I saw a snippet about this campaign on TV recently and was saddened to think this campaign had been largely overshadowed by other battles. Whatever we might feel about war, people gave their lives and their sacrifice ought not to be forgotten.

My beloved and wonderful father was a D Day Dodger - too old (born 1908) but not too old for the 8th Army and the fight up the Italian peninsular. I value the D Day memories, I lived in Normandy but hey the 8th Army fought and won too.

Hurrah that someone recognises all they achieved. Good old Monty.

My father was wounded here. He never told us any details of the fighting According to him he was shelling peas when he was hit by shrapnel. This remained in his upper arm and leg for the rest of his life.
He was in the Eighth Army at El Alamein and he didn't talk about that either
I think this was very common in returning ex soldiers .

My father was there as a doctor, he camped in a tomb! (One of those mausoleums the Italians have)

He was one of the first into Venice, he said the Germans were retreating as they arrived. He was in charge of the hospital on lido de Venezia

My father in Law was in the Royal Corp of signals in North Africa and Sicily and the fought his way up through Italy I remember him getting very upset and angry when talking about the battles over Monte Cassino.

My late Uncle George 'celebrated' his 20th birthday on a wet and cold mountain side in Italy in 1944. He had no good feelings about the whole campaign and was very bitter. He said our men would have starved without the US giving them food from their mobile kitchens.

My father heard about my birth under similar circumstances in December in 1944.
I didn't meet him unti 18/12 later and to me daddy was a photo on the mantelpiece.

My uncle was in the rifle Brigade and killed at Monte Cassino, he is buried just outside Flonence.

My father spent his 21st birthday on the beach at Dunkirk and later found himself, a REME engineer, in the 8th army at Alamein and subsequently working his way north through Italy. Wonder if he met your father, Galen? I have an album of pic's he took at the time.
Uncle Terry, Mum's cousin was at Monte Cassino. He told the tale that he felt his rifle being blown out of his hand but on looking down saw not only the gun but his hand and forearm. He came home safely, married his fiancee and lived a long happy and useful life. They didn't have children but doted on the nieces and nephews.

My lovely Dad who died two years ago was there with the Welsh Guards. A few years ago he went there with my middle son on a wonderful scheme called Heroes Return. They visited the monastery and Dad was delighted to see it rebuilt as it was in ruins the last time he saw it. It was an incredible bonding experience for them both. He never spoke much about the war to my brother and me, but they say it is sometimes easier to talk to grandchildren about it. Such bravery and so modest!

My father was with the Lanarkshire yeomanry - after the war they produced a book about their campaigns - he travelled (and fought) his way up through Sicily and Italy as a gun spotter, on a motor bike in advance of the front line.

He rarely talked about his experiences but it damaged him for life. He told me a couple of stories - he had a premonition about the ''hole' he and two others were sheltering in. He left and a couple of minutes later the others were blown to bits.

My father too was very bitter about his experiences.

Following the war he did illustration for the regimental book and I have those original drawings still along with several copper plates, engraved for printing.

On Remembrance Sunday I always give a thought to those who died but also those who survived the terrible experiences that changed them forever.

I think my two favourite books about Italy in WW2 are Norman Lewis' Naples 44 and Eric Newby's Love and War in the Apennines. Both great writers. Also Farley Mowat's And No Birds Sang and Raleigh Treveyan's The Fortress: A Diary of Anzio and After.

Sorry that should be Raleigh Trevelyan.

I remember singing The D-Day Dodgers at Folk Club in the 60's, then not hearing it until 2 years ago at my godfather's 90th birthday party - a friend of his with a guitar sang some songs after the speeches!
My godfather was in Reconnaissance in Italy in WW2. He rarely mentions it and it's not discussed.

Just catching up after a week in Cornwall and I saw this blog! My DH and I live in Cassino (his birth town) within walking distance of the German cemetery and a 10/15 minute drive of the British Allied one. Montecassino is about 20 minutes away and we go quite often especially when we have visitors. We have been to all 3 cemeteries (the Polish one is near the monastery). It is heartbreaking reading the graves ,most of them were so young.