CommonwealthWar GravesCommission

The War in Italy 1943-45

On 10 July 1943, with the campaign in North Africa successfullyconcluded, a combined Allied force of Commonwealth andAmerican troops invaded Sicily. By 3 September they were on theItalian mainland. The Italians, who would shortly make peace withthe Allies and re-enter the war on their side, offered littleresistance but German opposition was vigorous and stubborn.

Progress through southern Italy was rapid but by the end ofOctober, the Allies were facing the German winter defensiveposition, the Gustav Line, which stretched across the country fromcoast to coast. By the end of the year there had been abreakthrough in the east but initial attempts to breach the line inthe west were unsuccessful. In January 1944 troops landed behindthe German lines at Anzio met fierce opposition and there was nobreakthrough until 18 May when the town and Monastery Hill ofCassino were taken. The Allies now advanced on Rome, enteringthe city on 4 June.

As the well ordered German withdrawal continued, successivestands were made on a series of defensive positions, theTrasimene, Arno and Gothic Lines. An Allied offensive mounted on10 September breached the Gothic Line, but the advance stalledon the mountainous spine of Italy except on the Adriatic coastwhere the front was advanced to Ravenna.

Little further progress was made that winter and with the landcampaign in north-west Europe making increased demands onAllied resources, the offensive in Italy was not renewed until 9 April1945. After a week’s heavy fighting, the German front broke.Allied troops entered Bologna and by late April the bulk of theGerman forces were effectively trapped against the south bank ofthe River Po. On the 25th, when the Allies crossed the Po, therewere popular uprisings in the cities of northern Italy and partisansseized control from many German garrisons. On 2 May the Germanforces in Italy surrendered.

The Commonwealth Cemeteries and Memorials

in Italy

Assisi War Cemetery

Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily (1,059 burials)Most of those buried in this cemetery died on 10 July1941, when Commonwealth forces landed on Sicily, orin the early stages of the campaign that followed. Manywere men of the airborne force killed when gale forcewinds blew their gliders wide of their objectives or intothe sea.

The cemetery lies 3 km west of Syracuse. Turn left atthe end of the Catania – Syracuse autostrada and thecemetery is on the left after about 5 km.

Catania War Cemetery, Sicily (2,135 burials)contains burials from the later stages of thecampaign in Sicily, including many who died in theheavy fighting just short of Catania and the battle forthe Simeto river bridgehead.

The cemetery is 7 km south-west of Catania. From theairport, follow the tangenziale towards the A19,direction Palermo. The cemetery is signposted justbefore reaching the A19.

Agira Canadian War Cemetery, Sicily (490burials) Agira was taken by the 1st CanadianDivision on 28 July 1943. This site was chosen inSeptember for the burial of all Canadians who hadbeen killed in the Sicily campaign.

Leave the A19, Catania-Palermo, at Catenanuova.Follow signs to Regalbuto, then Agira. The cemetery issignposted about 12 km beyond Regalbuto.

Bari War Cemetery (2,128 burials) Bari was theArmy Group HQ for the early stages of the Italiancampaign and continued to be a supply base andhospital centre until the end of the war. Thecemetery contains garrison and hospital burials, andothers brought in from a wide area of south-eastItaly. In 1981, 85 First World War graves were movedhere from Brindisi.

Leave the A14, Taranto-Ancona, at Bari North, directionBrindisi, then take the tangenziale heading south. Atexit 13B, follow the SS100 towards Taranto, leaving theroad at Triggiano. At the junction, turn left towardsCarbonara. The cemetery is on the right after 1.5 km.

Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily

The Commonwealth lost almost 50,000 dead in Italy in the Second World War, most of whom lie buried in37 war cemeteries. Almost 1,500 Indian servicemen whose remains were cremated are commemorated onmemorials in three cemeteries and over 4,000 soldiers whose graves are not known are remembered byname on the Cassino Memorial. Missing sailors and airmen are commemorated on memorials at their homeports and on the Air Forces Memorial at Malta.

