Courage And Valour: New Zealanders in the Italian Campaign

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Dave Homewood, May 29, 2014.

  1. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Dave
    Thanks Mate !
     
    Dave Homewood likes this.
  2. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

  3. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

    Has anyone here had a chance to listen to the currently available Courage And Valour episodes yet? I'd love to have some feedback on what you all think of the contents, and the concept, of the series. Especially on the second and third episodes which cover actual battles.
     
  4. mcshane

    mcshane New Member

    Help please.... My father served with the New Zealand 20th Armoured Regt in Italy. I think he was in C Squadron but that may have changed over time. I think he may have taken part in the Albaneta Farm attack. Would anyone know how to get hold of the names of the crews in the tanks that were in that part of the battle for Cassino?
     
  5. minden1759

    minden1759 Senior Member

    Mcshane.

    If you have not read it, you will find a lot of detail about the C Sqn 20 NZ Armd Regt attack towards Albaneta Farm on 19 Mar 44 in Ron Crosby's excellent book 'The Lost Opportunity.' It is hard to get hold of in UK but available in NZ. The book contains the names of a lot of those involved.

    A fiasco executed by brave men.

    Regards

    FdeP
     
  6. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

  7. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

    Has anyone had a chance to listen to episode 4 about Cassino yet? I'd love to hear your thoughts, particularly those of the veterans here on the forum who were at Cassino. Did you experience much the same thing as the kiwis in my series? Or was it different for you?
     
  8. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    No , havent listened to it.
    The fact that it's ''A 93 minute episode'' put me off.
    Sorry to tell you that .

     
  10. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

    You can listen in stages if it's that much of an issue with attention span.

    Most people have no problem watching three hour films in one sitting, so I figures I'd rather make these episodes detailed and tell the fullest story I can, rather than cut it down to mere sound bytes and have it lose all the depth and meaning.
     
  11. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Dave,

    Excellent.. a remarkable set of testimonies... a couple of photos from May 2014.

    best
     

    Attached Files:

  12. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

    Thanks Bexley!!
     
  13. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

  14. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Dave,

    Thanks for the updated links...it's hard enough driving up to Terelle from Caira today so couldn't imagine having to go up there by foot...

    best
     
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  15. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

    Not a problem Bexley. I'd really be interested to know if any of this forum's resident Italy veterans have been listening to the series, and what they think of it. I'm always open to criticism and suggestions.
     
  16. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Wonder if any of your participants were in Cassino in May?

    From the interview..
    ATKINSON, TREVOR DAVID


    Rank: Corporal
    Service No: 12282
    Date of Death: 15/05/1944
    Age: 26 Regiment/Service: New Zealand Infantry 24th Bn.
    Grave Reference: X. K. 19.
    Cemetery: CASSINO WAR CEMETERY
    Additional Information: Son of Noel F. and Ruby May Atkinson, of Taumarunui, Auckland, New Zealand.
     

    Attached Files:

  17. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Dave

    as an Italian Veteran - all your articles make sense to me as the KIWI's took hellish beating at Cassino and were never the same again..at the Gothic they played their usual part

    of winning.

    Cheers
     
  18. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

    Bexley, when we get to the episode/s on the men of the New Zealand Field Artillery they remained at Cassino till the end, whilst the infantry which has been the focus so far of the series moved out after the third battle. So yes a few of them will still have been fighting into may at Cassino, but none of my interviewees were infantry right up the front.

    Tom, thanks for the feedback and the vote of confidence, I appreciate it.
     
  19. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Dave,

    Thanks.

    Actually I meant were they there in Cassino last May for the 70th anniversary (picture attached)..

    best
     
  20. Dave Homewood

    Dave Homewood Member

    Oh right, sorry. Yes Colin Murray (who has featured in all six episodes so far) went back for the 70th as part of the official group. Also Spitfire pilot Laurence 'Bunty' Bunt who I have interviewed and will appear later in the series when we get to the Air Force stories also returned to Cassino on the same trip. I hopefully might get to interview a few of the others who went too if I can get some budget together to do a few more interview trips, as I now have addresses for several who went.
     

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