I was watching the box last night and spotted this repeat item on ITV. The program was "Airline" and one of the "pieces" in it concerned an 89 year old veteran making a return visit to the CWGC British Cemetery at Cassino. The vet was accompanied by the son of a friend who had been killed in that area and, as someone who in 2005 made his own pilgrimage, I found that particular part of the program very moving. At the time, I wrote about my trip on the BBC WW2 Archives, link here: BBC - WW2 People's War - Return to Cassino and I snatched a a couple of pics of the TV show (see below).
One of the most moving accounts of a return to Cassino was by Stan Scislowski of the Perth Regiment of the 11th Brigade of the Canadian 5th Armoured Division, when they took part with many other divisions in operation Diadem, in May of 1944 It should be read by all Return to Cassino
Having just read it again Tom, I agree with you. The important part played by the Canadian forces in WW2 tends to be overlooked! Their contibution to the Sicillian/Italian campaign and the RCAF flying from UK bases in support of the allies, needs to be acknowledged.
Tom; I read that account the day ye posted it. Mean't to comment then, but got distracted. What a brilliant write up, eh? I mean, that bloke can Write. He really conveyed all he wanted to say and 'Took us there'. I found the whole thing very effective. Nice work, all round.
Steve G - Stan lives in Windsor Ontario and has retired from running a plating shop in that area -he is still active in many Legion affairs and has written a book about his sctivities in the army in which he professes he was not a saint and tells it like it was in those days. it's Title - "Not all of us were brave' ISBN - 1 - 35002 - 298 - 9 - it's a good read... Cheers
Yes I saw this Ron, it was both good and genuinely touching - increasingly rare traits on television.
