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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Joseph John Donaldson

In memory of:

Trooper Joseph John Donaldson

December 24, 1943

Military Service


Service Number:

B/83412

Age:

32

Force:

Army

Unit:

Three Rivers Regiment, R.C.A.C.

Division:

12th Armd. Regt.

Additional Information


Born:

November 20, 1911
Jocko, Ontario

Enlistment:

July 12, 1940
North Bay, Ontario

Commemorated on Page 154 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

II. D. 1.

Location:

By the winter of 1943, the German armies in Italy were defending a line stretching from the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Naples, to the Adriatic Sea south of Ortona. The Allies prepared to break through this line to capture Rome. For its part, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division was to cross the Moro River and take Ortona. In January 1944 the Canadian Corps selected this site, intending that it would contain the graves of those who died during the Ortona battle and in the fighting in the weeks before and after it. Today, there are 1,615 graves in the cemetery, of which over 50 are unidentified and 1,375 are Canadian.

The Moro River Canadian War Cemetery lies in the locality of San Donato in the Commune of Ortona, Province of Chieti, and is sited on high ground near the sea just east of the main Adriatic coast road (SS16). The cemetery can be reached from Rome on the autostrada A25 (Rome-Pescara) by branching on the autostrada A14 and leaving it at Ortona. The approach road to the cemetery from the main road passes under an arch forming part of the little church of San Donato. The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial
  • Inscription

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