Author Topic: RAF War Graves-now with aircrews names - Chièvres, Belgium  (Read 20245 times)

Offline minimaiden2710

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RAF War Graves-now with aircrews names - Chièvres, Belgium
« on: Tuesday 02 September 08 11:15 BST (UK) »
Hello to all,
If any one is interested I have photographed a handful of war graves situated in the local cemetery at Chièvres in Belgium.  They date from 1941 - 1943 and appear to be the crews from about 3 or 4 aeroplanes.  There are a few Canadian and Australian airmen amongst them.
If you think that you may have an ancestor buried here I would be very willing to check it out for you and let you have a copy of the relevant photograph.
Kind Regards
Sarah  ;D


I have now added the names of the airmen who have been laid to rest at the above cemetery.  I hope this may be of help to some people.

Sgt  J Fuller  Wireless Operator  RAF
Sgt  J B Anderson  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner  Royal Canadian Air Force
Pilot Officer  V M Markham  Air Gunner  RAF
Sgt  A A S Heggie  Observer  RAF
Sgt W N Collins  RAF
Sgt T P McHale  Pilot  RAF
Pilot Officer J McGregor-Cheers  Pilot  RAF
Flying Officer  K A Adam  Air Gunner  RAF
Flying Officer C F Williams  Navigator  RAF
Sgt E R Davidson  Navigator  RAF
Sgt J V Rees  Air Gunner  RAF
Pilot Officer D A Holdsworth  Air Gunner  RAF
Pilot Officer  W MacFarlane  Pilot  RAF
Sgt P J Keay  Royal Australian Air Force
Flight Sgt W W Dawson  Observer  RAF
Pilot Officer J F Edwards DFM.  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Flt Sgt W A Gunning  Royal Australian Air Force
Flt Sgt H C Jordan  Navigator  Royal Canadian Air Force
Flt Sgt R Feakes  Royal Australian Air Force
Sgt D W Covell  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner RAF
Sgt T F Cummins  Air Gunner RAF
Sgt A Bryan  Air Gunner RAF/Auxiliary Air Force
Sgt E Y Howes  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner  RAF
Sgt E H Pegg  Fllight Engineer  RAF
Sgt R Rushton  Air Gunner  RAF
Flying Officer H M Etherington  Air Bomber  RAF
Pilot Officer  P Hobbs  Pilot   RAF
J Faliejevas served as Pilot Officer G Cockayne  Navigator  RAF

Kyt has very kindly contributed other names of servicemen that are in the Chièvres Communal Cemetery.  There is a full list of names in his message below.
Thanks Kyt



Durham - Burnett
Cumbria (Carlisle) - Burnett, Grubb, Cook, Gash,
Berkshire - Grubb
S Yorkshire - Tew
Derbyshire-Stoppard,Hallows/Hallas,Chadwick,Dunk(s), Jones, Wolstenholme, Armstrong
Sussex - Smith
N. Yorks - Mewburn, Tew
Oxfordshire - Mewburn, Grubb
Warwickshire - Tew
Hampshire - Bailey, Cousins/Couzens - Adams
Lancashire - Wolstenholme, Jackson

Offline Thudnut

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Re: RAF War Graves - Chièvres, Belgium
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 02 September 08 18:22 BST (UK) »
Hi Sarah,
I have no connection to the cemeteries, but as an ex-RAF chap, I just wanted to say thank you.

Kind regards,
Thudders
Dixon - London/Liverpool
Morris - Liverpool
Williams - Liverpool
Hill - Gloucester
Walker - London
Nelson - Liverpool
Martin - Gloucester
Simcock - Liverpool

Offline minimaiden2710

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Re: RAF War Graves - Chièvres, Belgium
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 02 September 08 18:38 BST (UK) »
Hi Thudders,
I'm so pleased that it is of interest to you.  I only live a couple of km's from the cemetery and noticed these few war graves.  I always find it very touching when I read the headstones. 
I only took the photo's today but when I have all the listed the details, I will modify the first message with the names.  This may be easier for people that are searching.  So watch this space....................... :o
Hopefully within time I will be able to get to other cemeteries and do the same.
Thanks again.
Sarah ;D
Durham - Burnett
Cumbria (Carlisle) - Burnett, Grubb, Cook, Gash,
Berkshire - Grubb
S Yorkshire - Tew
Derbyshire-Stoppard,Hallows/Hallas,Chadwick,Dunk(s), Jones, Wolstenholme, Armstrong
Sussex - Smith
N. Yorks - Mewburn, Tew
Oxfordshire - Mewburn, Grubb
Warwickshire - Tew
Hampshire - Bailey, Cousins/Couzens - Adams
Lancashire - Wolstenholme, Jackson

Offline kyt

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Re: RAF War Graves-now with aircrews names - Chièvres, Belgium
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 03 September 08 12:46 BST (UK) »
Hi Sarah

That's a very kind offer. I spend most of my time on another forum, and there are a couple of members who would really appreciate copies of the photos. One is undertaking a project to set up a website with all CWGC graves around the world (with free access to all when it is launched), and another member is working on a similar project for all RAAF graves.