Salerno War Cemetery (1,846 burials) Alliedforces landed at Salerno on 8-9 September 1943establishing a bridgehead where fierce fightingcontinued for some days. This cemetery containsthe graves of many who died here and othersbrought in later from a wide area of south-west Italy.

Leave the A3 from Salerno at the Battipaglia exit. Turnback towards Salerno on the SS18 coast road. Signs forthe cemetery, which is on the north side of the road,should be seen after passing through Bellizzi.

Naples War Cemetery (1,202 burials) From late1943 to the end of the war military hospitals werebased in Naples from which many of the burials inthis cemetery were made. Other graves werebrought in later from small cemeteries in the area.

After the last toll booth on the A1, Rome-Naples, followsigns for the airport. Pass the end of the airportapproach road and turn right at the next T-junction.The cemetery is on the main road after about 4 km.

Caserta War Cemetery (768 burials) The RoyalPalace at Caserta served as headquarters for theAllied armies for most of the Italian campaign andthere was a military hospital in the town fromDecember 1943 until September 1945 from whichsome of the burials in this cemetery were made.Others died as prisoners of war before the Alliedinvasion and there are a few burials from theOctober 1943 fighting on the nearby River Volturno.

Leave the A1, Rome-Naples, at Caserta North. At thefirst set of traffic lights, turn left and continue eastalong the main street for about 1.8 km. Just before anArmy barracks, and well before the Royal Palace(Palazzo Reale), take the small left turn and proceed tothe T-junction. Turn right and carry on under the bridgeto the main crossroads where there is a CWGCsignpost. Turn left and continue to the roundabout atthe end of the road where there is a large communalcemetery on the far side. Turn right into the car park.Caserta War Cemetery is at the far end of thecommunal cemetery.

Minturno War Cemetery (2,049 burials) liesclose to the western end of the 1943-44 Germanwinter defensive position, the Gustav Line, and theburials it contains are mainly those of men lost inthe heavy fighting to cross the Garigliano river inJanuary 1945.

The cemetery lies several kilometres south of the townon the SS7 road to Naples. Leave the A1 at Cassinothen turn right onto the S630, direction Ausonia,Formia, Minturno. At about 30 km the road passesunder a flyover. Turn left towards Scauri and Naples.After about 6 km, turn right to Marina di Minturno(Garigliano) where the cemetery is situated.

Sangro River War Cemetery (2,617 burials) TheAdriatic sector of the front saw fierce fighting inNovember and December 1943 as the Alliesattempted to breach the eastern end of the GustavLine. Many of those who died in the fighting and inthe critical months that followed lie buried in this

cemetery, which also contains a cremation memorialcommemorating more than 500 Indian servicemenwho died fighting in this sector.

Leave the A14, Taranto-Ancona, at Val di Sangro. Afterabout 2.5 km turn right onto the SS16, Pescara-Vastoroad. Look out for the sharp right turn up to cemeteryafter a little less than 2 km.

Moro River Canadian War Cemetery (1,615burials) The 1st Canadian Division crossed the Mororiver against stiff opposition on 6 December 1943 andcaptured Ortona on the 28th after a week of bitterstreet fighting; in December alone the Divisionsuffered more than 500 fatal battle casualties.

From Rome, take the A25, Rome-Pescara, branchingonto the A14 and leaving it at Ortona. The approachroad to the cemetery from the main Adriatic coast road(SS16) passes under an arch forming part of the littlechurch of San Donato.

Anzio War Cemetery (1,056 burials) In anattempt to break the Gustav Line in the westAllied troops were landed behind the German lineson 22 January 1944 where they met fierceopposition. The site for this cemetery was chosenjust after the landings and the burials here datefrom the period immediately following. As theAllied force established itself, further burials weremade in Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio

Sangro River War Cemetery

Anzio War Cemetery

(2,315 burials), which lay close to a casualtyclearing station. Many burials were made directfrom the battlefield and after the Allied breakout inMay, further graves were brought in from thesurrounding countryside.

