GENDRINGEN ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY
Gelderland
The Netherlands
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.87399, Longitude: 6.37864
Location Information
Gendringen is a village on the Dutch-German border, 30 kilometres east-south-east of Arnhem and 15 kilometres south-east of Doetinchem. The cemetery is behind the church of St. Martinus, which stands in the centre of Gendringen. The British plot is near the eastern boundary wall.
World War Two Commonwealth Casualties: United Kingdom 21, Canada 7, Australia 1, New Zealand 1. Total 30.
Gendringen is a village on the Dutch-German border, 30 kilometres east-south-east of Arnhem and 15 kilometres south-east of Doetinchem. The cemetery is behind the church of St. Martinus, which stands in the centre of Gendringen. The British plot is near the eastern boundary wall.
World War Two Commonwealth Casualties: United Kingdom 21, Canada 7, Australia 1, New Zealand 1. Total 30.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
571310 Sergeant
Edward Leslie Belk
Flight Engineer in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 20.
Son of David Ewart Belk and Lily Jane Belk, of Sheffield.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Loving Beloved Only Son. God Be With You Till We Meet Again. Mother And Dad"
At 2017 hours on the night of 26 March 1942 Stirling N3709 took off from Oakington to bomb Essen, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at 2301 hours at Gendringen (Gelderland), Netherlands, and all the crew members had been killed.
The other crew members of N3709 were
Wing Commander John Henry Abel Chapman, Sergeant Ivor Bertie Dopson, Pilot Officer Thomas Kenneth Haynes, Flying Officer Geoffrey Thomas Heard, Sergeant Howard Inman and Sergeant Donald Esmond Alan Rendtorff.
Edward Leslie Belk
Flight Engineer in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 20.
Son of David Ewart Belk and Lily Jane Belk, of Sheffield.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Loving Beloved Only Son. God Be With You Till We Meet Again. Mother And Dad"
At 2017 hours on the night of 26 March 1942 Stirling N3709 took off from Oakington to bomb Essen, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at 2301 hours at Gendringen (Gelderland), Netherlands, and all the crew members had been killed.
The other crew members of N3709 were
Wing Commander John Henry Abel Chapman, Sergeant Ivor Bertie Dopson, Pilot Officer Thomas Kenneth Haynes, Flying Officer Geoffrey Thomas Heard, Sergeant Howard Inman and Sergeant Donald Esmond Alan Rendtorff.
656868 Sergeant
Henry John Brook
150 Squadron, Royal Air Force
31st October 1942, aged 25.
Husband of Constance Irene Brook, of Battersea, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of My Beloved Husband. Gone But Not Forgotten R. I. P "
Henry John Brook
150 Squadron, Royal Air Force
31st October 1942, aged 25.
Husband of Constance Irene Brook, of Battersea, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of My Beloved Husband. Gone But Not Forgotten R. I. P "
J/89351 Flying Officer
Harold Chauncey Byrd
Pilot in 403 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
19th March 1945, aged 28.
Son of William Thomas Byrd (deceased when Harold enlisted) and Kathryn Muriel (nee Lynch) Byrd, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Harold Chauncey Byrd
Pilot in 403 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
19th March 1945, aged 28.
Son of William Thomas Byrd (deceased when Harold enlisted) and Kathryn Muriel (nee Lynch) Byrd, of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
32097 Wing Commander
John Henry Abel Chapman
Pilot in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 34.
Son of John Abel Chapman, and of Helen May Chapman (nee Walker); husband of Barbara Mary North Chapman, of Lossiemouth, Morayshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud Memory Of John, O.C. No. 7 Sqdn. Killed In Action On His First Trip"
At 2017 hours on the night of 26 March 1942 Stirling N3709 took off from Oakington to bomb Essen, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at 2301 hours at Gendringen (Gelderland), Netherlands, and all the crew members had been killed.
The other crew members of N3709 were
Sergeant Edward Leslie Belk, Sergeant Ivor Bertie Dopson, Pilot Officer Thomas Kenneth Haynes, Flying Officer Geoffrey Thomas Heard, Sergeant Howard Inman and Sergeant Donald Esmond Alan Rendtorff.
John Henry Abel Chapman
Pilot in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 34.
Son of John Abel Chapman, and of Helen May Chapman (nee Walker); husband of Barbara Mary North Chapman, of Lossiemouth, Morayshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud Memory Of John, O.C. No. 7 Sqdn. Killed In Action On His First Trip"
At 2017 hours on the night of 26 March 1942 Stirling N3709 took off from Oakington to bomb Essen, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at 2301 hours at Gendringen (Gelderland), Netherlands, and all the crew members had been killed.
