LESJASKOG CHURCHYARD
Oppland
Norway
Location Information
Lesjaskog is a village in the province of Oppland, situated on Route E136. On entering the village from the south the church is signed to the right. Follow this road for about 1 kilometre and the church is on the right. The Commonwealth war graves are in the front right hand corner of the churchyard.
History Information
During the Second World War, Norway was of strategic importance to the Germans. Their invasion on 9 April 1940 was sudden and widespread and despite Allied intervention, the entire country was under German occupation by early June. Thereafter, Allied activity in Norway was confined to raids and special operations, with the Commonwealth air forces providing support to Norwegian resistance groups until the German capitulation in May 1945. There are no Commonwealth war cemeteries in Norway, those who died there being buried in civil cemeteries and churchyards. It was at Lesjaskog that Gladiators of 263 Squadron tried to use the frozen lake as a landing ground in 1940. Lesjaskog Churchyard contains the joint grave of two Commonwealth servicemen who were killed in the fighting in Gudbrandsdal in May 1940.
Burial Details
1985759 Sapper George Arthur Twiby, 55 Field Company, Royal Engineers, died 1st May 1940, aged 24. Son of Jack and Sarah Twiby, of Doncaster, Yorkshire; husband of Edith Twiby, of Doncaster.
INSCRIPTION. HE IS OURS TO REMEMBER FOR THOSE WHO LOVED HIM NEVER FORGET. REST IN PEACE.
4690710 Private Alfred Walstow, 1st Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Infantry, died 6th May 1940.
Cemetery pictures © Åge Jakobsen
Lesjaskog is a village in the province of Oppland, situated on Route E136. On entering the village from the south the church is signed to the right. Follow this road for about 1 kilometre and the church is on the right. The Commonwealth war graves are in the front right hand corner of the churchyard.
History Information
During the Second World War, Norway was of strategic importance to the Germans. Their invasion on 9 April 1940 was sudden and widespread and despite Allied intervention, the entire country was under German occupation by early June. Thereafter, Allied activity in Norway was confined to raids and special operations, with the Commonwealth air forces providing support to Norwegian resistance groups until the German capitulation in May 1945. There are no Commonwealth war cemeteries in Norway, those who died there being buried in civil cemeteries and churchyards. It was at Lesjaskog that Gladiators of 263 Squadron tried to use the frozen lake as a landing ground in 1940. Lesjaskog Churchyard contains the joint grave of two Commonwealth servicemen who were killed in the fighting in Gudbrandsdal in May 1940.
Burial Details
1985759 Sapper George Arthur Twiby, 55 Field Company, Royal Engineers, died 1st May 1940, aged 24. Son of Jack and Sarah Twiby, of Doncaster, Yorkshire; husband of Edith Twiby, of Doncaster.
INSCRIPTION. HE IS OURS TO REMEMBER FOR THOSE WHO LOVED HIM NEVER FORGET. REST IN PEACE.
4690710 Private Alfred Walstow, 1st Bn. King's Own Yorkshire Infantry, died 6th May 1940.
Cemetery pictures © Åge Jakobsen
