An Italian Viewpoint in "Il Messaggero" 26 January 2025

 Italy 1944 - An Italian Viewpoint 

An article by Antonio Lepone in "Il Messaggero", Lazio Sud edition 26th January 2025

Translation in English:

Headline

“In a book just published in Great Britain, the author John Strafford, 82 years old

tells the story of his father Ernest, a soldier buried in the Commonwealth cemetery.”

Captions under the photos.

“John Strafford at the grave of his father, at the military cemetery of the Commonwealth, in Minturno.”

“The cover from the book "Battle for Monte Natale"

“The pontoon bridge over the Garigliano river, built in January 1944 by the British Army.”

Article

A month ago, in Great Britain, the book "Battle for Monte Natale" (Pen & Sword Books) was published about military operations in January - February 1944 between the mouth of the river Garigliano and the hills of Minturno.   Author John Strafford, 82 years old, a retired accountant, who lives in Beaconsfield, a town of 10 thousand inhabitants, in the county of Buckinghamshire, 43 kilometres from London.   He is married to Caroline.   He has three children (Guy, Ernest and Peter) and two grandchildren, (Montgomery & Constance).

               The inspiration for the publication was the story of his father Ernest, an employee of the "Sheffield Telegraph", until he then joined as a soldier the, "York and Lancaster" Regiment.  He was hit by a bomb shell and died in Minturno on 22 January 1944. Ernest Strafford is one of the 2,049 fallen who rest in the Commonwealth Military Cemetery, located close to the archaeological site of Minturnae.   After years of investigations and searches,  John, author of the book, traced the grave of his father in 2012.   In September 2023, he paid tribute to him, for the fifth time, visiting the cemetery, together with Caroline and his sons Guy and Peter and grandson Montgomery.

The story begins In the winter 81 years ago: what have you been able to find out?    "My father voluntarily enlisted and joined his brothers-in-law who were already engaged in the war in Italy.   With his regimental comrades my father crossed the river Garig]iano on 17 January, he died (as a result of a battle) on 22 January 1944.   His body was found on 4 February 1944.  Later, thanks to the maps of the British command, his grave was shown  located in terrain between Minturno and the hamlet of Tufo, so I found my father's grave.  He died in the Battle for Monte Natale" . In January 1945 he was then transferred to the military cemetery, near the mouth of the river Garigliano, where he now lies.

THE BATTLE
The "Battle for Monte Natale" took place between 17 January and 7 February: the 240 pages of the book, accompanied by about 100 illustrations show the military actions of the two forces (British and German), on the front of the Gustav Line. The No.1 Battalion of the "York and Lancaster"  Regiment had approximately 400 fighting men, of which 49 were killed, 144 injured and 64 missing in this battle.
What does this publication do?   "Battle for Monte Natale” combines stories, testimonies and excerpts from diaries of war, not only at the strategic level but also on an individual level. Inspiring stories of heroism, and sacrifice, day by day, hour by hour, over just a month, through words, maps and images, the book shows what happened, in the time frame between January 17 and 7 February 1944, near the Garigliano river, on the Gustav Line, in an area of only 9 square kilometres".

John started to research his father’s history, looking for facts about his time in Italy.   "After the death of my father, my mother remarried and then, in the late 1940s early 1950s, we lost my grandparents. I knew little of the fate of my father.   In November 2011, I visited the commemoration of the fallen of the York & Lancs. Regiment, at Westminster Abbey, in London.   I took pictures of a set of crosses in dedication to the military of the World Wars.

At a certain point, I realized, that on the very first cross I saw was written my dad's name Ernest Strafford. I could not help breaking down in tears and, in those circumstances, emotion took over.   That was  when the time came for me to start further research.   My son Peter, a graduate in history, a manager of the Museum of London helped me a lot.   Thanks to him, I was able to reconstruct the phases of the military campaign in Italy of the British Regiment of which my father had been part."

After years of investigation, of disappointments and hopes: in the end he accomplished the feat and told it in a book. "Since 2011, I collected news, I started contacting people, and then finally I went to see the grave of my father: an unforgettable occasion.   In Italy I met very kind people. We have been to Minturno 5 times, the first time in 2012.   In September 2023 I met the community delegate for Memorials, Mario Mirco Mendico, then I visited the Museum of the Gustav Line, in Castelforte.   I have retraced the route of the Regiment during my father’s time with them.  I lived with my family many moments and emotions."

Antonio Lepone