Personal Message
from the
Army Commander

Today we celebrate the sixth C1ristmas Day since the outbreak of war. Many of us in Eighth Army have spent the majority of these away from home and this Christmas is no. exception But now two things dominate our minds. First we know that victory is assured, and secondly we have every reason to believe that next Christmas we shall look back on the’ end of the war with Germany.

Great successes have been achieved on all fronts during the past year. The Eighth Army has again fought decisively in the great struggle. With the assistance of our gallant American Allies you have accomplished memorable feats of arms by breaking through the Gustav Line, the Hitler Line and the Gothic Line. These great defensive positions were sited in country which favoured the defence to a remarkable degree, and in addition the enemy employed every device of modern war to strengthen the natural obstacles. In spite of these great difficulties you, by your gallantry, determination and endurance, drove a determined enemy, from his defences and pursued him for many hundreds of miles through some of the most difficult campaigning country in Europe.

above all you have rendered inca1culable assistance to your comrades fighting on the Western Front by compelling the enemy to keep a large number of good divisions in Italy. The Eighth Army is playing a decisive part in hastening the final collapse of the enemy.

These are achievements of. which the Empire and you yourselves may well be proud.

I congratulate and thank you all. I wish .you and your families a Happy Christmas, and I hope with you that the coming year will bring the final overthrow of Germany.

(Signed) R.L.McCreery
Lieut,-General,
G.O.C., Eighth Army.
ITALY,
Christmas Day, 1944.

Reproduced from the original which is on file.

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