Just back from a visit to Ortona and Monte Cassino. Thanks to Grumpy, Paul Reed and Tom Canning for telling me what to see in both areas. The picture of the church ( Santa Maria Constanopoli ) is where the Seaforths' ate Christmas Dinner in 1943. It has been totally rebuilt. According to one vet, it had no roof and no walls due to the shelling that took place. Have to say that the German War Cemetery is very dark and brooding. It was not easy to access. Over 20,000 Germans are buried there. Each plot holds more than one soldier. Both the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery and the Cassino War Cemetery are in the usual pristine condition. Thanks to the CWGC.
Grumpy That'll be me then will it? Glad you got to the places you wanted to see. Cheers for showing us the pics.
Have to say that the German War Cemetery is very dark and brooding. I tend to agree that they are certainly different than the CWGC's. Rather Wagnerish atmosphere when you visit them. Regards Tom
Randy - well done that there man - when the Padre Roy Durnford welcomed the Seaforth's in for their Christmas dinner, he said " at last I've got you all in Church" for too many of them - it was their last meal ! Cheers
Good photos, but I am intruiged by the photo of the Sherman in Ortona. When I was there on 27th May it looked like this (below) and now it looks like its on a new plinth?
Paul Has to be the same tank...the plaque is the same. But, the location of the one in the photo I took is at the center of the traffic circle. Randy
Owen Yessir, that was meant to be you. Apologies for the error. Still navigating around this site and had some issues earlier today which were sorted out by the mod. Thanks again for your suggestion re Casa Beradi and Sterlin Castle. Randy
Paul, don't think there would be 2 tanks but I really cannot be certain. There was a plaque on the left hand side indicating the donation of the tank to the city of Ortona. One of the 3 private donors is a M. Schulick...I believe that to be the same Schulick who has donated millions to a couple of universities in Canada.
Paul - Hardly likely to be two with the same name in "A" squadron - of a regiment in 1st Cdn Armoured bde. Someone must have put a firework under the city officials as there were lots of complaints about the maintenance of the sites - or moved in and done the job themselves - in the Canadian way ! Cheers
The location was well away from the other cemeteries ( there is a Polish cemetery that I was not able to visit due to time constraints ) and difficult to access. I met a reservist from the German Army who was tending to the grounds. Dressed in combat fatigues.
Paul, don't think there would be 2 tanks but I really cannot be certain. There was a plaque on the left hand side indicating the donation of the tank to the city of Ortona. One of the 3 private donors is a M. Schulick...I believe that to be the same Schulick who has donated millions to a couple of universities in Canada. If there are two tanks they are sporting the same plaque, signs and serial number. Looks like they moved it. Regards Tom
sorry, cannot give you exact location. but definitely is was in the center of a traffic as per the photo