HOOK OF HOLLAND GENERAL CEMETERY
&
KINDERSTRANSPORTS MEMORIAL
Zuid-Holland
Netherlands
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.9824, Longitude: 4.12535
Location Information
The Hook of Holland is situated to the south-west of Den Haag on the coast. From Rotterdam follow the A20 direction HOEK van HOLLAND till the end and then follow the N220 (this is the MAASDIJK) direction HOEK van HOLLAND to its end. Turn left and follow signs for CENTRUM (this is the DIRK van den BURGWEG) after approx 5km turn left onto KERKHOFWEG (signposted ALGEMENE BEGRAAFPLAATS) the cemetery is along here on the right hand side.
Cemetery Address: Kerkhofweg 63151TN, Hoek van Holland
The Commonwealth War Graves plot is to the right of the entrance.
Visiting Information
Cemetery opening hours are:
Monday to Saturday 0800 to 1600
Sunday and Holiday's 1000 to 1600
Historical Information
Few Commonwealth troops were in the Netherlands during the 1940 invasion by the Germans, but a small force composed of Royal Marines and Irish and Welsh Guards landed at The Hook of Holland on May 12 and 13, to assist in safeguarding the Dutch Government.
It was from this port that, on May 13, Queen Wilhelmina left for England on board a British destroyer. Heavy air raids on the small area defended by our forces caused many casualties, and speedily rendered the position untenable without considerable reinforcements. These could not be spared, and on May 14, the force was evacuated and returned to Dover.
A portion of the Hook of Holland General Cemetery was set aside by the local authorities for the graves of soldiers killed in action and the first Commonwealth burials were of soldiers killed in the air raids of 13 May 1940. Two airmen shot down on 12 May 1940, and originally buried near their crashed plane, were moved into the cemetery a fortnight later. Thereafter during the war, casualties washed ashore on the neighbouring beaches, and airmen brought down in the neighbourhood were buried in this cemetery. There were American, Canadian and French servicemen among them, but these have since been moved to other cemeteries.
Total Burials: 77.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 59, Poland 5, Canada 1. Total 65.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 11, Canada 1. Total 12.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
113910 Flying Officer
Andrew Stuart Barrie
610 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
22nd June 1943, aged 25.
Row F. 14.
Son of Andrew and Sarah Ann Barrie; husband of Patricia Barrie, of Cowley, Middlesex.
Andrew Stuart Barrie
610 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
22nd June 1943, aged 25.
Row F. 14.
Son of Andrew and Sarah Ann Barrie; husband of Patricia Barrie, of Cowley, Middlesex.
82972 Flying Officer
Albert Henry Collins
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1941, aged 34.
Row F. Collective Grave 35.
Son of Albert and Rose Collins; husband of Winifred Emma Collins, of Shepherds' Bush, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of A Beloved Husband And Father, Who Is For Ever In Our Thoughts"
Albert Henry Collins
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1941, aged 34.
Row F. Collective Grave 35.
Son of Albert and Rose Collins; husband of Winifred Emma Collins, of Shepherds' Bush, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of A Beloved Husband And Father, Who Is For Ever In Our Thoughts"
2733663 Guardsman
Arthur William Cornelius
2nd Bn. Welsh Guards
13th May 1940, aged 25.
Row F. Collective Grave 58 - 60.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. David Thomas Cornelius, of Swansea.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them"
Arthur William Cornelius
2nd Bn. Welsh Guards
13th May 1940, aged 25.
Row F. Collective Grave 58 - 60.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. David Thomas Cornelius, of Swansea.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them"
1101054 Sergeant
Douglas Edward Coyle
7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
29th September 1941.
Row F. 26.
Douglas Edward Coyle
7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
29th September 1941.
Row F. 26.
1377610 Sergeant
Alan Francis Gardner
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th October 1942, aged 21.
Row F. 16.
Son of Rodney Robert and Amy Kathleen Gardner; foster-son of Mrs. E. Wade, of North Harrow, Middlesex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Sun Sets When, Over The Hills, We Shall Meet Our Loved One Again"
Alan Francis Gardner
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
25th October 1942, aged 21.
Row F. 16.
Son of Rodney Robert and Amy Kathleen Gardner; foster-son of Mrs. E. Wade, of North Harrow, Middlesex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Sun Sets When, Over The Hills, We Shall Meet Our Loved One Again"
63809 Pilot Officer
Stanley Frederick Maude Gunnis
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1941, aged 23.
Row F. Collective Grave 35.
Son of Matthew Gunnis, and of Elizabeth Dorman Gunnis, of Alloa, Clackmannanshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Flew Past Hardship To The Stars. Ever Remembered"
Stanley Frederick Maude Gunnis
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1941, aged 23.
Row F. Collective Grave 35.
Son of Matthew Gunnis, and of Elizabeth Dorman Gunnis, of Alloa, Clackmannanshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Flew Past Hardship To The Stars. Ever Remembered"
1254653 Sergeant
Kenneth Hayes
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1941, aged 20.
