The battle for Florence deserves more than just a passing mention. For 2nd New Zealand Division, which was given the task of liberating the city, it was necessary to capture intact bridges over the river Arno where it flows to the west, however, it first required the eviction of the enemy from a 1,827 foot high massif dominating the approaches to the bridges, upon which sits Monastèro di Incontro. With the Pratomagno massif effectively restricting an approach on the eastern side of the river as it flows to the north, the main attack was launched by 4th British Infantry Division on the west side up a narrow front between the river and Monte del Chianti, with the New Zealanders advancing in tandem west of the Chianti massif. On the evening of Friday, 21 July 1944, the battle commenced. Eighteen days of heavy fighting later, after successfully negotiating numerous heavily defended ravines and hilltops, what the Germans thought to be impossible, so much so that no anti-tanks guns were in place, was achieved. The capture of the massif forced the enemy to vacate all their positions south of the river Arno, enabled the New Zealanders to liberate Florence, and allowed the Allies to take up positions from which to mount an attack on the central portion of the Gothic Line.
Originally posted by No.9@Nov 24 2004, 09:05 PM I hope my last post does not suggest I may have been having a pop at you in any way Kiwi - I don’t think it’s been taken that way. I don’t know your work so am in no position to make any pointed statements. I have looked at your web site and see it ‘s quite an opus. I would say whatever one is to read there, including the summary of W.W.II, can be assumed to be from an American Naval perspective? Therefore depth and accuracy is probably highest in that area? Sorry to learn strangers launch into heavy first strike comments and, in this day and age, surprised (though to your credit) you entertain them and reply. If one wants to enter into "N'th" degree pickiness then you can spend every waking hour on the net. In respect of a book though, as you say I also expect few if any authors are completely happy with the end result. From a history reader’s viewpoint, I at least like to think I am reading the product of intelligent research and/or considered opinion. In the case of the latter, I welcome a sensible opinion contrary to that I hold or have considered, provided that, the writer puts up a good case. With a first person account, I welcome passion in the narrative and a writer who wants to render an account rather than pretend they may be considered for a literary prize. Naturally, all this is personal opinion which may or may not match that of another reader? You mention ‘Impossible Victory’ which you find a bit “fluffy”. Myself, I rate the book highly for accomplishing what Brian Harpur sets out to do - tell his story as was and as he saw it. What he gives me are invaluable pieces for my jigsaw of the Italian theatre. Your jigsaw is no doubt different to mine and Harpur probably doesn’t provided the pieces you’re looking for? His endorsement of Fred Majdalany’s work, ‘The Battle of Cassino’, I also concur with. Oh, and as Ron says, Linklater’s book is quite useful, but hard pushed to beat watching jello set. I’m not sure what is meant but people accusing you of not writing a book as they would have wanted it written? A general observation is that if someone has a connection with a particular unit, or ship, then only wonderful things must be written about it. If it turns out to be more wonderful than can be substantiated, so much the better. I’d say the current generation of grandchildren usually employ this sentiment. It’s not a case of setting out to run down anyone in particular, rather trying to state a case as accurately as possible. If for them the war wasn’t as tough as for others, or they had more than their share of idiots - then that’s the way it was. Hollywood and the Playstation may have done their bit to introduce children to history in some way, but without an obligatory notice that the viewer or gamer should consult real history sources to find out more, they have done equal or more harm by implication they preach fact. I hope you keep on with your writing and treating the nazis - neo or otherwise - to both barrels, (been known to unsheath the Wilkinson on a few myself from time to time) No.9 [post=29672]Quoted post[/post] Got a chance to answer that note, at last. While the page started off being aimed at a US Navy audience, it expanded like a fungus, so it is now aimed at a more general reader, and undergone heavy revision and rewriting. Depth and accuracy is greater on the page, the later it goes. I added more depth as my audience grew. It started with 40 people. Now I have bloody hundreds. Dealing with critics is hard. Dealing with people who reprint my stuff without permission is harder. Dealing with those folks when they reprint my stuff and then accuse me of plagiarism is far worse. Dealing with those folks when they hurl personal attacks is next to impossible. At least I have not been accused of being a neo-Nazi, although you’ll find a column on my web page about my interchange with one. On the other hand, I have been flayed alive by one writer for failing to honor the Italian Army’s deeds in battle to his satisfaction. His letters to me are on my FAQ page. When I confronted him, he lamely admitted that his anger at me was based on having spent a whole day looking at web pages on Alamein, and finding most of them trashing the Italian Army. I pointed out that it was very nice for him to hold me accountable for the writings of armies of 15-year-olds of all ages, but he should have given me authority and power over those pages before he attacked me…instead of attacking them. What I mean about “writing the book that people want” is that people have preconceived notions of what they want to see in everything from sports to news to