22nd Battalion 2NZEF
"Vrai et Fort"
WEEK 1
DAY 5 Wednesday 25 May 2005
Trieste - the statue of Elisabetta
Beside the hotel and near the
central railway station was a small park that
held a statue. It is in memory of the consort of Francesco Giuseppe of Austria, this was built
soon after her death in 1898. In 1907, the council decided to put this in
the garden near the central railway station, and it was planned by the Viennese
sculptor Franz Seifert. The work was opened five years later in December 1912.
The monument consists of a bronze statue of the Empress and two marble
figures depicting the homage of the people to the sovereign and an allegory of
nature. Taken away in 1921, it was returned to the same square in October 1997.
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Statue of Elisabetta in Trieste |
You can read more about Elisabetta and the
history of Trieste here...
Trieste - the Waterfront
Breakfast at 0730 was the usual selection of breads, meat and cheeses, cereals, bacon
eggs and sausages. Toast was hard to come by. Coffee was plentiful but boiling
water for tea was scarce. The fine warm morning prompted us to walk along the
waterfront looking at the deep blue Adriatic, the boats and the buildings.
On the waterfront is a set of bronze statues, one of the liberating army, the
other of women sewing and reading the newspaper. (The paper is titled "I
Bersaglieri").
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Father and son on the waterfront at Trieste |
Part of the bronze statues on the waterfront. The women are sewing,
with scissors holding the newspaper down. |
The newspaper beside the women (image is inverted so you can read it!) |
Later in the day I returned to the
waterfront and walked out to the end of the wharf to photograph Trieste
from the
water.
Close to jetty from which I took the photos is the Canal
Grande, a tidal river that flows through the
city. These two views look along the canal.
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Canal Grande looking inland in the early morning sun |
Canal Grande looking towards the sea |
Beside one of the bridges crossing the canal is a
life-size bronze of James
Joyce - the Irish author who spent much of his life in Trieste. (More
info on James Joyce; and a
a view by a literary traveller here; and a useful
biography here with photos
by the same write/artist.
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Statue of James Joyce on the bridge over the Canal Grande |
Closeup of the plaque beside James Joyce |
Trieste - the Mayoral Reception
Today was the mayoral reception - the
focal point of our return to Trieste. We arrived at 1000 and walked across the
piazza to the Sala Ridotto del Teatro Verdi to avoid the roadworks that blocked
most of the main road. The ceremony (speeches) started at 1115 and concluded at
1215. It was a wonderful opportunity for the people of Trieste to acknowledge
their debt to the New Zealand forces, and many local citizens, young and old,
came to the ceremony. At its conclusion the City acknowledged each veteran and
gave them a commemorative booklet about the city. The event was widely reported
in the media, including the local newspapers.
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Arriving at the Piazza |
Strolling to the reception |
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The local Police Honour Guard |
Waiting, waiting. . . . |
Note the Chandelier and go to next picture.... |
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Lloyd Cross (on left) probably being reminded that you only shoot at
chandeliers in British Officer's Clubs. |
Haddon Donald receiving a gift from the Mayor of Trieste |
Each veteran was given a gift from the City |
Afternoon in the Piazza
From the ceremony our group retired to the Caffe degli Specchi on the side of the Piazza
Unita d'Italia. Again this gave the citizens of Trieste the opportunity to
meet the veterans and to reminisce about events 60 years ago.
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Cover of the booklet given to each veteran |
Media coverage of the event - in Il Piccolo |
Dinner at the Hotel Savoia Excelsior Riva del Mandracchio
Again we were the guests of the British Consulate and the
British Veterans Affairs, this time at a formal dinner at the
Excelsior. Pre-dinner drinks at 1900 enabled our party to meet our hosts and other
guests, then we all took our seats in the large dining room at 2030 for the formal
dinner. The seating invitation and the menu are reproduced below.
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Invitation to the Dinner |
Dinner Menu for the Hotel Savoia |
Speakers following the dinner talked about the importance of
securing Trieste for Italy. General Basile (Italian Army, retired)
reiterated this sentiment, going on to tell us that he was particularly pleased
that the New Zealanders had arrived - he had first-hand knowledge as he was
present on the day Haddon Donald drove into town. Most people looked closer at him
and thought "You are much too young.......").
"You do not believe me?" he asked - "well here is the photo to prove it", and he
proudly uncovered a large, framed photo of himself as a 3 year-old, sitting on his
father's shoulders in the middle of Trieste taken 3 days after liberation.
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Cocktails before the Dinner |
Dining Room looking towards the head table |
More of the Dining Room |
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General Basile with the photo of himself aged 3, in Trieste 3
days after liberation |
The photo |
Closeup of the young boy - (click on the picture for a larger view) |
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Last updated: 04/12/2016
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