Men of the Irish Brigade rest at peace in 39 different war cemeteries, most of which are in Tunisia and Italy.

The Irish Brigade web site has included below a summary of the most visited of these war cemeteries.  Thanks are due to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for this information.

Medjez-el-Bab, Tunisia – 208 of the Irish Brigade are buried here, 91 in memorial

Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery is approximately 60 kilometres west of Tunis. The Cemetery is situated 5 kilometres west of Medjez-el-Bab on the road to Le Kef (Route GP5). GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 36.645283, Longitude: 9.599648 N 36° 37′ 26″, E 09° 34′ 22″.

The cemetery gates are not locked, so it is possible to visit the cemetery at all times, including Saturdays and Sundays. However, the register and visitors’ book will not be available outside working hours, as they are kept locked in the gardeners tool shed.

The gardeners’ hours of work are- July: Monday – Thursday 06:30 – 14:30 Friday 06:30 – 13:30 August: Monday – Thursday 07:00 – 15:00 Friday 07:00 – 14:00 September – June: Monday – Thursday 07:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00 Friday 07:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 16:00. Month of Ramadan: Monday – Friday 07:00 – 14:00.

Massicault, Tunisia – 25 buried

Massicault War Cemetery is approximately 30 kilometres south-west of Tunis on Route GP5 to Medjez-el-Bab. GPS Co-ordinates: N 36° 43′ 12″, E 09° 54′ 44″.

The cemetery gates are not locked, so it is possible to visit the cemetery at all times, including Saturdays and Sundays. However, the register and visitors’ book will not be available outside working hours, as they are kept locked in the gardeners tool shed.

The gardeners’ hours of work are: (Summer Hours) July: Monday – Thursday 06:30 – 14:30 Friday 06:30 – 13:30 August: Monday – Thursday 07:00 – 15:00 Friday 07:00 – 14:00 (Winter Hours) September – June Monday – Thursday 07:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00 Friday 07:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 16:00 Month of Ramadan Monday – Friday 07:00 – 14:00.

Beja, Tunisia – 7 buried

Beja War Cemetery can be found in the market town of Beja, which is approximately 100 kilometres west of Tunis. Beja War Cemetery is located 100 metres north west of the railway station and is next to the derelict Christian civil cemetery. GPS Co-ordinates: N 36° 43′ 31″, E 09° 11′ 18″

Visiting Information : It should be noted that this is a terraced cemetery with a number of steps which makes wheelchair access very difficult.  The gates to the cemetery are not locked, so it is possible to visit the cemetery at all times, including Saturdays and Sundays. However, the register and visitors’ book will not be available outside working hours, as they are kept locked in the gardeners’ tool shed. The gardeners hours of work are: (Summer Hours) July: Monday – Thursday 06:30 – 14:30. Friday 06:30 – 13:30. August: Monday – Thursday 07:00 – 15:00. Friday 07:00 – 14:00. (Winter Hours) September – June: Monday – Thursday 07:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00. Friday 07:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 16:00. Month of Ramadan: Monday – Friday 07:00 – 14:00.

Oued Zarga, Tunisia – 11 buried

Oued Zarga War Cemetery is approximately 80 kilometres west of Tunis, midway between Medjez El Bab and Beja on the GP6 road. The road leading to the cemetery is approximately 3.3 kilometres past the village of Oued Zarga and is marked by a sign pointing to the left. The track to the cemetery is unmade and steep in sections and access is not suitable for buses. The distance to the cemetery from the main road is approximately 1.1 kilometres. GPS Co-ordinates: N 36° 40′ 30″, E 09° 24′ 54″

Visiting Information: There is no register box at this cemetery and therefore the cemetery register and visitors book are only available should a visit coincide with the presence of the part-time cemetery guardian.

Catania, Sicily – 124 buried

Catania War Cemetery is 7 kilometres south-west of Catania. From Catania Airport follow the tangenziale (main road) towards the A19 (in the direction of Palermo). Before reaching the A19 the cemetery is signposted. Cemetery address: Stradale Passo del Fico – 95121 Catania Zona Industriale (CT) Sicily. GPS Coo-ordinates: Latitude: 37.46303, Longitude: 15.038888.

The cemetery may be visited at anytime. Pedestrian access is always possible, however, due to littering and other problems the local authority have found it necessary to control access by car, a gate has been erected approx 500 metres from the cemetery, this gate has a padlock. The combination of which is 1221. Owing to several thefts of the visitors’ book and registers, these will not be available outside our gardeners normal working hours, at this time the register and visitors’ book are kept locked in the gardeners tool shed.

The gardeners’ working hours are as follows: WINTER: 08:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 15:30 SUMMER: 07:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 15:30. Wheelchair access to site is possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.

Sangro River, Italy – 175 buried

Sangro River War Cemetery lies in the Contrada Sentinelle in the Commune of Torino di Sangro, Province of Chieti. Take the autostrada A14 (the road that runs from Taranto in the south to Ancona in the north) and exit at Val di Sangro. After approximately 2.5 kilometres from the exit turn right onto the SS16, Pescara to Vasto road, for nearly 2 kilometres. There is then a sharp right turn up to cemetery. If you come from the station, take a taxi from Torino di Sangro station, otherwise follow the road signs to SS16 (see direction), turn right at the crossroad and continue following the signs. The station is about 7 kilometres from the cemetery. Cemetery address: Contrada Sentinelle s.n. – 66020 Torino di Sangro (CH) Abruzzo. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 42.218406, Longitude: 14.535594.

