ANZIO –British veterans who fought to free Rome in the Anzio battle made an emotional return to the port town yesterday -“It was terrifying...it was muddy, freezing cold, all you could hear was gunfire,” said Alex Munro, who served as an observation officer in the thick of the fighting with the Scottish Horse, an artillery regiment.

 Mr Munro, 91, one of just four veterans attending 70 years after the battle, stood overlooking the harbour south of Rome and recounted the frightening memories of the Second World War as if it were yesterday.  “We could hear the Germans advancing on the harbour, where there was continual shelling lasting for hours in the night," he recalled, "It was tough and the living conditions didn’t make it easy.”

  Approximately 100,000 allied troops landed on the harbours of Anzio and Nettuno 70 years ago on this day with the aim of outflanking the German Gustav line spread over East and West Italy. The Allies suffered over 45,000 casualties, 7000 of them fatalities during the five months of bitter fighting in what was one of the coldest winters in history.

  The landings which were codenamed ‘Operation Shingle’ by the wartime Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, eventually were followed by the Allied forces breaking through and liberating Rome on June 4, 1944, though substantial German forces were allowed to escape north of the capital to hinder later the Allied advance through central Italy because of American Gen. Mark Clark's vain insistence on being first to liberate the Eternal City to ensure his place in history. Anzio was also a bloodbath because of the failure by the other American general in charge of the landing to exploit the initially totally unopposed landing, preferring to cautiously build up supplies on the beachhead and losing the advantage of surprise.

  “I’m surprised I am here and alive to commemorate a day like this,” said Babs Sargent, 93 who was in the WAAF as part of the RAF personnel in charge of looking after the welfare of women during the landings. Ms Sargent who now lives in Northumberland held up a picture of herself from 1944 “That was me when I was service personnel 70 years ago. It was an emotional time and to still be here today with other veterans is incredible” she said.

  The surviving veterans and relatives of those passed laid wreaths at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemeteries in Anzio where the British Ambassador to Rome, Christopher Prentice, praised the courage of the forces. “Today we remember their contribution, sacrifice, extraordinary heroism and those who survived and continue to bear scars. We must never forget them.”

  The Commonwealth War Graves Commissioner, HE Lord Robert Fox, MBE, unveiled their new information panels at the Beach Head Cemetery -- an initiative to provide more information and personal stories of the Anzio battle, which is often overshadowed by the Normandy landings.

 Wreaths were also laid on the harbour where most of the intense fighting took place by relatives of those who did not survive the battle. Paying his respects was Stanley Plant, 70 whose father Cyril Plant died when he was aboard the HMS Janus which was bombed.

  “I never met my father, I was only six when he died.” Plant from Stoke-on-Trent has made the trip to Anzio three times “My Dad was 27 when he died exactly 70 years ago tomorrow so it was important to come back. Today has been incredibly emotional and moving for me.”

  The commemorations ended on the harbour where local families and flag-waving schoolchildren came together in a spectacular show of community spirit.

 The Mayors of Anzio and Nettuno applauded the returning veterans and also extended their respect to veteran Geoff Smith, who died only a few days ago. Smith who served in the Royal Navy and survived the sinking of the HMS Spartan was due to attend the anniversary and share his story.

  A plaque with the names of those who died during the warfare was also unveiled for the first time on the harbour by the Mayor of Anzio Luciano Bruschini.

  This might be the last time the surviving veterans make the trip to Anzio “I might not get a chance to come back but it’s significant to make this pilgrimage for two reasons -- one to pay homage to the fallen and secondly to share our stories to with the people of Italy” said Mr Munro.

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