SANDEFJORD (EKEBERG) CHURCHYARD
Oslofjord
Norway
Location Information
Sandefjord is a town on the west coast of the Oslofjord. From Larvik follow the 303 to Sandefjord. At the roundabout with a petrol station follow the signs to the hospital (Sygehuis) along Skiringssalsveien, then turn left into Bugardsgata. The churchyard is on the corner.
From the churchyard gate follow the main path, then take the first path on the left and the Commonwealth war graves are along here on the right.
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.
Sandefjord (Ekeberg) Churchyard contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen.
Burial Details
J/37534 Flying Officer Lloyd George Gordon Catheralle, Navigator in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 23. Son of George Henry and Kristjana Catheralle, of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.
J/36888 Flying Officer Joseph Patrick Leonard Cullen, Air Bomber in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 25. Son of James Patrick and Abigail Mary Cullen, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
J/87449 Flying Officer Bertram Ernest Drewery, Pilot in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 25. Son of Warner P. and Violet W. Drewery, of Charing Cross, Ontario, Canada.
R/136304 Flight Sergeant James Raymond Giblin, Air Gunner in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 27. Son of Jack and Mabel Giblin.
R/200438 Flight Sergeant Karl Emerson Kelly, Air Gunner in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 20. Son of James and Florence Kelly, of New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada.
J/92473 Pilot Officer Adam Raeburn McDonald, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 28. Son of Robert Scott and Marg Raeburn McDonald, of McMasterville Province of Quebec, Canada.
1283210 Sergeant John Daniel Richmond, Flight Engineer in 429 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 23. Son of Alexander Buchan and Elizabeth Richmond, of Gravesend, Kent.
Pictures © Åge Jakobsen
Sandefjord is a town on the west coast of the Oslofjord. From Larvik follow the 303 to Sandefjord. At the roundabout with a petrol station follow the signs to the hospital (Sygehuis) along Skiringssalsveien, then turn left into Bugardsgata. The churchyard is on the corner.
From the churchyard gate follow the main path, then take the first path on the left and the Commonwealth war graves are along here on the right.
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.
Sandefjord (Ekeberg) Churchyard contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen.
Burial Details
J/37534 Flying Officer Lloyd George Gordon Catheralle, Navigator in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 23. Son of George Henry and Kristjana Catheralle, of New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada.
J/36888 Flying Officer Joseph Patrick Leonard Cullen, Air Bomber in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 25. Son of James Patrick and Abigail Mary Cullen, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
J/87449 Flying Officer Bertram Ernest Drewery, Pilot in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 25. Son of Warner P. and Violet W. Drewery, of Charing Cross, Ontario, Canada.
R/136304 Flight Sergeant James Raymond Giblin, Air Gunner in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 27. Son of Jack and Mabel Giblin.
R/200438 Flight Sergeant Karl Emerson Kelly, Air Gunner in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 20. Son of James and Florence Kelly, of New Liskeard, Ontario, Canada.
J/92473 Pilot Officer Adam Raeburn McDonald, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 429 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th December 1944, aged 28. Son of Robert Scott and Marg Raeburn McDonald, of McMasterville Province of Quebec, Canada.
1283210 Sergeant John Daniel Richmond, Flight Engineer in 429 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th December 1944, aged 23. Son of Alexander Buchan and Elizabeth Richmond, of Gravesend, Kent.
Pictures © Åge Jakobsen
