22battalion crest

22nd Battalion 2NZEF

"Vrai et Fort"



WEEK 3

DAY 15 Saturday 4 June 2005

Return to Milan

Departure at 0930, heading for Milan. A section of the autostrada was blocked by a truck crash so we were forced to detour, stopping for lunch at another Autogrill just outside Milan. The hotel too, was on the outskirts of Milan, so no chance of last minute shopping or sightseeing. However the hotel was very pleasant, being the Star Hotel Business Palace

The Star Hotel Business Palace

We had received word a few days earlier that one of our veterans who had suffered a heart attack on arrival in Milan had died. A Memorial Service for Norm was conducted in the small park beside the hotel, followed by drinks and anti-pasto platters. It was a sad anti-climax to two weeks of memorable travel, but it did remind everyone of the frailty of the veterans and the timeliness of this 60th anniversary tour.

The veterans assemble in the park for a memorial service for Norm Quinlan
Norm's jacket and medals
The NZ Attache in Milan addresses the group
Douglas recites the Ode
The Officers - Lloyd and Haddon

Anything you can make.....
..........I can make smaller - my summary of Italy

Dinner was at 1930 followed by an early night. In the morning we were scheduled to leave the tour group and to take an early taxi to Linate Airport for our flight to Heathrow and the beginning of a new adventure in England.


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Last updated: 05/12/2016