Leave the SS148, Rome-Latina, at the S207, directionAnzio. Beach Head Cemetery lies 5 km north of thetown on the S207 and CWGC signs are visible 150metres from the cemetery. There is a small parkingarea at the main entrance. Anzio War Cemetery

also lies just off the S207, 1 km north of town.

Cassino War Cemetery (4,271 burials) Cassinosaw some of the fiercest fighting of the Italiancampaign, the town itself and the dominatingMonastery Hill proving the most stubborn obstaclesencountered in the advance towards Rome. The sitefor the cemetery was selected in January 1944, butit could not be used until after the Germans hadwithdrawn. The Cassino Memorial which standswithin the cemetery commemorates more than4,000 men who died in the fighting all over Italy andwho have no known grave.

Leave the A1, Rome-Naples, at Cassino. The cemeteryand memorial are clearly signposted from here.

Rome War Cemetery (426 burials) Rome wastaken on 3 June as the German withdrawalcontinued. The cemetery was started shortlyafterwards and was used mainly for burials from theoccupying garrison, but a few graves were broughtin from the surrounding country, and some soldiersand airmen who died as prisoners of war in Romeare also buried here.

Cassino War Cemetery

Rome War Cemetery

The cemetery is close to the Piramide Metro station, onthe Via Zabaglia, Monte Testaccio. Note: Access to

the cemetery is restricted. For up-to-dateinformation contact the Commission’s office in Rome.

Bolsena War Cemetery (597 burials) In June

1944 the Germans made their first stand north of

Rome at Bolsena. The cemetery was begun in

November and graves were brought in from the

battlefields between Bolsena, Orvieto and, later,

from the Island of Elba.

Leave the A1, Rome-Milan, at Orte, direction Viterbo.After 30 km turn right on to the SS2 for Siena. 7 kmsouth of Bolsena the entrance to the cemetery, whichis on the eastern side of Lake Bolsena just west of theSS2, can be clearly seen from the main road.

Orvieto War Cemetery (190 burials) wasestablished as a battlefield cemetery in the middle ofJune 1944 during the heavy fighting north of Rome.The burials, with only one exception, date from theperiod 14 June - 4 July 1944.

Leave the A1, Rome-Milan, at Orvieto. Take the S71Perugia road. At the fork just beyond the River Paglia,bear right along the road to Todi. After 40 metres, turndown the country lane on the right. After just over 1 kmthe cemetery will be seen in a depression in the hills onthe left; access is by a farm track.

Assisi War Cemetery (945 burials) Many of theburials in this cemetery date from June and July1944, as the Germans attempted to stop the Alliedadvance north of Rome.

Leave the A1, Rome-Milan, at Orte, taking the SS3 toPerugia following signs for Assisi. Take the road toRivotorto and at a crossroads, from which a church isvisible, turn left. The cemetery is about 500 metresdown this road.

Foiano della Chiana War Cemetery (256burials) Early in July 1944 there was heavy fightingin the Chiana valley where the Germans made theirlast stand before Arezzo and the Arno. This is abattlefield cemetery and was later increased by

Bolsena War Cemetery

graves brought in from the surrounding area. Most ofthe burials date from the first two weeks of July 1944.

Leave the A1, Rome-Milan, at Val di Chiana-Betolle.From Foiano della Chiana carry on in the direction ofArezzo looking out for the CWGC sign to the right. Thecemetery lies in the fields about 50 metres down a lane.

Arezzo War Cemetery (1,266 burials) TheGerman stand in front of Arezzo led to fiercefighting before the town was taken on 16 July. Thecemetery was begun in November and graves werebrought into it from the surrounding area.

Leave the A1, Rome-Milan, at Arezzo. Before reachingthe town turn right to Ponte a Chiani and follow signsto Indicatore. On reaching the S69, beyond Indicatore,turn left towards Montevarchi and the cemetery is onthe left after 1 km.

