The Italian Campaign revisited 2013, photos of the Shiny Seven's 1944 Amazon and Congo bridge sites and war cemeteries
The Shiny 7 - Italy revisited 2013
Amazon bridge nearside bank.The bank is about 5'- 6' of heavy shingle above ground level
The barracks is behind the trees on the left
Monte Cassino towering over Cassino town
During the Italian Campaign 1944, 7 Field Company RE lost 10 men, some were killed outright and some died of wounds. There was aslo two former 7 Company men killed, one of whom was the OC of the Company in September1943. He was CRE 78 Division when he was killed, Lt Colonel E.M Blake DSO.OBE.
The second former 7 Company man was in the Company 1939-40. SQMS A Vodden MM,MinD was killed while serving in 8 Field Squadron RE.
All 12 graves were visited in June 2013 and on behalf of the Shiny Seven Association a poppy cross was placed on each grave.
B. Cassino War Cemetery
C Naples War Cemetery
D Sangro River Cemetery
E Meldola War Cemetery
F Faenza War Cemetery
G Foiano Della Chiana War Cemetery
H Assisi War Cemetery
Cemetery locations map
B Cassino War Cemetery
Sapper Gunns 9 May 1944
Cassino Cemetery R.I.P
Sapper T Moore 11/12 May 1944
Cassino Cemetery R.I.P
Sapper T Appleby 12 May 1944
Cassino Cemetery R.I.P
C Naples War Cemetery
Sapper H Maietta 17 November 1944 Died of wounds sustained in Rimini.
Naples Cemetery R.I.P
Monte Cassino
The message attached to each poppy cross
The card was made of plastic and the poppy crosses had 3 coats of varnish to make them weather proof
D Sangro River Cemetery
Lt Col E.M. Blake DSO OBE RE. 14 November 1943.CRE 78 Division. O.C. 7 Field Company September 1943.
Sangro River Cemetery R.I.P
E Meldola War Cemetery
Sgt F Clark DCM. 9 November 1944
Meldola Cemetery R.I.P
Sapper A. G Spong. 12 November 1944
Meldola Cemetery R.I.P
Cpl E.M. Pirie ACC attached 7 Field Company RE 12 November 1944
Meldola Cemetery R.I.P
Polish War Cemetery viewed from Monte Cassino
Inside Monte Cassino. It was rebuilt with the original pieces, many of which was damaged from the bombing and fighting as shown in the 2 photos above
Entrance to Monte Cassino Abbey
Inside Monte Cassino
Doves in the grounds of Monte Cassino
F Faenza War Cemetery
SQMS A Vodden MM MinD 30 December 1944.
8 Field Squadron RE
Served in 7 Field Company RE 1939-40
Faenza Cemetery R.I.P
G Foiano Della Chiana War Cemetery
Sapper G.H Wilde 6 July 1944
Foiana Della Chiana Cemetery R.I.P
Lt M.N Sharland 19 July 1944
Foiana Della Chiana Cemetery R.I.P
H Assisi War Cemetery
Sapper L Kearns 28 August 1944
Assisi Cemetery R.I.P
A Shiny 7 pen was left with the visitors book in each cemetery
The entry I made in the Sangro Cemetery visitor's book
A page in the Naples War Cemetery register
Each Cemetery displayed this sign
Behind me was the nearside bank
12/13 May 2014 is the 70th anniversary of the Bailey bridge code named "Amazon", one of the most famous bailey bridges of WW2. The Shiny Seven association has had a special commemorative shield made to mark this herculean and courageous event, undertaken by 225 Field Company, 7 Field Company and 59 Field Company Royal Engineers.
Cassino battlefields.co.uk are running a special anniversary tour 11-14 May to coincide with the anniversary. For an amazing experience
click on the link for details www.cassinobattlefields.co.uk/
The Terence Cuneo print with kind permission of Carole Cuneo
The Amazon bridge commemorative shields are availabe for sale through the Shiny 7 Association.- contact Bob on the notice board
May 2004.
Left and above. Joe Gilleard a Shiny 7, Amazon bridge veteran revisits Cassino and the graves of his former colleagues
Joe Gilleard with his son Ron at Cassino War Cemetery 2004
Right:
A Fusilier group visit the "Amazon" bridge site May 2013
