SANDE IN VESTFOLD CEMETERY
VESTFOLD
Norway
Location Information
Sande is a town on the north west coast of the Oslofjord, south of Drammen. From the E18 follow the signs into the town. The cemetery is located opposite the level crossing, and the Commonwealth war graves will be found near the front wall 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. Sande in Vestfold Cemetery contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen.
Burial Details
133095 Flight Lieutenant Kenneth James Harries, Navigator in 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 24. Son of Albert Ernest and Ethel Harries, of Peverell, Plymouth.
1819153 Flight Sergeant Wilfred Hughes, Air Gunner in 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 20. Son of Reginald and Gladys Hughes, of Mountfields, Shropshire; husband of Flora S. U. Hughes.
425312 Warrant Officer David Wise Jones, Royal Australian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 21. Son of Francis Lionel and Rose Merry-Jones, of Bardon, Queensland, Australia.
420704 Flying Officer John Henry McNamara, Royal Australian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 23. Croix de Guerre (France). Son of Henry Allen and Olive Gladys McNamara, of Riverstone, New South Wales, Australia.
1340827 Sergeant George Lyon Mitchell, Flight Engineer in 620 Squadron, died 28th December 1944, aged 22. Son of William K. and Elizabeth Mitchell, of West Pilton, Edinburgh.
1686191 Sergeant Raymond Poole, Pilot in 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 23. Son of John and Frances Jane Poole husband of Eveline Mary Poole, of Hartlepool, Co. Durham.
1317416 Flight Sergeant Sidney Walter Charles Rodman, Air Bomber in 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 25. Son of Sidney Mark and Violet Rodman, of Bristol. husband of Margaret Joan Rodman, of Horfield Bristol.
Cemetery picture © Åge Jakobsen
Sande is a town on the north west coast of the Oslofjord, south of Drammen. From the E18 follow the signs into the town. The cemetery is located opposite the level crossing, and the Commonwealth war graves will be found near the front wall 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. Sande in Vestfold Cemetery contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen.
Burial Details
133095 Flight Lieutenant Kenneth James Harries, Navigator in 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 24. Son of Albert Ernest and Ethel Harries, of Peverell, Plymouth.
1819153 Flight Sergeant Wilfred Hughes, Air Gunner in 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 20. Son of Reginald and Gladys Hughes, of Mountfields, Shropshire; husband of Flora S. U. Hughes.
425312 Warrant Officer David Wise Jones, Royal Australian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 21. Son of Francis Lionel and Rose Merry-Jones, of Bardon, Queensland, Australia.
420704 Flying Officer John Henry McNamara, Royal Australian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 23. Croix de Guerre (France). Son of Henry Allen and Olive Gladys McNamara, of Riverstone, New South Wales, Australia.
1340827 Sergeant George Lyon Mitchell, Flight Engineer in 620 Squadron, died 28th December 1944, aged 22. Son of William K. and Elizabeth Mitchell, of West Pilton, Edinburgh.
1686191 Sergeant Raymond Poole, Pilot in 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 23. Son of John and Frances Jane Poole husband of Eveline Mary Poole, of Hartlepool, Co. Durham.
1317416 Flight Sergeant Sidney Walter Charles Rodman, Air Bomber in 620 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 25. Son of Sidney Mark and Violet Rodman, of Bristol. husband of Margaret Joan Rodman, of Horfield Bristol.
Cemetery picture © Åge Jakobsen
