New chap on the forum

Hi all - I have been looking through this forum for a while and thought it about time to make contact with others. I never served in the military, but have always had a very keen interest as well as for many years of my working life being engaged on military comms projects.

I have been to Normandy on two occasions and next month will be flying to Rome to visit Anzio, Monte Cassino, Salerno then travelling a bit north to visit an uncles War Grave at Montecchio.

I am hoping to find out more about his life in the Army and the actions in which he was involved and subsequently killed. It is my understanding that as he died on 14 Sept 1944 and is buried at Montecchio, he was involved with attacking the Gothic Line.

Where best should I post the known details in order that I might get some help on my quest?

Whilst I am in those areas and visiting War Graves, if there are any specific photos of headstones that are required, I will do all that I can to take them.

Regards

Evader

 

Evader
This is as good as anywhere - unless the Moderators deem otherwise - what unit was your Uncle with as it looks like he was killed at the Coriano Ridge on or about the 14th September as

Monttecchio was about the first cemetery to opened in that area - that is near the banks of the River Foglio..some of us know it quite well....if it is possible to scan any paperwork you have handy -

this will help - as well as his Service Records - which might be difficult for a nephew - but worth a try - 14th September as I recall - was a bit of a shambles as the 46th and 56th Divs were taking

a beating at Croce and Gemmano long with 1st AD and 4th Indian - next at Coriano 5th Cdn AD were having the same problems- 4th British Div and the 1st Cdn was having much the same at San Martino and San

Fortunato and th Greek Bde was sliding along the Highway towards Rimini..and finally got there by the 23rd.......so they were fun days

Cheers

 

I have an interest in Montecchio as the Irish Regiment of Canada had quite a rough time of it there. Also September 14, 1944, is a day that means a lot to me as that is the day my Uncle died of wounds received the day before at Corriano. He is buried in Gradara War Cemetery Italy

 

Pylon

You are right as the 5th Cdn AD with the irish regiment were having a tough time at the village of Coriano on that day but they prevailed and took over the village on the 15th - an just next door we were having a tough time at San Martino with the Seaforths of 1st Div..Gradara is a tiered cemetery nearer to Ancona..and you are right about the Irish at Montecchio as Hoffmeister felt that the defences were not completed and so jumped the Foglia at point 120 with the Cape Bretons but ran into trouble before heading towards Tomba Di Pesaro ( now Tuvaluia) where the Canadian memorial is situated..meanwhile we had crossed at point 133 to Pozzo Alto and 119 then on to Cattolica from Pieve to be halted at "Bloody Coriano Ridge" for nearly three weeks - spoiled all the fun - as we might have been in Rimini by that afternoon except for the 1st paras - 26th Panzers and 29th Pz grens...
Cheers

 

Pylon-

Great web site of the Irish Regt..like most others - they took a beating on " Bloody Coriano Ridge "

cheers

 

Evader,

thank you for the very generous offer of photos from Italy. They seem to be few and far between so I would like to ask if you could get a photo of this soldier for me

Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension

Plot 1. Row D. Grave 2 - Private Richard William CATLEY

I still have another 30+ scattered around Italy but none in the areas you are visiting.

 

Hello Evader and welcome to the forum

Lesley

 

Hi all - many thanks to you all for your warm welcome and responses. As suggested by DBF, I shall start a new topic using relevant details in the title.

Tom C - we have very little by way of details, but I know from the War Graves listing that Thomas Edwin Buckland (known in the family as Ted) was a Royal Fusilier with the City of London Regiment (9Bn) - his Service No was 6347389. He was aged 25 when killed on 14 Sept 1944. I do not have Ted's Service Records and I guess I would need the consent of nearest relative to get it - I do not think there would be any objection to such a request. Also Tom, you refer to Coriano Ridge which sounds as if it is close to the River Foglia - I had no trouble finding the river, but can you offer any location for Coriano Ridge, please?

Temptage - Is there any difference in location between Montecchio War Cemetery and the one to which you refer - Montecchio Precalcino, or are they the same? Assuming they are the same or are not too far apart, I will certainly find the grave to which you refer and photograph it.

Generally if I start a new thread entitled 'Gothic Line - Royal Fusilier - killed Sept 14 1944' do you feel that would attract attention?

