Battle for Monte Natale: First-Hand Accounts of the Crossing of the River Garigliano on the Gustav Line

“…all excerpts are scrupulously organized and Strafford certainly did his research, including visiting the battlefield and taking contemporary photos of particular spots.” -Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

Battle of Monte Natale brings together contemporary accounts showing war, not only at the strategic level involving Corps, Division, Brigade and Battalion, but also the individual level, by extensive use of War Diaries, personal accounts, missing person reports and the inspiring stories of heroism and the sacrifices made which were recognised by the awards for valour. It is the story of those individuals who fought and died in the Battle of Monte Natale. Minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, by words, pictures, and maps it shows what happened in the three weeks from 17th January to 7th February 1944 in an area of just nine square kilometres. It is a unique glimpse of an important battle from both sides of the conflict and includes personal German and British views of the battle. Few books about World War II show a battle in such detail.

John Strafford went to the “Duke of York Royal Military School” from 1954 to 1960 having a military upbringing.

Strafford has spent over ten years researching the Battle of Monte Natale and presented a film about the battle to the Royal British Legion having been to the battlefield several times. In 2022 he took part in an interview with Italian Television shown at the Roman Amphitheater in Minturno, about the war in Italy.

Other published works include “Our Fight for Democracy” – a history of democracy in the United Kingdom.