Chapter 5, 'My Transfer to Italy and the Battle of Monte Cassino' from Fred Kingdom's memoir 'Looking Back Over Time'. In March 1944, Frederick Kingdom was transferred to Italy, arriving in Naples, which had been heavily bombed. He was moved to a cold, under-resourced transit camp near Benevento, and later joined the 2nd Lothian and Border Horse tank regiment, part of the 26th Armoured Brigade in the 6th Division of the 8th Army. During the Battle of Monte Cassino, Kingdom was initially in reserve but was soon assigned to a Sherman tank. He witnessed the aftermath of combat, including dead soldiers and ongoing burials. His first combat experience involved shelling enemy positions in the Lire Valley, supporting the Welsh Guards, who suffered heavy casualties. Kingdom described life in the tank: a five-man crew, basic living conditions, poor rations, and the layout and armament of the Sherman tank. Despite the hardships, he adapted to frontline life and contributed to key operations in the Italian campaign.