history. When something they read meets with the preconceived notions, they applaud the author for his prose and objectivity. When the book doesn’t, they get angry at the author for failing to write the “facts” as the reader sees and knows them. I once got an angry letter from a reader, beating me up for not mentioning how his ship lost 146 crewmen in the battle I was describing…or that it was there. I politely told this gentleman that the battle his ship fought was a MONTH before the battle I was describing…a completely different engagement. His preconceived notion was that any article about a naval battle off Guadalcanal had to be about his battle. He didn’t read what he wanted to read, and he was angry. I never heard from him again. A constant barrage of complaint I get is that my web page started in 1941, not 1939…well, I started it to entertain 55 guys for the 55th anniversary of the war, in 1996, so I timed it to 1941. My readers would roast me for ignoring the sacrifices of thousands of Britons, Canadians, etc., between 1939 and 1941. I would explain for the 80 millionth time how the damn page got started (a big reason I went back to 1939, to end the complaints), and also point out that while a Briton would say the war started in 1939, a resident of Nanking would say it began in 1937, when the Japanese slaughtered his entire family. “Oops” would follow from my reader. Good writing is hard work, and there is no glory to it. More people are reading Paris Hilton’s memoirs or Vanna White’s autobiography than anything I can spew out. Go to any English class and ask the students if they really enjoy reading the required books, and they groan. Offer them “How to Make Love Like a Porn Star” instead of “Moby Dick,” and the kids will roar with delight…and probably turn in excellent papers. My definition of good writing is a simple one: it’s a memo that comes from the boss, starts with “It has come to my attention…” and ends with “a copy of this will be placed in your Personnel file/Permanent Record Card.” Memos have impact far greater than their length. Sorry if I sound cynical, but such is life, I'm afraid. I have learned one great truth in 42 years...no matter what I do, it is WRONG.
Long time since I've posted anywhere Kiwi, however, after reading your reply I'm delighted to hit the keys. Is there a cathartic aspect in your post - and why not. I don't go along with the sentiment that 'the first 50 years are the worst' any more than 'time is a great healer'. Like losing an arm, you never forget about it, you just learn to get on as you now are. Anyway, let's not depress the youngsters who probably won't make much sense of this anyway? Some people really do float through life on the crest of a wave - law of averages. In putting yourself in the public eye, on the web, in print, on TV, in the films or whatever, you're exposing yourself to abuse just as much as praise - no?. At least if you're in films and someone thinks you're crap, they're not going to suddenly appear in the film saying so. The www thrives on interaction and extremely easy it is too. The concept and ambition for your website is not going to please everyone, can any site claim this? If you chose to reply and how you couch your reply is up to you. Perhaps sometimes a reply is not worth the effort - the web fraternity does not exclude professional a***holes? Regarding web plagiarism, yes it is rife and irksome. I had an extensive article, a quality detailed work if I say so my self, ripped-off and pasted up verbatim under a new title with a few additional sentences at the top, by a couple of infants whose tags appeared for the piece. But hey, is not imitation the sincerest form of flattery? Getting ripped-off, then being accused of being the plagiarist is something else I suppose, and something I don't believe has happened to me - but the day ain't over yet. BC, before computers, when I typed on paper and wanted to tentatively copyright by date authenticity, I used to mail a copy to myself, recorded post, and thereafter just store the unopened delivery. You could always print out your work and do the same, or, zip it up together with the days headline piece from a newspaper site, then email it to yourself and another who will act as a depository for you. Whatever date you may set on your computer or the receiving computer, the ISP you use will log the mail with the correct time which you can't alter? Re a start date for 'the war', someone probably needs to know a bit more about history than they find on the back of gaming packet? A matter of opinion of course, but I see the World War, in a true sense, started long before 1939 and drew in more and more nations as it gathered momentum. What you say on remarks received about Italy seems to be no more than should be expected. On the one hand there are those who swallow the enduring wartime propaganda of 'can't fight - won't fight' and those who doggedly insist on blind patriotism - the latter of course a very common ailment among most nationals - the 'my country right or wrong' b/s. It appears quite a few are willing to spend time and money finding out about their own country, quite right too, then for a second choice study Germany between the wars and before the first war? Interest in the Soviets only seems to start with the invasion of Poland and the Japanese with Pearle Harbour? As for Italy, well everyone knows, 'can't fight - won't fight', so that's enough, and China - oh yeah, the communists, what about them??? I hope you preserver with your ambitions for the site and don't devote too much spirit to the dags. I think fair to say that far more read your work than ever comment to you about it. How much has appeared in homework and serious research and put students on the right track you'll never know. Perhaps something nice to read occasionally is Kipling's 'If'. I wonder if he wrote it as a cathartic piece? http://www.favoritepoem.org/poems/kipling/ "no matter what I do, it is WRONG." Be a redneck for four minutes and lsten to Willie Nelson - 'Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys' "And them that don't know him won't like him And them that do sometimes won't know how to take him He ain't wrong he's just different but his pride won't let him do things to make you think he's right" B) No.9
