The Hague (Westduin) General Cemetery
Historical Information (Source: CWGC)
The Hague (Westduin) General Cemetery contains a plot of 87 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, the majority airmen. The Commonwealth War Graves plot is to the left of the entrance.
Served with
- Australian (5)
- Canadian (6)
- New Zealand (1)
- United Kingdom (58)
Served in
- Air Force (62)
- Army (4)
- Navy (4)
Flight Sergeant David Poole SPEECHLEY - 410177
Royal Australian Air Force
Died 26 July 1943 Age 20
Australian
Son of George David and Gwen Kate Speechley, of Brighton, Victoria, Australia.
Inscription: THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
Warrant Officer Jack HARRISON-OWEN - 400392
Royal Australian Air Force
Died 26 July 1943 Age 26
Australian
Son of John Edward and Ida E. Kerr Harrison-Owen; husband of Bettine Harrison-Owen, of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia.
Wellington X HZ580 – 466 Sqdn
Took off 2246 25 July 1943 from RAF Leconfield. Crashed in the sea off the Dutch coast cause unknown.
Crew
Flight Sergeant David Poole SPEECHLEY (410177) RAAF
Warrant Officer Jack HARRISON-OWEN (400392) RAAF
Flight Sergeant Charles Robert COWAN (410459) RAAF - Noordwijk General Cemetery Plot 6. Joint grave 3.
Flight Sergeant Wilfred HARPER (415379) RAAF - Runnymede Memorial Panel 192.
Flight Sergeant Raoul Ellery THORPE (416794) RAAF - Runnymede Memorial Panel 194.
Wellington III X3802 – 12 Sqdn
Took off from RAF Binbrook. Shot down by a night-fighter and crashed 0205 28 Aug 1942 Poeldijk and Loosduinen (Zuid Holland) on the SW outskirts of Den Haag.
Crew
Sergeant Charles Robert PODMORE (402538) RAAF
Sergeant Albert MILLS (1377603) Observer RAF
Sergeant Douglas Spencer McNEIL (1312485) Pilot RAF
Sergeant Frederick George Edward PIERSON (1318724) Observer RAF
Prisoners of War for Wellington III X3802
Sgt E GERSHATER (R/59445) Stalag 344 Lamsdorf
Sergeant Ronald James Brownee ROST - 402170
Royal Australian Air Force
Died 16 July 1941 Age 20
Australian
Son of Mrs. Ada Harriett Rost, of Manly, New South Wales, Australia.
Blenheim IV Z7496 – 18 Sqdn
Sergeant R J B Rost (RAAF), Sergeant J Hughes, Sergeant S Winter: killed; aircraft shot down and crashed near Delft, Holland, Blenheim Z7496, 18 Squadron, 16 July 1941.
Crew
Sergeant Ronald James Brownee ROST (402170) RAAF
Sergeant John HUGHES (987753) Observer RAF
Sergeant Stanley William WINTER (653507) Wireless Operator RAF
Prisoners of War for Blenheim IV Z7496
Plt Off Robert Taylor Charles Oliver WHITE
Sergeant Bartlett Parker SHADDICK - 406682
Royal Australian Air Force
Died 25 October 1942 Age 21
Australian
Awards: Distinguished Flying Medal
Son of Stephen Parker Shaddick and Mary Catherine Shaddick, of East Pingelly, Western Australia.
Inscription: HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. EVER REMEMBERED. R.I.P.
Outdoor group portrait of graduated pilots.
Identified from left to right, back row: 406670 Alfred Neil Yeaman (killed on 4 June 1942 on operations in the United Kingdom); 406631(later A51675) Harry Taylor; 406663 Henry Martin Rutherford; 403496 Bruce Oliver Brown; 406698 George Andrew Pratt; 406606 Ronald Yates; 406625 Hugh Godfrey Phillips (accidentally killed on 4 August 1942 in South Australia); 406699 Herbert Kitchener Pugsley; and 406682 Bartlett Parker Shaddick, (later DFM and killed on 25 October 1942 on operations over The Netherlands).
Outdoor group portrait of aircrew trainees in Australia.
Identified from left to right, back row: W Soluss; 407990 Colin Robert Scott (killed on 21 February 1942 during operations over the North Atlantic Sea);
406682 Bartlett Parker Shaddick (WA) (later DFM and killed on 25 October 1942 during operations over the Netherlands);
Unidentified (from WA); 407991 Jack Shanks; Unidentified (from WA); 407977 Hickson William Skinner (killed on 18 August on operations off the coast of the United Kingdom).
Wellington III X3455 – 142 Sqdn
Took off 1925 24 Oct 1942 from RAF Grimsby. Crashed in the North Sea W of the island of Schouwen.
Crew
Sergeant Bartlett Parker SHADDICK (406682) RAAF
Sergeant Frank Bernard HOUGH (1074122) Observer RAF - Bergen-Op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery Ref : 6. H. 10.
Flight Sergeant Gerald Thomas REYBURN (R/126898) Air Gunner - Rockanje (Zeeweg) General Cemetery Plot 3. Joint grave 33.
Sergeant Eric WATCHAM (656472) Navigator RAF - Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery Plot 69. Row D. Joint grave 18.
Sergeant Edwin Cuthbert WOOLLARD (1376622) Wireless Operator - Monster General Cemetery Row B. Grave 24.
