Chapter 7, 'Reaching Florence', from Fred Kingdom's memoir 'Looking Back Over Time'. In October 1944, Frederick Kingdom’s unit reached Florence, where he was billeted in a villa while the regiment received new tanks. This marked a temporary reprieve from frontline combat, with alternating five-day rotations between rest in Florence and infantry duty in the Apennine Mountains. He documents his mountain deployment, including the harsh weather conditions, frontline positions, manning wireless communication, the capture of German POWs, Christmas Eve meal, and living conditions. He also served as bodyguard to a commanding officer during nightly rounds, navigating deep snow and avoiding enemy fire. After each rotation, the unit returned to Florence for showers, clean clothes, and rest at the Robertson Club.