From Spectrum 18 May 2014
On the 18 May 1944, the battle for Monte Cassino was finally won when the Polish 2nd Core dislodged the Germans from the mountain and the monastery. Janice Corbishley’s uncle Trevor Corbishley and Cheryl Coleman's father Snow Coleman were among the New Zealand force which joined the battle months earlier. Like so many other men returning to New Zealand following active service in the Second World War, Trevor Corbishley talked little with his family about what he had seen and experienced.
Snow Coleman (far right) and crew before Cassino Battle
Snow Coleman (left) and crew waiting near Cassino, probably at Mignano
Jim Furness’ tank in Mignano, near Cassino, Italy – credit Lt. Jim Furness, 19th Armoured Battalion
Exhausted tank crews after 3 days of being trapped in their tanks holding the Cassino Railway Station with the New Zealand infantry troops during the 3rd battle – credit Lt. Jim Furness, 19th Armoured Battalion
Remains of Cassino Railway Station from Lead Tank – credit Lt. Jim Furness, 19th Armoured Battalion
Wrecked tank in the ruins of Cassino – credit Lt. Jim Furness, 19th Armoured Battalion
Cassino town after bombing in March 1944 – credit Lt. Jim Furness, 19th Armoured Battalion
Cassino in 1956 – credit Lt. Jim Furness, 19th Armoured Battalion
Freedom, a 2010 photograph by photographic artist and Legato exhibitor Lorraine Beattie
1994 New Zealand Cassino Railway memorial – credit Kay de Lautour
Commonwealth War Cemetery at Cassino – credit Kay de Lautour
Cassino in 2012 – credit Cheryl Coleman
Town of Cassino from the Monastery – Cheryl Coleman
Cassino memorial to local residents – credit Cheryl Coleman
Cassino Railway memorial – credit Cheryl Coleman
Trigger, Janice Corbishley’s artwork that is currently on display at the 2014 Legato exhibition in Cassino, Italy – credit Janice Corbishley
Close up detail of Trigger, Janice Corbishley’s artwork that is currently on display at the Legato exhibition in Cassino, Italy – credit Janice Corbishley
Cheryl Coleman holding a photo of her mother that her father carried with him at all times during The Second World War.
A photo of Cheryl Coleman’s mother that her father Snow Coleman carried with him through his service in The Second World War. Part of the inscription reads ‘Your father had this pinned to his tent pole in the desert’. Cheryl believes he then would have carried it in his breast pocket during his time in Italy.
The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.