Florence War Cemetery (1,632 burials)Florence, which was taken by the Allied forces on13 August 1944, was the centre of the Arno line and

the point from which the attack on the GermanGothic Line defences in the Apennines waslaunched. The cemetery was begun in November1944 for burials from the hospitals established in andaround Florence but most of those buried here diedfighting in this area from July to September 1944.

Florence War Cemetery

Leave the A1, Rome-Milan, at Firenze South and continue over the River Arno to thefirst set of traffic lights. Turn right onto the SS67, direction Forli, and continue for 3 kmto Girone. The cemetery, which is signposted, is on the right.

Castiglione South African Cemetery (502 burials) was started in November1944 by the 6th South African Armoured Division, which entered Castiglione at theend of September and stayed in the area until the following April. Many of theburials were made direct from the battlefields of the Apennines where, during thatwinter, South African troops held positions north of Castiglione.

Castiglione is in mountainous country about 60 km north of Florence. Leave the A1 atthe Roncobilaccio exit heading for Castiglione. The cemetery is beside the road on theright entering the town.

Ancona War Cemetery (1,019) Ancona was taken on 18 July 1944 and served asthe main supply port for the attack on the Gothic Line and for the final breakthrough the following spring at Argenta. This cemetery reflects the Allied progressup the Adriatic coast in August and September and contains graves brought in froma wide area extending from Pescara, 80 km to the south, to Pesaro, over 48 kmnorth of Ancona.

Castiglione South African Cemetery

Ancona War Cemetery

Leave the A14, Taranto-Ancona-Bologna, at AnconaSouth and take the SS16 towards Ancona. After about3 km (via Pietro Filonze) turn right passing in front ofthe wholesale fruit market and under a railway line. Atthe next junction turn left. The cemetery is severalkilometres along this road, on the left, just after apetrol station, on the Strada di Passo Varano.

Montecchio War Cemetery (582 burials)Montecchio was near the eastern end of the GothicLine with the anti-tank ditch of the defensive systemrunning through the valley immediately below thecemetery. The village was practically razed to theground for defence during the war and muchdamage was done in the surrounding country. Thecemetery was begun by the Canadian Corps in theautumn of 1944 and a further plot was added laterfor graves brought in from the surrounding country.

Take the SS423 from Pesaro to Urbino, following thesigns for Montecchio. The cemetery is on the right justbefore entering the town.

Gradara War Cemetery (1,191 burials) containsthe graves of those killed during the advance fromAncona to Rimini, which broke the German GothicLine, and in the heavy fighting around Rimini, takenby the Allies on 21 September 1944.

Leave the A14, Bologna-Ancona, at either Cattolica orPesaro, taking the SS16 east from Cattolica or westfrom Pesaro. The cemetery is about 1.5 km south ofthe SS16, midway between Pesaro and Riccione.

Coriano Ridge War Cemetery (1,939 burials)Coriano Ridge was the last important obstacleblocking the Allied advance in the Adriatic sector inthe autumn of 1944. Its capture was the key toRimini and eventually to the River Po. Germanairborne troops and tank squadrons resisted allattacks between 4 and 12 September 1944 whenthe Eighth Army renewed its attack. This attacktook the Ridge, but marked the beginning of a weekof the heaviest fighting since Cassino in May, withthe Eighth Army losing daily some 150 killed. Thecemetery was made in April 1945 from gravesbrought in from the surrounding battlefields.

The cemetery is 3.5 km west of Riccione, a seasideresort on the Adriatic coast. Turn off the SS16, themain Rimini-Riccione road, about 1 km north-west ofRiccione towards Coriano. Follow the CWGC signpostto a T-junction and turn left. The cemetery is on theright a little way along this road.

Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery (618 burials)There was severe fighting near Rimini in theautumn of 1944 in which the 4th and 10th Indian

Divisions had an important share. The town fellon 21 September 1944 but the line was very littleadvanced during the following winter. Thecemetery also contains a cremation memorialcommemorating more than 170 Indian servicemenwho died fighting in this sector.

