British Military Cemetery
Cenni
storici:
E' noto che
nel 1915, gli italiani dichiararono guerra all'Austria e combatterono al fianco
degli Alleati, . Nel marzo 1918, il XIV corpo d'armata britannico (la
VII,XXIII, e LII Divisione) sostituì le truppe italiane al fronte tra Asiago e
Canove. Delle tre divisioni, due furono impegnate attivamente mentre la terza
rimase in riserva. Il fronte rimase relativamente tranquillo fino al massiccio
attacco austriaco tra il Grappa e Canove nella battaglia di Asiago del 15-16
giugno 1918. Il 15 giugno, gli austriaci riuscirono a penetrare nelle linee
Alleate per circa un chilimetro, ma il giorno successivo un contrattacco
alleato riportò il fronte sulla linea precedente all'inizio della battaglia. In
ottobre, la VII e la XXIII Divisione furono inviate sulla linea del fiume
Piave. La LII Divisione, integrata nella Sesta Armata Italiana, ebbe un
importante ruolo nella Battaglia di Vittorio Veneto (24 ottobre-4 novembre
1918) nella quale gli Austriaci furono definitivamente sconfitti.
Gli inglesi
caduti nella zona furono in totale 1024, sepolti nei 5 piccoli cimiteri: di
Barenthal, Granezza, Cavalletto, Magnaboschi, Boscon, (sulla
planimetria contrassegnati in rosso) tutelati dalla Commonwealth War
Graves Commission che li cura e ne garantisce la conservazione.
Pochi sanno
che nel cimitero di Granezza è sepolto Edward Harold Brittain appartenente al
Reggimento Sherwood Foresters.morto il 15 Giugno 1918, fratello della
scrittrice inglese Vera Brittain (1893-1977) che tanto si prodigò sui campi di
battaglia in qualità di aiutante volontaria V.A.D. (Voluntary Aid Detachment)
della Croce Rossa.
numero morti identificati in ogni cimitero
|
Barenthal
|
116
|
Boscon
|
154
|
Cavalletto
|
100
|
Granezza
|
139
|
Magnaboschi
|
180
|
Morti non identificati sepolti nei 5 cimiteri
|
335
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Barenthal
Location Information
One of 5 cemeteries situated on the Asiago plateau in
the province of Vicenza, in the Veneto region. This cemetery lies 5 kilometres
south of the town of Asiago on a minor, narrow road that loops round from the
village of Cesuna to Asiago.
From Asiago take the SP72 in the direction of Bassano, following the signs to
the hospital. 0.7 kilometres after the hospital take a right turn, signposted
to Barenthal, Granezza and Cavalletto cemeteries. After 300 metres, take the
first left turn then a right turn after 100 metres. The cemetery will be found
on the left hand side, after a distance of 1.8 kilometres.
GPS Co-ordinates: N 45.841193, E 11.523371
Visiting Information
July 2008: NOTE - Over time, detioration of stone
occurs and as part of its maintenance programme the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission will be replacing the headstones in Barenthal Military Cemetery.
The cemetery is permanently open, though from November to May it is rarely
accessible due to deep snow falls.
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance. For further information regarding
wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on telephone number
01628 507200.
Historical Information
The Italians entered the war on the Allied side,
declaring war on Austria, in May 1915. Commonwealth forces were at the Italian
front between November 1917 and November 1918.
In March 1918, XIV Corps (the 7th, 23rd and 48th Divisions) relieved Italian
troops on the front line between Asiago and Canove, the front being held by two
divisions with one division in reserve on the plain. The French held the line
to the left, with the Italians to the right.
The front was comparatively quiet until the Austrians attacked in force from
Grappa to Canove in the Battle of Asiago (15-16 June 1918). The Allied line was
penetrated to a depth of about 1,000 metres on 15 June but the lost ground was
retaken the next day and the line re-established. Between June and September,
frequent successful raids were made on the Austrian trenches.
In October, the 7th and 23rd Divisions were sent to the Treviso area of the
River Piave front. The 48th Division, which remained in the mountains as part
of the Italian Sixth Army, played an important part in the Battle of Vittorio
Veneto (24 October-4 November 1918) in which the Austrians were finally
defeated.
Barenthal Military Cemetery is one of five Commonwealth cemeteries on the
Asiago Plateau containing burials relating to this period. It contains 125
First World War burials, nine of them unidentified.
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