ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Oost-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.20272 Longitude: 3.50546
Location Information
Adegem Canadian War Cemetery is located midway between Brugge (17 km) and Gent (26 km) on the N9 which connects the two towns.
From Brugge, Adegem is approached via Sijsele and Maldegem. On reaching Adegem the cemetery is located on the Prins Boudewijnlaan, on the right hand side of the N9.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible, but may be by an alternative entrance.
Historical Information
In the last week of September 1944, the Allies held the city of Antwerp, but the Germans held both shores of the Scheldt estuary, so that the port of Antwerp could not be used. The task of clearing the southern shore of the estuary was allotted to the 3rd Canadian Division, aided by the 4th Canadian Armoured Division and the 52nd Division. Their operations lasted from October until the beginning of November 1944; by 3 November the Germans had been cleared from the north-west corner of Belgium and the south shore of the Scheldt was free. There had been fierce fighting for two weeks for the crossing of the Leopold Canal.
The majority of the men buried at Adegem died during the operations for the clearance of the south bank of the Scheldt, but many Canadians who lost their lives elsewhere in Belgium were also brought here for burial. A number of isolated graves from various communal cemeteries and churchyards in Belgium have also been brought into this cemetery since the end of the war.
The cemetery now contains 1,157 burials of the Second World War and one unidentified burial of the First World War.
Total Burials: 1,158.
World War Two Identified Casualties: Canada 838, United Kingdom 234, Poland 33, Australia 2, New Zealand 2. France 2. Total 1,111.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 46. Total 46.
World War One Unidentified Casualty. United Kingdom 1. Total 1.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
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J/38742 Flying Officer
Kenneth Stickney Brenton
Navigator in 409 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
16th March 1945, aged 28.
Plot XI. G. 7.
Son of Thomas S. and Isabel May Brenton; husband of Margaret Lillian Brenton, of Toronto, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "Not Unto Death But Life Everlasting"
Kenneth Stickney Brenton
Navigator in 409 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
16th March 1945, aged 28.
Plot XI. G. 7.
Son of Thomas S. and Isabel May Brenton; husband of Margaret Lillian Brenton, of Toronto, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "Not Unto Death But Life Everlasting"
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Click on image to enlarge (Image © Werner van Caneghem)
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1398843 Sergeant
Raphael Edward De Casagrande
207 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
22nd June 1944, aged 20.
Plot XI. J. 5.
Son of Raphael Edward and Mary Genevieve de Casagrande, of Palmers Green, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Requiem Aeternam Dona Ei Domine; Et Lux Perpetua Luceat Ei. Requiescat In Pace"
Raphael Edward De Casagrande
207 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
22nd June 1944, aged 20.
Plot XI. J. 5.
Son of Raphael Edward and Mary Genevieve de Casagrande, of Palmers Green, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Requiem Aeternam Dona Ei Domine; Et Lux Perpetua Luceat Ei. Requiescat In Pace"
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M/15665 Corporal
Robert Wilson Ellenwood, M. M. & Mentioned in Despatches
Algonquin Regiment, R. C. I. C. formerly of Loyal Edmonton Regiment, R. C. I. C.
14th September 1944, aged 42.
Plot X. A. 12.
Son of William Rogers Ellenwood and Margaret Anne Ellenwood; husband of Mary Grace Ellenwood, of Red Deer, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription Late Of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment. "Rest In Peace"
Robert Wilson Ellenwood, M. M. & Mentioned in Despatches
Algonquin Regiment, R. C. I. C. formerly of Loyal Edmonton Regiment, R. C. I. C.
14th September 1944, aged 42.
Plot X. A. 12.
Son of William Rogers Ellenwood and Margaret Anne Ellenwood; husband of Mary Grace Ellenwood, of Red Deer, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription Late Of The Loyal Edmonton Regiment. "Rest In Peace"
Click on image to enlarge (Image © Werner van Caneghem)
402360 Sergeant
Robert Johnson
Royal Australian Air Force
8th December 1941, aged 26.
Plot III. AA. 11.
Son of Robert and Isabella Bain Johnston; husband of Teresa Grace Johnston, of Kensington, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Lived With Honour And He Died For Faith"
Informal portrait of 402360 Sergeant (Sgt) Robert Johnston RAAF, 82 Squadron RAF of Turramurra NSW. Sgt Johnston was killed on 8 December 1941, aged 26, when the Blenheim aircraft V5876 aboard which he served as air observer was shot down on operations over Ostend, Belgium.
Robert Johnson
Royal Australian Air Force
8th December 1941, aged 26.
Plot III. AA. 11.
Son of Robert and Isabella Bain Johnston; husband of Teresa Grace Johnston, of Kensington, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Lived With Honour And He Died For Faith"
Informal portrait of 402360 Sergeant (Sgt) Robert Johnston RAAF, 82 Squadron RAF of Turramurra NSW. Sgt Johnston was killed on 8 December 1941, aged 26, when the Blenheim aircraft V5876 aboard which he served as air observer was shot down on operations over Ostend, Belgium.
