GOIRLE ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY
Noord-Brabant
The Netherlands
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.51874, Longitude: 5.06559
Location Information
Goirle is a village 4 kilometres from Tilburg, and the cemetery is located in the southern part of the town. Follow the main road through the town and turn into Kloosterstraat, then turn into St Jansstraat and the cemetery will be found along here. The Commonwealth Plot is in the south-east corner of the cemetery.
Visiting Information
The opening hours of the cemetery are:
Mon-Sat 8.00 - 17.00
Sun 12.00 - 17.00
Historical Information
Total World War Two Burials: 28.
World War Two Casualties: United Kingdom 21, Poland 4, Australia 2, The Netherlands 1. Total 28.
Goirle is a village 4 kilometres from Tilburg, and the cemetery is located in the southern part of the town. Follow the main road through the town and turn into Kloosterstraat, then turn into St Jansstraat and the cemetery will be found along here. The Commonwealth Plot is in the south-east corner of the cemetery.
Visiting Information
The opening hours of the cemetery are:
Mon-Sat 8.00 - 17.00
Sun 12.00 - 17.00
Historical Information
Total World War Two Burials: 28.
World War Two Casualties: United Kingdom 21, Poland 4, Australia 2, The Netherlands 1. Total 28.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
1471670 Sergeant
Kenneth Herbert Allaker
76 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th May 1944, aged 22.
Row 1. Grave 7.
Son of Herbert Philip and Daisy Allaker; husband of Pauline Audrey Allaker, of Beeston, Leeds, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of A Gallant Son And Husband. May His Sacrifice Not Be In Vain"
Kenneth Herbert Allaker
76 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th May 1944, aged 22.
Row 1. Grave 7.
Son of Herbert Philip and Daisy Allaker; husband of Pauline Audrey Allaker, of Beeston, Leeds, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of A Gallant Son And Husband. May His Sacrifice Not Be In Vain"
6847669 Rifleman
Robert Charles Buckley
2nd Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
23rd February 1945, aged 25.
Row 3. Grave 4.
Son of Jack and Sophia Buckley; husband of Ivy M. Buckley, of Southsea, Hampshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Our Hearts Is A Memory Of One We Loved And Shall Never Forget. Ivy, Mum And Dad"
Robert Charles Buckley
2nd Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps
23rd February 1945, aged 25.
Row 3. Grave 4.
Son of Jack and Sophia Buckley; husband of Ivy M. Buckley, of Southsea, Hampshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Our Hearts Is A Memory Of One We Loved And Shall Never Forget. Ivy, Mum And Dad"
544393 Sergeant
William Alfred Byrd
2844 Squadron, R. A. F. Regiment, Royal Air Force
30th March 1945, aged 24.
Row 3. Grave 9.
Son of William Henry and Dorothy Ellen Byrd, of Bridgwater, Somerset; husband of Winifred May Byrd, of Bridgwater.
His headstone bears the inscription "Till We Meet Again, Beloved" Your Wife May, Daughter Elizabeth And Mother"
Click on image to enlarge
William Alfred Byrd
2844 Squadron, R. A. F. Regiment, Royal Air Force
30th March 1945, aged 24.
Row 3. Grave 9.
Son of William Henry and Dorothy Ellen Byrd, of Bridgwater, Somerset; husband of Winifred May Byrd, of Bridgwater.
His headstone bears the inscription "Till We Meet Again, Beloved" Your Wife May, Daughter Elizabeth And Mother"
Click on image to enlarge
14567136 Sapper
Graham Curtis Cridland
24 Field Company, Royal Engineers
23rd November 1944, aged 19.
Row 2. Grave 2.
Son of William and Gertrude Cridland, of Ely, Cardiff.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Asked Life For You, Dearest Graham, But God Gave You Eternal Rest"
Graham Curtis Cridland
24 Field Company, Royal Engineers
23rd November 1944, aged 19.
Row 2. Grave 2.
Son of William and Gertrude Cridland, of Ely, Cardiff.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Asked Life For You, Dearest Graham, But God Gave You Eternal Rest"
T/14527676 Driver
John Gannon
Royal Army Service Corps
7th February 1945, aged 20.
Row 3. Grave 1.
Son of Martin and Emily Gannon, of Cheapside, Birmingham.
His headstone bears the inscription "As We Loved Him So We Miss Him. Resting With His Comrades Who Died For Us. R. I. P."
John Gannon
Royal Army Service Corps
7th February 1945, aged 20.
Row 3. Grave 1.
Son of Martin and Emily Gannon, of Cheapside, Birmingham.
His headstone bears the inscription "As We Loved Him So We Miss Him. Resting With His Comrades Who Died For Us. R. I. P."
419443 Flight Sergeant
Malcolm Henry Graydon
Royal Australian Air Force
25th May 1944, aged 23.
Row 1. Grave 5.
