The Years Back - 6, The Italian Campaign (Episode Six)

In this The Years Back episode, presenter Bernard Kearns charts New Zealand's Sixth Brigade and Māori Battalion as they fight their way through Italy between 1943 and 1945. Reaching Monte Cassino in 1944, the force suffered 1600 casualties during 12 weeks of bitter fighting. Using NFU pictures, the documentary traces the advance north after Cassino falls, and includes the bloodless capture of Padua and the setting up of the New Zealand Forces Club in the best hotel in Venice. The documentary ends with Kiwi forces facing down Tito's Yugoslav partisans in Trieste.

The New Zealanders were pulled out of Cassino before the battle was over. They were pulled out to rest, still within sight of the monastery. And it was with some bitterness that they watched Allied flags flying over Monastery Hill, without the New Zealand ensign.

– Presenter Bernard Kearns

Key Cast & Crew

Derek Wright

Director, Writer

David H Fowler

Producer, Writer

Ron McIntyre

Subject

Samuel Grau

Studio Camera

Geoffrey Scott

Executive Producer

John Hoyle

Studio Camera