I'll be travelling through Italy next month and hopefully stopping off at a few cemeteries including this, if you are after any photos or just want someone to stop by a particular grave and pay respects just pop on a reply with name and details and I'll try my best
I don't want you to make special journeys but have attached the CWGC list of casualties for the 67th Field Regt. One of our group visited Faenza and Argenta Gap in October 2019 taking many photos, he even visited the house in which his uncle was killed on Friday 13th October 1944 a day of infamy for the Regiment one officer killed one seriously wounded plus others when the house being used as a CP was shelled in the battle for Mt Ceco (Cece). In Palazzuolo sul Senio there is a memorial to the British1st Infantry Division and the 67th Field Regt which seems to be largely overlooked. Amongst others, he was initially buried there before being moved to Faenza CWGC. There are also casualties from San Clemente Valley Monte Grande Nov/Dec 1944 in Faenza Cemetery.. There are four burials in Florence War Cemetery one being my inspiration, Lt H N (Bill) Beadle all killed by a landmine 2nd September 1944. Enjoy your trip and if you are in the area visit the ancient Etruscan Theatre at Fiesole north of Florence, a place of peace and classical culture. (I will post a pic here if I can find it in my old albums). If you need more info just ask and I will help if I can. I have the CWGC grave locations for the 67th casualties if you need them .
No Florence this time, I've visited a couple of times just pre Covid and the cemetery really is beautiful, even by CWGC standards it really was a level above - I even emailed CWGC to tell them how impressed I was by the level of maintenance. I'm limited to trains so a bit limited, my initial list of cemeteries to visit was over 20 but I thought I better reel it in a bit so have gone with ones where I have a paybook to someone buried there or ones near where I am staying. I'll get images for the ones I see, even if you have pictures (like Faenza) it never hurts to have more and sometimes seeing the progress or changes to the plants can be interesting
It seems that Faenza CWGC is accessible by public transport and is well maintained. Certainly in October 2019. It should be a pleasant trip.
Not this time, I do fancy a trip down that way but I've already stretched my itinerary to its limits for this one, if I am going in the future I'll put a thread up, cheers
Thanks for the excellent photos. It seems that they do keep this cemetery very well. Badia di Susinanah Senio Valley On Friday 13th October a shell struck the window sill of the farmhouse housing 266 Bty Command Post. Major Shepherd had just left the room to take a phone call. Lt John Hartridge ACPO was asleep in bed by the window following a night duty. He was killed. Capt Dudley Masters who had just entered the room was seriously wounded and evacuated, never to return to duty. Lt Hartridge was buried the same day in the Cemetery in Palazzuolo. Later to be transferred to Faenza War Cemetery. Capt Knight has a unique story. San Clemente, Monte Grande. A new Officer, Capt Knight, joined the Regiment on 14th December. His chief reason for leaving England was that having waited 5 years for an overseas posting, he could wait no longer when his father, over 80 years old, was posted to Italy with the Red Cross. In his interview the CRA Brigadier Mockler asked "Are You a Territorial ? Oh then, you had better go to the 67th they are very Territorial!” 15th Dec Capt Knight went to 266 OP to relieve Capt Roberts. 17th December Captain Knight was wounded in the stomach by a Mortar and was taken to MDS. Lt Lewis went up to replace him. 18th December Captain Knight died having the shortest service of any Officer in the Regiment. He was a high minded and zealous officer.
There are two others that I omitted to mention in Faenza who served with the 67th Field Regiment. Monte Grande 9th November Lt Dudley Gifford (South Arican) killed in San Clemente Valley. He was wounded in the leg by shrapnel. Taken to the MDS where he died having the shrapnel removed under anaesthetic. Attached Photo Courtesy of the Mennell Family Collection Lt Collett (SA) Capt. P. Mennell, Dr Theron (SA) Lt Gifford (SA) San Clemente Valley Monte Grande Badia di Susinanah 15th October Private W H Burden Army Catering Corps Killed Badia di Susinanah. The enemy began shelling so the four cooks dived out of the cookhouse into a slit trench followed by a shell. Three were wounded.
