MALDEGEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.20954 Longitude: 3.45407
Location Information
Maldegem Communal Cemetery is located midway between Brugge (16 km) and Gent (27 km), on the N9 which connects Brugge to Gent via Maldegem. From Brugge the N9 passes through Sijsele (7 km) and carries on for 9 km towards Maldegem. On reaching Maldegem the left hand turning onto the Katsweg leads for 400 metres to the cemetery itself. This cemetery is not an open site and access is limited by normal cemetery opening hours. The graves are located against the the south boundary wall behind the Belgian military plot. From the main entrance walk along the path to the Belgian Military plot then turn laft, at the wall turn right and the grave are 20m along the path 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.
Maldegem Communal Cemetery contains the graves of five Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
1266568 Sergeant Stanley George Coleman, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 98 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1943, aged 21. Son of Stanley Robert and Millicent Rose Coleman, of Uxbridge, Middlesex.
1219229 Flight Sergeant Jack Grindley, Pilot in 98 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1943, aged 20. Son of George Reginald and Cicely Margaret Grindley, of Oswestry, Shropshire.
80270 Flight Lieutenant Harold Crosbie Knight, Pilot in 137 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st May 1944, aged 27. Son of Reginald Arthur and Helena Crosbie Knight, of Queenstown, Cape Province, South Africa.
1323042 Sergeant Edward John Sayer, Air Gunner in 98 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1943, aged 22. Son of Frederick and Martha Lilian Sayer; husband of Elizabeth Emily Sayer, of West Ham, Essex.
1314838 Sergeant Harold John Webb, Navigator (Bomber) in 98 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1943, aged 21. Son of Sidney George and Ellen Webb, of Midsomer Norton, Somerset.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
Maldegem Communal Cemetery is located midway between Brugge (16 km) and Gent (27 km), on the N9 which connects Brugge to Gent via Maldegem. From Brugge the N9 passes through Sijsele (7 km) and carries on for 9 km towards Maldegem. On reaching Maldegem the left hand turning onto the Katsweg leads for 400 metres to the cemetery itself. This cemetery is not an open site and access is limited by normal cemetery opening hours. The graves are located against the the south boundary wall behind the Belgian military plot. From the main entrance walk along the path to the Belgian Military plot then turn laft, at the wall turn right and the grave are 20m along the path 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.
Maldegem Communal Cemetery contains the graves of five Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
1266568 Sergeant Stanley George Coleman, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 98 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1943, aged 21. Son of Stanley Robert and Millicent Rose Coleman, of Uxbridge, Middlesex.
1219229 Flight Sergeant Jack Grindley, Pilot in 98 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1943, aged 20. Son of George Reginald and Cicely Margaret Grindley, of Oswestry, Shropshire.
80270 Flight Lieutenant Harold Crosbie Knight, Pilot in 137 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st May 1944, aged 27. Son of Reginald Arthur and Helena Crosbie Knight, of Queenstown, Cape Province, South Africa.
1323042 Sergeant Edward John Sayer, Air Gunner in 98 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1943, aged 22. Son of Frederick and Martha Lilian Sayer; husband of Elizabeth Emily Sayer, of West Ham, Essex.
1314838 Sergeant Harold John Webb, Navigator (Bomber) in 98 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1943, aged 21. Son of Sidney George and Ellen Webb, of Midsomer Norton, Somerset.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
