The CWGC commemorates in Italy nearly 450 British Army servicemen and one Indian labourer who died during the Battle of the Piave.Allied casualties were in the region of 85-87,000, while estimates of Austro-Hungarian losses range from between 69-118,000, wounded, missing or killed.The Austro-Hungarian attack quickly faltered, Italian, French and British troops counter-attacked, driving the Austro-Hungarian forces back to their start positions along the Piave River, where many hundreds of Austro-Hungarian troops were killed trying to escape back across the river.Despite this bombardment Austro-Hungarian forces managed to make some gains close to the coast and across the Asiago Plateau. The timing of the Austro-Hungarian attack was known to the Allies, and their artillery opened up on the Austro-Hungarian lines 30 minutes before the beginning of the attack.In June 1918, Austro-Hungarian forces launched another offensive along a broad front, some 110km from the shores of the Adriatic to Asiago Plateau.This left three British and three French divisions in Italy holding a section of the line around the strategically important Asiago Plateau in the foothills of the Alps. In March 1918, some British, French and German troops were redeployed from Italy to the Western Front in preparation for the imminent German Spring Offensive.British and French forces were rushed to Italy from the Western Front, where the Allies were engaged in the Battle of Third Ypres, to support the beleaguered Italian forces.

During what became known as the Battle of Caporetto Italian forces were driven back over 100km across northern Italy to within 30km of Venice, to a line along the Paive River. On 24 October 1917, Austro-Hungarian forces supported by German troops went on the offensive breaking the deadlock.Eleven battles of Isonzo were fought between May 1915 and September 1917, along the Isonzo (Soca in Slovene) river valley which formed part of the border between Italy and Austro-Hungary.The first British troops to serve on the Italy Front arrived in April 1917, when heavy artillery and supporting Indian logistical units were sent to rereinforce the Italian Army.Despite being allied to Germany and Austria-Hungary before the outbreak of the First World War, Italy joined the war on the side of Britain and France in May 1915.Fought between 15 and 23 June 1918, the battle was a victory for the Italian army against the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Friday (15 June) will mark 100 years since the start of the Battle of the Piave River.

11th battle of the isonzo