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Yorkshire
Regiment War Graves, - Cavalletto British Cemetery (Italy) |
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Cavalletto
British Cemetery
Photo : Commonwealth
War Graves Commission
The Italians entered the war on the Allied side, declaring war on Austria, in May 1915. Commonwealth forces were at the Italian front between November 1917 and November 1918.
In March 1918, XIV Corps (the 7th, 23rd and 48th Divisions) relieved Italian troops on the front line between Asiago and Canove, the front being held by two divisions with one division in reserve on the plain. The French held the line to the left, with the Italians to the right.
The front was comparatively quiet until the Austrians attacked in force from Grappa to Canove in the Battle of Asiago (15-16 June 1918). The Allied line was penetrated to a depth of about 1,000 metres on 15 June but the lost ground was retaken the next day and the line re-established. Between June and September, frequent successful raids were made on the Austrian trenches.
In October, the 7th and 23rd Divisions were sent to the Treviso area of the River Piave front. The 48th Division, which remained in the mountains as part of the Italian Sixth Army, played an important part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto (24 October-4 November 1918) in which the Austrians were finally defeated.
Mount Cavalletto was the site of an advanced operating station where urgent cases from the front were treated, as the journey from the mountains to the main hospitals on the plain was long and difficult.
Cavalletto British Cemetery, one of five Commonwealth cemeteries on the Asiago Plateau containing burials relating to this period, contains 100 First World War burials. Some of these graves were brough in after the Armistice from Monte di Sunio British Cemetery, Caltrano.
Amongst the graves are those of 5 soldiers who served with the Yorkshire Regiment.
Click on a thumbnail image of a headstone for a larger version of the photo which opens in a new window.
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Private Robert Burniston. 42550.
8th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 15988 East Yorks Regt. Son of Richard Henry and Sarah Ann Burniston, of Hull. Killed 18 July 1918. Aged 28. Enlisted Hull. Photo by bbmir |
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Private John Joseph Duncan.
11607. 9th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Brother of Annie Duncan, of 4, Chapel Cottages, Downley, High Wycombe, Bucks. Died 20 July 1918. Aged 24. Born Middlesbrough, Enlisted Thornaby, Resided Wycombe. "WE SHALL MEET IN HEAVEN ANNIE" Photo by bbmir |
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Serjeant Albert Ratcliffe. 23792.
9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of Annie and the late William Ratcliffe, of Ropers Arms, Knottingley, Yorks. Killed 20 July 1918. Aged 25. Born Knottingley (Yorks), Enlisted Wakefield. Photo by bbmir |
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Private Ernest Webb. 42529.
9th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly 178481 R F A. Son of Harry and Annie Webb, of Raunds, Northamptonshire; husband of Miriam Webb, of Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire. Killed 8 September 1918. Aged 26. Enlisted Irthlingbrough. "IN THE MIDST OF LIFE
WE ARE IN DEATH" Photo by bbmir |
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Private Arthur Woodliffe. 45591.
8th Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Son of William and Isabella Woodliffe, of Sutton-on-Forest, Easingwold, Yorks. Killed 12 July 1918. Aged 19. Born Sutton-on-Forest, Enlisted Northallerton, Resided Easingwold. "MAY HIS REWARD
BE AS GREAT AS HIS SACRIFICE" Photo by bbmir |