| Cassino War Cemetery |
| Italy |
| Cassino War Cemetery lies in the
Commune of Cassino, Province of Frosinone, 139 kilometres south-east of
Rome. Take the autostrada A1 from Rome to Naples and leave it at the Cassino
exit. At the junction of this exit and the road into Cassino, is the first
of 6 clearly visible signposts to the cemetery and memorial. The cemetery is
located approximately 1 kilometre from the railway station in Via Sant
Angelo and visitors arriving by train are advised to take a taxi from the
station. Cemetery address: Via S. Angelo 03043 Cassino (FR) Lazio. GPS
Co-ordinates: Latitude 41.477555, Longitude: 13.827141. 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. 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. Initial attempts to breach the western end of the line were unsuccessful. Operations in January 1944 landed troops behind the German lines at Anzio, but defences were well organised, and a breakthrough was not actually achieved until 18 May, when Cassino was finally taken. The site for CASSINO WAR CEMETERY was originally selected in January 1944, but the development of the battle during the first five months of that year made it impossible to use it until after the Germans had withdrawn from Cassino. During these early months of 1944, Cassino saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Italian campaign, the town itself and the dominating Monastery Hill proving the most stubborn obstacles encountered in the advance towards Rome. The majority of those buried in the war cemetery died in the battles during these months. There are now 4,271 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated at Cassino War Cemetery. 289 of the burials are unidentified. Within the cemetery stands the CASSINO MEMORIAL which commemorates over 4,000 Commonwealth servicemen who took part in the Italian campaign whose graves are not known.
No. of Identified Casualties: 3985 |
2829529 Private
Thomas Robinson
1st Bn. The London Scottish
Gordon Highlanders
19/11/1943, aged 20.
Son of James and Annie Robinson, of Kirkwall, Orkney.
Plot VII. C. 7.
| Cassino War Memorial |
| Italy |
Victoria Cross:
GHATGE YASHWANT
Rank: Naik, Service No: 9192, Date of Death: 10/07/1944, Age: 23, Regiment/Service: 5th Mahratta Light Infantry 3rd Bn. , Awards: V C, Panel Reference Panel 17., Son of Vithabai; husband of Laxmibai, of Palasgaon (Amnechiwadi), Kolaba, India.
Citation: The citation in the London Gazette for 2nd November, 1944, gives the following details:- In Italy, on 10th July 1944, a company of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry attacked a position strongly defended by the enemy. A rifle section commanded by Naik Yashwant Ghatge came under heavy machine-gun fire, which killed or wounded all the section except the commander. Without hesitation, Naik Yashwant Ghatge rushed the machine-gun post. He threw a grenade, shot one of the crew, and then, grasping his gun by the barrel, killed the remaining two men. Finally he was shot by enemy snipers and died in the post which he had captured single-handed. The courage, determination, and devotion to duty of this Indian N.C.O. in a situation where he knew the odds against him gave little hope of survival were outstanding.
14408063 Private
Arthur Ralph Glew
2nd/7th Bn. The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
21/01/1944, aged 21.
Panel 4. Cassino Memorial
Son of Arthur and Florence Glew, of Leicester.
In memory of an uncle, brother and a dear cousin, Eric Lewis (War Veteran)
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