COMMEMORAZIONE DELLA BATTAGLIA DEL FIUME MELFA
Data: 02-06-2006Autore: ROBERTO MOLLEListe: ARTICLES IN ENGLISHCategorie: CronacheTag: #today, canada, commemorazioni, melfa-fiume

BATTLE OF MELFA RIVER COMMEMORATION

On the 25 May at Roccasecca, one of the places that saw fierce combat between the Canadian and German forces in May 1944, a commemoration of the Battle of the Melfa River was held. A plaque commemorating these events was unveiled in the presence of 28 Canadian veterans of the Italian Campaign, most of whom had fought on the Melfa River as part of the Westminster Regiment and the Lord Stathcona’s Horse Regiment. In recognition of bravery demonstrated in these battles Major J K Mahony was decorated with the Victoria Cross and Lieutenant Ed Perkins was awarded the DSO.

This event, simple and emotional, was made possible thanks to the support of the Comune (Council) of Roccasecca, and the commitment of Jerry Cangur and Ken McLeod, the Battle of Cassino Association and the Cassino War Memorial Museum. After the greeting by the Mayor of Roccasecca, Sindaco Iacobelli, two veterans from the regiments spoke of their memories, giving emotional accounts of the battles of 24 and 25 May 1944.
This was followed by greetings from the citizens of Roccasecca, present in large numbers, who wished to express their many thanks for the liberation of their town. After the unveiling of the plaque by the oldest veteran present and a young girl from a Roccasecca school, the children from the local elementary school read poems on the theme of war. At the end of the ceremony was a visit to the local farm of Ricci Carlo Antonio which was a theatre of combat, and finally everyone went to the Melfa River where the Comune had organised refreshments.

At the conclusion of the event two Canadian children cast flower petals into the river in memory of those who had died there in battle.

Then all visited the museum “Cassino War Memorial” where the veterans, visited the large exhibition of photographs of the battles and especially the many uniforms, some of which were donated by Canadian veterans.

Certainly it was a day to remember.

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