CHIÈVRES COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Hainaut
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.58893 Longitude: 3.81626
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Chièvres Communal Cemetery is located 15 km north west of Mons on the N525 a road leading from the N56 connecting Mons to Ath.
From Mons the N56 Chaussee de Mons leads for 22 km to the left hand turning onto the N525 Grande Rue. 2 km along the N525 lies the village of Chièvres. The cemetery is located immediately before entering the village on the right hand side of the Grande Rue.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note that this site is open every day from 08.00 hours to 19.00 hours.
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.
From 1941 onwards, there was an important Luftwaffe air base at Chièvres, which was attacked twenty-one times by the Allies between November 1943 and 3 September 1944.
The cemetery contains 58 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
Total Burials: 58.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 46, Australia 5, Canada 5, New Zealand 2. Total 58.
Chièvres Communal Cemetery is located 15 km north west of Mons on the N525 a road leading from the N56 connecting Mons to Ath.
From Mons the N56 Chaussee de Mons leads for 22 km to the left hand turning onto the N525 Grande Rue. 2 km along the N525 lies the village of Chièvres. The cemetery is located immediately before entering the village on the right hand side of the Grande Rue.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note that this site is open every day from 08.00 hours to 19.00 hours.
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.
From 1941 onwards, there was an important Luftwaffe air base at Chièvres, which was attacked twenty-one times by the Allies between November 1943 and 3 September 1944.
The cemetery contains 58 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
Total Burials: 58.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 46, Australia 5, Canada 5, New Zealand 2. Total 58.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
R/54021 Sergeant
James Blain Anderson
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 35 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
25th August 1941.
Joint Grave 1-2.
James Blain Anderson
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 35 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
25th August 1941.
Joint Grave 1-2.
J/87454 Pilot Officer
Donald Johnston Copeland
Air Gunner in 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
9th May 1944.
Grave 34.
Donald Johnston Copeland
Air Gunner in 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
9th May 1944.
Grave 34.
1123166 Flight Sergeant
William Waller Dawson
Observer in 61 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
17th April 1943, aged 22.
Grave 12.
Son of John Michael and Betsy Dawson, of Sedburgh, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Ever Loving Memory"
William Waller Dawson
Observer in 61 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
17th April 1943, aged 22.
Grave 12.
Son of John Michael and Betsy Dawson, of Sedburgh, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Ever Loving Memory"
422157 Flight Sergeant
Rex Feakes
Royal Australian Air Force
14th July 1943, aged 19.
Coll. Grave 14-15.
Son of Frank Thomas Feakes and Frieda Anna Feakes, of Manly, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Admired And Loved By All Who Knew Him"
Hand coloured studio portrait of 422157 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Rex Feakes, 466 Squadron, RAAF, of Manly, NSW. A clerk in civilian life, Flt Sgt Feakes enlisted on 25 April 1942 and trained as an observer. On the night of 13/14 July 1943, Flt Sgt Feakes was the Bomb Aimer on Wellington LN288 aircraft which took off from RAF Leconfield to bomb Aachen, Germany. The aircraft crashed at Baudour, Belgium, presumably as a result of enemy action. All the crew, including Flt Sgt Feakes, aged 19, were killed. The other crew members were 413856 Flt Sgt William Alfred Gunning, RAAF, Captain (Pilot); (Picture below), Sgt H C Jordan, RCAF (Navigator); (Picture below), D W Covell, RAF, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner); and Sgt T F Cummins, RAF (Rear Gunner).
Rex Feakes
Royal Australian Air Force
14th July 1943, aged 19.
Coll. Grave 14-15.
Son of Frank Thomas Feakes and Frieda Anna Feakes, of Manly, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Admired And Loved By All Who Knew Him"
Hand coloured studio portrait of 422157 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Rex Feakes, 466 Squadron, RAAF, of Manly, NSW. A clerk in civilian life, Flt Sgt Feakes enlisted on 25 April 1942 and trained as an observer. On the night of 13/14 July 1943, Flt Sgt Feakes was the Bomb Aimer on Wellington LN288 aircraft which took off from RAF Leconfield to bomb Aachen, Germany. The aircraft crashed at Baudour, Belgium, presumably as a result of enemy action. All the crew, including Flt Sgt Feakes, aged 19, were killed. The other crew members were 413856 Flt Sgt William Alfred Gunning, RAAF, Captain (Pilot); (Picture below), Sgt H C Jordan, RCAF (Navigator); (Picture below), D W Covell, RAF, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner); and Sgt T F Cummins, RAF (Rear Gunner).