The other crew members of N3709 were
Sergeant Edward Leslie Belk, Sergeant Ivor Bertie Dopson, Pilot Officer Thomas Kenneth Haynes, Flying Officer Geoffrey Thomas Heard, Sergeant Howard Inman and Sergeant Donald Esmond Alan Rendtorff.
400708 Flying Officer
Geoffrey Thomas Heard
Royal Australian Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 26.
Son of Walter Cory Bromell Heard and Ethel Lillian Heard, of Willaura, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "To Live In The Hearts Of Those You Love Is Not To Die"
At 2017 hours on the night of 26 March 1942 Stirling N3709 took off from Oakington to bomb Essen, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at 2301 hours at Gendringen (Gelderland), Netherlands, and all the crew members had been killed.
The other crew members of N3709 were
Sergeant Edward Leslie Belk, Wing Commander John Henry Abel Chapman, Sergeant Ivor Bertie Dopson, Pilot Officer Thomas Kenneth Haynes, Sergeant Howard Inman and Sergeant Donald Esmond Alan Rendtorff.
Geoffrey Thomas Heard
Royal Australian Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 26.
Son of Walter Cory Bromell Heard and Ethel Lillian Heard, of Willaura, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "To Live In The Hearts Of Those You Love Is Not To Die"
At 2017 hours on the night of 26 March 1942 Stirling N3709 took off from Oakington to bomb Essen, Germany. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take-off and it did not return to base. Post war it was established that the aircraft was shot down by a night fighter and crashed at 2301 hours at Gendringen (Gelderland), Netherlands, and all the crew members had been killed.
The other crew members of N3709 were
Sergeant Edward Leslie Belk, Wing Commander John Henry Abel Chapman, Sergeant Ivor Bertie Dopson, Pilot Officer Thomas Kenneth Haynes, Sergeant Howard Inman and Sergeant Donald Esmond Alan Rendtorff.
R/90950 Warrant Officer II
Allan Lockwood Home
57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
13th May 1943, aged 26.
Son of John and Mabel Home; husband of Florence Janet Home, of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him"
Allan Lockwood Home
57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
13th May 1943, aged 26.
Son of John and Mabel Home; husband of Florence Janet Home, of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him"
Click on individual headstone for more details if applicable
All images © Johan Pauwels except headstone image of Warrant Officer Allan Lockwood Home © Paul ten Broeke (used with permission)
402160 Sergeant
William Leslie Knowles
106 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
6th August 1941, aged 21.
Son of Ellen Knowles, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.
Shot Down By A Night Fighter At Gendringen Near Arnhem During A Raid on Mannheim, 2 Dutch Civilians Were Killed on the Ground.
William Leslie Knowles
106 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
6th August 1941, aged 21.
Son of Ellen Knowles, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.
Shot Down By A Night Fighter At Gendringen Near Arnhem During A Raid on Mannheim, 2 Dutch Civilians Were Killed on the Ground.
R/116417 Flight Sergeant
Milford Glen Thomas Levins
57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
13th May 1943, aged 19.
Son of Harry Milford Levins and Agnes Catherine Levins, of Isabella, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Treasured Still With Love Sincere Memories Of Him We Love So Dear"
Milford Glen Thomas Levins
57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
13th May 1943, aged 19.
Son of Harry Milford Levins and Agnes Catherine Levins, of Isabella, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Treasured Still With Love Sincere Memories Of Him We Love So Dear"
J/17016 Flying Officer
Hugh Columba MacNeil
57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
13th May 1943, aged 24.
Son of Mrs. S. Macneil, of Redpoint, Nova Scotia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "R. I. P."
Hugh Columba MacNeil
57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
13th May 1943, aged 24.
Son of Mrs. S. Macneil, of Redpoint, Nova Scotia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "R. I. P."
546681 Flight Sergeant
Alexander Philip Price, D. F. M.
106 Squadron, Royal Air Force
6th August 1941.
Alexander Philip Price, D. F. M.
106 Squadron, Royal Air Force
6th August 1941.
R/81445 Warrant Officer
Henry Augustine Sheehan
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
13th May 1943.
He enlisted in Vancouver, British Columbia on Dec 30, 1940.
Henry Augustine Sheehan
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
13th May 1943.
He enlisted in Vancouver, British Columbia on Dec 30, 1940.
R/78895 Flight Sergeant
Frederick John Smith
150 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
31st October 1942, aged 22.
Son of Florence A. Smith, of Byron, Ontario, Canada.
He enlisted in London, Ontario on Dec 31, 1940.
His headstone bears the inscription "Your Knightly Virtue Proved, Your Memory Hallowed In The Land You Loved"
Frederick John Smith
150 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
31st October 1942, aged 22.
Son of Florence A. Smith, of Byron, Ontario, Canada.
He enlisted in London, Ontario on Dec 31, 1940.
His headstone bears the inscription "Your Knightly Virtue Proved, Your Memory Hallowed In The Land You Loved"
