graves

 

 

 

IN MEMORy by Pierre Vandervelden

The visit of Commonwealth graves in Communals Cemeteries & Churchyards in Belgium & France

pierre.vandervelden@pi.be

HASSELT (Kruisveld) Communal Cemetery (Limburg Belgium)

L/Cpl Harry England 26/12/1944 aged 29
Harry & Mavis's wedding - Mavis nee Goodall & grand daughter Karen
Harry& Mavis's son, Gerald England & daughter, Karen McAdams nee England
Always beloved by the whole family
L/Sjt Arthur Henry Danks 24/01/1945
Arthur and his friend Frank Green
His mother, Catherine "Kate" and an adopted child
Catherine Vernon, sister of Alice Vernon, married John “Harry” Danks, a Road Sweeper in Redditch.
They had a son, Arthur, born in 1914, who married a widow, Elizabeth Stevens, in 04/1944, knowing that he had returned from India with Frank Green to prepare for the Invasion of Europe.
Arthur served with S Coy, Wiltshire Rgt at the time of the Normandy Landings.
He was a champion boxer for the Army, Standing at 6’ 7” he was affectionately known as “Tiny” Danks.
He saw service in India with Frank and as Frank had no contact from home Arthur set up a pen-friend arrangement with his mother’s niece, Edna Williams, who was training to be a nurse.
It was a romance that blossomed over thousands of miles and went on for some years.
When Frank returned to England with Arthur in 1943 he met Edna for the first time.
In fact she wrote to her M.P. in Walsall complaining that Frank warranted extra leave as he had been in India for so many years.
He was granted the extra time and out of the tragedy of war they married on 30/09/1943, before Frank moved south to join the Wiltshires on exercises.
Arthur widowed quickly.
While he was stationed at Rye in 04/1944 at the age of 29, Arthur married a widow, Elizabeth Stephens, at Alvechurch, Worcestershire.
But he widowed quickly for a second time.
How they met is not known, but the decision to marry was probably taken because of the uncertainty of war.
Sadly, a mortar shell killed Arthur on 23/01/1945.
Had he not been so tall he might have survived, but in the event could not get down in the trench low enough to avoid the impact of the explosion.
He was killed on the edge of Birgden village on the road to Straeten, near Waldenrath, some 6 miles from Brunssum on the Dutch/German border.
At the time he was with Sgt.Vic Reed and Sgt. Ivor Gardner, both of whom survived.
Another soldier in the Wiltshires going forward into the infantry attack saw Arthur’s body lying at the side of the road and made the comment, “Good God, it’s Danks!”
From “The Maroon Square.”p 141. “Battle Casualties” p 206:
“The barrage started with a terrific crash in which rockets, Bofors and mortars all took part. Our own Mortar Platoon were firing hard, and receiving quite a lot of attention in return. Sergeant Danks, an old Regular, being mortally wounded later. He was a great loss to the platoon, and indeed to the Battalion.”
The Birgden/Straeten Road where Arthur was killed.
At the time he led a Mortar Platoon.
In the distance is the village of Birgden.
The fields on the left formed the German front line in January 1945.
It has changed very little since then.
He was buried in a Field Grave, and then his body was taken to Hasselt by Sgt. Ray Hare, also a Wilts man, as he needed petrol to justify the journey !
for Trevor Green (Frank Green's son)
Cpl Frank Walker 10/09/1944 aged 26
Frank is here posing with his crew and people of the liberated town of Hombeek only 5 days befor he met his death.
for Ward De Kempeneer
Heemkundekring HOEMBEKA vzw

50 casualties

ABRAHAMS SAMUEL
United Kingdom Trooper Royal Armoured Corps Age: 30 Date of Death: 02/04/1945 Service No: 406603 (C.3.)

AINSLIE FRANCIS GEORGE
United Kingdom Lieutenant Royal Armoured Corps 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars Age: 29 Date of Death: 10/09/1944 Service No: 184238 (C.10.)

ARMSTRONG LEONARD WILSON
Canadian Flying Officer (Nav.) Royal Canadian Air Force 434 Sqdn. Age: 22 Date of Death: 15/03/1945 Service No: J/41627 (A.17.)

BALL JOSEPH DIXON
Canadian Flying Officer (Air Bomber) Royal Canadian Air Force 434 Sqdn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 15/03/1945 Service No: J/42447 (A.18.)

BENNETT WALTER REGINALD WILLIAM
United Kingdom Guardsman Grenadier Guards 1st Bn. Age: 18 Date of Death: 07/01/1945 Service No: 2624572 (A.12.)

