WW2 bell going back to Italy

The bell was found in the ruins of a bombed chapel

A bell brought back to Britain from Italy as a World War Two as a trophy is on its way back home.

Soldiers from 248 Company of the Royal Engineers formally handed back the 200 cwt bell to representatives from the central Italian town of Anzio in Bedford.

The Anzio bell was one of two which hung in the chapel of a military hospital in Anzio.

It was picked up during World War Two by the Bedford-based engineers from the ruins of the chapel after it was bombed.

The soldiers carried it around until the bell was eventually brought back to Bedford by Bill Donnelly in 1944.

It was traced to Bedford through a notice posted on an internet website earlier this year.

Once it whereabouts was established, the Italian authorities asked for it to be returned to join its twin back in the town.

War veteran Bill Donnelly (left) hands over the bell

A party of Italians arrived last week to take it back.

The handing over ceremony at the Polish Club in Alexandra Road was an emotional experience for the old Bedford soldiers and members of the Italian community.

" We generally we feel quite good about it going back to Italy, because it is its home," Mr Donnelly said.

"Though we both had plenty of casualties and lots of mourning, now we have something together so we are glad we are doing it."

Arrangements are now being made to transport the bell back where it belongs.