Sangro River War Cemetery

Discussion in 'War Cemeteries & War Memorial Research' started by Paul Reed, May 30, 2008.

  1. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    We visited this on the Italy trip.

    Details from CWGC:

    <table class="datatable" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="97%"><tbody><tr><th align="left" valign="top" width="30%"> Locality:</th> <td id="td_locality">unspecified</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_visiting"> <th align="left" valign="top" width="30%"> Visiting Information:</th> <td id="td_visiting">The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime. Wheelchair access to site possible, but may be by alternative entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on telephone number 01628 507200</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_location"> <th align="left" valign="top" width="30%"> Location Information:</th> <td id="td_location">The Sangro River War Cemetery lies in the Contrada Sentinelle in the Commune of Torino di Sangro, Province of Chieti. Take the autostrada A14 (the road that runs from Taranto in the south to Ancona in the north) and exit at Val di Sangro. After approximately 2.5 kilometres from the exit turn right onto the SS16, Pescara to Vasto road, for nearly 2 kilometres. There is then a sharp right turn up to cemetery. </td> </tr> <tr id="tr_historical"> <th style="height: 18px;" align="left" valign="top" width="30%"> Historical Information:</th> <td id="td_historical" style="height: 18px;">On 3 September 1943 the Allies invaded the Italian mainland, the invasion coinciding with an armistice made with the Italians who then re-entered the war on the Allied side. Allied objectives were to draw German troops from the Russian front and more particularly from France, where an offensive was planned for the following year. Progress through southern Italy was rapid despite stiff resistance, but by the end of October, the Allies were facing the German winter defensive position known as the Gustav Line, which stretched from the river Garigliano in the west to the Sangro in the east. By 4 November, the Allied force that had fought its way up the Adriatic coast was preparing to attack the Sangro river positions. A bridgehead had been established by the 24th and by nightfall on the 30th, the whole ridge overlooking the river was in Allied hands. The site of this cemetery was selected by the 5th Corps and into it were brought the graves of men who had died in the fierce fighting on the Adriatic sector of the front in November-December 1943, and during the static period that followed. In addition, the cemetery contains the graves of a number of escaped prisoners of war who died while trying to reach the Allied lines. SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY contains 2,617 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. Within the cemetery will be found the SANGRO RIVER CREMATION MEMORIAL, one of three memorials erected in Italy to officers and men of the Indian forces whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith - the other two cremation memorials are in Forli Indian Army War Cemetery and Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery. The memorial at Sangro River commemorates more than 500 servicemen.</td> </tr> <tr> <th align="left" valign="top" width="30%"> No. of Identified Casualties:</th> <td id="td_casualties">2544</td></tr></tbody></table>
     
  2. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    The entrance:

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Notice at the entrance; the second plaque caught our attention!!

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Looking back at entrance:

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Cross of Sacrifice:

    [​IMG]
     
  6. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    General view:

    [​IMG]
     
    Owen likes this.
  7. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Sangro River Cremation Memorial

    <table class="datatable" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="97%"><tbody><tr id="tr_location"><th align="left" valign="top" width="30%"> Location Information:</th> <td id="td_location">The Sangro River Cremation Memorial stands in Sangro River War Cemetery, which lies in the Contrada Sentinelle in the Commune of Torino di Sangro, Province of Chieti. Take the autostrada A14 exit at Val di Sangro. At about 2.5 kilometres from the exit turn right onto the SS16, Pescara to Vasto road, for nearly 2 kilometres. There is then a sharp right turn up to cemetery. </td> </tr> <tr id="tr_historical"> <th style="height: 18px;" align="left" valign="top" width="30%"> Historical Information:</th> <td id="td_historical" style="height: 18px;">On 3 September 1943 the Allies invaded the Italian mainland, the invasion coinciding with an armistice made with the Italians who then re-entered the war on the Allied side. Allied objectives were to draw German troops from the Russian front and more particularly from France, where an offensive was planned for the following year. Progress through southern Italy was rapid despite stiff resistance, but by the end of October, the Allies were facing the German winter defensive position known as the Gustav Line, which stretched from the river Garigliano in the west to the Sangro in the east. By 4 November, the Allied force that had fought its way up the Adriatic coast was preparing to attack the Sangro river positions. A bridgehead had been established by the 24th and by nightfall on the 30th, the whole ridge overlooking the river was in Allied hands. The site of this cemetery was selected by the 5th Corps and into it were brought the graves of men who had died in the fierce fighting on the Adriatic sector of the front in November-December 1943, and during the static period that followed. In addition, the cemetery contains the graves of a number of escaped prisoners of war who died while trying to reach the Allied lines. SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY contains 2,617 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. Within the cemetery will be found the SANGRO RIVER CREMATION MEMORIAL, one of three memorials erected in Italy to officers and men of the Indian forces whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith - the other two cremation memorials are in Forli Indian Army War Cemetery and Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery. The memorial at Sangro River commemorates more than 500 servicemen.</td> </tr> <tr> <th align="left" valign="top" width="30%"> No. of Identified Casualties:</th> <td id="td_casualties">517</td></tr></tbody></table>
    [​IMG]
     
