KASTERLEE WAR CEMETERY
Antwerpen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.23401 Longitude: 4.97136
Location Information
Kasterlee War Cemetery is located 54 Kms north of Leuven and 53 Kms east of Antwerpen.
From the front entrance of St. Willibrordus Kerk in the centre of Kasterlee, drive 850 metres down Geelsebaan (N 19) - in the direction of Geel and turn off to the right on to the 'Venheide' (opposite the Windmill), following the Commission sign. The cemetery is situated at this right turn.
Visiting InformationWheelchair access is possible via the 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.
Kasterlee War Cemetery contains the graves of men killed in the fierce fighting associated with the crossing of the Meuse-Escaut Canal during the first three weeks of September 1944. The regiments represented by the largest numbers are The Royal Scots, The King's Own Scottish Borderers and The Royal Scots Fusiliers.
Kasterlee War Cemetery contains 100 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 3 of which are unidentified.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 94, Canada 3. Total 97.
The cemetery was designed by the Commission's Principal Architect, Philip Hepworth, FRIBA.
3447043 Fusilier
James Boardman
6th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
15th September 1944, aged 30.
Row II. A. 7.
Son of John and Mary Ann Boardman, of Leigh, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live. Always To Be Remembered. At Rest With Jesus"
James Boardman
6th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
15th September 1944, aged 30.
Row II. A. 7.
Son of John and Mary Ann Boardman, of Leigh, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live. Always To Be Remembered. At Rest With Jesus"
CDN/605 Lieutenant
Wilfred Wallace Nigel Brownlee-Lamont
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps attached to Gordon Highlanders
16th September 1944, aged 30.
Plot II. E. 7.
Son of Fred M. and Agnes E. Vanderlip, of Van Nuys, California, U.S.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "So Brave You Were So Tender And So True"
Wilfred Wallace Nigel Brownlee-Lamont
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps attached to Gordon Highlanders
16th September 1944, aged 30.
Plot II. E. 7.
Son of Fred M. and Agnes E. Vanderlip, of Van Nuys, California, U.S.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "So Brave You Were So Tender And So True"
CDN/233 Lieutenant
Kenneth Coates
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps attached to 6th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
16th September 1944, aged 29.
Plot I. E. 10
Son of William and Florence E. Coates; husband of Kathleen Enid Coates, of Guildford, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "Always Remembered"
Kenneth Coates
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps attached to 6th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
16th September 1944, aged 29.
Plot I. E. 10
Son of William and Florence E. Coates; husband of Kathleen Enid Coates, of Guildford, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "Always Remembered"
3135167 Serjeant
William Crawford
6th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
16th September 1944, aged 32.
Plot II. B. 3.
Son of William and Marion Kerr Crawford; husband of Marion Crawford, of Old Cumnock, Ayrshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Our Hearts Is A Memory Of One We Loved And Will Never Forget. Good Night Daddy"
William Crawford
6th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
16th September 1944, aged 32.
Plot II. B. 3.
Son of William and Marion Kerr Crawford; husband of Marion Crawford, of Old Cumnock, Ayrshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Our Hearts Is A Memory Of One We Loved And Will Never Forget. Good Night Daddy"
5340640 Lance Corporal
William Charles Farley
8th Bn. Royal Scots
14th September 1944, aged 26.
Plot II. D. 2.
Son of William Michael and Ethel Farley; husband of Joan Lillian Farley, of Holloway, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Bill. Gone From Us But Not Forgotten"
William Charles Farley
8th Bn. Royal Scots
14th September 1944, aged 26.
Plot II. D. 2.
Son of William Michael and Ethel Farley; husband of Joan Lillian Farley, of Holloway, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Bill. Gone From Us But Not Forgotten"
3061009 Corporal
Harry Reid Harkness
8th Bn. Royal Scots
14th September 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. A. 10.
Son of James Whitecross Harkness and Charlotte Riddel Harkness, of Edinburgh; husband of Alice Emma Harkness, of Leith, Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription "To The Memory Of A Devoted Husband Loved By All. Loving Wife Alice"
Harry Reid Harkness
8th Bn. Royal Scots
14th September 1944, aged 28.
Plot I. A. 10.
Son of James Whitecross Harkness and Charlotte Riddel Harkness, of Edinburgh; husband of Alice Emma Harkness, of Leith, Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription "To The Memory Of A Devoted Husband Loved By All. Loving Wife Alice"
Picture above showing Captain Picken receiving the Military Cross from Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery
147013 Captain
William Picken, M. C.
6th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
16th September 1944.
Plot II. A. 10
Picture above
William Picken, M. C.
6th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers
16th September 1944.
Plot II. A. 10
Picture above
CDN/361 Lieutenant
Jackson Stewart
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps attached to Royal Scots
15th September 1944, aged 30.
Plot I. A. 7.
Son of John and Mary Anne Stewart; husband of Marjorie Grace Stewart, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Have Fought A Good Fight, I Have Finished My Course, I have Kept The Faitg II Timothy IV.7"
Jackson Stewart
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps attached to Royal Scots
15th September 1944, aged 30.
Plot I. A. 7.
Son of John and Mary Anne Stewart; husband of Marjorie Grace Stewart, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Have Fought A Good Fight, I Have Finished My Course, I have Kept The Faitg II Timothy IV.7"
