Ian Fletcher Battlefield Tours

Agemus Agenda

D-Day Dodgers: Italy 1943

cassino

The Italian Campaign of the Second World War has been overshadowed by Normandy and the subsequent fighting in northern Europe. As a result, its battlefields are hardly known and little visited which makes a tour of the landmarks especially rewarding. The Italian tour takes us to all the major landmarks of the so-called ‘D-Day Dodgers’, those Allied servicemen who fought a bitter fight against the Germans and Italians in Italy and yet were frequently the butt of many a jibe from those who claimed they had dodged D-Day and thus the ‘real’ fighting. Our tour includes visits to the battlefields of both Cassino and Anzio and the related sites including the deeply atmospheric features of the Boot and the Culvert within the famous wadis. The tour is led by Patrick Mercer, whose father commanded a battalion of the Sherwood Foresters during the campaign. Patrick has an intimate knowledge of the Italian battlefields and will take you to places where others fear to tread!

Day 1. Fly London to Rome Ciampino. Drive south-east to San Pietro and check into the 4-star Hotel Il Terrazza Sulla Storia situated in a village destroyed in 1943. Welcome, dinner and overnight.
Day 2. Breakfast. This morning will be spent examining the assault river crossings by the US 36th (Texas) Division and US 5th Division. In the afternoon we consider the grim battles around Cassino and Castle Hill. Return to San Pietro. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3. Breakfast. In the morning, the route from Caira up the Cavendish Road will be followed. After lunch we visit Albaneta Farm and the Polish Memorial. Depart late afternoon for Nettuno and check in at the 4-star Astura Palace Hotel overlooking the Mediterranean. Dinner and overnight.
Day 4. Breakfast. Anzio. Today we focus on the Allied landings, including the Flyover, the Factory, Dung Farm and the attack by the 1st Infantry Division on Campoleone. The slaughter here will be studied in depth. Return to hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 5. Breakfast. We visit Anzio Museum in the morning and spend the rest of the day exploring the wadis’ epic battlefields which few people manage to locate. Return to hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6. Breakfast. Some free time before our drive to Rome and the return flight to London.

14-19 May 2012 Price £1750 Single Supplement £200

Package includes: Return air fare, five nights half-board accommodation, five breakfasts, five dinners including wine, coach transport, guide Patrick Mercer and tour manager.