HANDZAME COMMUNAL CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.02867 Longitude: 3.00524
Location Information
The village of Handzame is located 10 kilometres east of the town of Lichtervelde off the N35 which runs between Lichtervelde and Diksmuide. Driving along the N35 from Lichterveld in the direction of Diksmuide cross the railway line and take the third turning on the right signed for Handzame. Follow this road into the village and out the other side, the cemetery is located on this road. The graves are toward the left in the middle of the cemetery.
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.
Handzame Communal Cemetery contains the graves of six Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
The village of Handzame is located 10 kilometres east of the town of Lichtervelde off the N35 which runs between Lichtervelde and Diksmuide. Driving along the N35 from Lichterveld in the direction of Diksmuide cross the railway line and take the third turning on the right signed for Handzame. Follow this road into the village and out the other side, the cemetery is located on this road. The graves are toward the left in the middle of the cemetery.
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.
Handzame Communal Cemetery contains the graves of six Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
R/54987 Sergeant
Roland Joseph Fidele Perras
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 40 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
26th August 1941, aged 19.
Son of Rodolphe and Alberta Perras, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Dieu Est Misericorde Qu'il Ait Pitie Pour Le Repos De Son Ame"
Roland Joseph Fidele Perras
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 40 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
26th August 1941, aged 19.
Son of Rodolphe and Alberta Perras, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Dieu Est Misericorde Qu'il Ait Pitie Pour Le Repos De Son Ame"
Other Burial Details
61994 Pilot Officer Thomas Raymond Fyles, in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1941, aged 27. Son of John and Ida Fyles, of Seaforth, Liverpool. LL.B.
1161364 Sergeant Gordon Knight, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1941.
32051 Squadron Leader Alan Cresswell Martin, Pilot in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 26th August 1941, aged 27.
Son of Alan Robert and Juanita Martin; nephew of Gertrude Martin, of Barnstaple, Devon.
67080 Pilot Officer Reginald Robert Reynolds, Observer in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1941, aged 19. Son of Reginald and Christabel Reynolds, of Exeter.
77373 Flying Officer William Wright, Air Gunner in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1941, aged 31. Son of Francis Ranken Wright and Mary Broome Wright, of Whetstone, Middlesex; husband of Inez Vida Wright, of Marylebone, London.
61994 Pilot Officer Thomas Raymond Fyles, in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1941, aged 27. Son of John and Ida Fyles, of Seaforth, Liverpool. LL.B.
1161364 Sergeant Gordon Knight, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1941.
32051 Squadron Leader Alan Cresswell Martin, Pilot in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 26th August 1941, aged 27.
Son of Alan Robert and Juanita Martin; nephew of Gertrude Martin, of Barnstaple, Devon.
67080 Pilot Officer Reginald Robert Reynolds, Observer in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1941, aged 19. Son of Reginald and Christabel Reynolds, of Exeter.
77373 Flying Officer William Wright, Air Gunner in 40 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th August 1941, aged 31. Son of Francis Ranken Wright and Mary Broome Wright, of Whetstone, Middlesex; husband of Inez Vida Wright, of Marylebone, London.
