GEEL WAR CEMETERY
Antwerpen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.16445 Longitude: 5.01507
Picture © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
Geel is located midway between Antwerpen (46 kilometres), Hasselt (38 kilometres) and Leuven.
From St Amands Church on the Grote Markt in Geel proceed for 600 metres down Nieuwstraat to the end of De Billemontstraat. Turn left onto Sint Dimpnaplein, passing Sint Dimpnakerk on your right, and drive 600 metres down along 'Rijn' leading you eventually onto Molseweg. 600 metres after entering Molseweg you will see a sign indicating that Geel War Cemetery is another 300 metres to the left. This takes you onto Stalpaart. At the end of Stalpaart turn right into Tweeboomkes, and 50 metres further on the left is Geel War Cemetery.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access is possible via the 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.
In the early part of September 1944, Geel was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting encountered by Commonwealth troops since they had left Normandy. The 50th (Northumbrian) Division and the 15th Scottish Division were both involved here in the forcing of crossings of the Albert Canal and the Meuse-Escaut Canal, necessary for the advance into Holland. Some of the casualties they suffered were originally buried in a meadow near the centre of the commune, and some in the St. Dymphna civil cemetery; these graves were later moved into Geel War Cemetery.
The cemetery contains 400 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, six of them unidentified.
The cemetery was designed by the Commission's Principal Architect, Philip Hepworth, FRIBA.
Total Burials: 400.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 393, Canada 1. Total 394.
Unidentified Casualties: 6.
14408976 Trooper
Wallace Henry Blaxall
Nottinghamshire Yeomany, Royal Armoured Corps
10th September 1944, aged 21.
Row I. B. 3.
Son of William A. and Margeret E. Blaxall, of North Kensington, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory. He Nobly Answered Duty's Call He Gave His Life For One And All"
Wallace Henry Blaxall
Nottinghamshire Yeomany, Royal Armoured Corps
10th September 1944, aged 21.
Row I. B. 3.
Son of William A. and Margeret E. Blaxall, of North Kensington, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory. He Nobly Answered Duty's Call He Gave His Life For One And All"
7927885 Corporal
Cyril Edward Burnet
"C" Squadron, Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
10th September 1944, aged 36.
Row I. B. 13.
Son of Horace Alfred and Lilian Maude Burnet; husband of Hilda Mary Burnet, of West Wickham, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud Memory Of My Beloved Husband Who Gave His Life That Others Might Live"
Cyril Edward Burnet
"C" Squadron, Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
10th September 1944, aged 36.
Row I. B. 13.
Son of Horace Alfred and Lilian Maude Burnet; husband of Hilda Mary Burnet, of West Wickham, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud Memory Of My Beloved Husband Who Gave His Life That Others Might Live"
14426299 Private
Ernest Gash
6th Bn. Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)
9th September 1944, aged 19.
Plot II. A. 19.
Son of Richard and Betsy Gash, of Batley, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sleep On, Dear Son And Take Thy Rest God's Will Be Done And He Knows Best"
Ernest Gash
6th Bn. Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)
9th September 1944, aged 19.
Plot II. A. 19.
Son of Richard and Betsy Gash, of Batley, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sleep On, Dear Son And Take Thy Rest God's Will Be Done And He Knows Best"
7956963 Trooper
John Greenan
Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
10th September 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. B. 7.
John Greenan
Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
10th September 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. B. 7.
3912236 Private
William Albert James
2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers
26th September 1944, aged 26.
Plot II. C. 17.
Son of John and Ruth James, of Undy, Monmouthshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Albert. mother, Brothers and Sisters"
William Albert James
2nd Bn. South Wales Borderers
26th September 1944, aged 26.
Plot II. C. 17.
Son of John and Ruth James, of Undy, Monmouthshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Albert. mother, Brothers and Sisters"
14436040 Lance Corporal
Leslie Arthur Keen
2nd Bn. Essex Regiment
26th October 1944, aged 19.
Plot IV. D. 20.
Son of Arthur and Doris Hilda Keen, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Our Son. His Life A Beautiful Memory His Death A Silent Grief. Mum And Dad"
Leslie Arthur Keen
2nd Bn. Essex Regiment
26th October 1944, aged 19.
Plot IV. D. 20.
Son of Arthur and Doris Hilda Keen, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Our Son. His Life A Beautiful Memory His Death A Silent Grief. Mum And Dad"
14425516 Private
Granville Molineaux
6th Bn. Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment
11th September 1944, aged 19.
Plot IV. B. 10.
Son of John and Lily Molineaux, of Wednesfield, Staffordshire; husband of Olive Molineaux.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Glory Hath No Man Than That He Lay Down His Life For His Comrades"
Granville Molineaux
6th Bn. Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment
11th September 1944, aged 19.
Plot IV. B. 10.
Son of John and Lily Molineaux, of Wednesfield, Staffordshire; husband of Olive Molineaux.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Glory Hath No Man Than That He Lay Down His Life For His Comrades"
14647318 Trooper
Haydn Thomas
Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
12th September 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. B. 5.
Son of William and Catherine Mary Thomas; husband of Olive Thomas, of The Graig, Pontypridd, Glamorgan.
Haydn Thomas
Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
12th September 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. B. 5.
Son of William and Catherine Mary Thomas; husband of Olive Thomas, of The Graig, Pontypridd, Glamorgan.
14230387 Lance Corporal
Frederick George Walsh
7th Bn. Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)
8th September 1944, aged 20.
Plot IV. B. 4.
Son of Fredrick and Sarah Walsh, of Levenshulme, Manchester.
His headstone bears the inscription "Grant Unto Him Eternal Rest And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him, O Lord"
Frederick George Walsh
7th Bn. Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)
8th September 1944, aged 20.
Plot IV. B. 4.
Son of Fredrick and Sarah Walsh, of Levenshulme, Manchester.
His headstone bears the inscription "Grant Unto Him Eternal Rest And Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him, O Lord"
137343 Captain
John Maurice MacFarlane Yeo
147th (10th Bn. The Hampshire Regiment) Regiment
22nd October 1944, aged 28.
Plot III. B. 12.
Son of Lt.-Col. Moritz Rodwell Yeo and Flora Irma Yeo, of Bridport, Dorsetshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "May God Grant Us So Great A Love So Large A Courage That We Shall Not Fail Him"
John Maurice MacFarlane Yeo
147th (10th Bn. The Hampshire Regiment) Regiment
22nd October 1944, aged 28.
Plot III. B. 12.
Son of Lt.-Col. Moritz Rodwell Yeo and Flora Irma Yeo, of Bridport, Dorsetshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "May God Grant Us So Great A Love So Large A Courage That We Shall Not Fail Him"
