New Culture Forum Literary Festival, Central London 25 May 25

 Great discussion of my book "Battle for Monte Natale" at the New Culture Forum Literary Festival in Central London yesterday.   Wonderful audience!   Thank you Bruce Goodwin for all your help!

Bruce Goodwin, standing on the left chaired the meeting.   I am seated next to the empty chair.

Book Review of "Battle for Monte Natale" by Len Hill

Book Review by Len Hill

 I’ve just read your book “Battle for Monte Natale” and would like to congratulate you one such an outstanding piece of research. You have really gone out your way to conduct interviews (some in German) and researched original documents. I particularly liked the way you  collated all the evidence and suggested various scenarios.

Where were you on VE day 1945?

 VE Day 1945 at Hunter Hill Road, Sheffield.   I am the little boy standing on the stool on the right of the Photo.   My sister Pat is second from the right in the front row.   We had a bonfire in the middle of the road outside our house which was a two up, two down terraced house with a loo at the bottom of the garden and a tin bath was on a hook by the back door.   We had baked potatoes from the bonfire with toffee apples.

On VE day 1945 My father's final resting place was in the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery at Minturno in Italy.   This video shows the Cemetery on VE Day 1945 and the Cemetery today.

VE Day 1945 Minturno

At last with my father!

Tribute by the Mayor of Minturno on Italian Freedom Day

 The Minturno's mayor Gerardo Stefanelli and Mirko Mendico pay tribute to your father (Ernest Strafford) and to the other soldiers in the Commonwealth War Cemetery of Minturno, during the Italian Freedom day (25th April).

Here are the pictures of this event.

Antonio Lepone

VE Day For those who died in the Battle for Monte Natale. "We will remember them"

 

As VE day approaches "We will remember them"  and in particular the men of the York & Lancaster Regiment who with my father gave their lives in the Battle for Monte Natale.

 On 22 January 1944 the Germans counter attacked Monte Natale. They made a full frontal assault and also came down the road from Santa Maria Infante to cemetery corner,   "A" Company of 1 York & Lancs. who were defending cemetery corner were virtually wiped out, but some retreated up the hill to Point 172 and Tufo.

View from Monte Natale

 The view from the front edge of Monte Natale showing Santa Maria Infante, the valley below and the mountains opposite all occupied by the Germans! Is it any wonder it was fought over by both sides?