MANDAL CHURCHYARD
Vest-Agder
Norway
Location Information
Mandal is a village in the province of Vest-Agder. From Kristiansand on the E18 cross the river bridge then turn first left into Mamaveien. Follow this road to the roundabout, turn right and follow the road uphill, turn sharp right towards the hospital (Sykehuis) and then sharp left down a small one-way street. The cemetery is along here on the left. The Commonwealth war graves will be found in the rear left hand corner of the churchyard.
Historical 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.
Mandal Churchyard contains the graves of eight Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Also buried in the churchyard are eight First World War casualties, only three of them identified by name, all naval ratings or marines who died in the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Pictures © Åge Jakobsen
Mandal is a village in the province of Vest-Agder. From Kristiansand on the E18 cross the river bridge then turn first left into Mamaveien. Follow this road to the roundabout, turn right and follow the road uphill, turn sharp right towards the hospital (Sykehuis) and then sharp left down a small one-way street. The cemetery is along here on the left. The Commonwealth war graves will be found in the rear left hand corner of the churchyard.
Historical 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.
Mandal Churchyard contains the graves of eight Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Also buried in the churchyard are eight First World War casualties, only three of them identified by name, all naval ratings or marines who died in the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Pictures © Åge Jakobsen