If you would like to contact them directly then they are known as Sniper and Spidge (RAAF deaths) on www.ww2chat.com  Or if you would like to PM me, I can let you know my email and pass on the photos to them

regards
K


Offline kyt

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Re: RAF War Graves-now with aircrews names - Chièvres, Belgium
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 03 September 08 13:36 BST (UK) »
Hi Sarah

I don't know if you have the following information:

Halifax L9572 35 Squadron
Mission to Dusseldorf  24/25 Aug 1941
Pilot Officer J McGregor-Cheers  Pilot  RAF
Sgt T P McHale  Pilot  RAF
Sgt W N Collins  RAF
Sgt  A A S Heggie  Observer  RAF
Sgt  J Fuller  Wireless Operator  RAF
Sgt  J B Anderson  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner  Royal Canadian Air Force
Pilot Officer  V M Markham  Air Gunner  RAF

77 Sqn Halifax DT734 KN-J 10/03/43 Target Munich
Turned back with a glycol leak and shot down by a night-fighter, crashing 0215 at Boussu (Hainaut), 12 km WSW of Mons, Belgium.
Flying Officer  K A Adam  Air Gunner  RAF (He was the only casualty of this aircraft – three of the others evaded capture, and the others were made POW)

61 Sqn Lanc W4317 QR-R 16/17/04/43 Target Plzen
Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed 0430 just to the S of Givry (Hainaut), 10 km SE of Mons, Belgium
Pilot Officer  W MacFarlane  Pilot  RAF
Sgt P J Keay  Royal Australian Air Force
Flight Sgt W W Dawson  Observer  RAF
Flying Officer C F Williams  Navigator  RAF
Sgt E R Davidson  Navigator  RAF
Pilot Officer J F Edwards DFM.  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
Sgt J V Rees  Air Gunner  RAF
Pilot Officer D A Holdsworth  Air Gunner  RAF

466 Sqn Well' LN288 HD- 14/07/43 Target Aachen
Shot down by Flak and crashed 0215 near Chievres (Hainaut),
Flt Sgt W A Gunning  Royal Australian Air Force
Flt Sgt H C Jordan  Navigator  Royal Canadian Air Force
Flt Sgt R Feakes  Royal Australian Air Force
Sgt D W Covell  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner RAF
Sgt T F Cummins  Air Gunner RAF

77 Sqn Halifax II JD167 KN-Z 11/08/43 Target Nurnberg
Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed 0215 between Boussu and Dour (Hainaut), 12 km WSW and SW respectively from Mons, Belgium.
Pilot Officer  P Hobbs  Pilot   RAF
Sgt E H Pegg  Flight Engineer  RAF
J Faliejevas served as Pilot Officer G Cockayne  Navigator  RAF
Flying Officer H M Etherington  Air Bomber  RAF
Sgt E Y Howes  Wireless Operator/Air Gunner  RAF
Sgt A Bryan  Air Gunner RAF/Auxiliary Air Force
Sgt R Rushton  Air Gunner  RAF

75 Sqn Sterling III LJ442 JN-F 19/11/43 Target Leverkusen
Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed at Horrues (Hainaut), 4 km NW of Soignies, Belgium.
P/O W.R.Kell RNZAF
KIA Sgt W.Gilfillian KIA

156 Sqn Lanc ND384 GT-D 02/01/44 Target Berlin
Crashed at Grandrieu (Hainaut), a village close to the French/Belgian border, 7 km SW of Beaumont. all are buried in Chievres Communal Cemetery. P/O Morassi was the son of Giuseppe and Furina Morassi who lived in Brussels.

P/O G.P.R.Bond DFC
P/O C.Blanchette
P/O A.Morassi
F/O A.R.Bolsover
Sgt G.Barry
F/O V.Waterhouse DFC
F/Sgt R.Underwood


35 Sqn Lanc ME620 TL-C 09/05/44 Target Haine St Pierre
Crashed at Estinnes-au-Val (Hainaut), 12 km ESE of Mons, Belgium. Those killed are buried in Chievres Communal Cemetery. Sgt W.G.Lawrie Evaded
W/O J.C.Kemp
F/Sgt R.C.Clark
F/Sgt A.G.Boam
Sgt L.A.Lewis
Sgt H.Dale
Sgt D.C.Rhodes

