28 January 2012
On 28 January 2012 a monument was unveiled at the site of the bridge. The main instigator of this was Anzio veteran Harry Shindler of the Italy Star Association. A book has been written about Harry's present-day activities in Italy by Italian journalist on the Repubblica newspaper, Marco Patucchi. Here is an excerpt:
Today, the only remains of the bridge at Allerona are a few stones hidden in the undergrowth...During the summer months the bed of the river is an expanse of white pebbles amongst which, according to the locals, for years small fragments of bone, uniform buttons and parts of weapons have made their way up to the surface...we make our way to the site with a small delegation of local politicians and representatives of the military. Everything is immersed in the blinding light of the summer sun. Harry sets off slowly toward the cement pillars of the modern bridge, and glances back along the country track which from the road winds its way down to the bed of the River Paglia.
'Here,' he says, after a pause in which he seems to be lost in who only knows what memories. 'The monument should be put right here, under the bridge arch. The footpath will need improving and the undergrowth will need cutting back...'
The local representatives listen to what isn't just a simple wish, a request like so many others. They listen to the 'orders' given out by veteran Shindler. And it is just as if all the white stones on the river bed had spoken.
From : Marco Patucchi and Harry Shindler 'La mia guerra non è finita' pub. Baldini Castaldi Dalai Milano 2011. Translation for this website by Janet Kinrade Dethick. (English version of book to be published in Autumn 2011)
December 2011
Students from the Liceo Artistico (Art Institute) in Orvieto prepared various designs for the monument CLICK HERE
On 28 January 2012 a monument was unveiled at the site of the bridge. The main instigator of this was Anzio veteran Harry Shindler of the Italy Star Association. A book has been written about Harry's present-day activities in Italy by Italian journalist on the Repubblica newspaper, Marco Patucchi. Here is an excerpt:
Today, the only remains of the bridge at Allerona are a few stones hidden in the undergrowth...During the summer months the bed of the river is an expanse of white pebbles amongst which, according to the locals, for years small fragments of bone, uniform buttons and parts of weapons have made their way up to the surface...we make our way to the site with a small delegation of local politicians and representatives of the military. Everything is immersed in the blinding light of the summer sun. Harry sets off slowly toward the cement pillars of the modern bridge, and glances back along the country track which from the road winds its way down to the bed of the River Paglia.
'Here,' he says, after a pause in which he seems to be lost in who only knows what memories. 'The monument should be put right here, under the bridge arch. The footpath will need improving and the undergrowth will need cutting back...'
The local representatives listen to what isn't just a simple wish, a request like so many others. They listen to the 'orders' given out by veteran Shindler. And it is just as if all the white stones on the river bed had spoken.
From : Marco Patucchi and Harry Shindler 'La mia guerra non è finita' pub. Baldini Castaldi Dalai Milano 2011. Translation for this website by Janet Kinrade Dethick. (English version of book to be published in Autumn 2011)
December 2011
Students from the Liceo Artistico (Art Institute) in Orvieto prepared various designs for the monument CLICK HERE
The Guardian, 27 January John Hooper in Rome
John Hooper, Rome correspondent of The Guardian, ran an excellent article on the bombing, which can be read on line CLICK HERE
John Hooper, Rome correspondent of The Guardian, ran an excellent article on the bombing, which can be read on line CLICK HERE
The Commemoration Programme
10:00 – 10:30 Party to meet up in Piazza Stazione Orvieto
10:30 - 10:50 Party sets off for Ponte Giulio, Allerona.
11:00 Ceremony begins
11:00 - 11:15 Opening address (Dott. H. Shindler)
11:15 - 11:40 Inauguration of the monument(Gen. F. Stella)
The Last Post
Unveiling of the Monument
Blessing
Two minutes silence
11:40 - 11:50 Presentation of the monument (Ing. F. Roncella)
11:50 - 12:00 Closure of ceremony and thanks Mayor of Orvieto (Dott. A. Concina)
=======================================================================================
Lunch for guests – civil dignitaries, students who have worked on the project, British and American guests – at the Castle of Montegiove.
