Paul If you happen to go, I would love to get a photo to my uncles grave stone. Sadly, nobody has ever gone over to visit his grave from our family. I hope to go someday, maybe I can talk Iain McHenry into going with me. If you can get a photo, I would be very grateful. His details are as follows: GODDARD, THOMAS W. S. MONTECCHIO WAR CEMETERY Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. H. 6. Thank you for offering. Paul K
Hi, Sadly I don't think we will make that cemetery on this trip; it is one we have down to do for the future, though. Italy is so much bigger than many other battlefields, and the distance between cemeteries very great indeed; last year we 1500 miles in 7 days! This year we plan to spend more time around Cassino and the Liri Valley; I am going to post a list of possible cemeteries in due course.
Paul, Glad you received the Monte Cassino stuff OK. I will tell Kevin Hill that you are visiting the site. An interesting comparative point you might like to make is that Jefferson was the only Lancashire Fusilier VC of the Second World War. Compare that with the 17 won by the Regiment in the Great War, I'm pretty sure the most of any line regiment. It's not as if the LF had a 'cushy' war between 1939 and 1945 by any means, but of course the scale of the British participation (and also the generosity of VC awards) was rather different
Thanks again for that Mark - and I completely agree about the VC; indeed it applies to all WW2 gallantry. When you look at some of the MM recommendations at the National Archives for, eg Normandy, they read like WW1 VC citations... medals were hard won in the last war, there is no doubt about it.
Originally posted by No.9@Feb 28 2004, 01:03 PM There is no ambiguity about the action Hunter was awarded the VC for, nor the time, date and location where the incident took place. As mentioned in an earlier post, the North Irish Horse was in support of 43 Royal Marine Commando. I was aboard 'Ballyrashane' (one of the Churchills that was on the Spit) the day that Corporal Hunter gave his life for which he most deservedly was awarded the Victoria Cross - it was the 3rd of April 1945. Incidentally, it is great to find two old cyber friends upon my joining the Forum - No 9 and Paul Reed.
Off next Sunday. We are visiting the following cemeteries: Orvieto War Cemetery Bolsena War Cemetery Monte Cassino War Cemetery & Monte Cassino Memorial Not so many this time as we are concentrating on the ground more, and hoping to meet some of the vets.
Originally posted by Paul Reed@May 5 2004, 11:35 AM Off next Sunday. We are visiting the following cemeteries: Monte Cassino War Cemetery & Monte Cassino Memorial [/b] Hi Paul, Just one at Cassino: Tpr James William Wilson III G 9 - North Irish Horse Have a good trip and thanks once again, Gerry
Thanks chaps - Gerry, don't worry, I have a note of this request. At least one of the hotels we are staying in has Internet access, so I might post a Sit-Rep or two, in between the beer and pizzas!!
