RESIDENTS of Malvern who are holders of the Second World War campaign medal the Italy Star, may be interested to know about the Italy Star Association, which they are eligible to join.
Annually a reunion is held, with a service of commemoration and remembrance. This year's service will take place in Chichester on Sunday, May 18. Further details may be obtained from Mr M C Cheadle, 22 Fairfield Road, Barton-on-Sea, BH25 7NL.
The Italian campaign is now largely forgotten, except by those who took part in it. It was fought from July, 1943, when Sicily was invaded; the allied forces entered Rome on June 4, 1944 - two days before D-Day took place - 330,000 allied soldiers were killed, over 44,000 of which were British and Commonwealth troops.
Lessons learnt in Sicily, Salerno and Anzio were vital in planning the Normandy invasion. So remember, "We were the first in Europe".
A L BROWN (former "D-Day Dodger"), Geraldine Road, Malvern.
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