he needed it!) Thirteen hour shift of a day. He beat me to the bar. Will see if i can post some pics. I'm rather cheesed off that i misted Amazon Bridge.. Thats another five years before it can be done again. At least George got out of his pit. Will post some pics when I've resized them.:cheers:

    Stu.
     
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  11. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Richard.

    Yes, George showed me your card when we got to him at the cemetery on Sat afternoon. Such a shame not to have the chance to say hello at last.

    We had a good four days at Cassino and then a small group of us went on to Allerona Bridge where the father of one of the participants was killed during the Allied 'Blue on 'Blue' on 28 Jan 44. He was in 1 London Scottish and had been captured on the Garigliano days before the 17 Jan 44 assault by 56 Inf Div. We went to PG 54 at Borgo Santa Maria first then north to Allerona itself.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  12. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    I had met the Express lads in Sicily on another visit - so good to see that they continue to cover this period

    Tears flow as foes reunite at scene of hell – Heroes of terrible battle of Monte Cassino
     
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  13. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Nice about George... I took the chance to visit his father's final resting place and pause for a few moments there.
     
  14. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Just couldn't wait any longer at the cemetery as we were filming at the Piopetto and then Sinagoga.
     
  15. zola1

    zola1 Member

    Hi Richard

    George was fine , we had dinner & few drinks at hotel in Nemi later that day. He recovered quickly, those Bermondsey boys are tough .

    When does the filming got out on your journey?

    Regards
    Derrick
     
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  16. zola1

    zola1 Member

    Hi Frank,

    What a tragedy at the bridge, I’ve just read about it here :-

    THE BRIDGE AT ALLERONA

    Desperate chain of events!

    Such cruel luck that the train was crossing at the exact time the bombing commenced.

    Derrick
     
  17. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Derrick.

    Yes, Janet K D has done a fantastic job of recording the event.

    Sheena was deeply moved by being able to stand where her father was killed.

    Regards

    Frank
     
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  18. hutt

    hutt Member

    Here are a couple of shots taken a little further back and just after the ceremony as the Italian TV crew commenced their interview.
    It was a great privilege to have been there

    P1140159R.jpg
    P1140159R.jpg P1140163R.jpg
     
  19. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Excellent - about George.

    Hopefully 3 new episodes - separately covering the Adriatic, Liri Valley/Cassino and Trasimeno campaigns for the Irish Brigade/78th Div will be out in the autumn... editing takes a long time so luckily I'm not involved in that element.
     
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  20. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Actually seems like 10 years ago.. I look and feel 15 years older mind you.

    best wishes
     

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