FLUSHING (VLISSINGEN) NORTHERN CEMETERY
Zeeland
Netherlands
Location Information
The port of Flushing is on the south coast of the island of Walcheren in the Schelde Estuary. It is about 7 kilometres south of Middelburg and 58 kilometres west of Bergen op Zoom. From the ferry terminal follow the main road out to the first large crossroads, turn left onto the A58. Follow the A58 over the railway and canal then take the first turn right, go under the bridge and continue to the first traffic lights. At the lights turn right into President Rooseveltlaan. The cemetery is along on the left opposite a tyre repair centre.
Visiting Information
The cemetery is open every day from 09.00 hours to 16.00 hours.
History Information
A special Allied section was given, during the War, to the Belgian society "Herdenken om te Strijden", and the society erected a monument; this section, at the fork of the roads near the main entrance, contains British, Belgian and French graves. There are 36 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war, 11 of which are unidentified. There are also 200 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war, 24 of which are unidentified.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
The port of Flushing is on the south coast of the island of Walcheren in the Schelde Estuary. It is about 7 kilometres south of Middelburg and 58 kilometres west of Bergen op Zoom. From the ferry terminal follow the main road out to the first large crossroads, turn left onto the A58. Follow the A58 over the railway and canal then take the first turn right, go under the bridge and continue to the first traffic lights. At the lights turn right into President Rooseveltlaan. The cemetery is along on the left opposite a tyre repair centre.
Visiting Information
The cemetery is open every day from 09.00 hours to 16.00 hours.
History Information
A special Allied section was given, during the War, to the Belgian society "Herdenken om te Strijden", and the society erected a monument; this section, at the fork of the roads near the main entrance, contains British, Belgian and French graves. There are 36 Commonwealth burials of the 1914-1918 war, 11 of which are unidentified. There are also 200 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war, 24 of which are unidentified.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
Entrance, Memorial and Cemetery Map
World War One Burials
World War Two Burials
Group portrait of a flight crew of 467 Squadron RAAF.
Identified, from left to right: 421483 Flt Sgt Ronald Gordon 'Duke' Wellington, Mid Upper Gunner; 416679 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Sydney Edward (Syd) Jackson; Sgt A T McB 'Jock' Proudfoot, RAF, Flight Engineer; 414460 Flt Sgt Roy Edward Brook; 414365 Pilot officer (PO) Geoff J Smith, Captain, Pilot; 409669 Flt Sgt Raymond Ernest 'Ray' Dallwitz, Navigator; and 409579 Flt Sgt John Edmund Francis, Bombardier.
This image was probably taken at Bottesford, Leicestershire, where the squadron was based. Post war it was established that the aircraft crashed while taking evasive action from flak off the Dutch coast and the aircraft crashed into the sea 4kms north of Vlissengen.
PO Smith, Sgt Proudfoot and Flt Sgt Wellington survived the crash and became Prisoners of War (POWs). The remaining four crew members were all killed. Flt Sgt Dallwitz and Flt Sgt Jackson are buried In the Vlissengen Cemetery, Flushing, Holland, and Flt Sgt Francis and Flt Sgt Brook are listed a missing and their names are commemorated on the Royal Air Forces Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK. In a statement PO Smith reported "Aircraft hotly engaged by A/A fire off the Frisian Islands night 3/4th October 1943. While taking avoiding action at low height the aircraft went into the sea. Dallwitz/Francis/Brook/Jackson not seen after hit water. Presumed drowned." In his statement Flt Sgt Wellington reported "Loss of aircraft caused firstly by flak. Being attacked constantly by fighters we flew at low level. We hit the sea. I have no knowledge of anything else as I was knocked unconscious. To my belief four members of the crew were trapped when we struck the water - Dallwitz/Francis/Brook/Jackson. I was released by the Russians on 22 April 1945."
409669 Flight Sergeant Raymond Ernest Dallwitz, Royal Australian Air Force, died 4th October 1943, aged 26. Son of August Hermann Dallwitz and Marie Magdalene Dallwitz, of Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. INSCRIPTION. HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. REST IN PEACE.
