BLANKENBERGE TOWN CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.30725 Longitude: 3.12871
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Blankenberge Town cemetery is located on the coast of Belgium, 4 km west from Zeebrugge and 20 km east of Oostende.
The N34 runs from Zeebrugge to Oostende via the town of Blankenberge. From Zeebrugge or Oostende the N34 Koning Albertlaan leads directly to the town square. The cemetery itself is located via Kerkstraat N371, then right onto Zuidlaan for 500 metres, finally turning left along Landijk for 100 metres to the cemetery itself.
This cemetery is not an open site and access is limited by normal cemetery opening hours.
Visiting InformationThe cemetery opening hours are as follows :
From 1 April until 30 April: from 08.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs.
From 1 May until 15 September: from 07.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
From 16 September until 15 November: from 08.00 hrs to 18.00 hrs.
From 16 November until 31 March: from 08.00 hrs to 16.0o hrs.
Wheelchair access possible via main 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.
The Commonwealth plot in Blankenberge Town Cemetery contains 80 burials of the Second World War, 14 of them unidentified. Over half the graves are as a result of the sinking of H.M.L.S.T. 420, which was carrying Royal Air Force personnel, outside the port of Oostende on the 7th November 1944. The plot also contains three war burials of other nationalities and one non-war grave. Elsewhere in the cemetery, there are ten Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
Total Burials: 94.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 8. Total 8.
World War One Unidentified Casualties: 2. Total 2.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 66, Norway 1, Poland 1. Total 68.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 14. Total 14.
World War One Burials
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem and Geerhard Joos
Lieutenant Commander George Nicholson Bradford, V. C.
H. M. S. Iris II, Royal Navy
23rd April 1918, aged 31.
Plot A. 5.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Bradford, of Milbanke, Darlington. His brothers, James Barker Bradford and Roland Boys Bradford also died on service.
Citation:
An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31236, dated 14th March, 1919, records the following:-"For most conspicuous gallantry at Zeebrugge on the night of the 22nd-23rd April, 1918. This Officer was in command of the Naval Storming Parties embarked in '' Iris II.'' When '' Iris II '' proceeded alongside the Mole great difficulty was experienced in placing the parapet anchors owing to the motion of the ship. An attempt was made to land by the scaling ladders before the ship was secured. Lieutenant Claude E. K. Hawkings (late '' Erin '') managed to, get one ladder in position and actually reached the parapet, the ladder being crushed to pieces just as he stepped off it. This very gallant young officer was last seen defending himself with his revolver. He was killed on the parapet. Though securing the ship was not part of his duties, Lieut.-Commander Bradford climbed up the derrick, which carried a large parapet anchor and was rigged out over the port side; during this climb the ship was surging up and down and the derrick crashing on the Mole. Waiting his opportunity he jumped with the parapet anchor on to the Mole and placed it in position. Immediately after hooking on the parapet anchor Lieut.-Commander Bradford was riddled with bullets from machine guns and fell into the sea between the Mole and the ship. Attempts to recover his body failed. Lieut.-Commander Bradford''s action was one of absolute self-sacrifice; without a moment''s hesitation he went to certain death, recognising that in such action lay the only possible chance of securing '' Iris II '' and enabling her storming parties to land."
H. M. S. Iris II, Royal Navy
23rd April 1918, aged 31.
Plot A. 5.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Bradford, of Milbanke, Darlington. His brothers, James Barker Bradford and Roland Boys Bradford also died on service.
