In an uncomfortable scene today, New Zealand war veterans were shouted out of a stand by their former Italian foes as they gathered to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein in northern Egypt.
The incident occurred at the Italian war cemetery at El Alamein before a commemoration
that New Zealanders, including Prime Minister Helen Clark, had been invited to attend.
Four New Zealand veterans of the battle -- Patira Edwards, John Ferguson, Eric Batchelor and Bill O'Brien, all in their 80s -- were being led to seats in a shady stand out of the 30-plus degree heat when an elderly Italian man in uniform in the stand stood and began shouting and gesticulating at them.
The scene drew the attention of fellow veterans and defence personnel of all nationalities who had gathered for the event and drove three of the New Zealanders back out of the stand.
Mr Batchelor, who was highly decorated in the war with a double DCM, stood his ground and found a seat amid a sea of the maroon berets belonging to the Italian veterans.
He was unfazed by the incident.
"I don't think anything's changed, they are still just as excitable ... but they are all friendly, that's the main thing.
"That's nothing, we are used to that. It takes me back 58 years to when we were fighting in Italy."
Mr O'Brien, who found a seat further away, said the Italians didn't want the New Zealanders in the stand.
"I had been expecting it right through. It didn't worry me, I was used to it."
Italian forces fought in the battle against the Allies in a German-led army commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.
The Allied force, led by General Bernard Montgomery, forced a retreat, protecting a crucial position that included the Suez Canal.
Both sides suffered heavy casualties and many prisoners of war were taken on both sides.
Today the veterans were forced to wait in the crowded cemetery under the hot sun for an extra 30 minutes, as the commemorations could not get under way without the Italian President Carlo Ciampi.
He was apparently watching a television screening of the canonisation of a new Italian saint by Pope John Paul.
- NZPA
