Florennes Communal Cemetery

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. A special plot in the north-eastern portion of the Florennes Communal Cemetery contains the graves of airmen brought down in the vicinity of the airfield which the Germans constructed in the commune of Florennes and its neighbouring commune Rosee. The cemetery contains the graves of 75 airmen of the Second World War.

 

Served with

  • Australian (2)
  • Canadian (25)
  • New Zealand (4)
  • United Kingdom (44)

Served in

  • Air Force (75)

Lancaster B.I W4236

Took off 2310 Aug 9, 1943 from RAF Syerston. Outbound shot down by a night- fighter (Lt Norbert Pietrek 11) August 10, 1943.

- Flight Sergeant John Topham KENDALL - R/178673 - 61 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force - Age 24

- Sergeant Nevil Temple HOLMES - 1335294 - 61 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

- Sergeant George William Sidney SPRIGGS - 1193053 - 61 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve - Age 21

Other Occupants in Lancaster B.I W4236 - all evaded

Sgt  E F GARDINER  / Sgt P B SMITH  / Sgt  W WALKER / Sgt  J C WHITLEY 

 

A memorial is erected at the crash site of Lancaster B.I W4236 in Marbehan.

Halifax DK 228 - 428 Sqdn RCAF

Took off 2345 July 13, 1943 from Middleton St.George on a night bombing operation over Aachen. There were seven aircrew on board. Shot down by a German night fighter, the Halifax crashed near Mesnil-St-Blaise in Belgium on July 14, 1943, all of the crew lost their lives.

Crew

- Flight Lieutenant William George WEEKS - J/15549 - 428 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force - Age 25

- Flying Officer Harold Bramley WARD - J/11359 - 428 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force - Age 26

- Sergeant Stephen ZAYETS - R/56703 - 428 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force

- FLying Officer Walter Ferguson STEWART -  J/16779 - 428 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force

- Sergeant Archibald Douglas DAWSON – 1813538 - 428 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve - Age 19

- Flying Officer Ernest Drever ROBERTSON - J/10178 - 428 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force

- Warrant Officer Class II James Richard GOODFELLOW - R/90240 - 428 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force - Age 23

 

A memorial is erected at the crash site of Halifax DK 228 in Hulsonniaux.