History Information (Source: CWGC)

The British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk.  Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944, but in the intervening years, many airmen were shot down or crashed in raids on strategic objectives in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany.

As Communal Cemetery contains the graves of six airmen of the Second World War.  The graves are located through the main entrance and directly left along by the front wall.

Served with

• Australian (1)
• United Kingdom (5)

Served in

• Air Force (6)

Wellington IC T2992 – 214 Sqdn – 7 July 1941

Took off 2204 7 July 1941 from Stradishall. Crashed at Genk-Bodem (Limburg) Belgium.

Crew

Pilot Officer Donald Noel Robert ARMSTRONG (400009)  RAAF           

Sergeant Arthur EVANS (1106238) Wireless Operator RAF

Flying Officer Reginald Maurice Peter JENKYNS (76584) Pilot RAF

Sergeant Edward Henry KING (918289) Wireless Operator RAF

Pilot Officer John McANALLY (62291) Pilot RAF

Prisoners of War for Wellington IC T2992

Sergeant George Frederick ROUGHTON (1014802)  Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria

Lancaster III LM580 – 57 Sqdn – 22 June 1944

Took off 2307 21 June 1944 from East Kirkby. Outbound shot down by a night-fighter from below and astern.

Crew

Pilot Officer Guilyn Penry GUY (172461) Pilot RAF          

Prisoners of War for Lancaster LM580

Flight Sergeant Thomas Alan APPLEGATH (R/192919) Stalag Luft L7 Bankau near Kreuzburg, Upper Silesia

Flying Officer Victor George SPALDING (50787) Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria

Other Occupants in Lancaster LM580

Flying Officer Douglas Alan JENNINGS (142451) Evader          

Sergeant C C HATTER Evader

Sergeant G G HYDES  Evader

MAENEN Joseph,  Breendonk 11 April 1944, one of the 24 Partizans that were killed in Fort Breendonk on 11 April 1944.

Early in the morning of January 12, 1944, miner Denis Maenen from As, born in 1919, was taken from his house by six 'gestapo's'. As a miner he can easily obtain dynamite, which is used to tap new coal veins. The hardest part is getting past control on the top ground with some bars. He joined the PA on May 1, 1943 and took part in sabotage actions several times. On January 18 he is transferred to the Breendonk camp. There he is not accused of liquidations, but he is: “He acted as a recruiter of terrorists and took part in the attack on the high-voltage pylon in Asch.” That will cost him the death penalty.

MARTING Mathieu,  Breendonk 11 April 1944, one of the 24 Partizans that were killed in Fort Breendonk on 11 April 1944.

Mathieu Marting, born in As, January 7, 1915, works as an employee at the Waterschei coal mine. He is married to Maria Elisa Irma Schreurs and has two children. He comes from a patriotic family that does not accept the German occupation. As early as 1941 he was involved in the resistance and committed acts of sabotage. In April 1942 he joined the partisan army and rose in the hierarchy to become company commander. In his own words, he chooses this movement: “… because at least they did something, they fought against it.” He has been living in hiding for a long time and is being hunted. On January 12, 1944, he was arrested together with Jan Achten (Diepenbeek) after betrayal.

Veteran graves