BRADDOCK BRYANT
Australian Flight Sergeant Royal Australian Air Force Age: 27 Date of Death: 21/02/1945 Service No: 435276 (D.3.)

BRAYFORD WILLIAM RONALD
United Kingdom Private Pioneer Corps Age: 28 Date of Death: 08/01/1945 Service No: 5953815 (B.1.)

BROWN WALTER JAMES
United Kingdom Guardsman Grenadier Guards 1st Bn. Age: 20 Date of Death: 07/01/1945 Service No: 14702883 (A.13.)

CAMPBELL HERBERT THOMAS
Australian Flying Officer Royal Australian Air Force Age: 22 Date of Death: 21/02/1945 Service No: 429070 (D.4.)

CHIPCHASE JACK
United Kingdom Guardsman Grenadier Guards King's Coy. 1st Bn. Age: 28 Date of Death: 07/01/1945 Service No: 2617267 (A.14.)

CLARK JOHN LEONARD
United Kingdom Private The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Date of Death: 29/12/1944 Service No: 14426977 (A.9.)

CLEGG BERNARD MAXWELL
Australian Flying Officer Royal Australian Air Force Age: 20 Date of Death: 21/02/1945 Service No: 434620 (D.1.)

COLVERD PETER WILLIAM
United Kingdom Signalman Royal Corps of Signals 13 L. of C. Sigs. Date of Death: 17/04/1945 Service No: 14665221 (C.5.)

DANKS ARTHUR HENRY
United Kingdom Lance Serjeant Wiltshire Regiment 4th Bn. Date of Death: 24/01/1945 Service No: 810333 (B.5.)

EDWARDS WILLIAM ARTHUR
United Kingdom Driver Royal Army Service Corps 15 Tank Transporter Coy. Age: 34 Date of Death: 27/12/1944 Service No: T/14439106 (A.6.)

ENGLAND HARRY
United Kingdom Lance Corporal Royal Army Medical Corps 23 Lt. Field Amb. Age: 29 Date of Death: 26/12/1944 Service No: 7381844 (A.5.)

FRIEND CYRIL SIDNEY BARRIE
United Kingdom Signalman Royal Corps of Signals 116 Special Wireless Sec. Age: 21 Date of Death: 16/02/1945 Service No: 2388843 (B.9.)

GILBARD SIDNEY JOHN
United Kingdom Craftsman Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Age: 20 Date of Death: 24/02/1945 Service No: 14512957 (B.10.)

GRAHAM ALAN
United Kingdom Sergeant (Air Gnr.) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn Date of Death: 21/02/1945 Service No: 1596167 (D.6.)

HARDING PHILIP EDWIN
United Kingdom Trooper Royal Tank Regiment R.A.C. 4th Age: 20 Date of Death: 05/03/1945 Service No: 14336635 (B.14.)

HARGREAVES JOHN FRANCIS
United Kingdom Trooper Royal Armoured Corps Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Age: 21 Date of Death: 24/01/1945 Service No: 14290324 (B.6.)

HARLOW CHARLES JOSEPH
United Kingdom Gunner Royal Artillery 11 Medium Regt. Age: 32 Date of Death: 18/03/1945 Service No: 6026443 (B.7.)

HARVEY RAYMOND
United Kingdom Private Seaforth Highlanders 2nd Bn. Age: 21 Date of Death: 20/01/1945 Service No: 5392614 (B.2.)

JOHNS FREDERICK
United Kingdom Trooper Royal Armoured Corps 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars Age: 28 Date of Death: 10/09/1944 Service No: 7908536 (C.6.)

KIRBY GEORGE FREDERICK
United Kingdom Lance Corporal Royal Armoured Corps Inns of Court Regiment Age: 27 Date of Death: 10/09/1944 Service No: 7934207 (C.7.)

KOSSATZ THOMAS CARLE
Canadian Pilot Officer (Flt Engr.) Royal Canadian Air Force 434 Sqdn. Date of Death: 15/03/1945 Service No: J/94601 (A.19.)

LEWIS GEORGE
United Kingdom Sapper Royal Engineers 24 Field Coy. Age: 27 Date of Death: 25/12/1944 Service No: 2122845 (A.7)

MARTIN ROBERT MARK
United Kingdom Fusilier Royal Scots Fusiliers 4/5th Bn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 09/02/1945 Service No: 14726463 (B.7.)

