LANKLAAR COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Limburg
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.01946 Longitude: 5.72772
Location Information
The village of Lanklaar is located north-east of the town of Genk on the N78. From the motorway E314 which runs between Brussels and Aken (Aachen) turn off at junction 32 Genk-Oost. Turn onto the N75 direction As, follow the N75 to the junction with the N78, at the junction turn right onto the N78 direction Lanklaar. At the crossroads with the N742 turn left onto the N742 direction Stokkem, then first left into Kerkhofstraat and the cemetery is on the right. The graves are located through the main entrance in the middle of the cemetery
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.
Lanklaar Communal Cemetery contains the graves of nine airmen of the Second World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 7, Australia 1, Canada 1. Total 9.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
The village of Lanklaar is located north-east of the town of Genk on the N78. From the motorway E314 which runs between Brussels and Aken (Aachen) turn off at junction 32 Genk-Oost. Turn onto the N75 direction As, follow the N75 to the junction with the N78, at the junction turn right onto the N78 direction Lanklaar. At the crossroads with the N742 turn left onto the N742 direction Stokkem, then first left into Kerkhofstraat and the cemetery is on the right. The graves are located through the main entrance in the middle of the cemetery
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.
Lanklaar Communal Cemetery contains the graves of nine airmen of the Second World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 7, Australia 1, Canada 1. Total 9.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
R/145481 Flight Sergeant
John Campbell Willson
Air Bomber in 44 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
22nd June 1944, aged 20.
Son of Charles Alwyn Willson and Euphemia Lily Willson, of Encinitas, California, U.S.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Am The Resurrection And The Life Saith The Lord"
John Campbell Willson
Air Bomber in 44 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
22nd June 1944, aged 20.
Son of Charles Alwyn Willson and Euphemia Lily Willson, of Encinitas, California, U.S.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Am The Resurrection And The Life Saith The Lord"
Other Burials
1589519 Sergeant John Douglas Barber, Flight Engineer in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 19. Son of Harry and Elizabeth Barber, of Wilmslow, Cheshire.
2205827 Sergeant David Blackie, Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 19. Son of James and Marie Blackie, of Liverpool. His headstone bears the inscription "Died For the Liberation Of Europe. Deeply Mourned. Requiescant In Pace"
1463968 Sergeant Laurence Herbert Bozier, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
1807476 Sergeant Raymond William Brett, Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
142923 Flying Officer Thomas Sawers Calder, Navigator in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
160180 Pilot Officer Neville John Wingrove Scholtz, Pilot in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 20. Son of Vintcent James Scholtz and Holly Georgina Scholtz, of Que Que, Southern Rhodesia.
415556 Flying Officer Neil Joseph Smith, Royal Australian Air Force, died 22nd June 1944, aged 22. Son of Sidney Edward and Alice Ethel Smith, of Midland Junction, Western Australia. his headstone bears the inscription "One Of The Best. His Life He Gave To Save The Rest"
1612783 Flight Sergeant Michael William Beevor Steele, Air Bomber in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
1589519 Sergeant John Douglas Barber, Flight Engineer in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 19. Son of Harry and Elizabeth Barber, of Wilmslow, Cheshire.
2205827 Sergeant David Blackie, Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 19. Son of James and Marie Blackie, of Liverpool. His headstone bears the inscription "Died For the Liberation Of Europe. Deeply Mourned. Requiescant In Pace"
1463968 Sergeant Laurence Herbert Bozier, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
1807476 Sergeant Raymond William Brett, Air Gunner in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
142923 Flying Officer Thomas Sawers Calder, Navigator in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
160180 Pilot Officer Neville John Wingrove Scholtz, Pilot in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944, aged 20. Son of Vintcent James Scholtz and Holly Georgina Scholtz, of Que Que, Southern Rhodesia.
415556 Flying Officer Neil Joseph Smith, Royal Australian Air Force, died 22nd June 1944, aged 22. Son of Sidney Edward and Alice Ethel Smith, of Midland Junction, Western Australia. his headstone bears the inscription "One Of The Best. His Life He Gave To Save The Rest"
1612783 Flight Sergeant Michael William Beevor Steele, Air Bomber in 44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd June 1944.
