ESQUELMES WAR CEMETERY
Hainaut
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.67377 Longitude: 3.34966
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Esquelmes War Cemetery is located 10 Km north of Tournai on the Chemin Garenne, a road leading from the N50 road to Kortrijk.
10 km north of Tournai lies the right hand turning from the N50 rue de Tournai onto rue du Village. The first left hand turning from the rue du Village leads onto chemin Garenne. The cemetery is located 200 metres along the chemin Garenne.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note a 50 metre grassed access path which is not suitable for vehicles.
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.
Those buried in Esquelmes War Cemetery died in defending the line of the River Scheldt; the Germans attempted to cross the river near Esquelmes during the morning of 21 May, but were replused after heavy fighting. They eventually crossed on 23 May, when the British Expeditionary Force withdrew to the Gort Line.
Casualties buried in various places in the neighbourhood were brought to Esquelmes by the Belgian authorities in September 1940.
The cemetery contains 233 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 32 of them unidentified.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 201.
Unidentified Casualties: 32.
Esquelmes War Cemetery is located 10 Km north of Tournai on the Chemin Garenne, a road leading from the N50 road to Kortrijk.
10 km north of Tournai lies the right hand turning from the N50 rue de Tournai onto rue du Village. The first left hand turning from the rue du Village leads onto chemin Garenne. The cemetery is located 200 metres along the chemin Garenne.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note a 50 metre grassed access path which is not suitable for vehicles.
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.
Those buried in Esquelmes War Cemetery died in defending the line of the River Scheldt; the Germans attempted to cross the river near Esquelmes during the morning of 21 May, but were replused after heavy fighting. They eventually crossed on 23 May, when the British Expeditionary Force withdrew to the Gort Line.
Casualties buried in various places in the neighbourhood were brought to Esquelmes by the Belgian authorities in September 1940.
The cemetery contains 233 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 32 of them unidentified.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 201.
Unidentified Casualties: 32.
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
5043545 Lance Corporal
George Bennett
2nd The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
20th May 1940, aged 35.
Plot V. B. 41.
Husband of Gertrude Bennett, of Sandyford, Staffordshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "One Of The Best" Remembered By His Wife Gertrude, Children, George, Marion, Joan And Graham
George Bennett
2nd The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
20th May 1940, aged 35.
Plot V. B. 41.
Husband of Gertrude Bennett, of Sandyford, Staffordshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "One Of The Best" Remembered By His Wife Gertrude, Children, George, Marion, Joan And Graham
74158 Second Lieutenant
Alexander Graeme Moncrieff Cheale
4th Bn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
23rd May 1940, aged 20.
Plot VI. B. 17.
Son of Lt.-Col. Alexander Robert Cheale and Kathleen Cheale, of Wadhurst, Sussex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Resurget"
Alexander Graeme Moncrieff Cheale
4th Bn. Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment
23rd May 1940, aged 20.
Plot VI. B. 17.
Son of Lt.-Col. Alexander Robert Cheale and Kathleen Cheale, of Wadhurst, Sussex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Resurget"
70990 Lieutenant
John Terence Philip Swift Flynn
7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
27th May 1940, aged 23.
Plot V. A. 29.
Son of John Swift Flynn and Fanny Theresa Flynn, of Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Eternal Rest Give Unto Him O Lord; And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. Amen"
John Terence Philip Swift Flynn
7th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
27th May 1940, aged 23.
Plot V. A. 29.
Son of John Swift Flynn and Fanny Theresa Flynn, of Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Eternal Rest Give Unto Him O Lord; And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him. Amen"
3956935 Serjeant
Stanley George Llewellyn
1/8th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
21st May 1940, aged 30.
Plot V. B. 53.
Son of Thomas and Edith Llewellyn; husband of Kathleen Llewellyn, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
His headstone bears the inscription "My Dear Husband. Always Lovingly Remembered By His Wife And Son Tom." "St David Pray For Him"
Click on image to enlarge
Stanley George Llewellyn
1/8th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
21st May 1940, aged 30.
Plot V. B. 53.
Son of Thomas and Edith Llewellyn; husband of Kathleen Llewellyn, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
His headstone bears the inscription "My Dear Husband. Always Lovingly Remembered By His Wife And Son Tom." "St David Pray For Him"
Click on image to enlarge
51289 Lieutenant
Henry George Alan Percy
3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards
21st May 1940, aged 27.
Plot IV. B. 7.
9th Duke of Northumberland. Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Lord Privy Seal, 1935. Son of the late Alan Ian Percy, K.G., C.B.E., M.V.O., 8th Duke of Northumberland, and of Helen Magdalen, Duchess of Northumberland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Esperance En Dieu"
Henry George Alan Percy
3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards
21st May 1940, aged 27.
Plot IV. B. 7.
9th Duke of Northumberland. Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Lord Privy Seal, 1935. Son of the late Alan Ian Percy, K.G., C.B.E., M.V.O., 8th Duke of Northumberland, and of Helen Magdalen, Duchess of Northumberland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Esperance En Dieu"
2611976 Guardsman
William Wellington Rowland
3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards
21st May 1940, aged 28.
Plot III. A. 1.
Son of John Edward and Sarah Jane Rowland, of Chaddesden, Derbyshire; husband of Maud Rowland, of Chaddesden.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Ever loving Remembrance Of Daddy"
William Wellington Rowland
3rd Bn. Grenadier Guards
21st May 1940, aged 28.
Plot III. A. 1.
Son of John Edward and Sarah Jane Rowland, of Chaddesden, Derbyshire; husband of Maud Rowland, of Chaddesden.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Ever loving Remembrance Of Daddy"
6091361 Private
Jacob A. Segrott
1/6th The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
21st May 1940, aged 19.
Plot VI. A. 10.
Son of Jacob George and Beatrice Maud Segrott, of Erith, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription "God Has You In His Keeping We Have You In Our Hearts"
Jacob A. Segrott
1/6th The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
21st May 1940, aged 19.
Plot VI. A. 10.
Son of Jacob George and Beatrice Maud Segrott, of Erith, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription "God Has You In His Keeping We Have You In Our Hearts"
