In Memory Of
KINNEAR, WILLIAM JOHN
Service Details
Age:
29
Date of Birth:
-0001-11-30
Service No:
27529
Rank:
Private
Unit:
2nd Bn.
Regiment:
Transvaal Scottish, S.A. Forces
Date of Death:
1944-09-27
Cause of Death:
Killed in action. In the North Italian village of Carpane on 27 September 1944 the Germans executed 16 Allied soldiers captured fighting with Italian partisans in that area. Escaped with other South Africans from a nearby POW camp and joined up with local partisans to carry on fighting the Germans. They became such a thorn in the flesh of the Germans that a special operation was mounted in the Monte Grappa region to capture them. They were eventually captured and murdered by the Germans. Every year on this day since the end of the war the villagers of Carpane have held a memorial service at this spot by the side of the road where they were killed. For many years the identity of the 16 was not known and the monument was simply inscribed to "16 unknown". It was only about 4 or 5 years ago that their identity was uncovered by Sonia Residori, an Italian academic researcher.
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
I. A. 10.
Cemetery:
PADUA WAR CEMETERY
Country:
Italy
Additional Information
Son of William John and Francina Suzanna Kinnear; husband of Maria Elizabeth Kinnear, of Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa. His brother also died in service.
