In November 1943, just after the Italians capitulated to the Allies, my grandfather landed in Italy as a trooper with the Reconnaissance Corps; and from the stories he told me he and his pals received a warm welcome from the Italian people.
The Reconnaissance Corps’ motto was ‘Only the Enemy in Front’ and inevitably, in February 1944, my grandfather was injured in action by the Germans during the initial stages of the Battle of Monte Cassino. As a result of his injuries he had to have his right arm amputated below his elbow and was returned to the UK for rehabilitation. In spite of his injuries, the warm welcome he’d received by the Italian people remained with him; he loved Italy, the Italian people and Italian style.
