the battle of monte cassino _ liberation of rome.ome. the battle of i monte cassino was one of the most important battles for the history of italy in the second world war, mostly for the liberation of rome. monte cassino was the most important point for the line, the strongest defensive line before rome of the germans. monte cassino was about the hill overlooking the august of line. it was located on one of the narrows points of the territory, and it was actually blocking rome from the south. ~ ., ., south. we also mentioned the monastery _ south. we also mentioned the monastery there, _ south. we also mentioned the monastery there, there - south. we also mentioned the monastery there, there was i south. we also mentioned the | monastery there, there was an south. we also mentioned the - monastery there, there was an abbey that was bombed. could you tell us how that happened and why? the abbey was bombed for— how that happened and why? the abbey was bombed for two _ how that happened and why? the abbey was bombed for two main _ how t

these were young, young men fighting in those brutal conditions for monte cassino.rent continents who fought. one of those who fought was john walker's father. john, just tell us a little bit about your dad. yeah, dad joined up scots guards and was here 19aa at the battle, arrived in naples and the guards set up and returned it and then were moved in here to cassino for the final battle. and that's how he arrived at that. he spoke about it to me a lot when i was younger. so essentially i was born into the conflict and it's never left me and now that they have gone these soldiers, of course, the ones that died at the battle, went early, but the veterans now are drifting away. so it's up to the sons and daughters and people who are interested to keep the liberty and freedom of our country going by honouring the dead. did your father ever feel that this battle was overlooked? slightly, because of d—day. he got malaria at the battle and he ended up in rome and it was there the radio was on and the allies had landed in france. and therefore he knew that the the war had s

yes, they didn't make it, but i did. 80 years on, their sacrifices for the battles of monte cassino areish cemetery and here today services are being held at the commonwealth cemetery. this lady, her great uncle fiona porter's great uncle was born in cassino and involved with the new zealand infantry battalion, the 23rd battalion and zealand infantry battalion, the 23rd battalion . ., , ., battalion and he was that interpreter _ battalion and he was that interpreter so _ battalion and he was that interpreter so as - battalion and he was that interpreter so as a - battalion and he was that interpreter so as a young | battalion and he was that - interpreter so as a young boy age battalion and he was that _ interpreter so as a young boy age 15 hejoined them and interpreter so as a young boy age 15 he joined them and they gave him the honorary rank of boy sergeant so thatis honorary rank of boy sergeant so that is the memory. unfortunately our lovely uncle can't be with us today so i am representing him and so proud to do it. not only see a great uncle but a great war veteran of this beauti

yes, they didn't make it, but i did. 80 years on, their sacrifices for the battles of monte cassino are for those from the polish forces switch fought so tirelessly and ultimately put the polish flag over monte cassio. typically, it was raining. with me, your father—in—law actually fought with the polish second corps. he must have be an extraordinary man? just before the war started, he lived on the ukrainian side. he ended up in siberia. along with thousands of other polls. and then stalin agreed with general anders that the polls could be useful in world war ii. he released the soldiers and then they travelled a long route from siberia, through palestine, iran. and then they re—formed under general anders. with the brits as well, they went through italy, ended up in cassino, and this is where the battle started to remove the germans from the abbey on the hill. did remove the germans from the abbey on the hill. , ., ~ ., ., the hill. did he talk about what happened? _ the hill. did he talk about what happened? when _ the hill. did he talk about what happened? when you - the hill. did h

our correspondent kasia madera is following the commorations in monte cassino.ng the route to rome was the town of cassino. it's no longer possible to speak of cassino as a town. this is how it looks today... the battle that took place here is often described as the most bitter and brutal of the second world war. it lasted for more than four months in appalling conditions during the harshest italian winter on record. history hasn't always appreciated the sacrifice of those who fought here. they were known as the d—day dodgers, mocked for missing the normandy landings. yet the sacrifices were high, with countries including the uk, the us, france and poland having 55,000 casualties. the germans suffered losses of around 20,000. now the last few veterans are marking this milestone anniversary, recalling their harrowing experience. if you feel the same way as i do, we are a family. we are a family, because we come here to honour those who didn't make it, who fell in here on their road to poland. yes, they didn't make it, but i did. 80 years on, their sacrifices for

