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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Gilbert Morrison

In memory of:

Private John Gilbert Morrison

December 31, 1943

Military Service


Service Number:

A/105787

Age:

23

Force:

Army

Unit:

48th Highlanders of Canada

Additional Information


Son of John Gordon and Naomi Morrison, of South London, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 196 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. B. 10.

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.
  • Photo of JOHN GILBERT MORRISON– 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.
  • Photo of John Morrison– John Morrison lived with his mother Naomi at 258 Wharncliffe Rd. S. and attended South Collegiate. He enlisted on January 15, 1943 and served with the 48th Highland Regiment in the United Kingdom, North Africa and was killed by a German sniper during the battle of San Tomasso in Italy.

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