413856 Flight Sergeant
William Alfred Gunning
Royal Australian Air Force
14th July 1943, aged 20.
Coll. Grave 14-15.
Son of Camden Lewis Gunning and Minnie Clara Gunning, of Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Duty Done. Requiescat In Pace"
William Alfred Gunning
Royal Australian Air Force
14th July 1943, aged 20.
Coll. Grave 14-15.
Son of Camden Lewis Gunning and Minnie Clara Gunning, of Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Duty Done. Requiescat In Pace"
R/135639 Flight Sergeant
Herbert Charles Jordan
Navigator in 466 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
14th July 1943, aged 22.
Coll. Grave 14-15.
Son of Herbert A. and Blanche T. Jordan, of Renfrew, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Born At Renfrew, Ontario, Canada"
Herbert Charles Jordan
Navigator in 466 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
14th July 1943, aged 22.
Coll. Grave 14-15.
Son of Herbert A. and Blanche T. Jordan, of Renfrew, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Born At Renfrew, Ontario, Canada"
411766 Pilot Officer
William Robert Kell
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in Royal New Zealand Air Force
19th November 1943, aged 23.
Grave 24.
Son of John Robert Kell and of Isabel Alice Kellnee Goodwin), of Dannevirke, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
William Robert Kell
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in Royal New Zealand Air Force
19th November 1943, aged 23.
Grave 24.
Son of John Robert Kell and of Isabel Alice Kellnee Goodwin), of Dannevirke, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
J/23950 Flight Lieutenant
Gordon Winston Knupp
405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
9th May 1944.
Coll. Grave 31.
Gordon Winston Knupp
405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
9th May 1944.
Coll. Grave 31.
405801 Flight Lieutenant
John William Anthony Myers
Pilot in 75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
19th July 1944, aged 25.
Grave 37.
Son of Charles Ernest Myers and of Lydia Jane Myers (nee Cunningham), of Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand.
John William Anthony Myers
Pilot in 75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
19th July 1944, aged 25.
Grave 37.
Son of Charles Ernest Myers and of Lydia Jane Myers (nee Cunningham), of Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand.
423850 Flying Officer
Owen Scott MacPhillamy
Royal Australian Air Force
13th August 1944, aged 21.
Grave 41.
Son of Angus Owen and Isma MacPhillamy, of Rockley, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Eldest Son Of Angus And Isma Of rockley, N. S. W. Australia"
Owen Scott MacPhillamy
Royal Australian Air Force
13th August 1944, aged 21.
Grave 41.
Son of Angus Owen and Isma MacPhillamy, of Rockley, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Eldest Son Of Angus And Isma Of rockley, N. S. W. Australia"
64889 Pilot Officer
Jack McGregor-Cheers
35 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th August 1941, aged 24.
Grave 7.
Son of Joseph McGregor-Cheers, O.B.E., and Ellen McGregor-Cheers, of Bedford.
His father was born Joseph Cheers and was born in Chester. He added his wife's maiden name McGregor on marrying Ellen, who was born in India.
Jack was born on 15th September 1916 at Simla (present day Shimla), Himachal, Pradesh, India.
He was given a commission as Pilot Officer during the war.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Shall Remember Thee Always"
Additional text provided by Emma Louise Elliott
Jack McGregor-Cheers
35 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th August 1941, aged 24.
Grave 7.
Son of Joseph McGregor-Cheers, O.B.E., and Ellen McGregor-Cheers, of Bedford.
His father was born Joseph Cheers and was born in Chester. He added his wife's maiden name McGregor on marrying Ellen, who was born in India.
Jack was born on 15th September 1916 at Simla (present day Shimla), Himachal, Pradesh, India.
He was given a commission as Pilot Officer during the war.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Shall Remember Thee Always"
Additional text provided by Emma Louise Elliott
J/85382 Pilot Officer
Claude Michael Sylvah
Air Gunner in 405 Squadron. Royal Canadian Air Force
9th May 1944, aged 33.
Grave 33.
Son of Thomas Henry and Anna Bernadette Sylvah, of Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "May his Soul Rest In Peace"
Claude Michael Sylvah
Air Gunner in 405 Squadron. Royal Canadian Air Force
9th May 1944, aged 33.
Grave 33.
Son of Thomas Henry and Anna Bernadette Sylvah, of Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "May his Soul Rest In Peace"
