LEROS WAR CEMETERY
Alinda
Greece
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 37.15978, Longitude: 26.83746
Image above © Timothy Allan
Location Information
Leros War Cemetery is on the eastern side of the Island of Leros, on the shore of Aghia Marina Bay and is separated from the sea by the coast road. It is situated about 2 kilometres west of the town of Aghia Marina on the road to the airport and 4 kms if coming from the airport heading towards Aghia Marina.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible via main entrance.
The Cemetery is permanently open and may be visited at any time.
For further information and enquiries please contact [email protected]
Historical Information
This cemetery was made by the military authorities, who moved into it all graves found on the island from isolated positions and from various civilian cemeteries. The total number of burials is 183. This is made up by 13 sailors, 162 soldiers and 4 airmen belonging to the forces of the United Kingdom; 2 airmen of the Royal Canadian Air Force; and 2 soldiers of the South African Forces. Owing to the loss or destruction of the local records by the enemy occupying forces, the identities of many of the graves were lost, so that out of the total number of 183 casualties, 3 sailors and 55 soldiers belonging to the forces of the United Kingdom are not identified. Moreover, 18 of the men buried here (17 soldiers belonging to the United Kingdom Forces and 1 belonging to South African Forces) are commemorated by special memorials which bear the inscription "Buried near this spot". Although they are known to be buried in certain groups of graves in this cemetery, their actual graves within the groups cannot be precisely located. Those whose graves are not identified are commemorated by name on the Athens Memorial to the men of the land forces of the British Commonwealth who lost their lives during the campaigns in Greece and Crete in 1941 and 1944-1945, in the Dodecanese Islands in 1943-1945 and in Yugoslavia in 1943-1945, and have no known grave. This stands in Phaleron War Cemetery, Athens, and is the subject of a separate Register.
Total Burials: 183.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 123, Canada 2, South Africa 2. Total 127.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 56.
Leros War Cemetery is on the eastern side of the Island of Leros, on the shore of Aghia Marina Bay and is separated from the sea by the coast road. It is situated about 2 kilometres west of the town of Aghia Marina on the road to the airport and 4 kms if coming from the airport heading towards Aghia Marina.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible via main entrance.
The Cemetery is permanently open and may be visited at any time.
For further information and enquiries please contact [email protected]
Historical Information
This cemetery was made by the military authorities, who moved into it all graves found on the island from isolated positions and from various civilian cemeteries. The total number of burials is 183. This is made up by 13 sailors, 162 soldiers and 4 airmen belonging to the forces of the United Kingdom; 2 airmen of the Royal Canadian Air Force; and 2 soldiers of the South African Forces. Owing to the loss or destruction of the local records by the enemy occupying forces, the identities of many of the graves were lost, so that out of the total number of 183 casualties, 3 sailors and 55 soldiers belonging to the forces of the United Kingdom are not identified. Moreover, 18 of the men buried here (17 soldiers belonging to the United Kingdom Forces and 1 belonging to South African Forces) are commemorated by special memorials which bear the inscription "Buried near this spot". Although they are known to be buried in certain groups of graves in this cemetery, their actual graves within the groups cannot be precisely located. Those whose graves are not identified are commemorated by name on the Athens Memorial to the men of the land forces of the British Commonwealth who lost their lives during the campaigns in Greece and Crete in 1941 and 1944-1945, in the Dodecanese Islands in 1943-1945 and in Yugoslavia in 1943-1945, and have no known grave. This stands in Phaleron War Cemetery, Athens, and is the subject of a separate Register.
Total Burials: 183.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 123, Canada 2, South Africa 2. Total 127.
Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 56.
Cemetery images in gallery below © Timothy Allen
140546 Lieutenant Colonel
John Richard Easonsmith, D. S. O. & M. C.
Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C. Commanding Longe Range Desert Group
16th November 1943, aged 34.
3. B. 3.
Son of George and Daisy Aldridge Easonsmith; husband of Honour Gertrude Easonsmith, of Rudgeway, Gloucestershire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Some Corner Of A Foreign Field That Is Forever England"
John Richard Easonsmith, D. S. O. & M. C.
Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C. Commanding Longe Range Desert Group
16th November 1943, aged 34.
3. B. 3.
Son of George and Daisy Aldridge Easonsmith; husband of Honour Gertrude Easonsmith, of Rudgeway, Gloucestershire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Some Corner Of A Foreign Field That Is Forever England"
4076179 Private
Herbert James Giblett
1st Bn. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
Died between 12th November 1943 and 16th November 1943, aged 32.
Special Memorial "C" 1. C. 8.
Son of Frederick James Giblett and Annie Lydia Giblett.
Herbert James Giblett
1st Bn. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
Died between 12th November 1943 and 16th November 1943, aged 32.
Special Memorial "C" 1. C. 8.
Son of Frederick James Giblett and Annie Lydia Giblett.
3909148 Lance Corporal
Norman William Hardy
1st Bn. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
Died between 16th November 1943 and 17th November 1943, aged 22.
2. A. 1.
Norman William Hardy
1st Bn. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
Died between 16th November 1943 and 17th November 1943, aged 22.
2. A. 1.
90574 Major
Ernest Arthur Hole, Mentioned in Despatches
4th Bn. The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
14th November 1943, aged 33.
3. A. 2.
Husband of Winifred Emily Hole, of Esher, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving And Happy Memory Of My Dearest Husband"
Ernest Arthur Hole, Mentioned in Despatches
4th Bn. The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
14th November 1943, aged 33.
3. A. 2.
Husband of Winifred Emily Hole, of Esher, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving And Happy Memory Of My Dearest Husband"
J/88478 Pilot Officer
Chester Dwane Knox
38 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd July 1944.
Collective Grave 2. C. 4-6.
Chester Dwane Knox
38 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd July 1944.
Collective Grave 2. C. 4-6.
J/16878 Flying Officer
Joseph Andrew Moderwell
38 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd July 1944.
2. C. 8.
Photo of Kenneth Andrew Moderwell – 3 June 1944 - F/O Ken Moderwell, while stationed at RAF station Berka III near Benghazi Libya with 38 (Bomber) Squadron of the RAF.
Joseph Andrew Moderwell
38 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd July 1944.
2. C. 8.
Photo of Kenneth Andrew Moderwell – 3 June 1944 - F/O Ken Moderwell, while stationed at RAF station Berka III near Benghazi Libya with 38 (Bomber) Squadron of the RAF.
