Canadian Virtual War Memorial
William Stephenson
In memory of:
Private William Stephenson
December 25, 1943
Military Service
B/36596
21
Army
48th Highlanders of Canada
Additional Information
Son of Charles Henry and Francess Stephenson, of Hamilton, Ontario.
Commemorated on Page 216 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
IX. F. 16.
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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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. -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Hamilton Spectator c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Photo of William (Bill) Stephenson – Private William (Bill) Stephenson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry Stephenson, set out from the shores of this county with his father on a high adventure, arrived overseas together (August 1940), served for a time in the same unit (RHLI), then parted. Charles, for medical reasons was sent back home and discharged (December 31, 1941), William, pursuing the path of duty, even as his father had done once before as a young man, marched on, but this time on the road - the long road - from which there is no returning. Charles, was sergeant-cook with the R.H.L.I., and a veteran who served with the "Mad Fourth" in the Great War (April 1915 - May 1919). Bill was 22 years old. He was born in Hamilton, attended West Hamilton School and is remembered as a young lad who belonged to the R.H.L.I. as a bugler. When the time came, Bill joined the active forces and went overseas with the R.H.L.I. Serving with this Hamilton unit, he went through the Dieppe raid, escaping unwounded, then last March (1943) he transferred to the 45th Highlanders Battalion, a Toronto unit, and his parents received word that in June he had gone to the Mediterranean theatre of action. Bill is buried in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery, Ortona, Italy. Bill is always remembered by his sister Elsie. -
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Newspaper Clipping – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
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Entrance – Entrance - Moro River Canadian War Cemetery - May 2013 … Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Cemetery – Moro River Canadian War Cemetery - May 2013 … Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Grave Marker – Grave marker - Moro River Canadian War Cemetery - May 2013 … Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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