wimereux

graves

IN MEMORy by Pierre Vandervelden

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

WIMEREUX Communal Cemetery (Pas de Calais France)

Page 1 The Pictures

Page 2 List of Casualties

C. M. Ellick - C. H. K. FitzMaurice - E. A. Klitz in the civilian part

Cpt Cameron Lamp in the civilian part

Photo Courtesy Bernard Sibenaler



John McCrae penned his Poem In Flanders Fields at Essex Farm.


Pte Willie Beckett 17/12/1915 aged 24

P/O Lindsey Patrick Chaloner 26/07/1940 aged 20
Born in Daresbury, Cheshire on July 16, 1920, Lindsey was the son of Rev. C. Lindsey OBE, who had served as a chaplain in the Great War.
He was at St John's School, Leatherhead from 1934 to 1937 and was a member of the OTC. In early 1938 Lindsey applied for a short service commission in the RAF. He was accepted and began his ab initio course at No. 1 E&RTS, Hatfield on June 27. Lindsey went to No. 1 RAF Depot, Uxbridge on August 20 for a short disciplinary course, after which he was posted to 2 FTS, Brize Norton on September 3.
He was awarded his wings on December 12, 1938 and on completion of the course, he went to 2 AOS on April 15, 1939, as a staff pilot. On August 17 Lindsey was pilot of one of three aircraft involved in a mid-air collision near Berwick-on-Tweed. When he realized that one of his passengers had no parachute Lindsey, in spite of head injuries and compound fractures of one leg, managed to land the aircraft safely. He was admitted to Berwick infirmary, transferred to the RAF hospital at Halton on October 23 and went to convalescence at Torquay five days later. For his coolness and courage, Lindsey received a letter of appreciation from the Air Council.
Fit again, he reported to No. Depot, Uxbridge on February 22, 1940, was placed on temporary administrative duties and on March 12 joined 29 Squadron at Debden. He went to 5 OTU, Aston Down on the 23rd and after converting to Hurricanes, Lindsey was posted to 601 Squadron at Tangmere on April 20.
He claimed a Bf 110 detroyed on July 11. In an action over the
Channel on the 26th, Lindsey was shot down by Oberleutenant Dobislav of III/JG27 two miles south of St. Catherine's Point. His Hurricane, P2753, crashed into the Channel and he was reported 'Missing'.
Lindsey's body was later washed up on the French coast and he is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery.
(from Ken Wynn’s book ‘The Men of the Battle of Britain’.)
For his cousin Sian Robinson


Pte Fred Hey 14/10/1917 aged 29


Pte Edward McMurray 20/10/1917 aged 26

Pte Frank Rossiter 29/08/1917 aged 37
for Mrs Stephanie Rossiter


Dvr Christopher Bodman Medcalfe 21/04/1918 aged 24 Christopher is listed on the local Memorial in porthill staffordshire


L/Cpl Benny Lynch 22/08/1915 aged 23 Benny was born, in Dublin, Ireland. He came from a family of 21, 15 of whom survived infancy. For his nephew Alan Lynch and family (Dublin)


Bmd David Warner 22/04/1916 for his Great Granddaughter Karen Stevens

Pte Harold Gordon Booker DoW 14/11/1917 aged 23
for his niece & nephew Helen & Bob Hannigan