Before the ceremony
Photo Enzo Gilini
A large crowd assembled beneath the arch of the replacement bridge (built by British sappers in August 1944) where the bomb crater in which the victims' bodies were cremated is believed to lie. The monument, concealed beneath a red drape, has been placed above any known flood level.
An Anzio veteran and the daughters of two survivors of the bombing
Photo Enzo Gilini
On the left is Harry Shindler and next to him are Heather Pinnell, daughter of Able Seaman Arthur Ross Pinnell of the submarine Saracen and Sue Finley, daughter of Staff/Sergeant Richard A. Morris C Company, 45 Division, 157 Infantry, US Army. Behind them is a commemorative plaque (see later) and next to Harry is the bugler who sounded the Last Post.
Unveiling the monument
Photo Enzo Gilini
Sue Finley and Annie McCarthy, the daughters of
Staff/Sergeant Richard A. Morris, Heather Pinnell, daughter of Able Seaman Arthur Ross Pinnell and the students from the Art Institute of Orvieto remove the drape from the monument.
Photo Chris Kemp
The Last Post and salute
Photo Enzo Gilini
Retired Generale Franco Stella of the Italian Armed forces, a native of Orvieto, gives the salute as the Last Post is sounded.To the left of the general and the bugler and the four flags representing South Africa, the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States of America, is engineer Fabio Roncella who, after having found some photographs of the disaster on sale on ebay CLICK HERE began the investigations which led to today's commemoration ceremony.
The dignitaries present
Photo Enzo Gilini
To the left, the mayors of those small towns who lie near to the scene of the incident- Orvieto, Allerona, Castelviscardo together with the mayor of Montegabbione. To the right representatives of the British, American and South African embassies.
The Monument
The three students
Photo Enzo Gilini
Designed by Alexandra Lebdenko, Franscesca Nicolai and Alina Sevastjanova, students at the Art Insitute of Orvieto, (see above link), the monument was realised by four volunteers - Giampiero Bacchio, Alessandro Santucchi, Diego Santucchi and Sheshi Shyqri.
Plaque and monument showing flowers laid by Alcero Mechelli (See below) Photo Sue Finley
Photo Heather Pinnell
The Memorial Plaque
Photo Enzo Gilini
Janet Kinrade Dethick next to the plaque, which she translated (liberally) from the Italian.
Alcero Mechelli and Heather Pinnell
Photo Enzo Gilini
On 28 January 1944 conscript Alcero Mechelli aged 18 from the village of Parrano was working for the German organisation known as the Todt. Along with others he was taken to the site of the incident, where they was confronted with a mountain of corpses. They were instructed to put them in a
bomb crater, drench them in petrol and set light to them. Here Alcero is seen with Heather Pinnell at the Castello di Montegiove, where a buffet had been organised for the participants at the ceremony and where an exhibition of the proposals put forward by the art students had been set up.
The Domenici family of Percile
Daniela, Giovanni and Valentina
Photo Enzo Gilini
Giovanni is the husband of Nadia Domenici, whose father Umberto Domenici befriended Corporal Bill Marsh of the 1 South Wales Borderers whilst he was on the run from the Prison Camp at Fara in Sabina. With Giovanni are his two daughters, Daniela and Valentina. The Domenici family had conserved a photograph of Bill's son Gerald and Gerald had kept the letters which Umberto had sent to his father. On the letters was the address of the family home in Percile, and it only took one phone call (made by Janet Kinrade Dethick's husband Enzo Gilini) to put the two families in contact once more.
Also present at the ceremony were Angelo Peparello and his wife Rosanna Ramacci. (see Stop Press)
Also present at the ceremony were Angelo Peparello and his wife Rosanna Ramacci. (see Stop Press)
LATER COMMEMORATIONS
2013
Although the River Paglia was the main cause of flooding in the Orvieto Area on 11/12 November, and despite the fact that the water arrived at the level of the monument, it has not been damaged. Before the flooding took place it had been decided that the 2013 commemoration ceremony would take place on or around 16 June.
28 January
This morning I made a short visit to the site with my husband and a friend, Hamish Robertson. We laid a small wreath and took some photographs which you can see below.
