At the heart of this defence stood an enormous monastery, which was twice the size of Buckingham Palace had been positioned on this site hundreds of years earlier due to the amazing position overlooking the Liri Valley.

The Liri Valley and its passageway through the two mountain ranges of the Arunci and Abruzzi Mountains provided the Allies with little alternative than to try and force through at Cassino on their way towards Rome. For months the Allies tried to take the Monastery, which was believed as being used by the Germans as an observation post for their artillery above the valley. However, following a diversionary major amphibious landing at Anzio, the complete destruction of the Monastery (Which was never occupied by German troops) and the loss of 100,000 lives, the Allies finally broke through and continued their March on Rome. This battle has been described as very similar to the battles of the Western Front of the First World War due to the horrendous conditions, casualties and unfavourable odds.

The team of 14 stayed out on the coast at Gaeta, a picturesque seaside town with great Pizzas, and bars close enough to the hotel to allow us to stagger back following gladiatorial drinking combat around "The Ring of Fire". We travelled around in two vehicles the "Wild Cat" and the "Stranded Whale" and visited various vantage points above the town of Cassino. The story was brought to life by our residential historians Robert Bruce (senior I hasten to add!) and Woolfy who had both done their preparation and research thoroughly. We were sent a six page detailed account of a day on the front line by a veteran of the fourth battle Dick Bruce which proved both educational and inspirational. Corin won the prize for hearts and minds of the locals as he undertook Italian child-minding duties, Sticky just seemed to sleep throughout the trip and Floody just continued to talk twaddle.

A fantastic trip, one which I can firmly say "Woolfy, you have raised the bar again my man, would not have missed it for the world!"