REGISTRATION OF INTEREST IN REHS ITALIAN BATTLEFIELD TOUR 2025, 25th – 29th SEPTEMBER 2025
(A reserve standby list in now in operation)
Concept
Following on from the successful Normandy 80 tour, the REHS will run a 5-day, 4-night Battlefield Tour to Italy over the period 25th – 29th September 2025. The tour will focus on the close and general support provided by the Corps in the Salerno landing, the crossings over the Volturno River and the four battles of Cassino. The tour will be led by Major General (Retired) John DZ assisted by the Corps Historian (Col Don Bigger).
General
Open to all REHS members, and to other serving and retired members of the Corps; partners are more than welcome.
Aim
The aim of this circular is to allow all those interested in attending to register their interest and pay an initial £250 deposit to allow the necessary hotel and coach booking to take place.
The initial deposit is fully refundable until there is a minimum number of tour participants and deposits have been paid to secure hotel rooms and the coach.
The minimum number to make the tour viable is 35 participants.
Costings
Costings are based on those 35 participants but would be reduced if there are more taking part.
The final price – approximately £700 for a single room occupancy – will include four nights bed and breakfast at the designated hotel, dinner on the first night and four packed lunches for our days on the ground, coach travel whilst in Italy, use of the hotel’s conference facilities, printing of tour booklet, entrance to all museums, provision of REHS wreaths for our Acts of Remembrance and dinner on the fourth night.
Draft Outline Battlefield Tour Programme (Subject to confirmation on recce)
Thursday 25th September – Preliminary Day – Assemble in hotel in Capua/Caserta area. Central briefing on Salerno Landings and briefing for Day One. Communal dinner – TBC
Friday 26th September – Day One – 46th Division Operations at Salerno and the western Volturno, evening briefing for Day Two.
- 46th Div and 56th Div landings at Salerno and beach work.
- German response and 46th Div Engrs in infantry role in beachhead.
- Breakout north from Salerno.
- German defence of Volturno line.
- Landing craft left hook around mouth of Volturno by 231 Fd Coy.
- Crossings at Cancello by ferry and Floating Bailey build by 43 Div Engrs.
Saturday 27th September – Day Two – 56th Division Operations around Capua, First and Second Battles of Cassino. Evening briefing for Day Three.
- Crossings at Grazzanise by 56 Div Engrs and COLY.
- Floating Bailey build at Capua.
- Drive Capua to Cassino (60 minutes, lunch en route)
- First and Second Battles of Cassino Infantry Actions.
Sunday 28th September – Day Three – Cassino Third and Fourth Battles, Amazon Bridge build by 4th Division Engrs. Evening briefing for Day Four, Communal Dinner.
- Third Battle of Cassino Infantry Actions.
- Engr prep for 4th battle and Amazon Build.
- Wreath laying at Amazon site.
- Fourth Battle of Cassino Infantry Actions.
Monday 29th September – Day Four – The Polish Battle, Wreath Laying, participants free to disperse at end of morning.
- The Polish Battle.
- The Inferno Track.
- Wreath laying.
- Disperse.
Scheme of Manoeuvre / Timelines
NLT 1 February issue Registration of Interest.
14th March confirm initial numbers, tour members pay initial £250 deposit to confirm room bookings in hotel and book coach.
Recce complete by end of April.
Issue detailed WNGO with completed costings by mid-May.
Issue detailed Administration Instruction by end of June.
All remaining monies paid by middle of July.
Print booklets by end of August and issue to participants.
Advance party deploys 24 hours before main body.
Execute Tour.
Travel Plan
Please note that all participants will have to travel at their own cost to Italy in the same way as was done last year for the Normandy Battlefield Tour.
To keep individual travel costs to a minimum it is planned that the coach will leave Naples Airport at a stipulated time on Thursday 25th September to allow tour participants to fly into Italy. Similarly the coach will drop off tour participants at Naples Airport on Monday 29th September at a stipulated time to allow tour participants to fly out of Italy.
Of course tour participants are at liberty to make their own way to the hotel for the initial briefing and “ice breaker” dinner on Thursday 25th September.
Travel around the Italian locations will be by coach.
Accommodation Plan
Accommodation will be booked at a suitable hotel arriving on Thursday 25th September, departing Monday 29th September. This will be at a bed and breakfast rate with the option of single, twin, double or triple occupancy. Tour members are of course at liberty to source their own accommodation, but transport will leave from the designated hotel only on each morning of the Study.
Feeding Plan
Breakfast will be provided each morning at the hotel.
Lunch stops will be built into the programme. We have costed the option of providing packed lunches from the hotel and coffee stops during the day.
Evening meal is at own cost apart from a communal “ice breaker” dinner on the evening of Thursday 25th September and the end of tour dinner on Sunday 28th September.
Register Interest
All those interested in taking part in the REHS Italian Battlefield Tour 2025 please register their intent by e-mailing the Corps Historian at donbigger@hotmail.co.uk by COP Friday 14th March.
Please include the following in your return:
- Full name of each tour member.
- Preference of room – single / double / twin / triple occupancy.
- Any specific dietary requirements.
You will also need to pay your £250 deposit per person by this date as well. All payments for the 2025 Battlefield Study should be sent to:
- Bank Account: The Institution of Royal Engineers
- Acct No: 00435882
- Sort Code: 30-11-75
- Reference: [First 4 letter of Surname].[First initial].HS24 – for example Bigg.D.HS25
The reference will allow Corps funds to be able to identify everyone.
Don Bigger
Corps Historian
Mobile: 0777 173 5753
E-mail: donbigger@hotmail.co.uk
