HASSELT (KRUISVELD) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Limburg
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.92005 Longitude: 5.33001
Picture © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
Hasselt is a town in the province of Limburg. From the motorway E313 turn off at Junction 28 onto the N80. Follow the N80, direction Hasselt, and at the traffic lights next to the water tower continue straight on into St.-Truidersteenweg. Take the first turning right into Kerkhofstraat, and the cemetery will be found in front of you. The Commonwealth War Graves Plot is in the south-eastern part of the cemetery.
Visiting Information
Opening hours: 1 April to 31 October from 800hrs to 2000hrs; 1 November to 31 March from 800hrs to 1800hrs.
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.
Hasselt (Kruisveld) Communal Cemetery contains a plot of 50 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 41, Canada 5, Australia 4. Total 50.
Hasselt is a town in the province of Limburg. From the motorway E313 turn off at Junction 28 onto the N80. Follow the N80, direction Hasselt, and at the traffic lights next to the water tower continue straight on into St.-Truidersteenweg. Take the first turning right into Kerkhofstraat, and the cemetery will be found in front of you. The Commonwealth War Graves Plot is in the south-eastern part of the cemetery.
Visiting Information
Opening hours: 1 April to 31 October from 800hrs to 2000hrs; 1 November to 31 March from 800hrs to 1800hrs.
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.
Hasselt (Kruisveld) Communal Cemetery contains a plot of 50 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 41, Canada 5, Australia 4. Total 50.
J/42447 Flying Officer
Joseph Dixon Ball
Air Bomber in 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th March 1945, aged 20.
Row A. 18.
Son of Edward A.R. and Mary J.L.Ball, of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than He Who Giveth His Life For His Country"
Joseph Dixon Ball
Air Bomber in 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th March 1945, aged 20.
Row A. 18.
Son of Edward A.R. and Mary J.L.Ball, of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than He Who Giveth His Life For His Country"
810333 Lance Serjeant
Arthur Henry Danks
4th Bn. Wilstshire Regiment
24th January 1945.
Row B. 5.
Arthur Henry Danks
4th Bn. Wilstshire Regiment
24th January 1945.
Row B. 5.
Group portrait of the seven man aircrew of Lancaster bomber, AR F2, (PB 471), 460 Squadron, RAAF, at their base in Binbrook, Lincolnshire.
Buried in this cemetery are
434620 Flying Officer Bernard Maxwell Clegg, (Standing, 1st on left) Wireless Operator in Royal Australian Air Force, killed 21st February 1945, aged 20. Row D. 1. Son of Henry and Maggie Echeline Clegg, of Southport, Queensland, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "No Coward's Castle For Him Or His Crew. They Live On R. I. P."
435276 Flight Sergeant Bryant (Buster) Braddock, (Standing 2nd on left) Mid Upper Gunner in Royal Australian Air Force, died 21st February 1945, aged 27. Row D. 3. Son of Frederick Walter Roy and Harriett Marion Sarah Braddock; husband of Janine Elizabeth Braddock, of City Beach, Western Australia. his headstone bears the inscription "Into The World Of Tomorrow"
430403 Flying Officer Sydney (Syd) Clifton Swift, (Standing 3rd on left) Navigator in Royal Australia Air Force, died 21st February 1945, aged 20. Row D. 2. Son of Sydney George and Irene Edna Swift, of Newport, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Ever Remembered R. I. P."
188993 Pilot Officer Frank Samuel Stone, (Kneeling, 2nd on left) Flight Engineer in Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st February 1945. Row D. 5.
1596167 Sergeant Alan Graham, (Kneeling, 3rd on left) Rear Gunner in Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st February 1945. Row D. 6.
429070 Flying Officer Herbert (Bert) Thomas Campbell, (Kneeling, 4th on left) Bomb Aimer in Royal Australian Air Force, died 21st February 1945, aged 22. Row D. 4. Son of Herbert Peters Campbell and Mary Campbell, of Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia. his headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
In February 1945 this aircraft was shot down by German night fighters when returning from a raid on Dortmund in the Ruhr Valley. The aircraft crashed at Linkhout, in the Belgian province of Limberg. The crew, with the exception of the pilot, Flt Lt Alex Jenkins, were all killed. Flt Lt Jenkins bailed out and was able evade capture, before eventually meeting up with advancing allied forces. On his return to Britain, he was reinstated as a pilot and flew missions until the end of the European war. The six crew members are buried at the Hasselt New Communal Cemetery, Belgium. The two ground crew members (background) are unidentified.
