Italy Trip May 2008

Discussion in 'WW2 Battlefields Today' started by Paul Reed, May 26, 2008.

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  1. andalucia

    andalucia Senior Member

    Brilliant stuff, really interesting :smile:

    great scenery in Italy
     
    andalucia, May 28, 2008
    #41
  2. Bodston

    Bodston Little Willy

    Good work lads, looks like a great trip.

    Bod
     
    Bodston, May 28, 2008
    #42
  3. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Owen -
    You didn't hear the nightingales at Cassino as the sun went down ?
     
    Tom Canning, May 28, 2008
    #43
  4. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Owen -
    You didn't hear the nightingales at Cassino as the sun went down ?
    Tom,
    Heard them all over, saw one fleetingly at Aquino.
     
    Owen, May 28, 2008
    #44
  5. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Fantastic sound isn't it - this is how I heard them.....
    "We have probably all had “moments” in our lives but possibly one of the strangest I ever had was when we were waiting to move up to Montecassino for the push into the Liri Valley after the conclusion of the fourth battle in the middle of May 1944.
    We were between Presenzano and Cassino and the noise to the north was indescribable in it’s ferocity as every gun on both sides seemed to be firing one after the other in rapid sucesssion — it was a nightmarish cacophany.

    I was standing at the front of my tank in the early evening watching the firefly’s weave their patterns around in competition with the mosquito’s, when suddenly an awesome silence descended and not one gun was firing. The silence on a battlefield is something very strange as not even a cricket would chirp when — suddenly a sound impressed itself on me …. and the moment revealed itself as the song of a Nightingale !"
     
    Tom Canning, May 28, 2008
    #45
    Owen likes this.
  6. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Continuing the bird theme for a moment, at Anzio War Cemetery, Paul pointed this one out to me.
    CWGC :: Casualty Details

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Owen, May 29, 2008
    #46
  7. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Last Wednesday we went down to see the battlefileds of the Gargiliano Crossing and the Cemetery at Minturno, where Tony's Grandad lies.
    Next to the Cemetery is the ancient Roamn ruins of Minturnae .
    [​IMG]

    We had a look around & I took my copy of The 5th Division History in with me because of this photo.
    [​IMG]

    I wanted to find where the photo had been taken & try and find the statues.
    We found two of them, the leg and the one on the right of this photo.
    The staff of the Museum were very pleased to see the WW2 photo.
    On closer inspection we found WW2 era grafitti!
    The lads of 5th RECCE had left their mark.
    I hope Paul has some good photos.
    From what I can remember there was a "Darkie" Bingham, D.Johnson, Ireland and 1944 all scratched into the statue.
    Iain & Gary are having a good look.
    [​IMG]
     
    Owen, May 29, 2008
    #47
  8. kfz

    kfz Very Senior Member

    Grear thread guys im enjoying this... like going yourself...

    Kev
     
    kfz, May 29, 2008
    #48
  9. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Big thanks to Owen for getting me photos of all the RAAF lads at Anzio, Cassino, Minturno, Moro & Sangro cemeteries.

    Great effort Owen.
     
    spidge, May 29, 2008
    #49
  10. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Been away from a couple of days telling my Dad (Anzio vet) all about the trip. Will post some more photos tomorrow.
     
    Paul Reed, May 29, 2008
    #50
  11. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    In heated discussion...

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    Paul Reed, May 30, 2008
    #51
  12. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Hard to read, but it does say 'Darky Bingham':

    [​IMG]
     
    Paul Reed, May 30, 2008
    #52
  13. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Just thought I'd post a few more pics.
    The Castle viewed from the Cassino War Cemetery.
    [​IMG]


    A general view of the Cemetery with Cassino Memorial over to the right rear.

    [​IMG]
     
    Owen, Jun 5, 2008
    #53
  14. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    The Monastery and The Cross Of Sacrifice.


    [​IMG]
     
    Owen, Jun 5, 2008
    #54
    Paul Reed likes this.
  15. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Monte Trocchio viewed from Sant’Angelo in Theodice with River Gari flowing in foreground.

    [​IMG]
     
    Owen, Jun 5, 2008
    #55
  16. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    The Memorial to 36th Texas Division in Sant’Angelo in Theodice .

    [​IMG]
     
    Owen, Jun 5, 2008
    #56
  17. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    We saw this in the rock face whilst walking towards the Albaneta Farm area with Point 593 looming over us.
    We thought it might have been made by a Sherman?
    What do you think?

    [​IMG]
     
    Owen, Jun 6, 2008
    #57
  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    View from Point 593 looking down on Albaneta Farm and beyond into the Liri Valley.

    [​IMG]
     
    Owen, Jun 6, 2008
    #58
  19. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    The Monastery as seen from Snakeshead Ridge.
    I'm trying to find that famous photo of the Royal Sussex in the same place on-line but to no avail.

    [​IMG]
     
    Owen, Jun 6, 2008
    #59
  20. SWB

    SWB Junior Member

    A terrific trip it was!

    We did find some interesting bits and pieces on Cavendish Road and Snakeshead - 3" mortar carrying tube ends (rusty metal discs) and part of the handle, some unfired .303 and Mauser bullets, a squashed Mauser round with cordite and this unidentified round on Cavendish Road, any ideas?
     

    Attached Files:

    SWB, Jun 7, 2008
    #60
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