About 80 Second World War veterans were joined by the Governor General in the Italian town of Cassino on Tuesday for a ceremony honouring comrades who died there 60 years ago.

During the war, Canada deployed more than 93,000 troops to Italy. More than 5,400 Canadians were killed during the 22-month long campaign that began in July, 1943.

"They are all buried here in the three cemeteries we are going to during this week, and I think if they hadn't done what they did here, it would not have been possible to have the D-Day in Normandy," Governor General Adrienne Clarkson told the crowd gathered at the Cassino Commonwealth war cemetery.

The soldiers are known as the D-Day Dodgers because their mission in Italy meant they missed the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.

The veterans laid wreaths to honour lost soldiers from units including the Seaforth Highlanders, West Nova Scotia Regiments and the Governor General's Horse Guards.

Set against the Benedictine abbey where German soldiers struggled to stop the Allied advance on Rome, Clarkson thanked all the Canadians who sacrificed their lives to the campaign.

"You helped to form our national character," she said. "You who fought in the Second World War, you helped us to gain maturity at the loss of many of your lives. You helped us to gain our confidence as a country and for that we will always be grateful."

Of the more than 4,000 fallen soldiers commemorated by memorials in Cassino, more than 190 belong to Canadians. Hundreds more Canadians died there, but lie in anonymity.

As many as one-tenth of the Canadian soldiers who fell were buried in graves marked with the simple inscription: "A Soldier of the Second World War. A Canadian Regiment. Known Unto God."

Canadian Veterans Affairs Minister Albina Guarnieri said it nevertheless remains important to remember the contributions of each and every one of them.

"You know, we have to continue to remember the lessons of war and we have to always ensure that the memories of those who are fallen will be revered and honoured by the generations to come," Guarnieri said.

The veterans are currently on an 11-day Veterans Affairs tour of Italian battle sites and cemeteries throughout Italy and Sicily.

Canada's last living winner of the Victoria Cross, Ernest (Smokey) Smith, 90, will also be honoured later this week with a plaque near the site at Cesena where he singlehandedly fought off more than 60 Germans in October, 1944.