Rimini Gurkha Cemetery of World War 2

Rimini Gurkha Cemetery and Cremation Memorial (Rimini, Rimini Province, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy) WWII Commonwealth - 618 total Indian burials plus Cremation Memorial for 172 Indians.The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime. Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible, but may be by alternative entrance.The War Cemetery lies just west of the SS72 from Rimini to San Marino and six kilometres from Rimini. Take the autostrada A14, Bologna-Ancona. Exit at San Marino, Rimini South.

On leaving the motorway head towards San Marino and the cemetery is 4.5 kilometres down this road on the right hand side. Within the cemetery is located the Rimini Cremation Memorial. This Memorial is one of three memorials erected in Italy to officers and men of the Indian Army who were cremated - the other two cremation memorials are in Forli Indian Army War Cemetery and in Sangro River War Cemetery. Cemetery address: Via Consolare Rimini-San Marino 31C - 47900 Rimini (RN) Emilia Romagna. Latitude: 44.005097, Longitude: 12.543624.There was severe fighting near Rimini in the autumn of 1944 in which the 4th and 10th Indian Divisions had an important share.

On 21 September 1944, the 3rd Greek Mountain Brigade entered Rimini but during the winter of 1944-45, the line was pushed very little farther forward. The site of RIMINI GURKHA WAR CEMETERY was chosen in October 1945 and graves were brought into it from the surrounding battlefields. It now contains 618 Second World War burials, all of the Indian forces. Within the cemetery stands the RIMINI CREMATION MEMORIAL, one of the three memorials erected in Italy to officers and men of the Indian Army whose remains were cremated. The Rimini memorial bears 172 commemorations. The other two cremation memorials are in Forli Indian Army War Cemetery and in Sangro River War Cemetery.