I received this letter from my mum, Mrs Anne Harper (nee McWilliams) daughter of Lily and Robert McWilliams, my Grandad and Grandmother.
Mum was 1 year, 3 months old when her Dad fell at Monte Cassino on the 30th March 1944.
Grandad was a Sergeant in A Company on the day he fell. The letter attached was his last poignant letter to his darling wife and daughter.
Below is an extract from the 6th Bn Inniskilling Fusiliers War Diaries:
30th March entry below:
‘23:30 MMG fire and grenade throwing started on the FDLs of A Coy. Apparently, a patrol of eight Germans rushed the left position of the right flanking Bttn where they worked to the rear of our A Coy. Sharp exchange of fire and grenades took place.
The only casualty suffered by A Coy through enemy action was Fusiliers Thornbury. Sergeant McWilliams and Cpl Bryan (stretcher bearer), both of A Coy were killed by a mine. Fusilier Wilcox (A Coy stretcher bearer) did good work in bringing them in and was himself wounded while doing so.’
It appears from this extract that Grandad and Cpl Bryan were killed by a mine when attempting to recover Fus Thornbury.
It is one of our most treasured memoires of Grandad along with a poem he wrote to Nana and just shows the extraordinary bravery of these ordinary men during this futile campaign.
His thoughts of being with his wife, daughter and family again were never to be fulfilled and he rests at peace at the Commonwealth Cemetary at Monte Cassino.