Originally posted by No.9@Feb 9 2005, 08:03 PM Long time since I've posted anywhere Kiwi, however, after reading your reply I'm delighted to hit the keys. Is there a cathartic aspect in your post - and why not. I don't go along with the sentiment that 'the first 50 years are the worst' any more than 'time is a great healer'. Like losing an arm, you never forget about it, you just learn to get on as you now are. Anyway, let's not depress the youngsters who probably won't make much sense of this anyway? Some people really do float through life on the crest of a wave - law of averages. In putting yourself in the public eye, on the web, in print, on TV, in the films or whatever, you're exposing yourself to abuse just as much as praise - no?. At least if you're in films and someone thinks you're crap, they're not going to suddenly appear in the film saying so. The www thrives on interaction and extremely easy it is too. The concept and ambition for your website is not going to please everyone, can any site claim this? If you chose to reply and how you couch your reply is up to you. Perhaps sometimes a reply is not worth the effort - the web fraternity does not exclude professional a***holes? Regarding web plagiarism, yes it is rife and irksome. I had an extensive article, a quality detailed work if I say so my self, ripped-off and pasted up verbatim under a new title with a few additional sentences at the top, by a couple of infants whose tags appeared for the piece. But hey, is not imitation the sincerest form of flattery? Getting ripped-off, then being accused of being the plagiarist is something else I suppose, and something I don't believe has happened to me - but the day ain't over yet. BC, before computers, when I typed on paper and wanted to tentatively copyright by date authenticity, I used to mail a copy to myself, recorded post, and thereafter just store the unopened delivery. You could always print out your work and do the same, or, zip it up together with the days headline piece from a newspaper site, then email it to yourself and another who will act as a depository for you. Whatever date you may set on your computer or the receiving computer, the ISP you use will log the mail with the correct time which you can't alter? Re a start date for 'the war', someone probably needs to know a bit more about history than they find on the back of gaming packet? A matter of opinion of course, but I see the World War, in a true sense, started long before 1939 and drew in more and more nations as it gathered momentum. What you say on remarks received about Italy seems to be no more than should be expected. On the one hand there are those who swallow the enduring wartime propaganda of 'can't fight - won't fight' and those who doggedly insist on blind patriotism - the latter of course a very common ailment among most nationals - the 'my country right or wrong' b/s. It appears quite a few are willing to spend time and money finding out about their own country, quite right too, then for a second choice study Germany between the wars and before the first war? Interest in the Soviets only seems to start with the invasion of Poland and the Japanese with Pearle Harbour? As for Italy, well everyone knows, 'can't fight - won't fight', so that's enough, and China - oh yeah, the communists, what about them??? I hope you preserver with your ambitions for the site and don't devote too much spirit to the dags. I think fair to say that far more read your work than ever comment to you about it. How much has appeared in homework and serious research and put students on the right track you'll never know. Perhaps something nice to read occasionally is Kipling's 'If'. I wonder if he wrote it as a cathartic piece? http://www.favoritepoem.org/poems/kipling/ "no matter what I do, it is WRONG." Be a redneck for four minutes and lsten to Willie Nelson - 'Mammas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys' "And them that don't know him won't like him And them that do sometimes won't know how to take him He ain't wrong he's just different but his pride won't let him do things to make you think he's right" B) No.9 [post=31364]Quoted post[/post] Thanks for the note…I do appreciate the words of support. Yes, there’s a certain amount of catharsis. It’s been unbelievably frustrating to deal with these accusations. They were followed by accusations of imposture. If you go to The History Channel’s WW2 discussion forum, you’ll find the thread I had to write to answer all of this…from January 6, 2005, I think. I’ll dig up the URL. My webmasters have copyrighted my work, which helps, and since I complained, the individual who reprinted it without permission stopped doing so. Mostly I wanted you to see how frustrating it is to actually try to write or undertake projects like these…the experience has made me less quick to yell at other writers for their mistakes. I was never a big country-western fan. All country songs by men seem to be about how they fell in love with their truck and then wound up in jail. All country songs by women seem to be about men who beat the living tar out of their women, who inexplicably stay true to them. I grew up with Mozart and now listen to him and Bruce Springsteen, so I guess I’m missing the Willie Nelson point. Kipling, on the other hand, is as plain as a pikestaff, and always reliable. The only thing you can do…if you haven’t blown yourself away first…is to keep on going. There’s really no alternative. “There is nothing half so melancholy as a battle lost…except a battle won.” – the Duke of Wellington.
