Consider the 8^th Army’s Op BAYTOWN landings in the toe and heel of the Italian Mainland.

Examine 1^st Airborne Divison’s part in this known as Op SLAPTICK and visit CWGC Bari Cemetery to see the grave of the Airborne’s Commander, Maj Gen ‘Hoppy’ Hopkinson who was killed during the operation. Whilst at Taranto look at the famous November 1940 battle when the Fleet Air Arm’s Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers destroyed half the Italian Fleet in a single night.

Move on to the USAF Foggia airbases and gain an understanding of the hugely significant role they played in the strategic bombing campaign into Southern Europe. At Termoli examine the Commando/SRS amphibious landing in October 1943 named Op DEVON that secured the port at some cost to the British. Visit the terrain over which the bloody battles of the Sangro River were fought and appreciate how they stalled the 8th Army advance in November 1943.

Whilst in the Abruzzi Mountains, understand how the first use of the Italian Partisans was championed by the talented Lionel Wigram, and visit the hilltop village of Pizzaferata where he met his death. At Ortona witness the eastern extent of the German defences on the Gustav Line and step through the 1^st Canadian Infantry Divisions battles across the Moro River and the desperate fight over Christmas 1943 for ‘Cider Crossroads’ and the town itself. See where Capt Paul Triquet wins the VC for his assault on Casa Barardi. Appreciate why Ortona is often referred to as ‘the Italian Stalingrad’.