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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Preston Warner Durant

In memory of:

Private Preston Warner Durant

December 20, 1943
Italy

Military Service


Service Number:

M/60299

Age:

28

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps

Division:

12 Armoured Regiment

Citation(s):

1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.

Additional Information


Born:

December 7, 1915
Winchester, Ontario

Enlistment:

June 26, 1941
Calgary, Alberta

Husband of Margaret Ruby Durant and father of Cleopatra Marlene of Calgary, Alberta. Brother of Helen, Percy, Glen, Spurgeon, Starling, Keicha, Stella, Bessie, Visa, Helen and Bertha.

Commemorated on Page 156 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. A. 5.

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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  • Memorial
  • Inscription
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Calgary Herald. Submitted of the project, Operation: Picture Me

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