Churchill in Italy, 19 August 1944

Discussion in 'Italy' started by dave500, Aug 19, 2019.

  1. dave500

    dave500 Senior Member

    19 August 1944.

    A bemused "Prime Minister Winston Churchill, visiting the Fifth Army front,
    gets his picture taken by '1st Sergt.' Franco, mascot of the 34th Div. Hq CP."

    193051 PS El RS.jpg

    Castiglioncello area.

    SC 193051, Credit NARA, resized to fit here.

    I found and scanned this photo on 14 May 2019 at the NARA II.


    Dave
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2019
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  2. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    I live in Castiglioncello and have been trying to find this building for a while - will have another try. I believe that it was the SAS headquarters for a time.

    Vitellino
     
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  3. DianeE

    DianeE Member

    I don't know if you have found the building but there is a page The Gothic Line on Facebook. They have the same photo and it was taken outside the Hotel Miramare. (confirmed by the owner of the hotel)
    I did a search here for the Gothic line and found your post.
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/496942040741134
    Diane
     
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  4. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Thank you Diane. I did wonder if the photo was Miramare.

    However, I have already ruled out the Hotel as the HQ of the SAS as it doesn't corresond with some photos I have of that building.

    Vitellino
     
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  5. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Vitellino, I drafted this before your post.

    Well done Diane. Some more info here:
    "On August 19, 1944, Winston Churchill, one of the great architects of the liberation of Europe from insane Nazi rule, stopped in this building with senior allied officers on the occasion of his visit to the American Fifth Army engaged in the liberation of these lands alongside the partisan forces and the departments of the reconstituted liberation army in the sign of the future destinies of Europe in memory of that day the citizenship placed. Castiglioncello 19 August 1984."
    https://www.albergo-miramare.it/en/our-story/
    Winston Churchill and Lt. Gen. Mark Clark in Italy on 19 August 1944 | The Digital Collections of the National WWII Museum : Oral Histories
    Castiglioncello ieri 1943 Guerra navale. 1944 Winston Churchill a Castiglioncello
    "No bathroom for Mr. Churchill Castiglioncello summer of 1944: too dangerous for the premier to take a dip."
    Niente bagno per mister Churchill Castiglioncello estate del 1944 Aldo Santini

    I agree that the architecture of the Hotel Miramare does not seem to tie in with the photo, I did wonder if it could be the next door building, the Hotel Tirreno?
    Google Maps
     
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  6. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Niente bagno per mister Churchill Castiglioncello estate del 1944 Aldo Santini[/QUOTE]

    What an appalling translation. Did the translator really believe that Churchill had no bathroom?

    It should read, ''No dip in the sea for Mr. Churchill...

    I don't care for the translation of the first piece either but can't find the original. Apart from the translation I see we have the usual story about the Allies liberating Italy alongside the partisan forces...

    Vitellino.

    I have a good look at the Tirreno every time I pass, which is several times a week, but it doesn't correspond with photo of the SAS headquarters, in front of which there ws a large expanse of ''macchia'' (shrubs and low trees). The pinewood which lies in front of both buildings ad already been planted by 1944.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2020
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