GENK COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Limburg
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.95773 Longitude: 5.5065
Location Information
The location of this cemetery is in the centre of the town of Genk. From the motorway E314 which runs between Brussels and Aken (Aachen) turn off at junction 31 Genk-Noord, then onto the N76 direction Genk. Follow this road to the junction with the N75, past this junction to the next crossroads. Turn right here onto the N77 Grotestraat and follow to the fork. Keep right on the N77 and the cemetery is along this road (Hoogstraat) on the right. The graves are located in plot T, through the entrance and straight on to the mortuary, turn right here and follow the path to the second plot on the left; this is plot T.
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.
Genk Communal Cemetery contains the graves of eight airmen of the Second World War.
Pictures below © André De Smet
The location of this cemetery is in the centre of the town of Genk. From the motorway E314 which runs between Brussels and Aken (Aachen) turn off at junction 31 Genk-Noord, then onto the N76 direction Genk. Follow this road to the junction with the N75, past this junction to the next crossroads. Turn right here onto the N77 Grotestraat and follow to the fork. Keep right on the N77 and the cemetery is along this road (Hoogstraat) on the right. The graves are located in plot T, through the entrance and straight on to the mortuary, turn right here and follow the path to the second plot on the left; this is plot T.
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.
Genk Communal Cemetery contains the graves of eight airmen of the Second World War.
Pictures below © André De Smet
Pictures below © Johan Pauwels
160150 Pilot Officer
Thomas Bryan Richards,
Pilot in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
22nd June 1944, aged 21.
Son of Thomas Owen and Hylda Mary Richards, of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.
Thomas Bryan Richards,
Pilot in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
22nd June 1944, aged 21.
Son of Thomas Owen and Hylda Mary Richards, of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia.
R/183116 Flight Sergeant
Willis Eugene Spinks
Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
22nd June 1944, aged 19.
Son of Willis James Spinks and Hattie Mae Spinks, of Brooklyn, Queen's Co. Nova Scotia, Canada.
Other Burial Details
1398205 Flight Sergeant John Alan Buckby, Air Bomber in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 21. Son of Charles William and Margaret Wylie Buckby, of Muswell Hill, Middlesex.
1230376 Flight Sergeant Raymond Fazackerley, Navigator in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Fazackerley, of Lostock Hall, Lancashire.
71071 Sergeant Harry Moxon Greenfield, Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 19. Son of Frank Arthur herbert and Marjorie Greenfield, of Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia.
1238611 Sergeant Henry Robert Pursglove, Wireless Operator in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 21. Son of Herbert Henry and Nellie Pursglove, of Edgware, Middlesex.
17995515 Sergeant Harold Vincent Dick Thompson, Flight Engineer in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
1578552 Flight Sergeant George Leonard Wright, Navigator in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 21. Son of George and G.A.Wright, of Holmbush, Cornwall.
Willis Eugene Spinks
Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
22nd June 1944, aged 19.
Son of Willis James Spinks and Hattie Mae Spinks, of Brooklyn, Queen's Co. Nova Scotia, Canada.
Other Burial Details
1398205 Flight Sergeant John Alan Buckby, Air Bomber in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 21. Son of Charles William and Margaret Wylie Buckby, of Muswell Hill, Middlesex.
1230376 Flight Sergeant Raymond Fazackerley, Navigator in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Fazackerley, of Lostock Hall, Lancashire.
71071 Sergeant Harry Moxon Greenfield, Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 19. Son of Frank Arthur herbert and Marjorie Greenfield, of Gwelo, Southern Rhodesia.
1238611 Sergeant Henry Robert Pursglove, Wireless Operator in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 21. Son of Herbert Henry and Nellie Pursglove, of Edgware, Middlesex.
17995515 Sergeant Harold Vincent Dick Thompson, Flight Engineer in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
1578552 Flight Sergeant George Leonard Wright, Navigator in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 21. Son of George and G.A.Wright, of Holmbush, Cornwall.
