EERNEGEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
Location Information
The village of Eernegem is located south of Gistel on the N33 which runs between Oostende and Torhout. Driving south from Gistel on the N33 turn left onto the N306 direction Eernegem, cross the railway and take the third turning on the left called Kerkhofstraat. The cemetery is on the right. From the main entrance walk to the end of the main path and the graves of 2 New Zealand airmen are to the right.
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.
Eernegem Communal Cemetery contains the graves of two Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
391337 Flying Officer Ronald Lavender Baker, Pilot in 485 Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force, died 20th October 1943, aged 23. Son of Albert Victor Baker and of Sarah Christina Baker (nee Tod), of Wellington City, New Zealand; husband of Margaret Gwenda Baker (nee Hughes), of Khandallah, Wellington.
413510 Flying Officer John Gordon Thomson, (Mentioned in Despatches). Pilot in 485 Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force, died 20th October 1943, aged 21. Son of Donald Thomson and of Ruth Thomson (nee Green), of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.
The village of Eernegem is located south of Gistel on the N33 which runs between Oostende and Torhout. Driving south from Gistel on the N33 turn left onto the N306 direction Eernegem, cross the railway and take the third turning on the left called Kerkhofstraat. The cemetery is on the right. From the main entrance walk to the end of the main path and the graves of 2 New Zealand airmen are to the right.
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.
Eernegem Communal Cemetery contains the graves of two Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
391337 Flying Officer Ronald Lavender Baker, Pilot in 485 Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force, died 20th October 1943, aged 23. Son of Albert Victor Baker and of Sarah Christina Baker (nee Tod), of Wellington City, New Zealand; husband of Margaret Gwenda Baker (nee Hughes), of Khandallah, Wellington.
413510 Flying Officer John Gordon Thomson, (Mentioned in Despatches). Pilot in 485 Sqdn. Royal New Zealand Air Force, died 20th October 1943, aged 21. Son of Donald Thomson and of Ruth Thomson (nee Green), of Palmerston North, Wellington, New Zealand.
