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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Emile Joseph Roy Comeau

In memory of:

Private Emile Joseph Roy Comeau

December 15, 1943

Military Service


Service Number:

F/66136

Age:

22

Force:

Army

Unit:

48th Highlanders of Canada

Additional Information


Son of Jerry and Helen Comeau, of Beaver River, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia.

Commemorated on Page 147 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:

V. F. 15.

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

Send us your images

  • Badge– In memory of the members of the 48th Highlanders of Canada who went to war and did not come home. Submitted on behalf of the 48th Highlanders Museum, 73 Simcoe St. Toronto, ON M5J 1W9 Submitted for the project Operation: Picture Me.
  • Newspaper Clipping– I found this photo in a scrap book my mother Florence Deveau kept during World War II.  Below is a copy of the article that appeared in the newspaper.

Private Emile Comeau (above) of Beaver River was fatally wounded in action in Italy, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Comeau.
HECTANOOGA, Jan. 9 -- Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Comeau, Beaver River, have been advised of the
death of their son, Private Emile Comeau, 22, in Italy. Wounded Dec. 14 he died the following day. He had a wide circle of friends and was of fine character. Enlist¬ing a little over a year ago he had only been overseas about six months. He has two brothers in the United States army—Ser¬geant Bernard Comeau, who is in the air force at New York, who had been home on furlough for 14 days and had left to return the day before the news of his brother's death; also Private Arthur Comeau, in the United States. There are two other other brothoUs, Joseph of Wood-vale and Louis in the United States. Also three sisters in the United States.
A special memorial service with high mass of requiem was., celebrated by Rev. A. Maillet, rector at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Salmon River. Miss Mar¬garet Maillet of St. Alphonse de Clare presided at the organ. A trio composed of Wallis Maillet, choir director, Miss Isabelle Mail-, let and J. A. Deveau, choir direr-'1 tor of Hectanooga, rendered their different parts of the service.
  • Photo of Emile Joseph Roy Comeau– In memory of the members of the 48th Highlanders of Canada who went to war and did not come home. Submitted on behalf of the 48th Highlanders Museum, 73 Simcoe St. Toronto, ON M5J 1W9 Submitted for the project Operation: Picture Me.
  • Group photo– Emile is in the middle. In memory of the members of the 48th Highlanders of Canada who went to war and did not come home. Submitted on behalf of the 48th Highlanders Museum, 73 Simcoe St. Toronto, ON M5J 1W9 Submitted for the project Operation: Picture Me.

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