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.

There are about 35 original burials in Leopoldsburg War Cemetery associated with isolated engagements in or near the town in May 1940. Of the remainder, some are burials from a military hospital which was established at Leopoldsburg during the latter part of 1944 and others were brought into the cemetery from the surrounding district.

There are now 783 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War in the cemetery, 16 of them unidentified, 27 Polish and 4 Dutch war graves.

Citation

The citation in the London Gazette of 2nd January, 1945, gives the following details:  In Belgium, on 29th September, 1944, the Hallamshire Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment attacked the Depot de Mendicite, a natural defensive position surrounded by an earthen wall and a dyke and strongly held by the enemy. Corporal Harper, disregarding the heavy fire, led the section that he commanded up to the wall, and killed or captured the enemy holding the near side. The platoon commander was seriously wounded, and Corporal Harper took over command of the platoon. He then climbed over the wall and routed the Germans directly opposing him. Finding the dyke too deep to cross, he was ordered to establish his platoon on the far side of the wall, between it and the dyke. This he succeeded in doing with the loss of only one man, having himself by then climbed the wall three times. Finally he was fatally wounded while directing his company commander to a ford which had been discovered by the neighbouring battalion.  The success of the battalion in driving the enemy from the wall and back across the dyke must be largely ascribed to the superb self-sacrifice and inspiring gallantry of Corporal Harper. His magnificent courage, fearlessness and devotion to duty throughout the battle set a splendid example to his men and had a decisive effect on the course of the operations.

Grave Reference: V. B. 15.

Citation

The citation in the London Gazette of 20th April, 1945, gives the following detail: Captain Swales was the `master bomber' of a force of aircraft which attacked Pforzheim on the night of 23rd February, 1945. Over the target the aircraft was repeatedly attacked by an enemy fighter and severely damaged, two engines being put out of action. Captain Swales remained to issue aiming instructions until he was satisfied that the attack had achieved its purpose. By skilful flying he was able to bring the aircraft back to friendly territory, where he ordered the crew to bale out. The aircraft became gradually more difficult to control and, as the last of the crew jumped, it plunged to earth; Captain Swales was found dead at the controls. Intrepid in attack, courageous in the face of danger,he did his duty to the last, giving his life that his comrades might live. 

Grave Reference: VIII. C. 5.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Major William John Robert "Billy" Cavendish

Marquess of Hartington (10 December 1917 – 9 September 1944) was an English politician and soldier. He was the elder son of Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire, and his wife, Lady Mary Gascoyne-Cecil.

He was the husband of Kathleen Kennedy, sister of the future U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

On 9 September 1944, Hartington was killed in action by a sniper in Belgium while serving during World War II as a major in the Coldstream Guards. He was killed one month after his brother-in-law, Joseph Kennedy Jr., was also killed in action.