Row F. 40.
Son of Frank Stanley Hayes and Mabel Helen Marian Hayes, of South Norwood, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "Keep Their Memory Golden Remember How They Loved Also Why They Died. R. I. P."
Kenneth Hayes
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1941, aged 20.
Row F. 40.
Son of Frank Stanley Hayes and Mabel Helen Marian Hayes, of South Norwood, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "Keep Their Memory Golden Remember How They Loved Also Why They Died. R. I. P."
1069042 Sergeant
Brian Hunter
49 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th February 1942, aged 27.
Row F. 22.
Son of Dr. William Hunter and Ethel Hunter; husband of Jane Margaret Hunter, of Middle Herrington, Co. Durham.
His headstone bears the inscription "For His Gentleness And Thought For Others Who Loved Him Will Remember"
Brian Hunter
49 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th February 1942, aged 27.
Row F. 22.
Son of Dr. William Hunter and Ethel Hunter; husband of Jane Margaret Hunter, of Middle Herrington, Co. Durham.
His headstone bears the inscription "For His Gentleness And Thought For Others Who Loved Him Will Remember"
P/1374 Porucznik
Jan H. G. Musial
304 Squadron, Polish Air Force
25th July 1941, aged 30.
Row G. Collective Grave 1.
Jan H. G. Musial
304 Squadron, Polish Air Force
25th July 1941, aged 30.
Row G. Collective Grave 1.
J/3739 Pilot Officer
Frank Kerr Orme
21 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
28th August 1941, aged 25.
Row F. Collective Grave 35.
Son of Frank Laurence Orme and Mildred Kerr Orme, of Rockcliffe, Ontario, Canada. Sometime Badminton Champion of Ottawa; awarded a Gold medal in Chartered Accountant's Course.
His headstone bears the inscription "For Ever A Little Bit Of Canada"
Frank Kerr Orme
21 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
28th August 1941, aged 25.
Row F. Collective Grave 35.
Son of Frank Laurence Orme and Mildred Kerr Orme, of Rockcliffe, Ontario, Canada. Sometime Badminton Champion of Ottawa; awarded a Gold medal in Chartered Accountant's Course.
His headstone bears the inscription "For Ever A Little Bit Of Canada"
809129 Flight Sergeant
William Powell
59 Squadron, Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)
28th April 1941, aged 22.
Row F. 49.
Son of Fred and Mary Powell, of Leeds, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Precious Memories Of A Very Dear Son"
William Powell
59 Squadron, Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force)
28th April 1941, aged 22.
Row F. 49.
Son of Fred and Mary Powell, of Leeds, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Precious Memories Of A Very Dear Son"
P/780617 Plutonowy
Boleslaw Salamon
304 Squadron, Polish Air Force
25th July 1941, aged 26.
Row G. Collective Grave 1.
Boleslaw Salamon
304 Squadron, Polish Air Force
25th July 1941, aged 26.
Row G. Collective Grave 1.
916694 Sergeant
Allan Arthur Cecil Shaddick
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1941, aged 21.
Row F. 39.
Son of Charles Herbert and Dorothy Ethel Shaddick, of East Dulwich, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Booj"
Allan Arthur Cecil Shaddick
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1941, aged 21.
Row F. 39.
Son of Charles Herbert and Dorothy Ethel Shaddick, of East Dulwich, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Booj"
748545 Sergeant
William Herbert Roland Smale
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
30th April 1941, aged 26.
Row F. 47.
Son of Samuel and May Smale, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Remembrance"
William Herbert Roland Smale
21 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
30th April 1941, aged 26.
Row F. 47.
Son of Samuel and May Smale, of St. Albans, Hertfordshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Remembrance"
89633 Flying Officer
William Henry Stephens
86 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th February 1942, aged 23.
Row F. 24.
Son of Ewart Joseph and Lucy Alice Stephens, of Gloucester.
His headstone bears the inscription "God Took...And On Wings Of Speed Bore To Fields Elysian... Where Battle Is Not"
William Henry Stephens
86 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th February 1942, aged 23.
Row F. 24.
Son of Ewart Joseph and Lucy Alice Stephens, of Gloucester.
His headstone bears the inscription "God Took...And On Wings Of Speed Bore To Fields Elysian... Where Battle Is Not"
P/780144 Plutonowy
Zygmunt Witkowski
304 Squadron, Polish Air Force
25th July 1941, aged 21.
Row G. Collective Grave 1.
Zygmunt Witkowski
304 Squadron, Polish Air Force
25th July 1941, aged 21.
Row G. Collective Grave 1.
P/780720 Szeregowiec
Zbigniew Zuwala
304 Squadron, Polish Air Force
25th July 1941, aged 19.
Row G. Collective Grave 1.
Zbigniew Zuwala
304 Squadron, Polish Air Force
25th July 1941, aged 19.
Row G. Collective Grave 1.
