Coriano Ridge War Cemetery
| Coriano Ridge War Cemetery | |
|---|---|
Italian: Cimitero di guerra inglese | |
| Commonwealth War Graves Commission | |
 The cemetery viewed from the entrance, April 2015 | |
| For Allied soldiers deceased in 1944 | |
| Established | April 1945 |
| Location | 43°59′6.95″N 12°36′11.66″E / 43.9852639°N 12.6032389°E Via Piane 4 near |
| Designed by | Louis de Soissons |
| Total burials | 1,939 |
Unknowns | c. 50 |
| Burials by nation | |
| |
| Burials by war | |
World War II: 1,939 | |
1939 – 1945 The soil of this cemetery was donated by the Italian people for the eternal rest of the sailors, soldiers, and aviators whose memory is rendered honour here (in Italian) | |
The Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, locally known as the English War Cemetery (
Managed by the Rome office of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission,[3][6] the cemetery numbers 1,939 burials,[1] of which approximately 50 are unidentified.[4] It is among Coriano's most notable tourist attractions.[7][8]
History
In September 1944, the battles of
Coriano Ridge War Cemetery was constructed in April 1945,
The cemetery was renovated in the late 1950s. In its post-war history, the cemetery has hosted several ceremonies commemorating the battles in the area, which have been attended by foreign dignatories and ambassadors. In September 1979, the 35th anniversary ceremony included a visit by Nilde Iotti, President of the Chamber of Deputies, and on 15 May 1980, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, visited the ceremony as president of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC),[5] which manages the cemetery.[3][6] The cemetery has often been included in veterans' tours of Italy,[5] but since the September 11 attacks in 2001, the visits of family members and veterans are no longer publicised due to the risk of terrorism.[5]
Layout
The cemetery measures 30,000 square metres (320,000 sq ft) in size,[1][2] on a sloping hill,[5][6] and exhibits a long, rectangular shape. The main entrance is a double gate, with the grass sloping downhill towards the graves.[9] The cemetery was designed by Louis de Soissons.[5]
The cemetery is divided into sectors, the first of which each consist of 84 tombs, with the last four sectors containing the burials from Montescudo.[5]
The site includes a chapel with a register of buried soldiers.[1] A memorial cross is located at the furthest point from the entrance,[9] and features a downwards-pointing bronze sword on an octagonal base.[2][5] The cemetery includes a tool store and a memorial shelter,[9] in which visitors can leave messages that are later sent to the CWGC through the British Embassy in Rome.[5]
Burials
Coriano Ridge War Cemetery numbers 1,939 burials,[1][9] of which 1,413 are British,[1][5] 427 are Canadian, 52 are New Zealander, 28 are South African, 8 are Indian, 1 is Australian,[1][5][6] 1 is Russian,[6][5] 3 are of other nationalities,[1] and 7 are unidentified.[1][5] 50 graves are unidentified.[4]
Notable burials
- Shane O'Neill, 3rd Baron O'Neill (1907–44), Anglo-Irish peer, Lieutenant-Colonel of the North Irish Horse, Royal Armoured Corps, who died on 24 October 1944[14]
- John G. Watson (c. 1921–44),[15] namesake of Watson Peak, British Columbia,[16] Private of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, who died on 17 September 1944[15]
Access
The cemetery is always open,[3][1] and served by Start Romagna SpA's route 20 bus between Rimini and Coriano.[6] A gravel-and-stone car park outside the main entrance includes parking bays for coaches.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Cimitero di guerra inglese" [English War Cemetery]. Terre di Coriano (in Italian). Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Da Ravenna a Coriano, scolaresche in visita al Cimitero di guerra inglese" [From Ravenna to Coriano, school groups visit the English War Cemetery]. San Marino RTV (in Italian). 9 May 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Cimitero di Guerra Inglese Coriano: mappa, orari, contatti" [English War Cemetery]. Romagna.net (in Italian). Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d "I Cimiteri di Guerra tra Romagna e Marche" [The War Cemeteries between Romagna and the Marche]. La Città Invisibile (in Italian). Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ ISSN 2282-4979.
- ^ a b c d e f "Cimiteri di guerra britannici" [British war cemeteries]. Rimini Turismo (in Italian). 30 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Ciclabili e percorsi da scoprire nella nuova Carta del territorio di Coriano" [Cycle paths and routes to discover in the new map of the Coriano area]. RiminiToday (in Italian). 28 January 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Il marchio "Terre di Coriano" si amplia: realizzati quattro nuovi cartelloni" [The "Terre di Coriano" brand expands: Four new billboards created]. Chiamami Città (in Italian). 25 February 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Commonwealth War Graves. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ Montemaggi, Amedeo (1997). "Le due battaglie di Coriano: un altro significativo avvenimento sul fronte della Linea Gotica nel Settembre 1944" [The two battles of Coriano: Another significant event on the Gothic Line front in September 1944] (PDF). lineagotica.eu (in Italian). Parma: Storia Militare. p. 42. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Coriano celebra l'Anniversario della Liberazione: il programma della giornata" [Coriano celebrates the Anniversary of the Liberation: The program of the day]. RiminiToday (in Italian). 19 April 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ISBN 978-1-62157-543-6.
- ^ "I Cimiteri di Guerra tra Romagna e Marche" [The War Cemeteries between Romagna and the Marche]. La Città Invisibile (in Italian). Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "Lieutenant Colonel Shane Edward Robert O'Neill". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Private John G. Watson". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Watson Peak". British Columbia Geographical Names. Retrieved 8 March 2024.