Gnr Robert William Williams 21/06/1917 aged 25
Robert was the son of William and Margaret Williams of 13, Miner Street, Birchills.
He was mortally wounded in action on or about Saturday 16/06/1917, being removed to hospital at Wimereux where he succumbed to his injuries.
On the night of Friday 15/06/1917, “A”, “B” and “C” Batteries were moved to new positions near Fusilier Farm near Messines to increase their range.
On the following day they came under air attack when three red enemy aircraft flew very low over their positions, firing on the men with their machine guns.
The battery withdrew on the evening of Sunday 17/06/1917 during which they suffered 3 more casualties including one officer, 2nd Lt. Allen who was wounded in the leg.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Pte Arthur Ernest McKeand served as Arthur Ernest Regent 15/10/1917 aged 36
Arthur was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, the only son of Arthur and Emily MacKeand.
He married Elizabeth Ann Smith at Sunderland in late 1912 and was then resident at 102, Dalkeith Street, Walsall.
Born into the acting profession, Arthur spent his whole life acting and travelling.
For 16 months he held the position of assistant stage manager at Her Majesty’s Theatre and was an authority on the subject of stamps, butterflies and fossils, all of which he collected.
Arthur enlisted in the Army at Walsall on Sunday 15/10/1916 under his stage name of Ernest Regent and succumbed a year to the day of severe wounds to the leg and of gas poisoning.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Pte Walter Douglas Turner 01/04/1918 aged 21
Walter was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire to Frederick and Eliza Turner later of 158, Dale Street, Walsall.
At the time of his enlistment in the Army at Darlaston in 03/1915 he was employed as a mechanic by the Walsall Electrical Company in Bridge Street, Walsall.
Walter was drafted to France on Friday 17/09/1915 and mortally wounded on Tuesday 26/03/1918 whilst serving at Pacaut during the German Offensive when he received wounds to the back and left leg by gunshot.
He was removed to the 53rd General Hospital at Wimmereux, north of Boulogne, where he succumbed.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall

Sjt George Alfred Reading 04/04/1917 aged 23
George was born in Palfrey, Walsall to George and Susannah Reading of 2, Cobden Street, Caldmore, his father being a railway guard.
He lived, however, with his married sister, Louisa Pratley, at 18, Cambridge Street, Caldmore.
George enlisted in the Army at Lichfield prior to 1911 and was drafted to France on Saturday 15/08/1914, serving at Mons, Marne, Aisne and Neuve Chappelle.
During 03/1917 George was wounded receiving shrapnel wounds to his head, shoulders and neck.
He was removed to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station at Wimereux where he succumbed.
for Graeme Clarke and the people of Walsall


Pte Thomas Headey Lambourne 14/08/1896 - 24/07/1916 He died due to gas gangrene. His twin brother Frederick also wounded in the same action survived the war, he died in 02/1983. for his nephew Chris Lambourne

Pte Francis Sutton 23/07/1917 aged 27
Francis was a single man, the son of William and Harriet Sutton.
He was 1 of 5 brothers who went to WW1, only 3 brothers returned home, Sjt Charles Henry Sutton, Pte William Sutton (wounded) and Pte Arthur Sutton, (also wounded) his other brother Benjamin aged 31 was killed on the first day of landing at Gallipoli, on 28/04/1915.
Francis was wounded in Belgium, probably during the Battle of Messines.
In 1919, Harriet decided to plant a tree who still exist in honour of her sons and fallen pals.
The Sutton family celebrate them every Anzac Day under this sturdy pin oak.
Francis and his brothers are commemorated here, here and in the New Zealand Herald newspaper.
for his great great nephew Donald Sutton and family

Capt Val Hyndman 07/07/1916 aged 29
for his relative Norman Willis and family

Sjt Alfred Neal 23/04/1918 aged 21
His cousin Rfm Walter Leonard Neal 10/10/1918 is buried in Beaulencourt British cemetery,
His cousin Sjt Ernest Neal 04/10/1917 is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorail.
Another cousin, Archibald William Neal survived the war despite being gassed three times.
for Tony Beard


Pte George Pink 22/12/1915 aged 37 He was a stretcher bearer and was gassed on 19/12/1915. for John Snowdon

Pte Sidney Swaine 12/04/1918 aged 23
His father was an ex Drum Major in the infantry fought in India, awarded the Indian General Service medal with Pegu clasp (2nd Burma War 1853 - 54).
His parents travelled to France to be at his bedside and were there when he died, most unusual for this to have happened.
He was one of four brothers, only one survived the war.
His brother Cpl John F. Swaine (28/09/1917) is buried in Gwalia cemetery.
for Tony Beard

2 853 casualties

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.

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