Hi all Apologies if this is the wrong forum, since this isn't strictly about PoWs. I attach a photo described as "23/09/1944 Crowds of Italians flock to see their first bagpipe band; the pipe band of the 2nd Camerons" I'm trying to track down the location which might mean knowing where the 2nd Camerons wer on or around that date. Many thanks as always, and please post to a different forum if more appropriate
As quite a number are buried in Cemetery Details | CWGC which is fairly close to San Marino ............................ TD
You can see it in street view in Google maps, it looks lovely, I'll need to add it to my places to visit "Charlie Company" gives Battalion casualties for the actual assault to capture San Marino as 18 wounded
Which may explain why this independent nation-state continued to be neutral. Who wants men in skirts playing screeching windbags? I jest
There is more info on an old thread with map and write up from 79th News here; Greetings from Republic of San Marino | Page 2 | WW2Talk
IWM links - one with a future PM EIGHTH ARMY : THE TOWN OF SAN MARINO TODAY EIGHTH ARMY : THE TOWN OF SAN MARINO TODAY
Band could be seen for short period (00:44 - 00:54) on video on this page: Bombardamento a San Marino 69 anni dopo: la storia non si dimentica
San Marino was on the axis of 4 Ind Div during Op OLIVE. This alarmed the San Marino authorities who feared what the indigenous Indian Regiments might do so GOC 4 Ind Div agreed that 2 CAMERONS would be brought forward to take up the lead so that they were the first to enter the state. Regards Frank
The people of Assisi were more than glad to welcome the 1 Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders - see photo on my website assisiwarcemetery.weebly.com It's a good job I'm not Scottish..... Vitellino
Thought I'd add this in for good measure. It's from my book 'The Trasimene Line. June-July 1944': On 13 August 11 Indian Brigade, 4 Indian Division, which had also been fighting in the Casentino, moved to a concentration area on the south shore of Lake Trasimeno and set up its headquarters in the Castle of Montalera. Although the War Diary of 2 Cameron Highlanders, 11 Indian Brigade, is unspecific about exactly where the battalion was camped, it can be deduced that it was not far from Montalera as eye-witness accounts recall the presence of Scottish soldiers in the hamlet of Casalini which lies just below the castle. The location chosen for their leave was a wooded slope running down to the shores of L. Trasimene, which offers muddy, tepid yet acceptable bathing. In addition, a mobile bath unit has been set up in our area. On 14 August 2 Camerons’ diary notes that the morning was occupied by training and the afternoon by rest and relaxation, whilst on 15 August they enjoyed a visit in the evening from a mobile cinema. On the 16th they had a visit from Lt. Gen. Sir Oliver Leese, the Commanding Officer of 8 Army, and in the evening the Pipe Band beat ‘Retreat’. The entertainment on the 17th was a ‘scratch’ football match and the diary records that both players and onlookers performed their different tasks with unlimited zeal and enthusiasm. There is also a reference to a religious service which took place in the unit’s lines on the morning of 20 August. At 1800 hours on the same day the Pipe Band once more beat retreat, and as well as naming all the pieces played the diary makes the following observation:. It was unanimously agreed that this was the finest performance by the band since the Battalion came overseas, both as regards piping and drumming and turn-out and drill. On 23 August 11 Brigade joined the other two brigades of the Division in the new unit area at Gubbio in readiness for their advance to the Gothic Line. The locals in Casalini were still talking (favourably) about 2 Camerons when I did the research for the book twenty years ago. Vitellino
Many thanks all - this has caused much excitement amongst Italian friends including independently tracking down the location. As usual, you are a fantastic crowd.
Just for good measure i just thought i would add that the diary: WO 170/1371 of the 2 Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders is stuffed with detail for the all of 44. You have to give the Adjutant ten-out-of-ten for it. Not sure of his name. I've only read whilst they got slapped about at Cassino & the capture of San Marino. We must not forget that Rfn Sher Bahadur Thapa, 1/9 GR, 5 Indian Infantry brigade was awarded a VC in the taking of San Marino. He his buried in the Rimini Gurkha Cemetery. I must show a photo of his headstone. Before i forget, the war diaries of the 1/9 GR are not much use has (the Adjutant may well have been a sleep on the job.?) He was. Vitellino, I've read your book on The Bridge at Allerona over a weekend & (what a book!) ISBN 978-1-291-11052-4. I'm half way through another of the many books that you have written. The Arezzo Massacres A Tuscan Tragedy by Janet Kinrade Dethick. ISB 978-1-4092-1542-4. Both books are of a decent price. Regards, Stu.