Leave the A14, Bologna-Ancona, at San Marino, RiminiSouth, heading towards San Marino. The cemetery is4km down this road on the right.

Cesena War Cemetery (775 burials) was madein November from burials brought in from thebattlefields. Most had died in September -November 1944 during the advance from Rimini toForli and beyond, across one flooded river afteranother, in atrocious autumn weather.

Leave the A14, Bologna-Ancona, at Cesena. Followthis road for about 4 km to a roundabout. Turn left andthen take the second road on the right. After 500metres, turn left into a parking area and take a littleroad leading to the cemetery main entrance.

Meldola War Cemetery (145 burials) Meldolawas taken on 30 October 1944 and in the ensuingmonth the 46th and 4th Divisions advanced to theRiver Lamone. This was originally a battlefieldcemetery of the 46th Division. All burials date fromthe last week of October and November 1944.

The cemetery lies south of the SS9, Bologna-Rimini, 10 km south of Ronco, half-way betweenForlì and Forimpopoli.

Forli War Cemetery (738 burials) The cemeterywas begun soon after the Eighth Army took Forlì inNovember 1944 and graves were brought into itfrom the surrounding battlefields. Many of the deadlost their lives in the heavy fighting between Riminiand Ravenna, in appalling weather, in October -December 1944.

From the SS9 to the west of Forlì take the SS67 toFlorence. After 3-4 km there is a signpost pointing leftto Vecchiazzano where the cemetery is located.

Forli Indian War Cemetery (496 burials) The10th Indian Division came into the line in theAdriatic sector south of Cesena at the beginning ofOctober 1944. The cemetery also contains acremation memorial commemorating nearly 800Indian servicemen who died fighting in the sector.

Leave the A14, Bologna-Ancona, at Forlì. Follow theroad into the town for about 3 km. The cemetery is onthe left, opposite the communal cemetery.

Forli Indian War Cemetery

Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery

Ravenna War Cemetery (955 burials) Ravennawas taken at the beginning of December 1944 bythe Canadian Corps, which went on to clear thearea between Ravenna and the Comacchio lagoonbefore being moved to north-west Europe inFebruary 1945. The burials in this cemetery, manyof them Canadian, reflect the fighting for the SenioLine and the period of relative quiet during thefirst three months of 1945. In 1974, 33 First WorldWar burials were brought into the cemetery fromGradisca.

The cemetery lies on a communal road 1 km south ofthe SS16 from Ravenna to Ferrara near the village ofPiangipane. The turning from the main road is at the143 km stone, 12 km west of Ravenna, and is markedwith a CWGC signpost and a road sign marked'Piangipane 4 km'. Continue along the minor road tothe next CWGC sign. The cemetery is on the left.

Villanova Canadian War Cemetery (212burials) On the night of 10/11 December 1944 the5th Canadian Armoured Division succeeded inestablishing a bridgehead over the River Lamone,west of which there was heavy fighting in thefollowing days when attempts were made to crossthe three canals that run from Faenza to the sea.Many of those who died are buried in this cemetery.Others were killed in the advance to the final lineheld by the Canadians on the River Senio beforethey left Italy.

Leave the A14, Bologna-Ancona, at Ravenna. Turn leftalong the SS16 towards Ferrara and at 7.5 km, at thevillage of Mezzano, turn left to Villanova, about 4 km.

Faenza War Cemetery (1,152 burials) Thecemetery was made in the winter of 1944 for the

burial of those who died in the static fighting beforethe Allied advance was renewed in April 1945.

Leave the A14, Bologna-Ancona, at Faenza. Thecemetery lies 1.5 km south-east of Faenza and isapproached by a secondary road which branches off theS9, the main Bologna-Forlì road, just east of the town.

Santerno Valley War Cemetery (287 burials)The cemetery was started during the fighting in theApennines towards the end of 1944. Burials fromthe surrounding region were brought in later.

Leave the A1, Rome-Milan, at Roncobilaccio, directionFuta-Fiorenzuola, then Imola. The cemetery, which isapproximately 13 km further on, will be seen on top ofthe hill on the right.