Group portrait of 'Our Gang' - Robert Johnston, Norman Kobelke, James Courtney, William Graham and Jack Dyson. 402360 Sergeant (Sgt) Robert Johnston of Turramurra, NSW, was killed on 8 December 1941, when the Blenheim aircraft V5876 aboard which he served as air observer was shot down during air operations above Ostend, Belgium. 404343 Flying Officer (FO) Norman Kobelke of Lismore, NSW, was awarded the DFC for skill and fortitude against the enemy and survived the war. He continued to serve with the Royal Australian Airforce after the war and was killed on 9 February 1948 in an aircraft accident at Amberley Airbase, Queensland. 404092 FO James Courtney of Roma, Queensland, was killed on 21 February 1942 when the Wellington aircraft X9830 aboard which he served as air observer was shot down in a flying battle over Germany. He has no known grave and is commemorated at The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, England. 413988 Pilot Officer William Graham of Queenscliff, NSW, was killed on 16 March 1944 when the Lancaster ED 606 which he was piloting collided with Lancaster ND 637 while circling Blanston airfield preparing to land following a successful bombing mission to Stuttgart, Germany. 38193 Corporal Jack Dyson of Perth survived the war.
'Our best mail day at Mossbank'. Informal group portrait of RAAF members training in Canada. Identified, left to right: William Graham, Norman Kobelke, 'Hoot' Martin, Harry, Robert Johnston, Norman McDonald, Fred Hunter and Wally Betts. 413988 Pilot Officer William Graham of Queenscliff, NSW, was killed on 16 March 1944 when the Lancaster ED 606 which he was piloting collided with Lancaster ND 637 while circling Blanston airfield preparing to land following a successful bombing mission to Stuttgart, Germany. 404343 Flying Officer (FO) Norman Kobelke of Lismore, NSW, was awarded the DFC for skill and fortitude against the enemy and survived the war. He continued to serve with the Royal Australian Airforce after the war and was killed on 9 February 1948 in an aircraft accident at Amberley Airbase, Queensland. 402360 Sergeant Robert Johnston RAAF, 82 Squadron RAF of Turramurra NSW was killed on 8 December 1941, aged 26, when the Blenheim aircraft V5876 aboard which he served as air observer was shot down on operations over Ostend, Belgium.
'Our best mail day at Mossbank'. Informal group portrait of RAAF members training in Canada. Identified, left to right: William Graham, Norman Kobelke, 'Hoot' Martin, Harry, Robert Johnston, Norman McDonald, Fred Hunter and Wally Betts. 413988 Pilot Officer William Graham of Queenscliff, NSW, was killed on 16 March 1944 when the Lancaster ED 606 which he was piloting collided with Lancaster ND 637 while circling Blanston airfield preparing to land following a successful bombing mission to Stuttgart, Germany. 404343 Flying Officer (FO) Norman Kobelke of Lismore, NSW, was awarded the DFC for skill and fortitude against the enemy and survived the war. He continued to serve with the Royal Australian Airforce after the war and was killed on 9 February 1948 in an aircraft accident at Amberley Airbase, Queensland. 402360 Sergeant Robert Johnston RAAF, 82 Squadron RAF of Turramurra NSW was killed on 8 December 1941, aged 26, when the Blenheim aircraft V5876 aboard which he served as air observer was shot down on operations over Ostend, Belgium.
J/9688 Flight Lieutenant
George Russell Large
Pilot in 408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
16th March 1945, aged 25.
Plot XI. H. 4.
Son of Alexander Russell Large, and of Florence Lillian Large, of Makaroff, Manitoba; husband of Isabelle Kathleen Large.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That He Lay Down His Life For His Country"
Click on image to enlarge
George Russell Large
Pilot in 408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
16th March 1945, aged 25.
Plot XI. H. 4.
Son of Alexander Russell Large, and of Florence Lillian Large, of Makaroff, Manitoba; husband of Isabelle Kathleen Large.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That He Lay Down His Life For His Country"
Click on image to enlarge
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J/19116 Flying Officer
Richard Hartley Long
Pilot in 409 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
16th March 1945, aged 22.
Plot XI. G. 8.
Son of John Hartley Long and Margaret Long, of Toronto, Ontario. His brother Gordon also died on service.
His headstone bears the inscription His Brother Gordon, R. C. A. F. Is Buried in Harrogate, England. "God Wipes Away All Tears"
Richard Hartley Long
Pilot in 409 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
16th March 1945, aged 22.
Plot XI. G. 8.
Son of John Hartley Long and Margaret Long, of Toronto, Ontario. His brother Gordon also died on service.
His headstone bears the inscription His Brother Gordon, R. C. A. F. Is Buried in Harrogate, England. "God Wipes Away All Tears"
Image above © Werner Van Caneghem