I am travelling with a mate who served 25 yrs in the REME as a VM - our route is from Rome to Anzio for 1 night, then onto Monte Cassino for 2 nights, 2 nights in Salerno then drive upto Pescara for an overnight break, onto Pesaro for 1 night to visit Montecchio War Cemetery and any Battlefields we can identify - then back close to Rome to fly back home the next day.

Many thanks and regards

Evader

 

Evader

Not a problem to find Coriano Ridge - with a fair map and you will be at Pesaro - Montecchio is a bit inland from there - back to Pesaro head North on the highway to Riccione ( Ritchie Owney)

and about 3.5 Kms WEST to find Coriano Ridge cemetery which is the centre of the Ridge near enough THEN - a bit further West to find CROCE - where the 56th Division took one hell of a beating

and most likely that Ted was KIA there as he was with 9th Batt Fusiliers in 167 Brigade of 56th Division along with the 8th Battalion......now before you get there - google for "The Battle of Gemmano"

written by an Italian - which is a better account of those battles as 46th were getting slaughtered there as well..this will give you a good idea of what went on in September of '44 - which you might not

believe in such a beautiful area.....we were taking another beating just to the East at San Martino...

We had only one burial at Montecchio and that was Trooper Ian Reginald Jones - grave 11. F. 2. if you can get a photo would be nice

I shall try to send you a map showing the units involved..might be better via e-mail though

Cheers

 

Evader

meant to add to my posting - Montecchio is about 15 Kms West from Pesaro and is the first cemetery laid out by the Canadian corps initially as their first as they knew that would have

casualties in getting over the Foglia - it's small at about 600 graves as compared with Coriano Ridge at 2000 - but the Canadians didn't have too many KIA's so it was opened to all units..

te Montecchio - Precalcino is an old one from WW1 - and is way up near Venice so you don't need that one- you night have quick look at Gradara as that is near Pesaro -8th Army lost 14,000 KIA's

in that month long battle and there are seven cemeteries up to Cesena plus crematorium for the East Indian troops

Cheers

 

Evader, I always presumed that they were one and the same, but on looking on CWGC website, they are about 200 miles apart, so I think you can forget about my request......unless of course you fancy a 400 mile round trip for me???? No?

Incidentally, I have casualties all around the areas you are travelling to/through

3 at Naples War Cemetery (slight detour on the way to Salerno)

depending on what route you take to Pescara

1 at Sangro River War Cemetery (s.e. of Pescara)

2 at Ancona War Cemetery (between Pescara and Pesaro)

and then depending on your route back to Rome, either

4 at Arezzo War Cemetery

or

1 at Assisi War Cemetery.

If any of these can be taken in, and by no means am I expecting you to do any of them, I can let you have the names and plots of my men.

Regards (and fingers crossed)

Tony

 

Tempage
as I wrote in my posting - Montecchio - Pre calacina is way up near Venice....way too far in the time available - the rest looks Ok but again to divert to the Sangro is time wasting - Ancona

being Ok - the return - my choice would be Pesaro - Fabiano - Foligno - Assisi as Arezzo is again off the route to Rome - better to have a look at Croce where I think the man was killed rather than

time wasting detours...

Cheers

 

Tom, thank you for he kind words in regards to my website. It has been a long process to get it to where it is now, and I am always looking to add further information as time permits. I am long overdue with the new additions.

I had hoped in July 2011 of traveling through Italy, following the basic route of the Irish Regiment of Canada. I was planning to photograph all the grave markers of the Irish.

Unfortunately, I broke my ankle in March 2011 in KAF and was send home to recover. This basically ended my plans I had no allotted time left for
vacation.

Yes you are correct that Gradara War Cemetery is terraced and quite steep. All the Irish are in Plot II Row G, which is at the top of the Cemetery on the right hand side. I was fortunate enough that in 1998 a veteran friend of mine was visiting Italy and he climbed the terraces to photograph my uncles marker. I was stunned when his letter arrived at my house, as I never asked him for this. He simply knew I would love it. He added a very touching and personal aspect in that he laid his caubeen upon my uncles headstone for one of the photos.

 

Many thanks to all who have read this intro and especially to those who have responded.

I have now posted a request for help with further info on a new thread entitled "Gothic Line - Royal Fusilier KIA 14 Sept 44".

I might re-arrange my route to permit 2 nights in the Montecchio area and am still willing to do whatever I can to take photos as requested.

Regards

Evader