RISOR CIVIL CEMETERY
Risor
Norway
Location Information
Risor is on the south coast of Norway, north east of Arendal. From the E18 follow the 416 to Risor. Follow the road into the town, past the white church on the left, to the T-junction. Turn left into Tjenna and then first right into a parking area under the bridge. The Commonwealth war graves are located through the main gate to the crosspath, where you should turn right and follow to the end.
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.
Risor Civil Cemetery contains the graves of two Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Also buried in the cemetery are two unidentified seamen of the First World War, who died in the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Burial Details
434107 Flying Officer Basil Trevor Roberts, Royal Australian Air Force, died 15th October 1944, aged 20. Son of Hugh and Jessie Adaleen Roberts, of Townsville, Queensland. Australia. (Picture below)
J/90451 Pilot Officer Ernest Albert Russell, Air Bomber in 49 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 6th October 1944, aged 26. Foster-son of Clement T. and Rose Q Russell, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Cemetery pictures © Åge Jakobsen
Risor is on the south coast of Norway, north east of Arendal. From the E18 follow the 416 to Risor. Follow the road into the town, past the white church on the left, to the T-junction. Turn left into Tjenna and then first right into a parking area under the bridge. The Commonwealth war graves are located through the main gate to the crosspath, where you should turn right and follow to the end.
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.
Risor Civil Cemetery contains the graves of two Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Also buried in the cemetery are two unidentified seamen of the First World War, who died in the Battle of Jutland in 1916.
Burial Details
434107 Flying Officer Basil Trevor Roberts, Royal Australian Air Force, died 15th October 1944, aged 20. Son of Hugh and Jessie Adaleen Roberts, of Townsville, Queensland. Australia. (Picture below)
J/90451 Pilot Officer Ernest Albert Russell, Air Bomber in 49 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 6th October 1944, aged 26. Foster-son of Clement T. and Rose Q Russell, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Cemetery pictures © Åge Jakobsen
Portrait of 437282 Flight Sergeant (later Pilot Officer) Norman George Steer of Prospect, SA, Pilot (left), and 434107 Flying Officer Basil Trevor Roberts of Townsville, Qld, Navigator. They formed a ship-busting crew flying Beaufighter aircraft with RAAF 455 Squadron operating out of RAF Langham station, UK. On 15 October 1944, their aircraft ditched into the sea after attacking enemy trawlers off Norway. Only the body of FO Roberts was recovered, and he is buried in the Risor Civil Cemetery on the south coast of Norway