Santerno Valley War Cemetery

Bologna War Cemetery (184 burials) Bolognabecame the Allies’ first major objective in the springof 1945 and was taken on 21 April. Opened as agarrison cemetery in June 1945, burials were laterbrought into it from the surrounding area.

The cemetery lies in the suburb of San Lazzaro (Parcodei Cedri). It stands on the north side of the SS9,between Bologna and Forlì, at Via Dozza, about 5 kmsouth-east of the town and about 200 metres beforethe road crosses over the River Savena.

Argenta Gap War Cemetery (625 burials)marks the final stages of the hard fighting in Italy inthe spring of 1945 and contains, among others, thegraves of many of the Commandos engaged in theamphibious operations on the shores of theComacchio lagoon early in April 1945.

Argenta is on the SS16 connecting Ravenna withFerrara. Approaching the cemetery from the south,bear right just before reaching Argenta and proceeddown the Strada di Circonvallazione, passing therailway station on the right. Take the second turningto the right and, after crossing the railway, carry on toa fork and again bear right. The turning to thecemetery is on the left, a little further on, near afarm. Approaching the cemetery from the north, turnsharp left off the main road at the first crossroads onthe edge of the town and then take the third turningto the left which will lead to the railway crossingmentioned above.

Padua War Cemetery (513 burials) lies in thezone of the Allied breakthrough in the spring of1945 when, despite some resistance, the town wascaptured by Indian troops.

Leave the A13, Bologna-Padua, at Padua South, thenhead north to Vicenza to the SS11. Alternatively, takethe A4, exiting at Padua West, then head south to theSS11, then west to Vicenza. The SS11 in Padua is theVia Chiesanuova. About 2 km from the town centre,turn right onto the Via della Biscia. The cemetery isalong this road on the right.

Udine War Cemetery (414 burials) Udine wasentered on 1 May 1945. Burials in this cemeteryinclude casualties from the last few days of the warin Italy, prisoner-of-war and air force casualties, latergarrison burials and some made from the generalhospital which was at Udine for several monthsfrom May 1945.

Take the SS13 from Udine towards Tarviso. At 5.5kmturn left, opposite the turning to the village ofAdegliacco. The cemetery is a short distance down thisroad and is visible from the SS13.

Milan War Cemetery (414 burials) Milan, alreadyliberated by partisans, was entered by the US 4thArmy on 2 May 1945, the day of the Germansurrender in Italy. Most of the graves in Milan WarCemetery were those of prisoners-of-war orairmen and were brought in from the surroundingarea after the war.

Take the tangenziale west, skirting Milan, from the A1,A4 or A7. Exit following the blue signs for Milano, SS11.Carry on towards Milan passing the Grand Hotel Brun.Turn sharp left following the CWGC signs. Thecemetery lies in a large park approximately 0.5 kmalong on the right. From the city centre head westfollowing signs for the San Siro football Stadium. Theroad which runs past the stadium has local authoritysigns for Milan War Cemetery.

The War in Italy 1915-18

In May 1915 Italy entered the First WorldWar on the Allied side and began fighting afierce campaign, principally on its northernfrontier, against Austro-Hungarian andGerman forces. Both sides suffered badly inthe demanding mountainous terrain as thecampaign quickly settled into the stagnationof trench warfare.

Three divisions of Commonwealth forcessupported their Italian allies from 1917 andheld important sections of the front line,playing a significant role in repulsing a heavyAustrian attack on the Asiago Sector in June1918. Thereafter activity was limited toaggressive raids upon the opposing trenchesuntil the Battle of Vittorio Veneto in lateOctober when the river Piave was crossed.The subsequent Allied advance was rapidand on 4 November an armistice wassigned ending the war in Italy.

Almost 4,000 Commonwealth servicemendied in Italy during the First World War.Five Commonwealth cemeteries in closeproximity on the Asiago Plateau mark theCommonwealth contribution to thecampaign in northern Italy. They arepermanently open, though rarelyaccessible from November to Maybecause of deep snow.

