GILZE-EN-RIJEN (GILZE) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY
Noord-Brabant
The Netherlands
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.53982, Longitude: 4.94407
Location Information
The village of Gilze is 8 kilometres west of Tilburg. The cemetery is 40 metres behind the church, which stands in the centre of the village. The ten Commonwealth Airmen are buried in the north-west portion.
World War Two Casualties: United Kingdom 5, Canada 3, New Zealand 2. Total 10.
The village of Gilze is 8 kilometres west of Tilburg. The cemetery is 40 metres behind the church, which stands in the centre of the village. The ten Commonwealth Airmen are buried in the north-west portion.
World War Two Casualties: United Kingdom 5, Canada 3, New Zealand 2. Total 10.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Lancaster ND 802
The Lancaster was shot down over Meerle in Belgium on 28th May 1944, just across the border with the Netherlands.
The crew belonged to the Flying Scottsmen (double "t" and "e"), named after pilot and skipper Frank Scott, as a nod to the Flying Scotsman.
Information above courtesy of Henk Brul together with New Zealand writer and NZBCA researcher Chris Newey and Ms. Evi Verhaert from Belgium
421142 Flight Sergeant
Stephen Astley Cook
75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
28th May 1944, aged 21.
Son of David and Lillias McGregor Cook, of Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand.
Stephen Astley Cook
75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
28th May 1944, aged 21.
Son of David and Lillias McGregor Cook, of Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand.
1437112 Sergeant
Ronald Edward Howson
75 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th May 1944, aged 21.
Son of William Edward and Beatrice May Howson, of Leicester. His brother Douglas William, aged 19 also died on service on 26th August 1944 and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.
His headstone bears the inscription "For Life And Liberty Theirs Was A Great Sacrifice. Some Day We Shall Understand"
Ronald Edward Howson
75 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th May 1944, aged 21.
Son of William Edward and Beatrice May Howson, of Leicester. His brother Douglas William, aged 19 also died on service on 26th August 1944 and is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery.
His headstone bears the inscription "For Life And Liberty Theirs Was A Great Sacrifice. Some Day We Shall Understand"
421105 Sergeant
Francis Alexander Jack Scott
75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
28th May 1944, aged 28.
Son of Alexander Anderson Scott and Margaret Grace Scott, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Francis Alexander Jack Scott
75 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
28th May 1944, aged 28.
Son of Alexander Anderson Scott and Margaret Grace Scott, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
The following Airmen were killed on 1st September 1944
J/29858 Flying Officer
Paul Edwin McNamara
138 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 24.
Son of Gerald J. and Helen S. McNamara, of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him, O Lord; And Let Perpetual Light Shine upon Him"
Paul Edwin McNamara
138 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 24.
Son of Gerald J. and Helen S. McNamara, of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him, O Lord; And Let Perpetual Light Shine upon Him"
J/29675 Flying Officer
Charles Bruce Thompson
138 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 23.
Son of Russell E. and Jessie Thompson, of Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada; husband of Jean Thompson, of Fort Erie.
His headstone bears the inscription "Too Far Away For Sight Or Speech But Not For Thought To Reach. Lynn & Jean"
Charles Bruce Thompson
138 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 23.
Son of Russell E. and Jessie Thompson, of Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada; husband of Jean Thompson, of Fort Erie.
His headstone bears the inscription "Too Far Away For Sight Or Speech But Not For Thought To Reach. Lynn & Jean"
J/272564 Flight Lieutenant
Alfred Jerry Wallace
138 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 20.
Alfred Jerry Wallace
138 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 20.
Other Burials
1807199 Sergeant Roger Francis Geoffrey Bailey, 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 21. Son of William Anthony and Annie Harriett Bailey, of Faygate, Sussex; husband of Hilda Elizabeth Bailey. His headstone bears the inscription "May His Sacrifice Help To Bring The Peace And Freedom For Which He Died"
1821358 Sergeant William Allan Baxter, 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 19. Son of George Douglas and Margaret Taylour Baxter, of Langside, Glasgow. His headstone bears the inscription "He Has Fought A Good Fight He Has Finished His Course He Has Kept The Faith"
1623269 Sergeant Royston William Bullen, 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 21. Son of William John and Beatrice Maud Bullen, of Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire. His headstone bears the inscription "He Went Out Boldly Into The Darkness And Put His Hand Into The Hand Of God"
1601317 Sergeant George Charles Hanson, 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 21. Son of Walter and Ellen Florence Hanson, of Enfield Highway, Enfield, Middlesex. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep In Our Hearts A Memory Is Kept We Loved You Too Well To Ever Forget"
1807199 Sergeant Roger Francis Geoffrey Bailey, 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 21. Son of William Anthony and Annie Harriett Bailey, of Faygate, Sussex; husband of Hilda Elizabeth Bailey. His headstone bears the inscription "May His Sacrifice Help To Bring The Peace And Freedom For Which He Died"
1821358 Sergeant William Allan Baxter, 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 19. Son of George Douglas and Margaret Taylour Baxter, of Langside, Glasgow. His headstone bears the inscription "He Has Fought A Good Fight He Has Finished His Course He Has Kept The Faith"
1623269 Sergeant Royston William Bullen, 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 21. Son of William John and Beatrice Maud Bullen, of Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire. His headstone bears the inscription "He Went Out Boldly Into The Darkness And Put His Hand Into The Hand Of God"
1601317 Sergeant George Charles Hanson, 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 21. Son of Walter and Ellen Florence Hanson, of Enfield Highway, Enfield, Middlesex. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep In Our Hearts A Memory Is Kept We Loved You Too Well To Ever Forget"
