1945-2025: 80 Years of Liberation to Celebrate Together

In January 2025 I was pleased to receive the following notification from the Monte San Martino Trust.

The Trust is pleased to be working with the London branch of the Italian Partisan Association (ANPI) who are planning an event on 25th April, being the 80th anniversary of Italian Liberation.
Given the special anniversary, the Trust hopes to field a speaker to explain its work, but ANPI would also like to include some words from the descendants of escapers who were sheltered by Italians.
The event will be held in London and ideally any speaker would be able to attend in person.  However a pre-recorded version or live by videolink will also be possible.
Both the Trust and ANPI would be very grateful if, from amongst our dedicated supporters – many of whom owe their existence to the Italians – one or two would be prepared to  speak either in person or over videolink.
Liberation of Italy Day / Festa della Liberazione 2025

---

Let’s celebrate together the eightieth anniversary of the Italian Liberation, remembering at the same time those who bravely fought fascism.

25th April – London
26th April – Glasgow
26th April – Manchester
27th April – Belfast
3rd May – Middlesbrough
9th May – Manchester

---

I look forward to hearing more from M.S.M.T. about the events of 25th April 2025 being held in London as well as other Cities around the U.K. in the weeks that follow.

---

It has been 20 years since I first witnessed an ANZAC Service here in New Zealand, soon after I emigrated from the United Kingdom. Which must have taken place on 25th April 2005. But it has only been in the last few months that I have realised that whilst Australia and New Zealand commemorate ANZAC Day every 25th April, so too do Italians celebrate Liberation from Nazi fascist occupation towards the end of World War II.
But today we are celebrating ANZAC Day in New Zealand with numerous events and memorials taking place, and none more poignant than the following Documentary.

All Blacks at War – RNZ

Credits
Jude Dobson – Producer
Jude Dobson & Malcolm Sines – Directors
Jude Callen – Network Executive (TVNZ)
Tim Burnell – RNZ Commissioning

Thirteen former All Blacks died in WWI. All Blacks at War brings their stories to life through military historian Dr. Chris Pugsley, ONZM, and former All Black Andrew Mehrtens. MNZM.
Mehrts travels the Western Front, grave to grave. Along the way, he connects with others who also have connections to these men: be they schools in NZ, former All Blacks playing in France, or a town that was liberated by Kiwi soldiers in WWI and has never forgotten.
All Blacks at War was produced by Homegrown TV and was released on Anzac Day 2024.

---

Also, from the All Blacks Experience website – Ten All Blacks who died on the Western Front

In an Article from the New Zealand Herald dated 11th November 2018 – All Blacks who died in World War I for us