Despite not providing the specific for your THC thread, I managed to find your long letter to Chuey. What I wasn't able to do was locate the thread or threads that started all that off? However, years ago, up to the big bang, I frequented THC quite a bit, and Chuey was a good mate. I am aware he can be very argumentative but I don't believe he was ever really offensive? Has he changed? - He's one of the best people to talk to about the great Los Banos Raid BTW, on which his father was an officer! If you want to point me to the thread/s that sparked the episode off, I'd be interested in reading them. Thanks for getting me to revisit THC again. Interesting to see which 'good 'ole boys' still hang out there. Sorry to learn it's still haunted by nazis and neos. Thinks - perhaps the "Partisans" should reform? Somehow I didn't expect you would include C&W in your playlist. I don't have Springsteen on mine, but Mozart's fine, along with Rossini, Led Zeppelin, Freddie King, Johnny Kidd, Asleep at the Wheel and New Riders of the Purple Sage, to name a few. B) Appreciate Wellesley's quote, perhaps another way of saying you can bust a gut to get something or somewhere, then when you've attained it, you find it ain't all that much in the first place? Sometimes a lot of time and grief can be avoided by quoting Rhett Butler: ""Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." No.9
My two cents worth in the Italian Campaign....will never be forgotten around my household. The uncle I am named in honour of was killed at Coriano, serving with The Irish Regiment of Canada. Another uncle was taken as a POW in December 1944 in Italy, and a cousin of my father was KIA with the GGHG. I have been doing a lot of research on the Irish Regiment of Canada casualties, in preparation for a detailed 'report' on each one.
Originally posted by No.9@Feb 10 2005, 05:15 PM Despite not providing the specific for your THC thread, I managed to find your long letter to Chuey. What I wasn't able to do was locate the thread or threads that started all that off? However, years ago, up to the big bang, I frequented THC quite a bit, and Chuey was a good mate. I am aware he can be very argumentative but I don't believe he was ever really offensive? Has he changed? - He's one of the best people to talk to about the great Los Banos Raid BTW, on which his father was an officer! If you want to point me to the thread/s that sparked the episode off, I'd be interested in reading them. Thanks for getting me to revisit THC again. Interesting to see which 'good 'ole boys' still hang out there. Sorry to learn it's still haunted by nazis and neos. Thinks - perhaps the "Partisans" should reform? Somehow I didn't expect you would include C&W in your playlist. I don't have Springsteen on mine, but Mozart's fine, along with Rossini, Led Zeppelin, Freddie King, Johnny Kidd, Asleep at the Wheel and New Riders of the Purple Sage, to name a few. B) Appreciate Wellesley's quote, perhaps another way of saying you can bust a gut to get something or somewhere, then when you've attained it, you find it ain't all that much in the first place? Sometimes a lot of time and grief can be avoided by quoting Rhett Butler: ""Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." No.9 [post=31397]Quoted post[/post] Didn't answer this, because I missed it during computer craziness at work. The threads that started the war are from about November 2003, right around my birthday. Chuey has apologized to me fairly profusely, and while I am still wary of him, I'm civil and friendly. I think he feels pretty badly about what he did. As far as Nazis at THC go, there only seem to be two, which is two too many. they do the usual thing, start a war, then run like hell when they're called out and refuted, take cover, and start a new one, as if the previous war and its refutations never happened. A pal of mine who interrogated Nazi war criminals back in 1946 says their statements are carbon copies of the garabe the SS men (including Ilse Koch) spouted to their American, British, French, and Soviet interrogators...first, it didn't happen...then, well, the Jews always spout lying propaganda and deserved it...finally, well, horrible things happen in war, and you Allies did the same. Nothing changes in 60 years. Well, not quite. The latest comment on my web page is from an annoyed reader, who told me privately that the world would be a better place if I was dead, and publicly that I should be banned from the internet. There’ll be a column about that and him on my web page in response. The most amazing thing about C&W music is how all the men are in love with their trucks, and angry that their best buddy stole their wife and their truck, particularly their truck. Women are all apparently standing by their men, no matter how much they betray and beat them. Back to Italy: Just got a new book on Cassino that includes Spike Milligan’s story. He was an artilleryman who was evacuated with a nervous breakdown in the battle. He tells his hilarious version in his books, but the colder book I have reveals the sorrow behind the laughter.
