Commonwealth War Cemetery Orvieto

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 the advance was checked for some months at the German winter defensive position known as the Gustav Line. The line eventually fell in May 1944 and as the Germans fell back, Rome was taken by the Allies on 3 June.

This cemetery was established as a battlefield cemetery by the 78th Division in the middle of June 1944, during the first heavy fighting north of Rome. The burials, with only one exception, date from the period 14 June-4 July 1944.

Orvieto War Cemetery contains 190 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

There are 184 British soldiers, 3 Canadian soldiers and 3 South African soldiers buried here.

The cemetery itself is not easy to find if you use the streetname in your GPS. Best is to use the GPS coordinates or when you are on the Localita Sette Martiri you drive past the Localita Osarella. About 50 meters down the Localita Sette Martiri is the cemetery on the left hand side (seen from Ciconia). Be aware that there is no parking place and you have to walk down a gravel road.

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Source

• Text: Commonwealth War Graves Commission & Jimmy Hilgen
• Photos: Jimmy Hilgen