Name: Emile Joseph Roy Comeau Service Number: F/66136 Rank: Private Force: Army Unit: 48th Highlanders of Canada Date of Birth: November 5, 1921 Place of Birth: Yarmouth, NS Date of Enlistment: November 2, 1942 Place of Enlistment: Yarmouth, NS Address at Enlistment: Beaver River, Yarmouth Co., NS Age at Enlistment: 20 Height: 5 feet, 3 inches Complexion: Medium Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown Weight: 134 lbs Trade: Steam Fitter Marital Status: Single Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: Mr. Jerry Comeau (Father) Beaver River, Yarmouth Co., NS Date of Death: December 15, 1943 Age at Death: 22 Cemetery: Moro River Canadian War Cemetery Grave Reference: Plot 5, Row H, Grave 11 Commemorated on Page 147 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 28 (Not listed on the Yarmouth War Memorial) Emile was the son of Jerry and Helen Comeau, of Beaver River, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia. He was a brother to Joseph (Woodvale, Digby Co.,NS), Louis, (Patterson, New Jersey, US), Bernard (serving in the American Air Force, Virginia, US), Arthur (Bay Shore, Long Is. US), Elizabeth, Lucille (Mrs. Moran), and Nora (all three living in Hartford, Connecticut). Emile left school at the age of sixteen and was employed as a steam fitter in Kingston, Nova Scotia for eight months prior to his enlistment. He completed his basic training at C.A.B.T.C No. 60 at Yarmouth, NS between November 21, 1942 and January 26, 1943. Advanced training was completed at Aldershot, NS. He proceeded overseas and while fighting in Italy in December of 1943, died from wounds received in action, on December 15. He was initially buried on December 16, 1943 in the British Cemetery, Fossacesia, Italy and re-buried in 1947 in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery. His name was omitted from the Veterans’ Monument located in Saulnierville, Digby Co., NS, and was not listed on the Yarmouth War Memorial. On August 5, 1997, a Memorial Service was held at the monument in Saulnierville and Emile Comeau’s name was added to the War Memorial. The Moro River Canadian War Cemetery contains 1,615 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. The cemetery contains the graves of those who died during that fighting at Moro river and Ortona, and during the weeks that preceded and followed it. In December 1943 alone, the 1st Canadian Division suffered over 500 fatal battle casualties. On 3 September 1943 the Allies invaded the Italian mainland. Progress through southern Italy was rapid despite stiff resistance, but by the end of October, the Allies were facing the German winter defensive position known as the Gustav Line, which stretched from the river Garigliano in the west to the Sangro in the east. The Allied force that had fought its way up the Adriatic took the Sangro river positions by 30 November. The 1st Canadian Division went on to cross the Moro river on 6 December against stiff opposition, and to take Ortona on the 28th, after a week of bitter street fighting. Photos: (click to enlarge)