A Battle that rings loud in the hearts of the members of The Irish Regiment of Canada is the battle at Coriano Italy, September 13-14, 1944. On the eve of this battle, the Officers of the London Irish had dinner with the IrRC Officers. At that dinner, the London Irish presented a single hackel to our officers, a hackle that we still proudly wear. Our annual Veteran's Association Dinner is named after Coriano, in memory of all that occurred that day.
I have been trying to find information about my Gt Uncle who was killed 13.4.1945 whilst with 1st Btn Buffs. Like many others I have struggled to find very much detail about some of the later operations in Italy. Everything seems to have concentrated on N Europe and forgotten about Italy. During one of my search sessions I visited the BBC Peoples War site. Did a search for "Argenta" as that is where Uncle Howard is buried. Every hair on my body stood on end when I found this post!!!! The date. The unit and the place all tallied and then I read it and well see what you think http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A2021789 (not sure how to set up links so may have got this wrong) The Operation was called "Impact Royal" The account of the action of 1St Btn Buffs that day brought more than a few tears to my eyes and was better than anyting I had found written anywhere previously. For those of you interested in the Itallian campaign see what you think!
Hi spidge I assume from your post that my link worked and you have read the article on BBC Peoples war about Operation Impact Royal. What did you think. Not sure if it was just me who found if poignant because of the possible involment of my Gt Uncle. regards Keith
The article on the BBC site has been around for a while on a homepage. It's hard to search, not least because 'Comacchio' is misspelt 'Commachio'. You can read it in its original posting with sketches made at the time at http://www.mspence.btinternet.co.uk/lake_commachio.HTM Though it has no effect on the Buffs nor the experiences of the author, as with many - perhaps most - first person accounts, the author at best gives a good account of what they personally experienced and personally saw, and quite usually not of what others were doing or did. My point is that the author states "followed soon afterwards by the news that the 9th Commando landing had also been cancelled". Not so. No.9 landed on the north flank to cross the Fosse Marina (canal) and take the pumping house and farmstead. No.9
(No.9 @ Oct 11 2005, 03:59 AM) [post=39896]The article on the BBC site has been around for a while on a homepage. It's hard to search, not least because 'Comacchio' is misspelt 'Commachio'. You can read it in its original posting with sketches made at the time at http://www.mspence.btinternet.co.uk/lake_commachio.HTM Though it has no effect on the Buffs nor the experiences of the author, as with many - perhaps most - first person accounts, the author at best gives a good account of what they personally experienced and personally saw, and quite usually not of what others were doing or did. My point is that the author states "followed soon afterwards by the news that the 9th Commando landing had also been cancelled". Not so. No.9 landed on the north flank to cross the Fosse Marina (canal) and take the pumping house and farmstead. No.9 [/b] Thanks for that info knowing the correct spelling may help with my research I first found the article on the BBC site and subsequently on it's original site. I'm sure the author intended no slight on the other units involved in "Impact Royal" but was giving an account of the action as they saw it. I may be slightly biased as I have a personal interest in 1st Bn Buffs and the action on that day as it is probably the one in which my Gt Uncle was killed. I have checked with the writer and my Gt Uncle was not in that platoon. As I have been unable to obtain his service record (not being the next of kin) I do not know what unit he was in below 1st Bn You seem to have some knowledge of that operation can you suggest any reading that would give me some more info? Thanks Keith
