Please also see http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/romewarcemetery

If you visit Rome, Italy, would you please consider taking a little time to visit the British Military Cemetery, to honour some 429 of our World War II soldiers who lie buried there?

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery lies right in the heart of Rome.

The Aurelian Wall of the Ancient Imperial City and Emperor Aurelius, forms a glorious backdrop. The majority of the sites tourists wish to see do lie within the Aurelian Wall, including the Rome Pyramid for Gaius Cestius which itself is near the well known Protestant Cemetery where lie the poets, Keats and Shelley.

If these sites are on your list, you will only be a stones throw away from the Rome British Military Cemetery.

It is perhaps not as well known as some other Italian War Cemeteries, such as those near the fabulous re-built Abbey of Monte Cassino, which was flattened during World War II. But it is still a beautiful place in its own right.

Rome is bustling with traffic from dawn to night, but the War Cemetery is a haven of tranquillity. It was started not long after the occupation of Rome by the allies, in June 1944. The Cemetery consists mainly of graves of those who died in the garrison of Rome.

There are also a number of graves of servicemen who died as prisoners of war in Rome and the neighbourhood. Also there are a small number of graves for unknown soldiers.

It is small but beautifully tended - as stated above, it contains the relatively small number of 429 graves.

Italy Star

Among them is that of my uncle, William Havers, who was with the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry and the Royal Military Police.

He died on his 32nd birthday in 1945. He was awarded the 1939/45 War Medal, the 1939/45 Star, The Defence Medal, the Africa Star with 1st Army Clasp and the Italy Star.

Soldiers of various faiths from Commonwealth Countries lie buried there, including a solitary West Indian. I noticed a lady from Australia had visited her father’s grave for the first time shortly before our visit.

Book of Remembrance

As you enter a list and location of those buried there is available with a visitors book of remembrance. These can be found in the central pedestal.

Hadrian’s Wall

The people of Carlisle had a piece of Hadrian’s Wall from England placed there in tribute to the servicemen.

Location

The Cemetery is location on Via Nicola Zabaglia, a road which passes between the Protestant Cemetery and the War Cemetery.

The Porta San Paolo (Pyramid) underground station – line B of the Metro – is a short stroll away.

Buses 13, 23, 27, 30b, 57 94, 95 and 716 run from Rome Centre to Piazza San Paolo (Pyramid), and are very inexpensive.

Walk from the Pyramid along the side of the Protestant Cemetery and cross over Via Nicola Zabaglia to reach the War Cemetery.

My wife and I though, took a taxi from the centre of Rome. It cost roughly £5 in 1999 – the white-knuckle ride was thrown in free!

Mornings are the best time to visit. Afternoons may be closed!

It should be open Mon – Thurs 0800 hours to 1500 hours and Fridays, 0800 hours to 1400 hours.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Office is at:
Viale F T Marinetti, No 221,
00143 Rome,
Italy

email cwgcwma@tin.it

Rome Tel No: 85 50 21