The Italian Mottershead Battlefield Tour is a nine day tour held in early October similar to the France and Belgium Battlefield Tour. The tour is generously funded by Ian and Rosemary Mottershead from the Class of 1962.
The tour allows Naval and Officer Cadets to visit two significant battles at Cassino and Ortona as well as selected parts of the Liri Valley campaign, plus the breaking of the Gothic line and last major operations north to Rimini. Additionally, students participate in a memorial ceremony at Coriano Ridge Commonwealth Cemetery to lay a wreath in honour of fallen soldiers of the Great War.
Academically, the Mottershead Italian builds on knowledge that all cadets will have acquired in one or more of their core history courses giving them a much deeper understanding of tactical battle and its connections to strategic goals and planning. From a leadership perspective, participating cadets will not get a better learning opportunity than by walking the grounds over which junior officers, some of them RMC graduates, valiantly led and sometimes died in the course of their duties.
Standing over graves of fallen soldiers reminds them of the responsibilities they will soon bear as leaders and commanders. In short, everyone who walks away from the Italian MBFT will do so with a far profound understanding and appreciation of how the actions of Canadian sailors, soldiers and aviators helped define who we are as a nation.