This book chronicles the 2nd NZEF Veterans return to Monte Cassino to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Cassino. There are no references to the glory of war or expressions of enemy talk in this document, rather it depicts aged men traveling throughout Italy attending official functions, searching for lost comrades in the numerous cemeteries lovingly cared for perpetually with absolute forgiveness and understanding. It shows the dignified responses to speeches and the unity developed as the tour proceeds.
About the Author
Born in (1955) Roxburgh, New Zealand Wilks loves she was born into a land of colour, yet prefers to capture life around her using black and white film. Maree Frewen-Wilks is a trained photojournalist having studied in photography then journalism for five years after the last of her six children commenced school.
Aged 10, with a Kodak Instamatic, Wilks opted for people photos and the results quickly turned into a compelling passion throughout her life. Using only black and white film, a 1960’s body of works is a testament to her ability to seize the moment and capture the happenings of the post hippie movement. Her work titled ‘Party Days’ has been exhibited in Sirius – Matakana, NZ.
Other works by Wilks include, Rakiura. As one of ten nationwide invited guests Wilks photographed the inhabitants of Stewart Island (Rakiura) for the exhibition, which toured New Zealand. Wilks has had several other exhibitions at The Southland Museum and Art Gallery, (Off the Cuff and Showcasing Southland Artists) and has been employed as a stills photographer in movie features (Oku Tuakana – My Brother). She has documented other artists (Mark Adams) - Dry in Dusky -in the course of his research about Captain James Cook, as well as photographing 88 towns of Southland using true black and white film (To Whet your Appetite) plus many other projects to her credit and determination to explore her region as a artist. Wilks travelled to Cassino with the New Zealand 2nd NZEF veterans as their official photographer in 2004. Once again, Wilks used black and white film and produced an exhibition
Return to Monte Cassino
that toured NZ for eight years. A book has since been produced.
In 2007 Wilks was employed to document families of WWI executed soldiers.The group travelled to Europe after the Labour Government pardoned the executed soldiers in 2000. (A first in the world where Military and Governmental Pardons were delivered to those Executed in the Great War.) Five New Zealanders were Shot At Dawn. Wilks produced a DVD - Pardon Me – Shot at Dawn. This has aired on television and at Museums.
About the Book
The non-fictional book is a study of 2nd NZEF Veterans who travelled to Italy in 2004 for the official 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino.
The selected images depict their journey. They endorse the courage of those veterans who returned, to face their memories, good or bad dreams and perhaps rekindle another life once lived long ago.
The book commences with a full block of seventy-year-old images taken during the War. These rare and previously unpublished photographs demonstrate young soldiers in their early twenties during a fascinating period of New Zealand’s history. They show Cassino in rubble, socialising during the War, the Italian people and day-to-day events during the Italian campaign, which provide an insight from an unofficial point of view to that chapter of the War.
A profile of each veteran is printed throughout the next block. It details where possible their army rank and number with an identification snapshot. A small account of individual Cassino war memory is included.
The daily diary section provides a meaningful glimpse that shows the aged men while at gravesites, official ceremonies and visiting places of interest. The imagery also shows the emotions of these aged men yet many memories are shared along with poems and humour.
Spanning two weeks of travel, these Veterans show their true feelings and come to a final decree of Goodbyes to their lost comrades and a imminent closure to that War.
At the rear of the book, a complete record of the 464 casualties from the Battles in Cassino is printed. Permission was granted from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for this to happen and the list provides such information as the Soldier’s parents, spouse, rank, army number, from what town they left from and sadly their date of death and age. A remarkable resource and insightful document where one can sit and read through the names and perhaps understand the families who had to grieve at the ultimate sacrifice paid. New Zealand widely acclaimed historian, Matthew Wright, has written a chapter detailing the Battle of Cassino and the Italy Campaign. His contribution communicates the formal storyline and endorses the historic truth brought about by the Second World War.
A large 260mm x 297mm hard cover book with jacket. This book will not disappoint.
Unpublished War Photographs
These poignant images depict the soldiers’ life, during battle and showcases barren scenery spotlighting bomb craters, rubble and other casualties of war. The images provide proof that life away from home was in fact - War.
Individual profiles of New Zealand Veterans
Return to Monte Cassino features individual's accounts of the war, along with their memories, thoughts and emotions concerning the battle of Monte Cassino. Included are individual pictures of each of the former soldiers.
Details from the German Contribution
A German Paratrooper, Bob Frettlohr, writes his memories of the Battle of Monte Cassino and his thoughts about Cassino now. Hans Fredrick Meyer tells how the next generations sees the Commemorations of the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino.
Featuring a Chapter from New Zealand Historian Matthew Wright
Included in the Return to Monte Cassino is an accurate account of the battle written by Matthew Wright solely for this publication. An in depth account provides testament of the Kiwi’s involvement with civilians, the battle and bravery of all soldiers, including the Germans and our own 28th Maori Battalion
Poems written by Veterans
Return to Monte Cassino features several poems by veterans, including one written in 1944 by three men during the actual Battle of Monte Cassino and re-read by the only surviving soldier.
For an accurate and substantiated record of these 2nd NZEF Veterans in Italy, including many features and actual War time images, order your copy of Return to Monte Cassino today.
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