The Forgotten Altar

May 10th 1944

Two British Eighth Army Infantrymen, Private(s) Jack Melley and Clifford Merrick prepare for one last advance through the streets of Cassino. Melley has been returned to his unit after suffering mental distress during an assault of Snakeshead Ridge. Sharing a dugout with Merrick, Melley is battling his own psyche and guilt having done something terrible at Snakeshead. The focus on these two characters will be interspersed by accounts based on authentic testimony from a female Italian ambulance driver and Cassino resident Lucia.

The Forgotten Altar aims to raise greater awareness of The Battle of Monte Cassino which took place from the 17th January to 18th May 1944. Capturing Monte Cassino provided a more direct and straight forward route for the allies to capture Rome. The Italian capital was duly liberated by the allies on the 4th June 1944. Just two days later D-Day took place where the allies landed their forces at the beaches of Normandy. Such was the vast importance of D-Day succeeding, the success and sacrifice of the allied Italian campaign is often overlooked.

Join us as we look to shine a light and help commemorate the sacrifice and bravery of all those who gave their life at Monte Cassino eighty years ago so that you and I can have the freedoms and liberty that we enjoy today.