ASSESSE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Namur
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.37433 Longitude: 5.02923
Location Information
The village of Assesse is located north-east of the town of Ciney on the N4. From the motorway E411/A4 which runs between Namur and Luxembourg turn off at junction 18 onto the N4 direction Assesse. Take the second turning off, signed again Assesse, and at the T junction turn left in the direction of Gesves, this road is called rue de Pourrain and the communal cemetery is a short way along here on the right. The graves are located to the right of the entrance.
Historical Information
The British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944, but in the intervening years, many airmen were shot down or crashed in raids on strategic objectives in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany.
Assesse Communal Cemetery contains the graves of five airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
1612568 Sergeant James Lawrence Brent, Navigator in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943, aged 21. Son of Alfred Henry and Ada Florence Brent.
1334913 Sergeant Ronald William Fontaine, Air Bomber in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943.
1332705 Sergeant Harry Herbert Stagg, Flight Engineer, in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943, aged 29. Son of Herbert William and Margaret Mary Stagg, of Portsmouth; husband of Jean Thomson Stagg, of North End, Portsmouth.
1048366 Sergeant Frank Thomas, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943.
156310 Pilot Officer Stanley Philip Iltid Thomas, Pilot in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943.
Pictures below © André De Smet
The village of Assesse is located north-east of the town of Ciney on the N4. From the motorway E411/A4 which runs between Namur and Luxembourg turn off at junction 18 onto the N4 direction Assesse. Take the second turning off, signed again Assesse, and at the T junction turn left in the direction of Gesves, this road is called rue de Pourrain and the communal cemetery is a short way along here on the right. The graves are located to the right of the entrance.
Historical Information
The British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944, but in the intervening years, many airmen were shot down or crashed in raids on strategic objectives in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany.
Assesse Communal Cemetery contains the graves of five airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
1612568 Sergeant James Lawrence Brent, Navigator in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943, aged 21. Son of Alfred Henry and Ada Florence Brent.
1334913 Sergeant Ronald William Fontaine, Air Bomber in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943.
1332705 Sergeant Harry Herbert Stagg, Flight Engineer, in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943, aged 29. Son of Herbert William and Margaret Mary Stagg, of Portsmouth; husband of Jean Thomson Stagg, of North End, Portsmouth.
1048366 Sergeant Frank Thomas, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943.
156310 Pilot Officer Stanley Philip Iltid Thomas, Pilot in 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 18th November 1943.
Pictures below © André De Smet
Pictures below © Johan Pauwels