434620 Flying Officer Bernard Maxwell Clegg, (Standing, 1st on left) Wireless Operator in Royal Australian Air Force, killed 21st February 1945, aged 20. Row D. 1. Son of Henry and Maggie Echeline Clegg, of Southport, Queensland, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "No Coward's Castle For Him Or His Crew. They Live On R. I. P."
435276 Flight Sergeant Bryant (Buster) Braddock, (Standing 2nd on left) Mid Upper Gunner in Royal Australian Air Force, died 21st February 1945, aged 27. Row D. 3. Son of Frederick Walter Roy and Harriett Marion Sarah Braddock; husband of Janine Elizabeth Braddock, of City Beach, Western Australia. his headstone bears the inscription "Into The World Of Tomorrow"
430403 Flying Officer Sydney (Syd) Clifton Swift, (Standing 3rd on left) Navigator in Royal Australia Air Force, died 21st February 1945, aged 20. Row D. 2. Son of Sydney George and Irene Edna Swift, of Newport, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Ever Remembered R. I. P."
188993 Pilot Officer Frank Samuel Stone, (Kneeling, 2nd on left) Flight Engineer in Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st February 1945. Row D. 5.
1596167 Sergeant Alan Graham, (Kneeling, 3rd on left) Rear Gunner in Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st February 1945. Row D. 6.
429070 Flying Officer Herbert (Bert) Thomas Campbell, (Kneeling, 4th on left) Bomb Aimer in Royal Australian Air Force, died 21st February 1945, aged 22. Row D. 4. Son of Herbert Peters Campbell and Mary Campbell, of Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia. his headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
In February 1945 this aircraft was shot down by German night fighters when returning from a raid on Dortmund in the Ruhr Valley. The aircraft crashed at Linkhout, in the Belgian province of Limberg. The crew, with the exception of the pilot, Flt Lt Alex Jenkins, were all killed. Flt Lt Jenkins bailed out and was able evade capture, before eventually meeting up with advancing allied forces. On his return to Britain, he was reinstated as a pilot and flew missions until the end of the European war. The six crew members are buried at the Hasselt New Communal Cemetery, Belgium. The two ground crew members (background) are unidentified.
Bryant Buster Braddock
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Herbert (Bert) Thomas Campbell
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Bernard Maxwell Clegg
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Alan Graham
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Frank Samuel Stone
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Sydney (Syd) Clifton Swift
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Images in this gallery © André De Smet
14336635 Trooper
Philip Edwin Harding
4th Royal Tank Regiment, R. A. C.
5th March 1945, aged 20.
Row B. 14.
Son of Edwin Charles and Lily Constance Harding, of Hounslow, Middlesex.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Was An Example To All Who Knew And Loved Him"
Philip Edwin Harding
4th Royal Tank Regiment, R. A. C.
5th March 1945, aged 20.
Row B. 14.
Son of Edwin Charles and Lily Constance Harding, of Hounslow, Middlesex.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Was An Example To All Who Knew And Loved Him"
J/94601 Pilot Officer
Thomas Carle Kossatz
Flight Engineer in 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th March 1945.
Row A. 19.
Son of Alfred and Sarah Kossatz, of Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.
His inscription "His Name I Oft Recall. There Is Nothing Left To AnswerBut His Picture On The Wall"
Thomas Carle Kossatz
Flight Engineer in 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th March 1945.
Row A. 19.
Son of Alfred and Sarah Kossatz, of Pembroke, Ontario, Canada.
His inscription "His Name I Oft Recall. There Is Nothing Left To AnswerBut His Picture On The Wall"
Pictures of Some of the Original Grave Markers
J/38861 Flying Officer
Jack Ormsby Stewart, D. F. C.
Pilot in 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th March 1945, aged 23.
Row A. 15.
Son of Fred and Edrie M. Stewart, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Flying With A Higher Force"
Click on image to enlarge
Jack Ormsby Stewart, D. F. C.
Pilot in 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th March 1945, aged 23.
Row A. 15.
Son of Fred and Edrie M. Stewart, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Flying With A Higher Force"
Click on image to enlarge
J/94602 Pilot Officer
William George White
Air Gunner in 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th March 1945, aged 19.
Row A. 16.
Son of Albert Thomas White and Edith White, of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Is Not Here; For He Is Risen" St. Matt. XXVIII: 6
William George White
Air Gunner in 434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th March 1945, aged 19.
Row A. 16.
Son of Albert Thomas White and Edith White, of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Is Not Here; For He Is Risen" St. Matt. XXVIII: 6