MAYNARD CHARLES
United Kingdom Private Pioneer Corps Age: 41 Date of Death: 18/01/1945 Service No: 13093991 (B.3.)

NETTLETON SAVILLE
United Kingdom Lance Corporal Royal Armoured Corps 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Age: 25 Date of Death: 13/03/1945 Service No: 7908275 (B.12.)

ORD SYDNEY
United Kingdom Major Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Date of Death: 11/03/1945 Service No: 168624 (B.11.)

PADGETT JOHN JAMES WILLIAM
United Kingdom Gunner Royal Artillery 153 (The Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regt. Age: 30 Date of Death: 03/12/1944 Service No: 556516 (A.1.)

PEARSON BASIL JOHN
United Kingdom Lieutenant Royal Armoured Corps 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars Age: 20 Date of Death: 10/09/1944 Service No: 302982 (C.9.)

PINHEY THOMAS JAMES
United Kingdom Staff Serjeant Royal Army Medical Corps Age: 24 Date of Death: 05/01/1945 Service No: 7357253 (A.11.)

POLLOCK WILLSON (KEN)
United Kingdom Corporal Royal Corps of Signals 165 W/T Medium Sec. Age: 39 Date of Death: 05/01/1945 Service No: 2588744 (A.10.)

SIMPSON HUGH DAVID LIVINGSTONE
United Kingdom Driver Royal Army Service Corps 135 Petrol Depot Age: 33 Date of Death: 05/04/1945 Service No: T/14660052 (C.4.)

SIMPSON JOSEPH
United Kingdom Trooper Royal Armoured Corps 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars Age: 20 Date of Death: 10/09/1944 Service No: 7962785 (C.11.)

SIMS WILLIAM ERNEST
United Kingdom Lance Serjeant Royal Engineers 263 Field Coy. Date of Death: 26/02/1945 Service No: 2012066 (C.2.)

STEWART JACK ORMSBY
Canadian Flying Officer (Pilot) Royal Canadian Air Force 434 Sqdn. Age: 23 Date of Death: 15/03/1945 Service No: J/38861 (A.15.)

STONE FRANK SAMUEL
United Kingdom Pilot Officer (Flt Engr.) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn Date of Death: 21/02/1945 Service No: 188993 (D.5.)

STUBBINS JOHN
United Kingdom Trooper Royal Armoured Corps 112 (9th Bn.The Sherwood Foresters [Notts. and Derby Regt.]) Regt. Age: 27 Date of Death: 03/12/1944 Service No: 4979329 (A.2.)

SWIFT SYDNEY CLIFTON
Australian Flying Officer Royal Australian Air Force Age: 20 Date of Death: 21/02/1945 Service No: 430403 (D.2.)

TAYLOR JAMES LAWRENCE
United Kingdom Sapper Royal Engineers Age: 33 Date of Death: 22/12/1944 Service No: 14353908 (A.4.)

WAITE SYDNEY HERBERT
United Kingdom Captain Army Catering Corps Age: 35 Date of Death: 01/04/1945 Service No: 258968 (C.1.)

WALKER FRANK
United Kingdom Corporal Royal Armoured Corps 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars Age: 26 Date of Death: 10/09/1944 Service No: 7906972 (C.8.)

WARD CLIFFORD
United Kingdom Private Pioneer Corps 160 Coy. Date of Death: 27/12/1944 Service No: 4464871 (A.8.)

WHETHAM ALAN LIONEL
United Kingdom Driver Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 831 Heavy Recovery Sec. Age: 24 Date of Death: 15/02/1945 Service No: 14430526 (B.8.)

WHITE WILLIAM GEORGE
Canadian Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.) Royal Canadian Air Force 434 Sqdn. Age: 19 Date of Death: 15/03/1945 Service No: J/94602 (A.16.)

WILLIAMS JOHN EDWARD
United Kingdom Lance Corporal Somerset Light Infantry 7th Bn. Age: 27 Date of Death: 23/01/1945 Service No: 5674702 (B.4.)

WOODHOUSE RONALD
United Kingdom Private Pioneer Corps 161 Coy. Age: 33 Date of Death: 14/12/1944 Service No: 4866027 (A.3.)

IF You have a casualty picture, please send me a copy, I'll be glad to show it on this page.

IF You want a king size copy of this picture (300/900 ko - 2592/1944 pixels) please e-mail me.

IF You want picture of a particular grave, in this cemetery, please e-mail me.

Casualties informations come usualy from Commonwealth War Graves Commission, see links for more informations

Inmemories.com © Pierre Vandervelden - Belgium