The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime. Wheelchair access to site possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.

Moro River, Italy – 14 buried

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. Cemetery address: Contrada San Donato – 66028 Ortona Porto (CH) Abruzzo. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 42.336403, Longitude: 14.416677.

The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime. Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.

Cassino, Italy – 101 buried, 47 in memorial

Cassino War Cemetery lies in the Commune of Cassino, Province of Frosinone, 139 kilometres south-east of Rome. Take the autostrada A1 from Rome to Naples and leave it at the Cassino exit. At the junction of this exit and the road into Cassino, is the first of 6 clearly visible signposts to the cemetery and memorial. The cemetery is located approximately 1 kilometre from the railway station in Via Sant Angelo and visitors arriving by train are advised to take a taxi from the station. Cemetery address: Via S. Angelo 03043 Cassino (FR) Lazio. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude 41.477555, Longitude: 13.827141.

Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible, via a ramp at an alternative entrance, which can be located approx. 200 metres from the main entrance. Unfortunately, even with the support of local police, due to regular theft and damage to the Cemetery Register and Visitors Book, it is only possible for these to be accessible during the hours when the gardeners are present, as follows: Winter: 08.00-12.00 & 13.00-15.30 Summer: 07.00 – 12.00 & 13.00 – 15.30.

Orvieto, Italy – 42 buried

Orvieto War Cemetery lies in the Commune of Orvieto in the Province of Terni. Take the autostrada A1, Rome-Milan and come off at Orvieto. Head towards the centre of the town and a CWGC sign will be found pointing to the right. To reach the cemetery from Orvieto the Perugia road is taken. At the fork just beyond the River Paglia bear right along the road to Todi. Forty metres down this road a country lane will be seen on the right. Turn down this lane and in just a little more than one kilometre the cemetery will be seen in a depression in the hills on the left. A farm track leads to it. Cemetery address: Cippo dei Sette Martiri, 113 – 5019 Ciconia Orvieto (TR) Umbria. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 42.726389, Longitude: 12.150000.

This cemetery is steeply terraced with numerous steps which makes the site impossible for wheelchair access. The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime.

Santerno Valley, Italy – 64 buried

Santerno Valley War Cemetery is about 32 kilometres south-west of Imola and a little south of the main road from Imola to Fiorenzuola. Imola is a town on the SS9 halfway between Bologna and Forli. Take the autostrada A1 exiting Roncobilaccio and proceed in the direction of Futa-Fiorenzuola. Go past Fiorenzuola and carry on towards Imola. The cemetery, which is approximately 13 kilometres further on, will be seen on top of the hill on the right hand side. Cemetery address: Strada Statale 610 Cercetole – 50030 Coniale (FI) Tuscany. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 44.163589, Longitude: 11.473492.

The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited at any time. Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.

Faenza, Italy – 31 buried

Faenza War Cemetery can be found by taking the Bologna-Ancona autostrada A14 and exit at Faenza. The War Cemetery lies 1.5 kilometres south-east of Faenza and is approached by a secondary road which branches off the main road Bologna-Forli (Route No.9) just east of the town. If travelling by train, it is recommended to take a taxi from Faenza train station to the cemetery, a journey of approximately 10 minutes. Cemetery address: Via Santa Lucia, 14 – 48018 Faenza (RA) Emilia Romagna. GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 44.275319, Longitude: 11.891563.

The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited anytime. Wheelchair access to site is possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.

Argenta Gap, Italy – 36 buried

Argenta Gap War Cemetery lies in the Commune of Argenta in the Province of Ferrara and the town of Argenta is 2 kilometres south of the cemetery on the SS16 connecting Ravenna with Ferrara. Approaching the cemetery from the south, bear right just before reaching the town of Argenta and proceed down the Strada di Circonvallazione, passing the railway station on the right. Take the second turning to the right and, after crossing the railway, continue forward to a fork and again bear right. The turning to the cemetery is on the left, a little further on, near a farm. Approaching the cemetery from the north, turn sharp left off the main road at the first crossroads on the borders of the town and then take the third turning to the left which will lead to the railway crossing mentioned above. If coming from Ravenna, follow the signs to Ferrara. After Argenta, follow the brown provincial signs, onwards past the railway station and left at the green CWGC sign to the cemetery. Cemetery address: Via Piangipane snc – 44011 Argenta (FE) Emilia Romagna GPS Co-ordinates: Latitude: 44.634143, Longitude: 11.831902.

This cemetery is permanently open, with the main entrance some 800 metres away from the nearest road. The track from the road to the cemetery entrance runs over private land and in order to avoid litter, unrelated car parking and other undesirable activities, the landowner has placed a barrier across the track. The barrier is normally unlocked between 08.00 and 19.30. Should the barrier be locked at the time of your visit, the combination lock number is 1221. Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible via main entrance.