World War Two Cemeteries - A photographic guide to the cemeteries and memorials of WW2
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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.


Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels

Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Gilze-en-Rijen (Gilze) Roman Catholic Cemetery
Picture
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.


Lancaster MK 111 ND 802 "The Flying Scotsman"
​
Was attacked by a night fighter 25 miles North West of Eindhoven, Netherlands causing the aircraft to break up in flight then crashing near Gilze 6 miles west of Tilsberg.


Picture
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"


Lancaster MK 111 ND 802 "The Flying Scotsman"
​
Was attacked by a night fighter 25 miles North West of Eindhoven, Netherlands causing the aircraft to break up in flight then crashing near Gilze 6 miles west of Tilsberg.




Picture
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"





Picture
Picture
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.

Lancaster MK 111 ND 802 "The Flying Scotsman"
​
Was attacked by a night fighter 25 miles North West of Eindhoven, Netherlands causing the aircraft to break up in flight then crashing near Gilze 6 miles west of Tilsberg.


Picture
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"





Picture
J/272564 Flight Lieutenant
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"
​

​NEARBY CWGC CEMETERIES & MEMORIALS
​

TILBURG (GILZERBAAN) GENERAL CEMETERY
NIEUW GINNEKEN (ULVENHOUT) ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY
DONGEN ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY

World War One Cemeteries
​

Please ask permission if you wish to use any of our images by using the contact tab above
​
Picture
 Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Picture
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Picture
Australian War Memorial
Picture
New Zealand Online Cenotaph


​​© COPYRIGHT TERENCE HEARD AND BRENT WHITTAM
​
​ 2005-2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
.​

Disclaimer


The casualty numbers for each cemetery are taken from the C. W. G. C. site. We are aware that there can be discrepancies in the numbers quoted.
(The G. P. S. Coordinates are also taken from the C. W. G. C. site)


  • Home
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  • LATEST UPDATES
  • Australia
  • Belgium
    • HAINAUT
    • OOST-VLAANDEREN
    • VLAAMS-BRABANT
    • WEST-VLAANDEREN
    • OTHER BELGIAN DEPARTMENTS
    • BELGIAN NON COMMONWEALTH CEMETERIES
  • France
    • CEMETERIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
    • AISNE
    • ARDENNES
    • CALVADOS
    • EURE AND EURE-ET-LOIR
    • FINISTÈRE
    • MARNE
    • NORD
    • OISE
    • PAS DE CALAIS
    • SEINE-MARITIME
    • SOMME
    • OTHER FRENCH DEPARTMENTS, A - L
    • OTHER FRENCH DEPARTMENTS, M - Z
    • FRENCH NON COMMONWEALTH CEMETERIES
    • MEMORIALS IN FRANCE
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • United Kingdom
  • Other Countries
  • Miscellaneous
  • Victoria Cross