28 January
This morning I made a short visit to the site with my husband and a friend, Hamish Robertson. We laid a small wreath and took some photographs which you can see below.
16 June
The Ceremony
From left to right: a representative of the Granatieri di Sardegna in Umbria, Generale Franco Stella, the Rev. Dana English from All Saints' Anglican Church in Rome, Harry Shindler, Italy Star Association and Fabio Roncella, (holding the clarinet), responsible for the construction and siting of the monument and the ceremonies of 2012 and 2013.
Prayers were said for William Anderson, George Thomson and Neville Hollingsworth.
A band accompanying a group of singers rendered the 'D Day Dodgers' and Fabio Roncella recounted the story of the finding of Robert Crofts' mess tin.
From left to right: a representative of the Granatieri di Sardegna in Umbria, Generale Franco Stella, the Rev. Dana English from All Saints' Anglican Church in Rome, Harry Shindler, Italy Star Association and Fabio Roncella, (holding the clarinet), responsible for the construction and siting of the monument and the ceremonies of 2012 and 2013.
Prayers were said for William Anderson, George Thomson and Neville Hollingsworth.
A band accompanying a group of singers rendered the 'D Day Dodgers' and Fabio Roncella recounted the story of the finding of Robert Crofts' mess tin.
A Carabiniere and a representative of the British Embassy pay homage to the fallen
Relatives pay their tribute
Joan Comrie, daughter of Sergent William Anderson RASC, Ray Roberts, son of Petty Officer Len Roberts of HMS/s Saracen, Heather Pinnell, daughter of Able Seaman Arthur Pinnell of HMS/s Saracen and Alison Murray, granddaughter of Sergeant William Anderson RASC pictured after the ceremony. Note part of the original rail to the right of the photograph.
Joan Comrie, daughter of Sergent William Anderson RASC, Ray Roberts, son of Petty Officer Len Roberts of HMS/s Saracen, Heather Pinnell, daughter of Able Seaman Arthur Pinnell of HMS/s Saracen and Alison Murray, granddaughter of Sergeant William Anderson RASC pictured after the ceremony. Note part of the original rail to the right of the photograph.
A visit to Campo P.G. 54 Fara in Sabina
On Sunday 16 June, following the ceremony at the bridge, Councillor David Trovarelli took the above family members on a tour of the camp. After the war the locals moved in and occupied the barrracks. In the background a modified hut can be picked out. the grey building to the left was the camp commander's headquarters.
From left to right:
Janet Kinrade Dethick, David Trovarelli, Ray Roberts, Heather Pinnell, Joan Comrie and Alison Murray
On Sunday 16 June, following the ceremony at the bridge, Councillor David Trovarelli took the above family members on a tour of the camp. After the war the locals moved in and occupied the barrracks. In the background a modified hut can be picked out. the grey building to the left was the camp commander's headquarters.
From left to right:
Janet Kinrade Dethick, David Trovarelli, Ray Roberts, Heather Pinnell, Joan Comrie and Alison Murray
2014
No ceremony was held in January for reasons given above
14 June
Fabio Roncella with (from left to right) Ray Roberts (son of Len Roberts, Gina Cameron (daughter of Cyril Morris, Heather Pinnell daughter of Arthur Pinnell and Catherine Shields daughter of John Kean)
2015
28 January
Janet Kinrade Dethick and Orvieto Resident Brian Cumberlidge lay the wreath.
Remembering especially this year Thomas Herbert Barber C/KX 85490 of
HMS/m Saracen whose body was never found
Remembering especially this year Thomas Herbert Barber C/KX 85490 of
HMS/m Saracen whose body was never found
16 June
FABIO RONCELLA, THE MAYOR OF MONTEGABBIONE, ABOUT TO SOUND THE LAST POST
2016
28 January
Due to the efforts of a person who wishes to remain anonymous the site has now been cleared, the bent rails have been fixed to the bridge and another explanatory plaque, in Italian and English, has been put in place.
