Lighting the Torch of Commemoration at Battle of Monte Cassino 80th anniversary

We were delighted to welcome HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh to Cassino War Cemetery in Italy to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino. 

The first of two events during the day was organised and hosted by The British Embassy in Rome and Ambassador Lord Llewellyn as part of our Lighting Their Legacy campaign. 

Attending these events alongside The Duchess of Edinburgh, was WWII veteran Mr. John (aka Jack) Hearn, who served in the Northumberland Fusiliers, fighting in Africa and Italy, including the Battle of Monte Cassino. Our Director of Commonwealth Relations and Global Strategy, Charles Garrett OBE, was the CWGC representative and laid a wreath on behalf of the Commission and our Italian team members who were also in attendance.

The British Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders, lead a representation from all three British Armed Services, which included over 100 British service personnel from the Royal Tank Regiment, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the Honourable Artillery Company, who also provided the Guard of Honour.

During the ceremony, our Torch of Commemoration was lit, marking its first official event since it was unveiled by the Prime Minister at our Lighting Their Legacy launch event in London last week. 

Our Lighting Their Legacy events will build connections between veterans and young people, in a bid to improve education, connect with younger generations and inspire them to understand the lessons of the Second World War. 

Following the British Embassy event, a similar event was held by the New Zealand Embassy in Rome, also attended by Her Royal Highness, as well as Judith Collins, Minister of Defence of New Zealand.  

The Battle of Monte Cassino was and exceptionally bloody, hard-fought battle. As they pushed towards the liberation of Rome, Allied forces struggled to break through heavily entrenched German defensive lines in the Italian mountains. 

The breakthrough came eventually, but at the cost of thousands of lives. Subsequently, Cassino War Cemetery is our largest site in Italy, with more than 4,200 casualties buried there, and a further 4000 war dead who have no known grave commemorated on the Cassino Memorial. 

Following the commemoration service at Cassino War Cemetery, the Torch of Commemoration will be heading to events across the UK and then into Normandy, France, for the D-Day 80th Anniversary events in early June.