405 Sqn Lanc III ND587 09/05/44 Target Haine St Pierre
Shot down by a night-fighter, crashing 0345 near Gallaix (Hainaut), 12 km East of Tournai. All are buried in Chievres Communal Cemetery.
F/L W.McL Chase RAAF
F/Sgt J.M.Buckley
F/L G.W.Knupp RCAF
F/L W.Sinclair
F/Sgt J.T.Gill
P/O C.M.Sylvah RCAF
F/Sgt R.D.Daniels
 
578 Sqn Halifax III LW383 LK-Bar 13/08/44 Target Russelheim
Shot down by a night-fighter, crashing at Chapelle-a-Ois (Hainaut), 8 km WSW of Ath. Those killed are buried in Chievres Communal Cemetery. Sgt N.R.Beamish and F/S L.R.Bodey RAAF evaded capture
F/O O.S.MacPhillamy RAAF
P/O J.W.Humble
Sgt G.E.Ward
Sgt L.Stafford

I have left the names in your list in bold - the rest are also buried at Chievres.

K

Offline minimaiden2710

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Re: RAF War Graves-now with aircrews names - Chièvres, Belgium
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 03 September 08 18:28 BST (UK) »
Hi Kyt
Thank you so much for your message.  I really do appreciate it.  Like I said in my previous message, I only live a few km's away from the cemetery at Chièvres and I spotted the few war graves situated at the front near the gates.  I was in quite a rush but decided to stop.....obviously this is why I missed the others.  I will take another trip tomorrow to look for the missing ones and I will take some photographs.  I'm so pleased you know the history of these missions and have been kind enough to share it with me.  I would love your friends to use the photo's on his website.  I'll send him a message and pass on the photographs.  As I'm sure you may already know Chièvres is an Operational American Airbase now but in the war it was used by the luftwaffe (i hope I've spelt that correctly).
Take care for now
Sarah  ;)
Durham - Burnett
Cumbria (Carlisle) - Burnett, Grubb, Cook, Gash,
Berkshire - Grubb
S Yorkshire - Tew
Derbyshire-Stoppard,Hallows/Hallas,Chadwick,Dunk(s), Jones, Wolstenholme, Armstrong
Sussex - Smith
N. Yorks - Mewburn, Tew
Oxfordshire - Mewburn, Grubb
Warwickshire - Tew
Hampshire - Bailey, Cousins/Couzens - Adams
Lancashire - Wolstenholme, Jackson

Offline minimaiden2710

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Re: RAF War Graves-now with aircrews names - Chièvres, Belgium
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 04 September 08 12:04 BST (UK) »
I have just been up to the cemetery and I now have photographs for all of the graves of the above mentioned sevicemen.
I have also found 3 Polish War Graves.
Sarah XXXX
Durham - Burnett
Cumbria (Carlisle) - Burnett, Grubb, Cook, Gash,
Berkshire - Grubb
S Yorkshire - Tew
Derbyshire-Stoppard,Hallows/Hallas,Chadwick,Dunk(s), Jones, Wolstenholme, Armstrong
Sussex - Smith
N. Yorks - Mewburn, Tew
Oxfordshire - Mewburn, Grubb
Warwickshire - Tew
Hampshire - Bailey, Cousins/Couzens - Adams
Lancashire - Wolstenholme, Jackson

Offline liverpool annie

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Re: RAF War Graves-now with aircrews names - Chièvres, Belgium
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 04 September 08 16:33 BST (UK) »



Sarah ... how lovely of you to do this .... you'll make a lot of grown men very happy !!   :)

Fascinating to go around the gravestones though isn't it ? did you see any WW1 headstones at all while you were there ??

Annie  :)


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Offline minimaiden2710

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Re: RAF War Graves-now with aircrews names - Chièvres, Belgium
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 04 September 08 17:34 BST (UK) »
Hi Annie,
Thank you for your message.

Yes it is fascinating, but also so sad when you see the graves of young men who were obviously cut down in their prime.

There are no WW1 graves there.  It is the village cemetery where they still bury the local people.  Obviously as Kyt mentioned above, the planes came down in this region so the men were laid to rest there.

It would be nice to think that these photo's may interest some people. Researching Family history can be so expensive and it has cost me nothing to go there so I would like to share what I have, with whoever is interested.

Kind Regards
Sarah ;D
Durham - Burnett
Cumbria (Carlisle) - Burnett, Grubb, Cook, Gash,
Berkshire - Grubb
S Yorkshire - Tew
Derbyshire-Stoppard,Hallows/Hallas,Chadwick,Dunk(s), Jones, Wolstenholme, Armstrong
Sussex - Smith
N. Yorks - Mewburn, Tew
Oxfordshire - Mewburn, Grubb
Warwickshire - Tew
Hampshire - Bailey, Cousins/Couzens - Adams
Lancashire - Wolstenholme, Jackson