Students at a P.E.I. high school held a special ceremony Thursday to remember Canadians who fought at Ortona, Italy, in 1943.

Ned DesRoches of Wellington, west of Summerside, was just 17 when he was sent to fight in Europe in 1943. Ned lied about his age so he could fight for his country, and spent 3½ years overseas. He was among the thousands of soldiers who took part in the Battle of Ortona.

“You didn’t dare put your head up. Lots of times shells flying around, everything. It wasn’t very nice,” said DesRoches.

Ortona is on Italy’s Adriatic coast, and the site of a small but fierce battle. The town was part of a fortified line across Italy, blocking access to Rome.

Gussy Gallant of Summerside remembers the early-morning wakeup calls.

“When you get up in the morning, the sergeant or the officer comes over and tells you who you were going to attack this morning,” said Gallant.

“I was wondering, ‘Who’s going to get killed this morning?’ So, you had to go anyway.”

After eight days of fighting, depleted Germans troops withdrew from the town.

‘Lucky enough to come home’

DesRoches and Gallant were part of a special ceremony at Three Oaks Senior High School.

Speaking to the assembly an emotional experience for Emma McQuaid. (CBC)

Some students dressed in uniform, portraying the Ortona veterans. Emma McQuaid, who spoke on behalf of her uncle, Ken MacKay, said it was an emotional experience for her.

“They fought so hard for us, and so many lost their lives,” said McQuaid.

“My uncle lost his brother, and it’s hard for them to speak about it, but it’s good that they do too.”

DesRoches and Gallant said this is a difficult time of year for them. They often think about friends who were killed.

“The poor guys who couldn’t come home, and we were lucky enough to come home,” said DesRoches.

“There was only nine of us left in the platoon. So, there wasn’t many people to fight back the Germans. But, we made it anyway,” added Gallant.

Later this month, some students from Three Oaks will travel to Italy to spend a week visiting the graves of Island soldiers who lost their lives at Ortona.