Keith, the Allied Spring Offensive in Italy started with the British on 1st April and 2 Commando Brigade capturing the spit of land between the Comacchio lagoon and the Adriatic, being the extreme right flank. The big picture was to advance on as wide a front as possible on the flat terrain, fanning out from the Adriatic west to the Apennine mountains. This line, the Genghis Kahn Line, had remained mostly static through the winter and it was known the Germans had contingency plans to fall back to the rivers Po and Ticino further north, and to a 'last' line on the Adige River and the foot of the Alps. McCreery, British Commander, recognised the Adige River line, well prepared and if defended to plan, would be the toughest nut to crack since the Gustav Line. His plan was to punch north and take Ferrara which was the main conduit for the Germans to fall back from the Genghis Kahn Line to the NE. Priorities had to change when German Supreme Headquarters initially ordered their men to hold ground instead of falling back. This also resulted in German reserves being committed. Most of the Comacchio lagoon comprises marshy wetlands rather than a lake of any depth to speak of. Farmland to the west was only kept usable due to extensive dykes and watercourses maintained often by locks and pumping stations. To make it as hard as possible for the Allies, the Germans blew sections of dykes, opened locks and wrecked pumps causing extensive flooding. The main NW road ran through Bologna (German) which was to be (had to be) taken by the 'British' forces fighting their way up from their sector in the SE, and by the Americans coming from the mountains in the west. For McCreery to also achieve a breakthrough north, the best prospect was through the area around Argenta which lays between Bologna and the Comacchio lagoon. Fortunately the 20 or so Fantails used to cross that flooded area, were mostly able to do their job. The plan was to land a force behind the enemy while other forces were fighting up the road, the Strada della Pioppato, to link-up with them. I believe the 1st Buffs, Company strength, were landed but found stiffer opposition then had been anticipated, and, then had to wait longer for the link-up. The 1st Buffs remained 'isolated' for several days in an ebb-and-flow engagement of probe, attack and counter attack involving (among others) 6th West Kent, 24th Brigade of Guards, 2 Commando Brigade, the 2nd/5th Queens (East Surrey), the Irish Brigade and 8th Argyles. This was only one battle at that time. South of Argenta you had the New Zealanders, Maoris, Indians, Italians, South Africans and Polish (among others) battling across rivers heading NW towards Bologna with the Americans and Brazilians to the west of them. Perhaps contact the Buffs Museum; Royal Museum & Art Gallery with Buffs Regimental Museum Canterbury Royal Museum & Art Gallery with Buffs Regimental Museum. 18 High Street Canterbury Tel: 01227 452 747 Email: museums@canterbury.gov.uk However, due to their restricted and co-opted space, perhaps first speak to the National Army Museum, their parent body, as I suspect Chelsea may hold more references and archives than Canterbury? The National Army Museum Royal Hospital Road Chelsea London SW34HT Tel 0207 7300717 The museums may possibly offer book recommendations, and I would recommend visiting the PRO at Kew and pulling the 1st Buffs War Diary for 1945: WO 170/4992 A book which may help you, (which I haven't read myself) is: Historical Records of the Buffs, Royal East Kent Regiment, 1919-1948. by KNIGHT Colonel C R B (London: Medici Society, 1951. xxiv and 512 pages. 21 plates, 20 maps). In general, the engagement you need to look into is Argenta Gap, rather than Comacchio which preceded it and in which the Buffs were not involved. Good luck. No.9
images/smilies/default/ohmy.gif Wow No9 all that info is fantastic. I have been in touch with the "Buffs" museum who passed me onto someone in the National Army Museum. He suggested the same book by C.R.B Knight, a copy of which is held by my county library. This I have ordered and should soon be available for me at my local library. Thanks for the reference info on the war diaries. I had been trawling through the catalogue but had not refined my research that far. It will be of a great help when I manage to get to the NA. Thanks again Regards Keith
(No.9 @ Oct 19 2005, 06:43 AM) [post=40217]perhaps you'll get to visit the area sometime.[/b] It is one of my greatest wishes. Even trying to persuade the family that Lake Gardia in Italy will make a good holiday destination for next year! Haven't told the wife yet that Argenta is within a days drive! Thanks for the pm I will reply straight after this. As I don't know what unit he was in below Bn level and when he joined, it is proving difficult to pin things down so all information that may be relevent is great. Thanks again Keith images/smilies/default/tongue.gif
For those interested, the CBC documentary about Ortona can be viewed online. It can be seen by clicking the link below: http://www.wwii.ca/video/returntoortona.wvx It's about 25 minutes long, and it's very touching to say the least. It also contains alot of footage from the battle. A must see for those interested in the Italian Campaign, and "Canada's Stalingrad" - Ortona.