To reach Asiago, head north from Vicenza onthe A31. At the end of the autostrada(Piovene Rocchette) take the S349.

Barenthal Military Cemetery (125burials) Take the road to Bassano from theold railway station in Asiago. After 2.5 kmturn right following signs for Sacella diGranezza. Take the first left after 300metres, then right after 100 metres more.The cemetery is on the left after 1.8 km.

Barenthal Military Cemetery

Commonwealth Cemeteries and Memorials in Italy

Granezza British Cemetery (142 burials) Takethe left fork 700 metres beyond Barenthal MilitaryCemetery and continue for 2.5 km. Access to thecemetery is by a narrow footpath.

Cavalletto British Cemetery (100 burials)Continue 400 metres beyond Granezza BritishCemetery, turn right, and continue for 2.6 km. Thecemetery is in open countryside down the hill from theRifugio Verdefonte. Access is very difficult; the groundunderfoot is uneven and visitors are advised to proceedwith extreme caution.

Boscon British Cemetery (166 burials) LeaveAsiago on the S349 towards Cesuna. 3 km from Cesunaturn right onto a rough track, open to vehicles insummer months and part of the cross country ski trackin winter. The cemetery is 1.8 km from the main roadin Boscon Wood.

Magnaboshi British Cemetery (183 burials)From the tourist office in Cesuna, head south forabout 2km to the chapel of S. Antonio (which has ared roof). Behind the chapel, a footpath leads to thecemetery, about 100 metres.

Other cemeteries relating to the fighting in northernItaly are:

Tezze British Cemetery (356 burials) Thevillage of Tezze was captured by the Austrians in thesummer of 1917 and was not recovered until theBattle of Vittorio Veneto. Buried in the cemeteryare some of those who died on the north-east sideof the river Piave during the battle.

Tezze is 8 km east of Susegana, a town on the S13some 24 km north of Treviso. The cemetery lies about270 metres south of the village.

Giavera British Cemetery (417 burials) containsthe graves of men who died in defending the RiverPiave from December 1917 to March 1918, andthose who fell to the west of the river when it wascrossed. The cemetery also contains the GiaveraMemorial on which are commemorated 150Commonwealth servicemen who died in Italy in1917-18 and whose place of burial is unknown.

Giavera is 12 km east of Montebelluna and 14 km westof Conegliano on the S248, the road that connects thetwo places. The cemetery is 500 metres north-west ofthe town close to the church.

Montecchio Precalcino Communal CemeteryExtension (439 burials) Between April 1918 andFebruary 1919 those who died from wounds ordisease in the 9th, 24th and 39th Casualty ClearingStations were buried either here or at DuevilleCommunal Cemetery Extension (134 burials).Further graves were brought into these cemeteriesfrom other burial grounds in the area after the war.

Dueville is 12 km north of Vicenza on the A31. Leavethe piazza in the centre of Dueville and head north

Magnaboshi British Cemetery

towards Montecchio. At the traffic lights turn left ontoVia Fosca. The cemetery is 100 metres on the leftopposite the communal cemetery. MontecchioPrecalcino is 4 km north of Dueville. A CWGC signpostwill be seen on arriving in the village.

The Commonwealth presence in Italy during theFirst World War was not limited to the fighting onthe northern front. From the summer of 1917 untillate 1918 the Mediterranean lines ofCommunication for the British Salonika Force ranthe length of the country from Taranto in the south-east to Turin in the north-west. A number of Italiantowns housed camps, depots and military hospitalsand war graves plots were made in many localcommunal cemeteries and churchyards. Some ofthe most significant are:

Bordighera British Cemetery (72 burials), usedfrom November 1917 to January 1919, mostly bythe two general hospitals posted in the town.

Exit the A10 at Bordighera and follow the signs forSan Remo along the coast road. Pass a small marinaon the right and take the second left, followingCWGC signs. The cemetery, which has its ownentrance and is permanently open, is 350 metres onthe left, within Bordighera Main CommunalCemetery, in Via Al Cimitero.

