大象传媒

On reaching the south bank of the River Po in Italy at the end of April 1945, we looked across this wide flooded river with some apprehension - this being the next formidable obstacle in our forward advance. What joy for us in the 18th infantry division when, on May 2nd, the German High Command in the region of war surrendered; a few days later we set forth to become part of the army of occupation in austria but en route I had the good fortune on May 8th to spend that day in Venice. I know that seems nothing now, with world travel within everyone's grasp, but pre war very few britons had visited the unique city. On a very bright sunny day I was very impressed with everything I saw, this made even better as servicemen and civilians around were few in number. I was pleased i had my army haversack rations for apart from the odd coffee shop nothing edible could be purchased: I did float along in a gondola, dreaming of sitting beside an attractive signorita instead of my companion for the day, a plump ugly soldier like me!

How lucky I was to be indulging in this blissful moment compared to so many of the lads with whom I'd left the shores of Britain two and a half years previously and who were now buried in Tunisia, Sicily and the length and breadth of Italy. A sobering thought whenever I remember that day in Venice, May 8th 1945.

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