WIREDGOV

Today 89 year old WW2 veteran Para Jim Knox is striking out for the mountains of Southern Italy where he fought 70 years ago.  Jim will be travelling side by side with four generations of his family – sons, daughters and even great grandson Jack, 14, will be supporting Jim at the landmark 70th commemorations at Monte Cassino, which will also be attended by Prince Harry.

Jim will be travelling with the Monte Cassino Society funded £28,535 through the Big Lottery Fund’s Heroes Return scheme. Jim’s group will join up with other veterans and their families from across the UK to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the epic battle, recognised as one of the most dogged and ferocious actions of WW2.

Jim, from Upminster, said: “It’s going to be an emotional journey. It means so much that my family will be able to share this with me and walk with me at the battle site where so many fought and died. To have my great grandson Jack stand with me, to commemorate all the boys who didn’t make it back home, is very special. This is a journey I will never forget.”

Jim’s great grandson Jack realises how much this means to his great granddad, he said: “I’m really pleased that I have this amazing chance to mark the 70th anniversary with my great granddad. I’m definitely going to share my experiences with all my friends.”

The Big Lottery Fund has ensured over 57,000 WW2 veterans, widows and carers have had the opportunity since 2004 to go back to battlefields to attend commemorations. Fund Chair Peter Ainsworth met Jim before he set off back to Monte Cassino and heard first-hand the terrible cost of the action. He said: “Our later generations owe an immense debt of gratitude to our WW2 veterans, and none more so than those who fought in the battle for Monte Cassino.”

Jim grew up in West Ham and joined the Army in 1941 aged 16 after persuading the sergeant at Romford Army recruitment office that he was 18. In August 1942 he volunteered for the Paras and joined 4th Parachute Battalion, part of the 2nd Parachute Brigade. He served in North Africa, landing at Oran in early 1943. The 2nd Brigade landed in Italy at Taranto in September and moved up the west coast to the Sangro river where the brigade became the Independent Parachute Brigade, joining forces with a New Zealand Division patrolling the Gustav Line.

“The most frightening time of the war for me was going into Monte Cassino for the first time. There was a tremendous noise from the mortars and this hideous yellow smog. The sky was lit up red and yellow and we could see flames. It wasn’t until we got closer that we realised that was Vesuvius erupting. It was like walking into hell. The stench was horrible from dead mules and dead soldiers. It was terrifying.

“We were with a New Zealand division at the railway station and Germans were dug in just a few yards away at the Continental Hotel. We were so close that we shouted abuse at each other.

“You could hardly move – and you only moved at night. And we constantly worried about treading on a mine. The mortaring was constant from both sides. It was a bit like trench warfare at the First World War – a stalemate - no one could move. You did get the odd glimpse of a German but very rarely. If there was any movement from either side everyone would open fire.

“I was on a two inch mortar – when you saw a flash you had to send some back in that direction. We were there for 13 days until the Poles advanced to the monastery.”

Following the battle for Monte Cassino, Jim was parachuted into France, behind enemy lines. The daring operation to surround and contain a German garrison at Le Muy took place a few days before the invasion of the Southern France in August 1944. Jim was awarded the Legion d’honneur – the highest decoration in France – following his work with French Resistance guerrillas, the Maquis, during the operation  

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Big Lottery Fund has to date awarded over £28 million to more than 57,000 Second World War veterans, widows, spouses and carers across the UK under its Heroes Return  programme.  
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For interviews or any further information please contact the Big Lottery Fund press office on 020 7211 3709/1888.          & nbsp;            &nb sp;              ;           
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The Big Lottery Fund has extended its Heroes Return 2 programme to enable veterans to apply for funding to make second trips. The programme deadline for closure will now be end of 2015. 
This will ensure Second World War veterans from the UK, Channel Islands and Republic of Ireland who have already been funded since the programme opened in 2009, will have a second opportunity to apply for a grant towards travel and accommodation expenses to enable them to make trips back to places across the world where they served, or make a commemorative visit in the UK. For details contact: Heroes Return helpline: 
0845 00 00 121 or visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/heroesreturn

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours media contact: 07867 500572
Website:    www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter:    @biglotteryfund #biglf
Facebook:    www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFund

Notes to editors

• The Big Lottery Fund is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 it has awarded close to £6bn.
• In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was returned to the Good Causes. Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £31 billion has been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded.