Historical Information (Source: CWGC)

The cemetery contains the graves of two unidentified British soldiers and two Australian airmen.The Commonwealth war graves are located by the main path: 2 graves are 100 metres along on the right and the other two are at the end of the path on the right.

Served with

• Australian (2)

Served in

• Air Force (2)

Flight Sergeant Alfred John Burns, RAAF, 424711, 17-06-1944, age 21

Flight Sergeant Patrick Edward Thomas Tiernan, RAAF, 426711, 17-06-1944, age 29

On 16 June 1944 at 23:26 departed from RAF Full Sutton, the Halifax MZ715, mission: a bombing raid on a synthetic oil plant in Sterkrade in the Ruhr. The aircraft was part of a formation of 321 bombers, including 147 Lancaster, 162 Halifax and 12 Mosquito's. For unknown reasons, MZ715 exploded in mid-air and crashed down at the Bonegraafseweg between Ochten en Dodewaard. In the crash, six of the seven crew members got killed. Two are buried at this cemetery and four are buried in the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Uden. One crew member survived the crash, he was taken prisoner of war. The raid was unsuccessful, only a few bombs exploded near the plant. The damage was minimal and production at the plant suffered very minimal. In total, 31 bombers were lost, a great loss, partly caused by a heavy attack by Luftwaffe fighters stationed in the area.