  8. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Here's my shot of the Cross Of Sacrifice.
    Lovely blue skies here but by time we got down to Moro River Cemetery & then Ortona we had a thunder storm, some great lightning though.

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    Major J.T. McK. Anderson VC

    <table class="datatable" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="97%"><tbody><tr id="tr_name"><th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Name:</th> <td id="td_name">ANDERSON, JOHN THOMSON McKELLAR</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_initials"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Initials:</th> <td id="td_initials">J T M</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_nationality"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Nationality:</th> <td id="td_nationality">United Kingdom</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_rank"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Rank:</th> <td id="td_rank">Major</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_regiment"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Regiment/Service:</th> <td id="td_regiment">Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_unittext"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Unit Text:</th> <td id="td_unittext">8th Bn.</td> </tr> <!-- <tr> <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="30%">Force:</td> <td id="td_force"></td> </tr>--> <tr id="tr_age"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Age:</th> <td id="td_age">25</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_death"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Date of Death:</th> <td id="td_death">05/10/1943</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_service"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Service No:</th> <td id="td_service">126502</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_awards"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Awards:</th> <td id="td_awards">V C, D S O</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_information"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Additional information:</th> <td id="td_information">Son of John and Mary Anne McNicol McKellar Anderson; husband of Moira Anderson, of Chessington, Surrey. B.A. Hons. (Cantab.).</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_type"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Casualty Type:</th> <td id="td_type">Commonwealth War Dead</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_grave"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Grave/Memorial Reference:</th> <td id="td_grave">VIII. A. 44.</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_cemetery"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Cemetery:</th> <td id="td_cemetery">SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY</td> </tr> <tr id="tr_citation"> <th align="right" valign="top" width="30%"> Citation:</th> <td id="td_citation">The citation in the London Gazette of 29th June, 1943, gives the following details : During the attack on Longstop Hill, Tunisia, on 23rd April, 1943, Major Anderson, as leading Company Commander, led the assault on the battalion's first objective. Very heavy casualties were incurred, including the Commanding Officer killed and all other Company Commanders killed or wounded. Major Anderson re-organised the battalion, led the assault on the second objective, and, despite a leg wound, captured Longstop Hill with a total force of only four officers and less than forty other ranks. He personally led attacks on at least three enemy machine-gun positions and in every case was the first man in the enemy gun-pits. It is largely due to this officer's bravery and daring that Longstop Hill was captured, and it was the inspiration of his example that encouraged leaderless men to continue the advance.</td></tr></tbody></table>
     
  10. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    His grave:

    [​IMG]
     
  11. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    View across the Sangro valley:

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Google Earth Co-ords.
    42°13'5.81"N
    14°32'8.37"E
     
  13. adelphi08

    adelphi08 Junior Member

    Paul.
    Nice to see Jack Andersons Grave.
    He was my dads commanding officer.
     
  14. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Paul,
    Just clicked with me that I have one IG buried there... may I use your photos for my site? Usual credit noted of course...
    D
     
  15. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    No problem at all, Diane.
     
  16. Oldman

    Oldman Very Senior Member

    Paul
    Thanks for the posting of the photos my fathers unit has 10 buried there
     
  17. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Paul hope you dont mind me adding a little link on your thread .Finda Grave have 1,143 Headstone Photographs from Sangro River War Cemetery on their site,RA,Para,Guards,SAS etc hopefully something for everyone..I went looking for a DLI lad (Bevis) and he isnt amongst them!
    Best Wishes
    Jim

    Sample here Credit to `Mario` Findagrave
    Find A Grave Search Results&
     

    Attached Files:

  18. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    No problem at all mate.
     
  19. englandphil

    englandphil Very Senior Member

    Jim, Mick McCann at British War Graves, now has Sangro River listed as one of the Cemeteries that he has the photo's for.

    P
     
  20. Verrieres

    Verrieres no longer a member

    Jim, Mick McCann at British War Graves, now has Sangro River listed as one of the Cemeteries that he has the photo's for.

    P


    Cheers Phil,
    I`ll drop Mick a line
    Best Wishes
    Jim
     

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