This wall in Margravine Cemetery is engraved with some 120 names of those who died serving in the two World Wars and are buried here.
Taranto, on the south-east coast of Italy, has been the main Italian naval base since the 19th century. In November 1940 it was the scene of an historic raid, known as the Battle of Taranto. It was the first action launched from warships on other warships. Twenty-one Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers destroyed half the battleships moored at Taranto. This gave the Japanese an idea that germinated in their attack on Pearl Harbour.
However, CJ Bruce (“Brucie”) Coleman died at Taranto while serving as a Wireless/Telegraphy Observer in the Royal Naval Air Service on 27th October 1918. The RNAS had been merged with the Royal Flying Corps earlier that year to form the Royal Air Force but the new name did not gain traction with the Coleman family when they commissioned his memorial. Incidentally, while Taranto’s place in the history of WW II is assured there is little about its significance in WW I. Perhaps a history of the RNAS might throw some light on the matter.
At the base of the memorial cross is an anchor and chain, lying among rocks. It also commemorates other members of his family and its individuality marks it out from the war graves seen in mainland Europe.
However, the War Graves Commission template is in evidence elsewhere in the cemetery, albeit not in exactly the same layout that later became standard.
I have Bertie to thank for giving me time to explore the cemetery thoroughly while he carries out his own investigations. Thank you, Bertie, and today’s music is dedicated to you.