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 recognized by the awards for valor. 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.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements and Thanks
• Preface
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 The Gustav Line
• Chapter 2 17 January 1944 – Crossing the River Garigliano
• Chapter 3 18 January 1944 – Securing the Bridgehead
• Chapter 4 19 January 1944 – The Battle for Tufo
• Chapter 5 20 January 1944 – Battle of Monte Natale – the Start Line
• Chapter 6 21 January 1944 – German Counterattack
• Chapter 7 22 January 1944 – Private Ernest Strafford REPORTED MISSING
• Chapter 8 23 January 1944 – Attempt to Take Back Monte Natale
• Chapter 9 24 January 1944 – Change of Plan
• Chapter 10 25 January 1944 – 150 Enemy on Point 156
• Chapter 11 26 January 1944 – Preparing for Action
• Chapter 12 27 January 1944 – 1 York & Lancs. Prepare for the Front Line
• Chapter 13 28 January 1944 – Planning the Attack on Point 156
• Chapter 14 29 January 1944 – HMS Spartan Sunk, 31 Lives Lost
• Chapter 15 30 January 1944 – Monte Natale Recaptured
• Chapter 16 31 January 1944 – Enemy Counterattack
• Chapter 17 1 February 1944 – 1 York & Lancs. Back to Point 172
• Chapter 18 2 February 1944 – 1 York & Lancs. Recce Point 156
• Chapter 19 3 February 1944 – A Quiet Day
• Chapter 20 4 February 1944 – Private Ernest Strafford is Buried
• Chapter 21 5 February 1944 – The Aftermath
• Chapter 22 So, What Happened to Pvt. Ernest Strafford?
• We Will Remember Them
• Appendix 1 The National Archives War Diaries (WO***)
• Appendix 2 1 York & Lancs. – A Brief History
• Appendix 3 Ernest Strafford’s Wedding Day
• Bibliography and Sources
• Map Main Objectives