A year after my first return to Anzio, I made a second return for the 61st anniversary of the landings. This time my wife, Betty, accompanied me. Here is an account of the time we spent there.

Friday 21st

A meeting had been arranged for Geoff Smith and myself, to meet the Mayor of Anzio's representative. Geoff and myself being the only two who were able to attend the 61st anniversary this year, he represented the Navy, and myself the Royal Engineers. We were then presented with a lovely memento each for grateful thanks from the citizens of Anzio. After the presentation a minibus was laid on for us to locate the grave of Cyril Buck, a school chum of mine. Cyril was in the First British Infantry Division of Royal Engineer's - not in the 248 Field Company, but in the 6 Field Park Company. He was killed when he drove over a mine. We found the grave, he was buried in the Beachhead Cemetery. I photographed it and laid a small cross.

We then visited the military hospital, where the Bell is now in the more or less the exact spot when the 248 Field Company Royal Engineers acquired it. One now has to have a pass and an escort to view it. We managed to achieve this and to photograph the Bell where it now stands inside the hospital annexe.

Saturday 22nd

The 61st anniversary of the landings. The first parade was at eight thirty for a service and internment of a soldier, believed to be from the Duke of Wellington's regiment, and who was found during excavation work. Very moving service with the last post being played.

We then proceeded to the city memorial, where the mayor and the dignitaries were to make speeches and lay more wreaths. Among the speech makers was Julie Mackenzie the New Zealand ambassador to Rome, who introduced herself to Major Reg Norfolk and myself at the 60th anniversary last year. Also representatives from the USA, Canada, Germany and many others. This was very impressive, with many people watching the parade.

Next came a big parade at the Commonwealth Cemetery, where some of my comrades are buried. I laid a wreath along with Colonel Mike Montague, the British Defence Attache. We laid our wreaths together, stepped back and saluted, whilst the last post was played. After the ceremony was over, Geoff and I had a very lengthy interview with Sky television, presumably for the Italian television news.

Then down to the dockside, where the parade and laying of wreaths was held at the site of the Spartan plaque. After the ceremony and laying of wreaths, my wife and I were invited to go aboard an Italian naval vessel to go out into the bay where wreaths were placed on the sea at the position of the sinking by glider bomb of H.M.S. Spartan. On return to shore a meal had been laid on for us at a restaurant.

To end the day's events my wife and I were taken to see the flyover bridge. This brought back the horrific memories of my company of Royal Engineers, the 248 Field Company, which was a Bedford territorial unit, tunnelling through the left hand embankment to observe the enemy who occupied the other side. My role in this was being the driver of a White Scout car, which was partly armoured. I had to take the Sappers to do the tunnelling, along a dead straight road up to the bridge. We had to do this night and morning in the dark as we were under observation, and the Germans had an 88 millimetre gun firing through the bridge. This and the mortaring made life very hazardous. Afterwards we toured the wadis and the caves where heavy fighting took place.

So ended my second return to Anzio since 1944.

Bob Odell, Bedford, UK