War in Italy. With the South Africans from Taranto to the Alps

8vo; original blue boards; laminated pictorial dustwrapper; pictorial endpapers; pp. xiii + (i) + 318, incl. index; photographs, maps, and reproductions of contemporary artwork. Some spotting to top edge. Near fine condition. "The South African Air Force and ground volunteers stormed into Italy under an invisible banner reading 'Avenge Torbuk!' ... Reorganised as an armoured division, re-equipped by the best that the Americans could offer, and trained to perfection at Khatatba in Egypt, they were ready to carry the war to the Germans. It was thus a highly motivated 6th South African Armoured Division and supporting units that joined the Italian ground campaign at Cassino and spearheaded an Allied attack up the middle of the peninsula in spite of the mountains and cruel weather. The impetus of the first attack astonished Eighth Army Headquarters and carried the Divsion out of range of HQ communications. But for General Mark Clark's disobedience of orders, the Springboks would have taken Rome. They raced on to Civita Castellana, Orvieto, Celleno and Bagnoregio, where astonishing feats of mountaineering caught the defending Germans off their guard. At Chiusi, a company of Cape Town Highlanders were trapped, yet added glory to the battalion's name as they fought a courageous but hopeless battle. After being first into Florence, the 6th Division, by now attached to the US Fifth Army, pressed on in relentless pursuit through the Apennines in appalling winter weather. Monte Caprara, Monte Salvaro, Monte Stanco and Monte Sole were grimly contested before the plains of northern Italy opened up and victory became a mere formality. ... The vivid canvas of intense action is vividly coloured by the reminiscences of men and women who were there."