416679 Flight Sergeant Sydney Edward Jackson, Royal Australian Air Force, died 4th October 1943, aged 20. Son of Harry Brown Jackson and Elizabeth Jackson, of Gawler, South Australia. INSCRIPTION. HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE.
Identified, from left to right: 421483 Flt Sgt Ronald Gordon 'Duke' Wellington, Mid Upper Gunner; 416679 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Sydney Edward (Syd) Jackson; Sgt A T McB 'Jock' Proudfoot, RAF, Flight Engineer; 414460 Flt Sgt Roy Edward Brook; 414365 Pilot officer (PO) Geoff J Smith, Captain, Pilot; 409669 Flt Sgt Raymond Ernest 'Ray' Dallwitz, Navigator; and 409579 Flt Sgt John Edmund Francis, Bombardier.
This image was probably taken at Bottesford, Leicestershire, where the squadron was based. Post war it was established that the aircraft crashed while taking evasive action from flak off the Dutch coast and the aircraft crashed into the sea 4kms north of Vlissengen.
PO Smith, Sgt Proudfoot and Flt Sgt Wellington survived the crash and became Prisoners of War (POWs). The remaining four crew members were all killed. Flt Sgt Dallwitz and Flt Sgt Jackson are buried In the Vlissengen Cemetery, Flushing, Holland, and Flt Sgt Francis and Flt Sgt Brook are listed a missing and their names are commemorated on the Royal Air Forces Memorial to the Missing, Runnymede, Surrey, UK. In a statement PO Smith reported "Aircraft hotly engaged by A/A fire off the Frisian Islands night 3/4th October 1943. While taking avoiding action at low height the aircraft went into the sea. Dallwitz/Francis/Brook/Jackson not seen after hit water. Presumed drowned." In his statement Flt Sgt Wellington reported "Loss of aircraft caused firstly by flak. Being attacked constantly by fighters we flew at low level. We hit the sea. I have no knowledge of anything else as I was knocked unconscious. To my belief four members of the crew were trapped when we struck the water - Dallwitz/Francis/Brook/Jackson. I was released by the Russians on 22 April 1945."
409669 Flight Sergeant Raymond Ernest Dallwitz, Royal Australian Air Force, died 4th October 1943, aged 26. Son of August Hermann Dallwitz and Marie Magdalene Dallwitz, of Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. INSCRIPTION. HIS DUTY FEARLESSLY AND NOBLY DONE. REST IN PEACE.
416679 Flight Sergeant Sydney Edward Jackson, Royal Australian Air Force, died 4th October 1943, aged 20. Son of Harry Brown Jackson and Elizabeth Jackson, of Gawler, South Australia. INSCRIPTION. HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE.
Informal portrait of RAAF fighter pilots of No. 453 Squadron.
Identified from left to right: 411059 Flying Officer (FO) Frederick Thomas Thornley of Sydney, NSW (killed on flying operation over the Netherlands on 15 August 1943); Dick Darcy (in front and who is possibly 03524 Francis Joseph D'arcy of Richmond, Victoria); 405473 Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Ernest Arthur Roy Esau of Brisbane, Queensland (at rear); 413707 Pilot Officer (PO) Robert Ernest Yarra of Gladstone, Queensland (killed on flying operation over France on 14 April 1944); 441637 Flt Sgt Gordon Henry (Catch) Catchpole of Guildford, Western Australia (Intelligence Officer); 405575 FO Matthew Henry Ivor de Cosier of Melbourne, Victoria (killed on flying operations over the Netherlands on 10 December 1942).
411059 Flying Officer Frederick Thomas Thornley, Royal Australian Air Force, died 15th August 1943, aged 27.
Son of Frederick and Elsie May Thornley; husband of Heather Rachel Thornley, of Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia.
INSCRIPTION. DEARLY LOVED HUSBAND OF HEATHER, OF HURSTVILLE, AUSTRALIA.
