OOSTVLETEREN CHURCHYARD
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.93367, Longitude: 2.74128
Location Information
The village of Oostvleteren is located 14 kilometres north-west of the town of Ieper (formerly Ypres), on the N8 road which runs between Ieper and Veurne.
Driving from Ieper follow the N8 to the crossroads with the N321 in Oostvleteren which has traffic lights. Turn right into Kasteelstraat and the church is on the right. The graves are located to the left and rear of the cemetery.
Historical Information
The British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944, but in the intervening years, many airmen were shot down or crashed in raids on strategic objectives in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany.
Oostvleteren Churchyard contains 17 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, one of which is unidentified.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 14, Canada 2. Total 16.
Unidentified Casualties: 1
Churchyard pictures © Johan Pauwels
The village of Oostvleteren is located 14 kilometres north-west of the town of Ieper (formerly Ypres), on the N8 road which runs between Ieper and Veurne.
Driving from Ieper follow the N8 to the crossroads with the N321 in Oostvleteren which has traffic lights. Turn right into Kasteelstraat and the church is on the right. The graves are located to the left and rear of the cemetery.
Historical Information
The British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944, but in the intervening years, many airmen were shot down or crashed in raids on strategic objectives in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany.
Oostvleteren Churchyard contains 17 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, one of which is unidentified.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 14, Canada 2. Total 16.
Unidentified Casualties: 1
Churchyard pictures © Johan Pauwels
R/198321 Sergeant
Robert Norval Cunningham
Royal Canadian Air Force
11th May 1944.
Collective Grave 11.
Robert Norval Cunningham
Royal Canadian Air Force
11th May 1944.
Collective Grave 11.
J/90046 Pilot Officer
Wallace Milton Ross
50 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th May 1944, aged 21.
Collective Grave 11.
Son of David Morrisson Ross and Kate Lillian Ross, of Dirleton, Alberta, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Safe In The arms Of Jesus In Loving Memory Of Wally. From All At Home, Mom"
Wallace Milton Ross
50 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th May 1944, aged 21.
Collective Grave 11.
Son of David Morrisson Ross and Kate Lillian Ross, of Dirleton, Alberta, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Safe In The arms Of Jesus In Loving Memory Of Wally. From All At Home, Mom"
Lancaster Flight crew, downed by flak 11th May 1944.
From Left to Right
From Left to Right
1322511 Flight Sergeant Donald Faulkner Ball, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 22. Son of Charles Sidney and Florence Annie Ball, of Carshalton Beeches, Surrey. his headstone bears the inscription " Doing His Duty He Died That We Might Live. May His Passing Help World Peace"
1217619 Flight Sergeant James Reginald Elliott, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 20. Son of Reginald William Elliott, and of Katie Elliott, of Quinton, Birmingham. His headstone bears the inscription "To The Memory Of My Beloved Son Jim"
171854 Pilot Officer Frank Stuart McFarlin, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 26. Son of Charles S. J. and Emily G. McFarlin, of Wallasey, Cheshire; husband of Marjorie McFarlin. his headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Frank, Age 26 He Lives Within Our Hearts Beloved & Unforgotten"
Robert Norval Cunningham (Details and picture above)
Wallace Milton Ross (Details and picture above)
1454842 Sergeant Leonard Craven, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 22. Son of Fred and Agnes Anne Craven, of New Farnley, Leeds, Yorkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep In Our Hearts A Memory Is Kept We Loved You Too Dearly To Ever Forget"
1851864 Sergeant Douglas St. Clair Ingram, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
1217619 Flight Sergeant James Reginald Elliott, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 20. Son of Reginald William Elliott, and of Katie Elliott, of Quinton, Birmingham. His headstone bears the inscription "To The Memory Of My Beloved Son Jim"
171854 Pilot Officer Frank Stuart McFarlin, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 26. Son of Charles S. J. and Emily G. McFarlin, of Wallasey, Cheshire; husband of Marjorie McFarlin. his headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Frank, Age 26 He Lives Within Our Hearts Beloved & Unforgotten"
Robert Norval Cunningham (Details and picture above)
Wallace Milton Ross (Details and picture above)
1454842 Sergeant Leonard Craven, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 22. Son of Fred and Agnes Anne Craven, of New Farnley, Leeds, Yorkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep In Our Hearts A Memory Is Kept We Loved You Too Dearly To Ever Forget"
1851864 Sergeant Douglas St. Clair Ingram, 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
