HOUWAART CHURCHYARD
Vlaams-Brabant
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.93436 Longitude: 4.86105
Location Information
Houwaart is a village 46 kilometres east of Brussels, 17 kilometres north-east of Leuven, and 5 kilometres north of the main road from Leuven to Diest. Leuven is the most convenient centre. The Commonwealth graves are in the north-western part.
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.
Houwaart Churchyard contains the graves of six Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
656801 Sergeant Peter Butterworth, Navigator in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 29th June 1943, aged 23. Son of William and Dora Florence Butterworth; stepson of Mrs. V. E. Butterworth, of Ruislip, Middlesex.
1086924 Sergeant Arthur Derbyshire, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 29th June 1943.
111953 Pilot Officer Peter George Frith, Pilot in 13 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th June 1942, aged 19. Son of Ernest W. and Marion Frith, of Kingston Hill, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey.
1291941 Sergeant Robert Tenant Plant, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 13 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th June 1942.
1699589 Sergeant Bernard Shade Swainston, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 29th June 1943, aged 19. Son of Hilda Swainston, and stepson of Albert James Watson, of South Shields, Co. Durham.
1250069 Sergeant Henry Herbert William Vinter, Observer in 13 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th June 1942.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
Houwaart is a village 46 kilometres east of Brussels, 17 kilometres north-east of Leuven, and 5 kilometres north of the main road from Leuven to Diest. Leuven is the most convenient centre. The Commonwealth graves are in the north-western part.
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.
Houwaart Churchyard contains the graves of six Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
656801 Sergeant Peter Butterworth, Navigator in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 29th June 1943, aged 23. Son of William and Dora Florence Butterworth; stepson of Mrs. V. E. Butterworth, of Ruislip, Middlesex.
1086924 Sergeant Arthur Derbyshire, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 29th June 1943.
111953 Pilot Officer Peter George Frith, Pilot in 13 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th June 1942, aged 19. Son of Ernest W. and Marion Frith, of Kingston Hill, Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey.
1291941 Sergeant Robert Tenant Plant, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 13 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th June 1942.
1699589 Sergeant Bernard Shade Swainston, Air Gunner in 149 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 29th June 1943, aged 19. Son of Hilda Swainston, and stepson of Albert James Watson, of South Shields, Co. Durham.
1250069 Sergeant Henry Herbert William Vinter, Observer in 13 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 26th June 1942.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
