Cimitero di Guerra Canadese del Moro (Moro River Canadian War Cemetery)

The Moro River Canadian War Cemetery lies on high ground at San Donato, about five kilometres south of Ortona. It contains 1,615 Commonwealth graves, including 1,375 Canadian soldiers who died in the fighting around the Moro River and Ortona in December 1943.

Why it matters

The Canadian Corps selected the site in January 1944 to gather the graves of those who died at Ortona and in the surrounding campaign. The cemetery remains a place of remembrance for the costly fighting along the Adriatic front.

What to notice

A Stone of Remembrance stands near the entrance, while the Cross of Sacrifice is near the centre. More than fifty graves are unidentified. The cemetery also contains burials from other Commonwealth forces, with most non-Canadian graves in plots 12, 13 and 16.

Context and history

Canadian forces crossed the Moro River on 6 December 1943 and fought toward Villa Rogatti and San Leonardo. The battle for Ortona lasted eight days, with close combat through the town's streets and buildings. German forces withdrew on 28 December. More than 500 Canadian soldiers died in December 1943. The cemetery takes its name from the river whose crossing began the campaign for Ortona.