Comments on: Battlefield visit – Keren, Eritrea

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:20:08 +0000

Lena,

My great uncle is buried in the British Cemetery at Keren and I would have liked to have visited his grave earlier this year on the 60th anniversary of his death. I hope that I will manage to visit the cemetery next year.

Please would you let me know how you arranged your visit to Keren. Was it quite safe and did you require any consular assistance?

I would be interested in seeing your pictures.

By: Jon

Jon — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:45:57 +0000

Lena – I was interested to read about your visit to the war graves in Keran. My Uncle Albert (Marshall) was a piper in the Cameron Highlanders and is buried there. I had wondered about the possibility of making a visit there. I’d be very interested to hear how you arranged your visit. Cheers, Jon

By: Lena

Lena — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:51:30 +0000

I visited these graveyards in Keren two months ago, so if anyone is interested in seeing pictures from some of the graves and the surroundings, let me know. I don’t think I can publish the photos straight onto this website.

By: James Patuto

James Patuto — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:34:37 +0000

There is a new book out about the Alpini at Stalingrad, an amazing story for those who don’t know it. I believe the name is Survival on the Steppes, and the author is Hope Hamilton. If you get it I’d like to know what you think.

By: Ascaro noto - known soldier

Ascaro noto - known soldier — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:56:38 +0000

Look at http://blog.libero.it/wrnzla/5831626.html
This is only an example.
Italians can remember all theirs heros, Ascari and not, known and unknown.

By: stefano

stefano — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:36:10 +0000

Honour to people from every Country, of Axis or Allied, that lived and died with respect, courage, loyalty.
Nowadays, these values are unfortunatelly difficult to be found.

My grandfather fought in Keren in 44th Black Shirt Battailon “Pasubio” and survived to this battle.
Then he was captured during the defense of Massaua and brougth first to Egypt and than to South Africa. He came back home in May 1946.

Any informations or comments about will be appreciated, but not from who giudicate and make differences looking to the skin and not to the hearth.

Many Thanks

Stefano from Schio – North Italy

By: James Patuto

James Patuto — Mon, 02 May 2011 20:34:57 +0000

Despite thousands of books on World War II the battle of Keren is almost unknown in the United States. Yet as one commentator said it proved that with leadership and equipment the Italian soldier was as brave and tenacious as any. There is a new book in English coming out about the Alpini troops at Stalingrad. This is an amazing story of courage against overwhelming odds and physical hardship. I believe the name will be “Survival on the Steppes” Hopefully the Battle of Keren will also find a competent Historian to recount the horror and endurance for both sides.

By: harvey Ritch

harvey Ritch — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:50:46 +0000

I am the founder of two pipe bands: The Charlotte Scottish (1970-73) and the Grandfather Mountain Highlanders 1974 to present. In Charlotte one of the 6-8 tunes we played was “with Wellesley’s rifles at Keren……composed by Cpl Kearney of the Queens own Cameron Highlanders. It is a neat marching tune and easy to play. I am curious about the composer what happened to him, etc etc. Any info you can give me is very much appreciated……….Harvey Ritch PO Box 398 Linville, NC 28646……or e-mail above.

By: Ian Rome

Ian Rome — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:26:32 +0000

I am looking for more pictures of this cemetry , My Grandfather is one of the Cameron Highlanders Buried there …

Thank you , Ian Rome – Toronto Canada

By: Armando Cardona

Armando Cardona — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:32:50 +0000

The East African campaign in general and the Battle of Keren in particular prove that Italian troops in the Second World War, given adequate equipment
and supplies and above all able commanders, could fight as bravely, effectively and tenaciously as the best, including the Germans. This point, also
driven home by the stellar performance of such units as the Ariete and Folgore Divisions, should be enough to dismiss the simplistic, malicious cliché
that Italian troops during the Second World War were invariably “ineffective” and/or “cowardly” in their battlefield performance.