Identified from left to right: 411059 Flying Officer (FO) Frederick Thomas Thornley of Sydney, NSW (killed on flying operation over the Netherlands on 15 August 1943); Dick Darcy (in front and who is possibly 03524 Francis Joseph D'arcy of Richmond, Victoria); 405473 Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr) Ernest Arthur Roy Esau of Brisbane, Queensland (at rear); 413707 Pilot Officer (PO) Robert Ernest Yarra of Gladstone, Queensland (killed on flying operation over France on 14 April 1944); 441637 Flt Sgt Gordon Henry (Catch) Catchpole of Guildford, Western Australia (Intelligence Officer); 405575 FO Matthew Henry Ivor de Cosier of Melbourne, Victoria (killed on flying operations over the Netherlands on 10 December 1942).
411059 Flying Officer Frederick Thomas Thornley, Royal Australian Air Force, died 15th August 1943, aged 27.
Son of Frederick and Elsie May Thornley; husband of Heather Rachel Thornley, of Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia.
INSCRIPTION. DEARLY LOVED HUSBAND OF HEATHER, OF HURSTVILLE, AUSTRALIA.
Group portrait of members of 460 Squadron RAAF at RAF Station Breighton.
Left to right: 404539 Sergeant (Sgt, later Flight Lieutenant [Flt Lt]) William John Chaplain, Qld; Sgt T. Mcllveen, NSW; Sgt S. Wood (front) Vic; 404256 Sgt (later Flt Lt) Frank Joseph Nugent (front) Qld; 407828 Sgt (later Flying Officer) Arrol Ainslie Penglase, SA; 497531 Sgt (later Flt Lt) Allan Francis McKinnon, SA (lost on operations over Germany on 25 March 1944); 408122 Sgt John Percival Cosgrove, Tas (lost on operations over NW Europe on 29 April 1942) 404784 Sgt (later Flight Sergeant [Flt Sgt]) Arthur Maxwell Johnston, Qld (lost on operations over Germany on 7 July 1942); 400524 Sgt (later Flt Sgt) Hugh Rowell Brodie, Vic (lost on operations over Germany on 3 June 1942); 400335 Sgt John Robert Shearer (front), Vic (lost on operations over Germany on 7 May 1942); 400894 Sgt (later Flt Sgt) Ronald Frederick Waldon, Vic (lost on operations over the Netherlands on 3 June 1942); 404705 Sgt Reginald Henry Murphy, Qld (lost on operations over Germany on 7 May 1942).
400894 Flight Sergeant Ronald Frederick Waldon, Royal Australian Air Force, died 3rd June 1942, aged 23. Son of Albert David and Rosina Sydney Waldon, of Beechworth, Victoria, Australia. INSCRIPTION. HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE.
Left to right: 404539 Sergeant (Sgt, later Flight Lieutenant [Flt Lt]) William John Chaplain, Qld; Sgt T. Mcllveen, NSW; Sgt S. Wood (front) Vic; 404256 Sgt (later Flt Lt) Frank Joseph Nugent (front) Qld; 407828 Sgt (later Flying Officer) Arrol Ainslie Penglase, SA; 497531 Sgt (later Flt Lt) Allan Francis McKinnon, SA (lost on operations over Germany on 25 March 1944); 408122 Sgt John Percival Cosgrove, Tas (lost on operations over NW Europe on 29 April 1942) 404784 Sgt (later Flight Sergeant [Flt Sgt]) Arthur Maxwell Johnston, Qld (lost on operations over Germany on 7 July 1942); 400524 Sgt (later Flt Sgt) Hugh Rowell Brodie, Vic (lost on operations over Germany on 3 June 1942); 400335 Sgt John Robert Shearer (front), Vic (lost on operations over Germany on 7 May 1942); 400894 Sgt (later Flt Sgt) Ronald Frederick Waldon, Vic (lost on operations over the Netherlands on 3 June 1942); 404705 Sgt Reginald Henry Murphy, Qld (lost on operations over Germany on 7 May 1942).
400894 Flight Sergeant Ronald Frederick Waldon, Royal Australian Air Force, died 3rd June 1942, aged 23. Son of Albert David and Rosina Sydney Waldon, of Beechworth, Victoria, Australia. INSCRIPTION. HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE.