MAY THEIR MEMORY LIVE FOR EVERMORE
MAY THEIR MEMORY LIVE FOR EVERMORE
Remembrance Sunday 13 November
This ceremony was organised by the Friends of Orvieto War Cemetery
This ceremony was organised by the Friends of Orvieto War Cemetery
Janet KInrade Dethick reads the testimonies of S/Sgt. Richard A Morris, Trooper Robert W. Calvey, Private N. Stanley Wainer and American flier Private George William 'Bill' Gleeson,
with Heather Pinnell, Rev. Dana English and John Viney
Blessing the wreath
Heather Pinnell lays the wreath
Some shrapnel has been found by an unknown person and has been laid on the metal track
2017
|
Remembrance Sunday 12 NOVEMBER
Click here to edit.
|
There was no service today but two well-wishers had been and added a bunch of flowers and a rose (not on the photo as it had died) to last year's wreath which is holding up well. The grass had been cut at the request of another well-wisher who wants to remain anonymous..
A beautiful wreath made of laurel and carnations was laid this year by Janet Kinrade Dethick and Enzo Gilini. |
2018 No wreaths were laid on Remembrance Sunday as on the 28 January, for the 75th Anniversary, there will be a special Commemoration ceremony.
75th Anniversary of the bombing of the bridge at Allerona
28 January 2019
The ceremony, held at 12 noon, was opened by the former bi-lingual mayor of Orvieto, Antonio (Toni) Concina in the presence of:
- Major Lee Smith, Royal Artillery, representing the British Armed Forces
- American priest the Revd. Dana English, formerly at All Saints' Rome
- The relatives of:
Arthur Ross Pinnell - daughter Heather
Richard A. Morris - daughter Sue Finley, son Andy Morris and son's companion Caitlin Saporito
John Tourtilotte - granddaughter Katie Joca, son-in-law Andrew Joca and two great granddaughters Molly and Amelia
George C.Thomson - son Stewart, daughter-in-law Margaret Thomson
Robert H. Broughton - brother David, niece Karen Gyles, great niece Hayley Gyles, nephew Chris Bird
Timothy Conlan - son Ken, grandson Ian
Edward G. Adams - daughter Jenny Roberts, granddaughter Karen Dunn
Wreaths and crosses were laid by:
- Major Lee Smith
- Brian Cumberlidge, a British resident in Orvieto, on behalf of the relatives
- Stewart Thomson in memory of his father and the men of his father's regiment 2 Royal Scots Fusiliers
- Heather Pinnell
- Ken Conlan
- Katie Joca
- The communes of Orvieto, Allerona, Castel Viscardo and Montegabbione, at an earlier ceremony involving local schools
Two accounts of what happened that day were read by Sue Finley and Janet Kinrade Dethick. Stewart Thomson read the poem by Laurence Binyon
- The following men were specially remembered:
Guardsman Robert Harold Broughton, 3 Coldstream Guards
Fusilier George Cheyne Thomson, 2 Royal Scots Fusiliers
Leading Stoker Thonmas Herbert Barber, HM Submarine Saracen
Private Johannes Dihlokoe Mogoatjane, Native Military Corps
The Last Post was sounded by an Italian trumpeter from Orvieto
The ceremony was concluded with the Kohima Epitaph:
When you go home tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow we gave our today
For your tomorrow we gave our today
From left to right: Heather Pinnell, Ken Conlan, Katie Joca, Major Lee Smith, Stewart Thomson, Janet Kinrade Dethick, Revd. Dana English, Antonio Concina, two members of the local police escort
Sue Finley reads her father Dick Morris's account of the bombing and indicates Katie Joca, granddaughter of John Tourtillotte, who escaped with him from the bombed train
Major Lee Smith gives the salute
Brian Cumberlidge lays the relatives' wreath
Heather Pinnell and Ken Conlan lay two crosses
Stewart Thomson with the 2 Royal Scots Fusilers' wreath, Janet Kinrade Dethick reading the account the first person on the scene, local priest Don Marzio Miscetti, the Revd. Dana English and Antonio Concina
The final prayers. To the bottom right, David Broughton and Chris Bird
From left to right: Andrew Joca, Katie Joca, Molly Joca, Amelia Joca. Back right David Brougton and his daughter Karen Gyles
All photos 2019 Enzo Gilini
