DE PANNE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.08675 Longitude: 2.60073
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
De Panne Communal Cemetery is located 6 Km west of Veurne on the N34 Kerkstraat, a road leading from the N35 Pannestraat connecting Veurne to De Panne.
From Veurne the N35 leads for 6 kilometres to the coastal village of De Panne. On reaching the village of De Panne the N35 meets the N34 towards Adinkerke. 2 Km along the N34 on the left hand side lies the Communal Cemetery of De Panne.
This cemetery is forewarned by a distinct bending of the road immediately prior to reaching the cemetery.
Visiting Information
It should be noted that this cemetery is not an open site and access is limited by normal cemetery opening hours.
Wheelchair access to site possible - maybe by an alternative 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.
De Panne village was the site of the final General Headquarters of the BEF in 1940, and there was a Casualty Clearing Station on the beach, which was an embarkation beach for the evacuation. From 27 May to 1 June 1940, the Germans strove to prevent the embarkation of the troops by incessant bombing, machine-gunning and shelling. The first German troops reached the village between 14.00 and 15.00 hrs on 31 May, and after heavy fighting, the commune was completely occupied by about 9.00 hrs on 1 June.
The Commonwealth plot in the communal cemetery was specially constructed by the local authorities in August 1940, so that the Commonwealth graves might all be together. More than 200 of the burials were moved by the Belgians into this plot from other locations in the cemetery and from scattered sites on the beaches and roads of the commune. The remainder were casualties later washed ashore, airmen shot down by the Germans, and others who lost their lives at the time of the liberation in 1944.
There are now 259 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the Second World War in this cemetery. 79 of the burials are unidentified but seven casualties known to be buried among them but whose graves cannot now be precisely identified are commemorated by special memorials inscribed "Buried near this spot". The cemetery also contains two First World War burials (one of which is unidentified), both together in Block F of the Civilian section, 10 metres from entrance to the Belgian Military Plot.
Total Burials: 283.
World War One Identified Casualty: United Kingdom 1.
World War One Unidentified Casualty: United Kingdom 1.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 180, Czechoslovakia 8. Total 188.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 93.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
De Panne Communal Cemetery is located 6 Km west of Veurne on the N34 Kerkstraat, a road leading from the N35 Pannestraat connecting Veurne to De Panne.
From Veurne the N35 leads for 6 kilometres to the coastal village of De Panne. On reaching the village of De Panne the N35 meets the N34 towards Adinkerke. 2 Km along the N34 on the left hand side lies the Communal Cemetery of De Panne.
This cemetery is forewarned by a distinct bending of the road immediately prior to reaching the cemetery.
Visiting Information
It should be noted that this cemetery is not an open site and access is limited by normal cemetery opening hours.
Wheelchair access to site possible - maybe by an alternative 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.
De Panne village was the site of the final General Headquarters of the BEF in 1940, and there was a Casualty Clearing Station on the beach, which was an embarkation beach for the evacuation. From 27 May to 1 June 1940, the Germans strove to prevent the embarkation of the troops by incessant bombing, machine-gunning and shelling. The first German troops reached the village between 14.00 and 15.00 hrs on 31 May, and after heavy fighting, the commune was completely occupied by about 9.00 hrs on 1 June.
The Commonwealth plot in the communal cemetery was specially constructed by the local authorities in August 1940, so that the Commonwealth graves might all be together. More than 200 of the burials were moved by the Belgians into this plot from other locations in the cemetery and from scattered sites on the beaches and roads of the commune. The remainder were casualties later washed ashore, airmen shot down by the Germans, and others who lost their lives at the time of the liberation in 1944.
There are now 259 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the Second World War in this cemetery. 79 of the burials are unidentified but seven casualties known to be buried among them but whose graves cannot now be precisely identified are commemorated by special memorials inscribed "Buried near this spot". The cemetery also contains two First World War burials (one of which is unidentified), both together in Block F of the Civilian section, 10 metres from entrance to the Belgian Military Plot.
Total Burials: 283.
World War One Identified Casualty: United Kingdom 1.
World War One Unidentified Casualty: United Kingdom 1.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 180, Czechoslovakia 8. Total 188.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 93.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
World War One Burials
898718 Assistant Cook John Cain, R.F.A. "Hughli.", Mercantile Marine Reserve, died 26th April 1919, aged 50. Son of James and Elizabeth Cain; husband of Ellen Cain, of 5, Summerdale Terrace, Garmoyle Rd., Liverpool.
World War Two Burials
T/99495 Driver
Deryck William Darby
Royal Army Service Corps, 3 Div. Ammunition Coy.
28th May 1940, aged 21.
Plot 2. Row A. Grave 33.
Son of Gerald S. C. and Annie Darby, of Derby.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
Deryck William Darby
Royal Army Service Corps, 3 Div. Ammunition Coy.
28th May 1940, aged 21.
Plot 2. Row A. Grave 33.
Son of Gerald S. C. and Annie Darby, of Derby.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
68977 Captain
Angus Frederic Galloway
59 Field Company, Royal Engineers
31st May 1940, aged 25.
Plot 3. A. 31.
Son of Frederic W. and Edith A. Galloway, of Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. B.A., Hons. (Cantab.). Awarded the Governor-General's and the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario's Medal at the R.M.C., Kingston. Also awarded the Fowke Memorial Medal (Chatham).
His headstone bears the inscription "Ever The First"
Angus Frederic Galloway
59 Field Company, Royal Engineers
31st May 1940, aged 25.
Plot 3. A. 31.
Son of Frederic W. and Edith A. Galloway, of Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. B.A., Hons. (Cantab.). Awarded the Governor-General's and the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario's Medal at the R.M.C., Kingston. Also awarded the Fowke Memorial Medal (Chatham).
His headstone bears the inscription "Ever The First"
1869010 Sapper
Frederick Leslie Hall
7 Field Company, Royal Engineers
31st May 1940, aged 30.
Plot 2. B. 5.
Son of Joseph and Caroline Hall, of Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them"
Frederick Leslie Hall
7 Field Company, Royal Engineers
31st May 1940, aged 30.
Plot 2. B. 5.
Son of Joseph and Caroline Hall, of Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them"
4341121 Warrant Officer
Neville Hardie
2nd Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
26th May 1940, aged 29.
Plot 2. B. 6.
Son of Harry and Ada Hardie, husband of Ethel Hardie of Hull.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of A Darling Husband And Beloved Daddy. He Died To Save His Country"
Pictures courtesy of great nephew, Chris Cox
Neville Hardie
2nd Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
26th May 1940, aged 29.
Plot 2. B. 6.
Son of Harry and Ada Hardie, husband of Ethel Hardie of Hull.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of A Darling Husband And Beloved Daddy. He Died To Save His Country"
Pictures courtesy of great nephew, Chris Cox
4343851 Private
Harry Wilson
2nd Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
29th May 1940, aged 19.
Plot 2. A. 13.
Son of Henry and Mary Ann Wilson, of Hull.
His headstone bears the inscription "Time Passes But Memories Cling. Mam, Dad, Sisters And Brother"
Picture courtesy of Karren Andrews.
Harry Wilson
2nd Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment
29th May 1940, aged 19.
Plot 2. A. 13.
Son of Henry and Mary Ann Wilson, of Hull.
His headstone bears the inscription "Time Passes But Memories Cling. Mam, Dad, Sisters And Brother"
Picture courtesy of Karren Andrews.