Son of Malcolm and Lilian Emma Graydon, of Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live. Our Loved Son"
Informal portrait of 419443 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Malcolm Henry Graydon, RAAF, 76 Squadron RAF. Flt Sgt Graydon, son of Malcom and Lilian Emma Graydon of Surrey Hills, Victoria, was born on 20 Feb 1921. A grocer prior to enlistment, he joined the RAAF on 12 Aug 1942. From 11 November 1943 he was stationed as a wireless operator at Lossiemouth, Morayshire, Scotland, and was crewed up with 426719 Flt Sgt Peter Stuart Wade, RAAF (Captain), Sgt Kenneth Herbert Allaker RAF (Navigator), Sgt Stanley Patterson RAF (Bomb Aimer), Sgt James Horrocks RAF (Air Gunner) and Sgt Roy Edwin Dennis Robinson RAF (Flight Engineer). The crew were killed whilst on operations over Holland on 25 May 1944 and buried at Goirle Roman Catholic Cemetery, in the Netherlands. Flight Sergeant Graydon’s last diary entry, written on Sunday 14 May stated “My engagement anniversary and Joan’s, the dearest girl in the world”.
Malcolm Henry Graydon
Royal Australian Air Force
25th May 1944, aged 23.
Row 1. Grave 5.
Son of Malcolm and Lilian Emma Graydon, of Surrey Hills, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live. Our Loved Son"
Informal portrait of 419443 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Malcolm Henry Graydon, RAAF, 76 Squadron RAF. Flt Sgt Graydon, son of Malcom and Lilian Emma Graydon of Surrey Hills, Victoria, was born on 20 Feb 1921. A grocer prior to enlistment, he joined the RAAF on 12 Aug 1942. From 11 November 1943 he was stationed as a wireless operator at Lossiemouth, Morayshire, Scotland, and was crewed up with 426719 Flt Sgt Peter Stuart Wade, RAAF (Captain), Sgt Kenneth Herbert Allaker RAF (Navigator), Sgt Stanley Patterson RAF (Bomb Aimer), Sgt James Horrocks RAF (Air Gunner) and Sgt Roy Edwin Dennis Robinson RAF (Flight Engineer). The crew were killed whilst on operations over Holland on 25 May 1944 and buried at Goirle Roman Catholic Cemetery, in the Netherlands. Flight Sergeant Graydon’s last diary entry, written on Sunday 14 May stated “My engagement anniversary and Joan’s, the dearest girl in the world”.
Click on individual headstone for more details if applicable
All Images © Johan Pauwels except for the headstone of Wladyslaw Topko which is © Moos Raaijmakers
14725238 Private
George Harvey Hancock
4th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
5th October 1944, aged 19.
Row 2. Grave 9.
Son of Walter James and Amy Hancock, of West Bridgford, Nottingham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than He That Lay Down His Life For A Friend"
George Harvey Hancock
4th Bn. Lincolnshire Regiment
5th October 1944, aged 19.
Row 2. Grave 9.
Son of Walter James and Amy Hancock, of West Bridgford, Nottingham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than He That Lay Down His Life For A Friend"
2209732 Sergeant
James Horrocks
76 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th May 1944, aged 19.
Row 1. Grave 4.
Son of James and Martha Horrocks, of Failsworth, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sweet Are The Memories Silently Kept Of One We Loved And Will Never Forget"
James Horrocks
76 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th May 1944, aged 19.
Row 1. Grave 4.
Son of James and Martha Horrocks, of Failsworth, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sweet Are The Memories Silently Kept Of One We Loved And Will Never Forget"
1725072 Sergeant
Roy Edwin Dennis Robinson
76 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th May 1944, aged 19.
Row 1. Grave 6.
Son of Arthur John and Winifred May Robinson, of Dovercourt, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "You Nobly Did Your Duty And Lie In A Hero's Grave Awaiting That Last Roll-Call"
Roy Edwin Dennis Robinson
76 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th May 1944, aged 19.
Row 1. Grave 6.
Son of Arthur John and Winifred May Robinson, of Dovercourt, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "You Nobly Did Your Duty And Lie In A Hero's Grave Awaiting That Last Roll-Call"
1351877 Sergeant
John Thomas Sharman
2829 Squadron. R. A. F. Regiment, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st April 1945, aged 38.
Row 3. Grave 10.
Son of Aiza and Lillian Sharman; husband of Nellie Sharman, of Skegness, Lincolnshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "The World May Forget You As Time Passes By But We'll Remember, The Children And I."
John Thomas Sharman
2829 Squadron. R. A. F. Regiment, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st April 1945, aged 38.
Row 3. Grave 10.
Son of Aiza and Lillian Sharman; husband of Nellie Sharman, of Skegness, Lincolnshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "The World May Forget You As Time Passes By But We'll Remember, The Children And I."
49372 Strzelec
Zygmunt Sosnowski
9. Baon, Strz. Polish Army
31st December 1944, aged 21.
Row 2. Grave 6.
Zygmunt Sosnowski
9. Baon, Strz. Polish Army
31st December 1944, aged 21.
Row 2. Grave 6.
X. 422 Starszy Strzelec
Wladyslaw Topko
9. Baon. Strz.
12th February 1945, aged 24.
Row 3. Grave 2.
Wladyslaw Topko
9. Baon. Strz.
12th February 1945, aged 24.
Row 3. Grave 2.
Soldaat
Antonius Cornelius Wilhelmus Versteden
3-6 Dep. Bat. Netherlands Army
11th May 1940, aged 21.
Row 1. Grave 2.
Antonius Cornelius Wilhelmus Versteden
3-6 Dep. Bat. Netherlands Army
11th May 1940, aged 21.
Row 1. Grave 2.
