LANGDORP CHURCHYARD
Vlaams-Brabant
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.9936 Longitude: 4.87065
Location Information
The village of Langdorp is situated to the east of Aarschot, off the N10 which runs between Diest and Geel. From the motorway A2 turn off at junction 22 Aarschot and onto the N223 direction Aarschot. Follow the N223 straight into the town on Leuvensestraat and straight on into Martelarenstraat, at the T junction turn right into Diestsestraat and carry on to the end. At the T junction turn left onto the N10 direction Geel, and follow this to the next crossroads. Turn right here into Langdorpesteenweg and follow this road into the village. The church is on the right in the middle of the village. The graves are located at the rear of the cemetery on the left.
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.
Langdorp Churchyard contains the graves of eight Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 6, Australia 1, New Zealand 1. Total 8.
The village of Langdorp is situated to the east of Aarschot, off the N10 which runs between Diest and Geel. From the motorway A2 turn off at junction 22 Aarschot and onto the N223 direction Aarschot. Follow the N223 straight into the town on Leuvensestraat and straight on into Martelarenstraat, at the T junction turn right into Diestsestraat and carry on to the end. At the T junction turn left onto the N10 direction Geel, and follow this to the next crossroads. Turn right here into Langdorpesteenweg and follow this road into the village. The church is on the right in the middle of the village. The graves are located at the rear of the cemetery on the left.
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.
Langdorp Churchyard contains the graves of eight Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 6, Australia 1, New Zealand 1. Total 8.
Pictures in this gallery Johan Pauwels
404092 Flight Sergeant
Douglas Joseph Ashby-Peckham
Wireless Operator/air Gunner in 218 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
22nd June 1943, aged 20.
Son of William George Ashby-Peckham and of Ivy Aileen Ashby-Peckham (nee Davies), of Dargaville, Auckland, New Zealand.
Douglas Joseph Ashby-Peckham
Wireless Operator/air Gunner in 218 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
22nd June 1943, aged 20.
Son of William George Ashby-Peckham and of Ivy Aileen Ashby-Peckham (nee Davies), of Dargaville, Auckland, New Zealand.
128521 Flying Officer
Arne Rhoar Helvard
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
22nd June 1943, aged 28.
Of Denmark.
His headstone bears the inscription "Kaemp For Alt, Hvad Du Har Kaert, Do, Om Saa Det Gaelder"
Arne Rhoar Helvard
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
22nd June 1943, aged 28.
Of Denmark.
His headstone bears the inscription "Kaemp For Alt, Hvad Du Har Kaert, Do, Om Saa Det Gaelder"
Other Burials
1258721 Sergeant Raymond Percy Goward, Flight Engineer in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943, aged 20. Son of Percy Laskey Goward and Elsie Mildred Goward, of Sheringham, Norfolk. his headstone bears the inscription Ever Remembered By His Loving Parents, Sister And Brothers. "Rest In Peace"
1581644 Sergeant Arthur Edwin Gurney, air Gunner in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943.
1314586 Sergeant Edgar Desmond Hart, Air Gunner in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943, aged 20. Son of Jesse William Hart, and of Bessie Hart, of Plumstead, London. His headstone bears the inscription "He Lives Within Our Hearts Dearly Loved And Unforgotten "Thy Will Be Done"
1167033 Sergeant Thomas Reginald Lunn, Bomb Aimer in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943, aged 27. Son of John and Dorothy Annie Lunn, of Midway, Derbyshire. his headstone bears the inscription "A Beautiful Memory Sweet And True From Those Who Thought So Much Of You"
1241848 Sergeant Patrick Desmond McArdle, Navigator in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943, aged 23. Son of John and Bridget McArdle, of Netherton, Wishaw, Lanarkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "R. I. P."
412846 Pilot Officer William Golder Shillinglaw, Royal Australian Air Force, died 22nd June 1943, aged 26. Son of Thomas Anderson Shillinglaw and Helen Hay Shillinglaw, of Concord, New South Wales, Australia. "His Duty Nobly Done. fond Remembrance Of My Dear Son, At, Rest"
1258721 Sergeant Raymond Percy Goward, Flight Engineer in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943, aged 20. Son of Percy Laskey Goward and Elsie Mildred Goward, of Sheringham, Norfolk. his headstone bears the inscription Ever Remembered By His Loving Parents, Sister And Brothers. "Rest In Peace"
1581644 Sergeant Arthur Edwin Gurney, air Gunner in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943.
1314586 Sergeant Edgar Desmond Hart, Air Gunner in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943, aged 20. Son of Jesse William Hart, and of Bessie Hart, of Plumstead, London. His headstone bears the inscription "He Lives Within Our Hearts Dearly Loved And Unforgotten "Thy Will Be Done"
1167033 Sergeant Thomas Reginald Lunn, Bomb Aimer in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943, aged 27. Son of John and Dorothy Annie Lunn, of Midway, Derbyshire. his headstone bears the inscription "A Beautiful Memory Sweet And True From Those Who Thought So Much Of You"
1241848 Sergeant Patrick Desmond McArdle, Navigator in 218 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1943, aged 23. Son of John and Bridget McArdle, of Netherton, Wishaw, Lanarkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "R. I. P."
412846 Pilot Officer William Golder Shillinglaw, Royal Australian Air Force, died 22nd June 1943, aged 26. Son of Thomas Anderson Shillinglaw and Helen Hay Shillinglaw, of Concord, New South Wales, Australia. "His Duty Nobly Done. fond Remembrance Of My Dear Son, At, Rest"
