Sangro River Cemetery, Remembrance day 2013

Discussion in 'All Anniversaries' started by lambretta, Oct 27, 2013.

  1. lambretta

    lambretta Junior Member

    I will be visiting my Grandfathers grave this Remembrance Sunday at the Sangro River Cemetary, Italy.
    I was curious to see if any other forum members might be there. It's seventy years since the battle of Mozzagrogna so I wondered if this would be marked.

    Barrie
     
    Combover and CL1 like this.
  2. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    Barrie, normally on a BIG anniversary there is likely to be a British contingency there, and maybe even the Gurkha's might be in attendance.

    Could I ask if you would be able to take a photograph of a headstone while you are there please. I have a local man who is buried there who is named on the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Roll of Honour which I am researching all the men named on it.

    I dont mind in the slightest if you say no, as the old saying goes, you don't get if you don't ask.

    Tony
     
  3. Tom Canning

    Tom Canning WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Lambretta

    Doubt very much if there will be any remembrance of those battles from the Biferno to the Sangro - Moro and Ortona - but they were nevertheless vital at the time and it should be recalled that the Brit and Comm troops had only eleven divisions against twenty-one German divs with more coming in fast - even the 16 PZ div from Salerno - the casualties were horrendous and fill both the Sangro River and Moro River Cemeteries…..the onset of the winter rains didn't help matters either with many bridges being washed away as they were being built…

    Cheers
     
  4. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Barrie,

    Thank you for reminding us.

    I was at the Sangro River CWGC cemetery about 3 weeks ago to visit many of my father's friends and comrades from 38 (Irish) Brigade..there are over 200 buried there.,..A number (45) were killed on the night of 27/28 October 1943 near to San Salvo.

    I assume that "the battle of Mozzagrognia" refers to the 8th Indian Division's assault followed up by 78th Division's.. my father recalled those grim days of late November and early December 1943 thus:

    “I was not sorry when the company advanced away from our vulnerable position on the Sangro. We advanced and linked up with our tanks. Closely following E Company, I traveled along the road from Mozzagronia soon after the attack had been completed. I saw the preparation of funeral ghats for the many Indian dead, casualties in the attack. I continued into Fossacesia and arrived just as the company moved a piano into the street. One of the lads was playing it.

    Surprise had been complete. The battalion had completed its task with few casualties. We advanced to Rocca. The company would be run by Charnick and sergeants Mayo and McNally until we came out of the line. It was about 3 December when the Canadians of The Three Rivers Regiment caught up with us. We had a celebration and one of them played a guitar.”


    Please say a prayer on behalf of us all for the thousands lying at peace near the Sangro...

    best
     

    Attached Files:

    Our bill, Combover and 4jonboy like this.
  5. lambretta

    lambretta Junior Member

    Thanks all for your comments. Tony I would be more than happy to take a picture for you. Just let me know the details.

    Cheers
    Barrie
     
  6. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    Barrie, you are very kind. As I said, I only have one of my men buried there. His details are as follows:

    XIV. C. 10 - Lance Corporal Ronald Martin
    [​IMG]
    Thanks very much again

    Tony
     
  7. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Barrie,

    good luck on your pilgrimage to honour those remarkable men.

    tony,

    as l/cpl martin was a faugh, i took a photo of his grave marker in early october. when i’m next on wi fi which should be on wed or thursday, i’ll send a copy of it.

    best
     
  8. lambretta

    lambretta Junior Member

    Thank you both. I will be sure to look it up. Below are the details of my Grandfather. My Dad will also be with me as he is 70 this year and was 6 months old when he was killed. I'd be interested to know of any other relatives of Fusiliers that took part in the battle at Mozzagrogna that are on the forum. I know for fact that a lot of his friends went on to be killed at Monte Cassino. Guess I could put a post up.

    SEARS, JOSEPH DESMOND Corporal 6457010 28/11/1943 31 yrs Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) United Kingdom XI. E. 12.
     
  9. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    An in law relative of my brother, Fusilier Harry Dye 6465709 died on 29th November 1943 and i was recently able to pass a photo of his final resting place to his family - a rather moving sense as they had not previously seen the grave marker or personal message from his parents.

    The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers’ Regimental Assn pays an annual visit to the Liri Valley and Anzio each May to commemorate the RFs' contribution to those two areas of campaign.

    8th Indian Division were certainly embroiled in the crossing of the Gari river in May 1944.
     
  10. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

  11. lambretta

    lambretta Junior Member

    That's interesting Richard. I am lucky enough to have a 90 min audio tape recorded by Maj Roy Paddy Bates. He was with my Grandfather the night he died. He describes the battle and their efforts clearing the Germans out house by house. My Grandfather got wounded in the hands and got sent back to a clearing station by Roy Bates, albeit reluctantly. He did not make it back unfortunately. From his description it was a savage battle. I am going to transfer it to digital format. I'd be happy to send you a copy. It describes them crossing the Sangro and going out on patrol in the evenings by swimming through the river.
     
  12. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    Tony,

    A compressed version of the final resting place of L/Cpl Martin (if you need an uncompressed one, drop your eMail address via PM)... I can see that I obviously didn't do my job properly as the personal family message is partly obscured so you may wish Barnie to take another photo anyway,

    best
     

    Attached Files:

  13. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    Bexley, thank you for the photo. Its the ideal size for me. Dont need anything bigger than that.

    Barrie, if you still want to take the photo then please do as I always welcome multiple copies of the same headstone.

    Tony
     
  14. lambretta

    lambretta Junior Member

    No problem Tony. I will have some time there.

    Barrie
     
  15. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    I have a cousin twice removed buried in Sangro River Cemetery. Fusilier Wiliam Lindsay. Died 29th November 1943. Royal irish Fusiliers.
    In any photos of the cemetery that I've seen it always looks stunningly beautiful and peaceful. The cost was a price that we'll never be able to repay.

    Barrie, when visit please remember all those who rest there on behalf of us who can't be.
     
  16. lambretta

    lambretta Junior Member

    RJL, I will be sure to. I will look up William and pay my respects. If you would like a photograph just let me know.
     
  17. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    A photo of Fusilier Lindsay's final resting place - it had rained heavily the day before, hence the mud spatters.

    I believe he died with several other Faughs (17 are named on the CWGC register) when they were shelled in a forming up area.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    Hi Barrie.
    If you have the time to pause by William's grave and take a photo it would be greatly appreciaited. The ref: VIII.C.11
     
  19. RJL

    RJL Senior Member

    Bexley84

    Thanks for posting the photo. Is it ok if I take a copy for my own pc 'Family' Folder?
     
  20. bexley84

    bexley84 Well-Known Member

    No probs,..this is a compressed file - if you want a non compressed version, let me know your eMail address.

    best
     

Share This Page