We thought this report from the Strathcona Newsletter might be of interest:
TRIP REPORT - ITALIAN CAMPAIGN CELEBRATIONS
A number of ceremonies were held in Italy during the period 24 October to 4
November to mark the 60th anniversary of Canadian participation in the World
War Two Italian Campaign. Although there were a number of official
delegations attending the ceremonies, the Department of Veterans Affairs
also made provision for a limited number of additional veterans to apply for
a travel subsidy so they too could participate in the events.
When that announcement was made, Strathcona E-News published information on
how veterans could submit an application and one of our readers, Bill Ford
from Barrie Ontario, was one of those selected. Bill had to make his own
travel and accommodation arrangements but he was able to attend all the
official events and more. Bill sent us the following report on his trip:
The 24th of October arrived and found me on an Air Canada flight to Munich,
Germany. From there I flew via Lufthansa to Rome and finally by bus to
Cassino. It had been 60 years since I was in Italy and I felt both
anticipation and trepidation. Of course the narrow, muddy roads that I
remembered were not in evidence but instead there were new, modern highways,
with a sea of new cars and trucks. Italy had progressed and the many new
tunnels through the mountains made travelling fast and easy.
On the 26th of October I attended the first of five official functions; this
one held at the Cassino War Cemetery. I helped bury the dead after the
battle of Torrice Crossroads and a friend and eight others had been killed
during this battle on the 30th of May 1944. We buried these comrades in a
church cemetery and if I remember correctly, they were later re-interred at
Cassino. This was an introduction to the events that followed. I thought of
the near 6,000 Canadian soldiers, 19, 20 and 21 years of age, laying beneath
the Italian sod and imagining that they might know that we had returned to
Honour them. I sincerely believe that they are the Real Heroes.
The Governor General, the Minister of Veteran Affairs, the mayor of the town
and various other dignitaries were in attendance with the Official Party.
These people gave speeches appropriate to the day and location. It was at
one of these functions that I met John Burton when we looked at each other
and realized we were wearing the same badge. John was a Captain in B
Squadron during the Italian Campaign
The tour I was on, while attending the main official events, also visited
many other places like Coriano Ridge, Riccione, Ravenna and Lamone River.
Travelling through Tuscany was a delight and a visit to the Republic of San
Marino was a special treat. A visit to Florence and an extra day in Rome
rounded out the trip and allowed us to become once more aware of the
wonderful history of these places with their old historic buildings. There
was so much for us to relive. I must relate a side trip we made to the Melfa
River Area.
There is a couple of old buildings on the ridge above the Melfa and three
gentlemen were on hand to talk to us, with the usual abundance of wine and
baked goods. When they learned I had been with the Lord Strathcona's Horse,
they pointed out where the river crossing took place. We were actually
standing on the ridge that the Strathcona's eventually secured. I had to
tell them I was not in this battle because I had joined the Regiment on the
23rd of May 1944 and I had not been assigned to a tank at that time.
This is a very brief account of a trip that was worth every penny. If all
the veterans were to tell the truth, not one of us could say that we always
had a dry eye; it was truly wonderful.
I also recorded the names and locations of the Strathcona graves that I
visited at Cassino, Ravenna, Vilanovo and Argenta Gap.
Item 64/04 dated 26 November 2004