Savona Town Cemetery (85 burials) On 4 May1917, the Hired Transport "Transylvania", en-routeto Salonika, was sunk by torpedo a few kilometressouth of Savona. Of the 398 military dead from thevessel, 82 are buried in the Commonwealth plot inthe town cemetery and the names of a further 274are inscribed on a screen wall there.

Exit the A10 at Savona Vado. Follow the signs toQuiliano, which is immediately right, and thecommunal cemetery is signposted. Continue on foottoward the rear of the town cemetery and, at the largecross in the centre, turn left, then right. Pass throughan entrance way in a wall and follow the path. TheCWGC plot is on the right.

Staglieno Cemetery (352 burials) Genoa was aCommonwealth base with the 11th General and38th and 51st Stationary Hospitals posted to the city.

Exit the A12 at Genova East and after the tollgatecarry on through a little tunnel. Keep left and after twosets of traffic-lights turn left along the river Bisagno.After a bridge on the right, the big communal cemeteryis visible from the road where parking is available.Walk through the large entrance gate into thecommunal cemetery and follow the road straightahead. Signs for the Commonwealth cemetery will beseen on the right after about 300 metres.

Savona Town Cemetery

The Commonwealth War Graves Commissionis responsible for marking and maintaining thegraves of 1.7 million members of theCommonwealth forces who died during the twoworld wars, for building and maintaining memorialsto the dead whose graves are unknown and forkeeping records and registers of these burials andcommemorations found in most countriesthroughout the world.

Enquiries about the location of individual burials andcommemorations may be directed to the officebelow or to the search by surname database at theCommission’s web site at www.cwgc.org

For further information contact:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission2 Marlow RoadMaidenheadBerkshireSL6 7DXUnited Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1628 507200Fax: +44 (0) 1628 771208E-mail: casualty.enq@cwgc.org

The cemeteries and memorials in Italy aremaintained by the Commission’s own staff underthe direction of the Western Mediterranean Officein Rome:

Western Mediterranean AreaCommonwealth War Graves CommissionViale F T Marinetti No 221 00143 RomeItaly

Tel: +39 (0) 6 5099911Fax: +39 (0) 6 50524593E-mail: wmaoffice@cwgc.org

Arquata Scrivia Communal CemeteryExtension (94 burials) From 1917 to 1919there was a communication HQ, a base supplydepot, a camp and hospital for prisoners of war,and two stationary hospitals at Arquata Scrivia.

Exit the A7 at Arquata - Vignole and follow thesigns to Arquata Scrivia. Proceed straight aheadafter the stop sign and follow the road as it veersright. The cemetery is signposted on the right.

Cremona Town Cemetery (83 burials), wasused by the town’s stationary hospital betweenJanuary 1918 and February 1919.

Exit the A21 at Cremona. Follow the signs forCremona Centro or Stazione. Pass the mainrailway station, keeping it to your right, then turnright under the railway lines. Follow the cemeterysigns to the right down a tree lined road forapproximately 1 km. Park outside the Italiancommunal cemetery and walk to the CWGC plotwhich is in the back left hand corner.

Taranto Town Cemetery Extension (449burials) Taranto was used as a Royal Navalbase immediately after the Italian declaration ofwar, but became particularly important in thesummer of 1917 when the Mediterranean Linesof Communication were established originatingat Taranto. The Town Cemetery was used forCommonwealth burials from June 1915 to April1919 but in January 1918 a military extensionwas opened and the 102 Commonwealthburials in the town cemetery were removedthere after the war.

Leave the A14, Bologna-Taranto, and take the S57into Taranto from the direction of Bari, passing thelarge industrial complex on the left. Follow thesign to Grottaglia and then the signs to TamburiCimitero (Cimitero San Brunone). The CWGCextension can be found on the one-way road justpast the communal cemetery.

Cassino War Cemetery