GOSSELIES COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Hainaut
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.4642 Longitude: 4.43856
Picture © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
Gosselies Communal Cemetery is located 5 km north of Charleroi. Take the E42 from Mons in the direction of Liege then exit at Gosselies onto the N5 towards Charleroi. 2 km after this junction lies the third right hand turning towards Brussels. After taking this turning the next right hand turning leads onto the chaussee de Fleurus, with the cemetery located 50 metres along this road on the left hand side.
The Second World War graves are to be found in a separate plot located left of the entrance, under the trees. The First World War graves are located in a row in the east part of the cemetery. The personal memorial of Lieutenant John Edwin Pugh can be found by taking the main path from the entrance and then taking the fourth path on the left. The grave is marked by the tenth memorial on the left.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note that this site is open every day from 08:00 to 16:00hrs
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
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.
All of the 102 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War at Gosselies Communal Cemetery are of airmen shot down by fighters from the Luftwaffe base that was then stationed at the town,
The ten First World War servicemen buried here all died after the Armistice.
Total Burials: 112.
World War One Identified Casualties: Canada 5, United Kingdom 5. Total 10.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 72, Canada 26, Australia 2, New Zealand 2. Total 102.
