British ceremony marking 80th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino takes place
A British ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino has taken place in the Italian town.
The event will be held in the Commonwealth War Cemetery in the town, located in between Naples and the Italian capital of Rome.
More than 100 British service personnel took part in the commemoration service to mark the battle, with Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh and Chief of the General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders also in attendance.
The battle was a significant moment in the Second World War Italian campaign, as capturing the mountain was essential for the Allies to breach the Gustav Line and advance towards Rome.
It turned into one of the bloodiest engagements of the war.
Pip Firth is the daughter of a veteran who fought in the battle.
She told Forces News she knew her father played his part in the Battle of Monte Cassino, but did not know "the detail of what was involved in that assault".
"I've learned so much and I am in awe. And to actually see the point where they cross river," she said.
"How they did it at night, straight into minefields, barbed wire, machine gun fire, snipers, bayonets, hand grenades – even getting up to the bank was a feat in itself.
"Grappling hooks, climbing up, mortar fire, assault boats being blown out of the water at the very first attempt.
"But they made it, they got across."
Ms Firth also said after visiting the town and the many museums in Monte Cassino, she could see how arduous it must have been.
She told Forces News there was no peace afterwards – and her father suffered with nightmares.
"I think the noise, the shelling and the just incessant firing, shelling, bombing," she said. "It stayed with him all these days."
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
