Bit of an odd question going around in my head. The town of Cassino is to be honest a bit of a dump, not the pretty Italian town I thought it was going to be, hardly surprising as it was rebuilt post-war. When visiting the Historiale di Cassino they made great deal about the destruction of the town and surrounding area. Now I was wondering are there other Monastaries of comparable size on top of hills elsewhere in Italy and how well visited are they? Would the Monastry at Cassino have been such a well visited tourist spot if it hadn't been for battles there in WW2?
Owen - to start with much of the building in Italy was dump like - just look at the district of EUR in Rome itself - take your sick bag along with you - it is apalling when you then look at the old Roman Ruins - and those Architects never went to school ! There are many Benedictine Monasteries in Italy but two of the most beautiful are to be found on the Danube at Melks and Krems - fantastic buildings and interiors -and well visited and more than worth a visit -take the boat at Melks - sail past where Blondel found Richard -get off at Krems - next stop Vienna - now you are living !!! Thing about Cassino is that it was Benedict's home after his sojourn in the cave at Subiaco where he composed his famous Rule - he then converted the temples of Apollo on Monte Cassino to Christianity - started to build his monastery in or around the year 529 - and spread his order all throughout the world - then around the 13th century the Benedictines were called upon by Rome to defeat the heresy of the times - so from that point of view as being the first Benedictine Abbey - yes it was a popular visiting spot pre war. Sadly the Benedictine along with the Dominican, Franciscans, and Jesuits influence has withered since the 60's and Vatican 11- when the world really needs them ! The other interesting point is that of the German Commander at the time of the four battles who led the defence was a member of the Benedictine third order of layman - charged with the defence of all to do with the Benedictine Order - LT. Gen. Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin ! He did it very well ! the bronze statue depicting the death of Benedict, near the entrance was commissioned and paid for by the German people under Conrad Adenaur and the main Monastery rebuilding was paid for by the Italian people ! I'll dig out a link for a story on the clearing of the site later...... Cheers
Owen - here is the link to my story of the clearing of the ruins of the Abbey at Cassino - it was told to me by my old friend Lt Col. Maurice Menage M.B.E.- so I know it to be factual - he was also responsible for bridging the infamous wadi near Medjez El Bab which was holding up the final assualt of the North African campaign and was nicknamed "St.Peter's crossing" when a very plummy English voice asked why it had an English name - he was answered by a voice in the Irish brogue to the effect that - "if you try crossing that Wadi to-day - you're sure to meet St. Peter ! " Maurice Menage was finally promoted to CRE at Venice and saved the ST Mark's bascilica from sinking into the Lagoon in the floods of '46 http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/46/a1145846.shtml Cheers
Owen your' right - I had posted that on the D day dodgers site and thought it had cleared - obviously not so I shall try once more .... http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/76/a3785376.shtml
Tom The second link works a treat. Now, be a good chap and kindly explain to me the origin of your Avatar ? I'm sure it has some significance to you but for the life of me I can't work it out If you ever wish to change it, just let me know the image you might prefer and I will find one and send you the HTML link. On the other hand you might prefer the one at present representing you AFTER you have explained to me what it means Cheers Ron
Trooper Tom, Great posts with super explainations. I am re reading Parkers Cassino once more, so trying to absorbe more information on the subject. I too was interested in your choice of Avatar! Regards Tom
Ron & TCS - Being less than efficient on the old juke box PC - I was encouraged by Niccars statemant that he didn't know how to organise an Avatar and he appealed to Paul to sort it out - which Paul did in record time. I then asked Paul to do a similar exercise for me with the option of the Mailed Fist of the 6th Armoured Div in which I served after the Rieti re-training stint with 16/5th lancers, and of course there is another forum member who has nicked their old badge as he also served apre la guerre - and/or the Gremlin of the 21st Tank Bde -in which I also served prior to the Gothic Line with 145th RAC - This gremlin avatar was composed by an Officer of the 48th RTR in his attempt to "suck up" to the new Brigade Commander - Kit Dawney- when he took over the Bde when we arrived in Italy. You might note yet another forum member displays the bde sign of the 25th Tank bde with it's black Diablo with the Canadian Maple leaf near the top - which is a battle honour awarded to them by the Corps Commander of the Canadians for their stalwart work at the Hitler/Gustav line ! WE only got the red patch of the 1st Inf Div for our sterling work at the Gothic Line ...sniff ! This avatar has the Traditional Diablo of the Tank Brigades as opposed to the Armoured Bdes and the gremlin represents some exercise we took part in- but don't ask as we did so many and they all seemed to merge into each other. The history of the avatar came from one Peter G and as we all are aware he is our resident guru in all things...the originals were - apparently made by some company in Caserta and the embroided examples are typical of the work of the normal Italian Artists ! Cheers
Tom A masterly reply, and, on refelection, the Gremlin does in fact probably represent you well Cheers Ron
Ron - come now you are just jealous as your Div sign with the 4th Hussars was a an animal full of bull..... Cheers