Citation:
An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 31236, dated 14th March, 1919, records the following:-"For most conspicuous gallantry at Zeebrugge on the night of the 22nd-23rd April, 1918. This Officer was in command of the Naval Storming Parties embarked in '' Iris II.'' When '' Iris II '' proceeded alongside the Mole great difficulty was experienced in placing the parapet anchors owing to the motion of the ship. An attempt was made to land by the scaling ladders before the ship was secured. Lieutenant Claude E. K. Hawkings (late '' Erin '') managed to, get one ladder in position and actually reached the parapet, the ladder being crushed to pieces just as he stepped off it. This very gallant young officer was last seen defending himself with his revolver. He was killed on the parapet. Though securing the ship was not part of his duties, Lieut.-Commander Bradford climbed up the derrick, which carried a large parapet anchor and was rigged out over the port side; during this climb the ship was surging up and down and the derrick crashing on the Mole. Waiting his opportunity he jumped with the parapet anchor on to the Mole and placed it in position. Immediately after hooking on the parapet anchor Lieut.-Commander Bradford was riddled with bullets from machine guns and fell into the sea between the Mole and the ship. Attempts to recover his body failed. Lieut.-Commander Bradford''s action was one of absolute self-sacrifice; without a moment''s hesitation he went to certain death, recognising that in such action lay the only possible chance of securing '' Iris II '' and enabling her storming parties to land."
Picture © Geerhard Joos
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Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
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Lieutenant
William Benson Craig, D. F. C.
204th Squadron, Royal Air Force
26th September 1918, aged 23.
Row B. 3.
Son of Richard and Elizabeth Craig, of Smiths Falls, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "After the Cross, The Crown"
William Benson Craig, D. F. C.
204th Squadron, Royal Air Force
26th September 1918, aged 23.
Row B. 3.
Son of Richard and Elizabeth Craig, of Smiths Falls, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "After the Cross, The Crown"
Lieutenant
George Edwy Caldwell Howard
204th Squadron, Royal Air Force
26th September 1918, aged 22.
Row B. 4.
Son of Lelia R. Howard, of 100, Queen's Park, Toronto, and the late Edwy S. Howard. Graduate of Toronto University. Enlisted 1916. Gazetted Sub.-Lieut. R.N.A.S., 1917.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Son Of The Late E. S. Howard & Of Mrs. Howard Of Toronto Canada"
George Edwy Caldwell Howard
204th Squadron, Royal Air Force
26th September 1918, aged 22.
Row B. 4.
Son of Lelia R. Howard, of 100, Queen's Park, Toronto, and the late Edwy S. Howard. Graduate of Toronto University. Enlisted 1916. Gazetted Sub.-Lieut. R.N.A.S., 1917.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Son Of The Late E. S. Howard & Of Mrs. Howard Of Toronto Canada"
Other World War One Burials
SS/7786 J. T. M. Ashley, H. M. S. North Star, Royal Navy, died 23rd April 1918.
Lieutenant C. Briggs, Royal Air Force, died 27th June 1918.
Second Lieutenant Leslie Seymour Ross Jones, 3rd Bn. Devonshire Regiment and 65th Squadron, Royal air Force, died 6th October 1918, aged 19. Son of George Noble Jones and Blanche Seymour Jones. Born at Johannesburg, Transvaal.
F/29069 Chief Mechanician E. J. L. McNicol, H. M. S. North Star, Royal Navy, died 23rd April 1918.
J/24003 Able Seaman A. E. C. Stevenson, H. M. S. North Star, Royal Navy, died 23rd April 1918.
Other World War One Burials
SS/7786 J. T. M. Ashley, H. M. S. North Star, Royal Navy, died 23rd April 1918.
Lieutenant C. Briggs, Royal Air Force, died 27th June 1918.
Second Lieutenant Leslie Seymour Ross Jones, 3rd Bn. Devonshire Regiment and 65th Squadron, Royal air Force, died 6th October 1918, aged 19. Son of George Noble Jones and Blanche Seymour Jones. Born at Johannesburg, Transvaal.
F/29069 Chief Mechanician E. J. L. McNicol, H. M. S. North Star, Royal Navy, died 23rd April 1918.
J/24003 Able Seaman A. E. C. Stevenson, H. M. S. North Star, Royal Navy, died 23rd April 1918.
World War Two Burials
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
Sailor
Oscar Ewall Berntzen
Norwegian Navy
3rd December 1944.
Row H. 1.
Oscar Ewall Berntzen
Norwegian Navy
3rd December 1944.
Row H. 1.