he�*s an historian and author of �*monte cassino: ten armies in hell.�* thank you and welcome to the the battle. it won�*t be part of their knowledge of history. just put it in the context for us. it knowledge of history. just put it in the context for us.— the context for us. it has largely been lost because _ the context for us. it has largely been lost because it _ the context for us. it has largely been lost because it is - the context for us. it has largelyl been lost because it is happening just before the d—day landings in june 1944. so this is not one but four battles that took part in central italy, about an hour�*s drive south of rome, and the confluence of several valleys overlooked by a mountain and on top of that mountain was an abbey which was about 1500 years old, founded by saint benedict. it has been stuffed full of art treasures and the germans are occupying the hilltop and all around us. we occupying the hilltop and all around us. ~ . ., ., ., us. we are running out of time, i do apologise- — us. we are running out of time, i do apologise- this _ us. we are running

we're at the commonwealth war cemetery where those who fell defending and fighting for monte cassino these moments are really poignant because just have a look at this. this is veteranjothack hearn — and the amount of interest in him — he's 100 years old and he's an absolute superstar. this is incredible, isn't it? i know. you're the next generation. that's right. the next generation. i hope they enjoy life as i've enjoyed life. being with the fusiliers, we used to say once a geordie always a geordie, once a fusilier, always a fusilier. and jothack hearn, royal northumberland fusiliers, you were here. yes. you were here 80 years ago. and i enjoyed it. it was a great picnic here. i think you're pulling my leg. i am. yes, of course. you know, wejust did thejob that we were told to do. we didn't do the job that you wanted to do. if the sergeant said jump, you said how high? and that's how it's always been, hasn't it? you know, if the lance corporal says, "eat that grass," you ate that grass. and your colleagues who didn't make it back? they're all behind me. there they are. all those pe

he�*s an historian and author of �*monte cassino: ten armies in hell.�* think you welcome back to theit? ., , programme knows numerous battles, wasn'tit? ., , ., wasn't it? four battles from january until may 1944. _ wasn't it? four battles from january until may 1944, none _ wasn't it? four battles from january until may 1944, none of _ wasn't it? four battles from january until may 1944, none of which - until may 1944, none of which we anticipate fighting without the germans with full and this is on the road to rome and we expected to be in rome and early 1944 and the germans held us up for five in rome and early 1944 and the germans held us up forfive months as you reiterated. i think we saw also these battles are significant and underscoring the importance of coalitions during conflict and explain that to us. it was run by the americans, the canadians and the british and the free french and the polish. and those who send attachments in field marshal alexander said he reckoned he had 21 different coalitions partners under his command for the italian theatre. that is a very modern r

peter caddick—adams is an historian and author of monte cassino: ten armies in hell. british, the free french and the poles. but there were other nations who sent detachments as well. and in the end, field marshal alexander said that he reckoned he had 21 different coalition partners under his command for the italian theatre. and that has a very modern resonance, because those are the sort of numbers of coalition partners we've had in bosnia, or iraq, or afghanistan. and the learning of how to work together and cooperate was extremely important. and that was really the reason for allied success. at the end of the day. i don't know if you're aware of who will be attending this anniversary? i mean, it is hugely significant and important. particularly, it's probably going to be the last one for the remaining survivors of world war ii. yes. it's largely been lost, because it's happening just before the d—day landings in june 19114. so this is not one but four battles that take part in central italy, about an hour's drive south of rome, at the confluence of several valleys

in italy meeting my opposite number, and we were talking about monte cassino, which is a big commemorationred properly here. it will be, by the way, both, in in portsmouth and in, in, in france. so it will be i want to make sure it's done properly. coming back to the decisions, i'm afraid they predate my time. it is the case, though, we do have some very, very good, a400. heavy lift aircraft with about 1.4 million tons of lift ability. so we actually have a lot of , lift ability in the raf. lot of, lift ability in the raf. as i say, some of them have been involved in active. we know there are several live wars going on and they are being used for those purposes. but i'm quite sure to commemorate something as significant as d—day , we can do a bit better d—day, we can do a bit better than that. and i've undertaken to make . sure we do well, i hope so. >> thank you very much indeed for your time. grant shapps defence secretary and conservative mp for welwyn hatfield. great to speak to you, that was grant shapps still to come this hour. in just a minute we'll be joined by labour's shadow heal