OVERIJSE (TOMBEEK) CHURCHYARD
Vlaams-Brabant
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.75455, Longitude: 4.5676
Location Information
Overijse, a village and commune 17 kilometres south-east of Brussels, lies astride the main Brussels-Namur road. The hamlet of Tombeek is on this main road, 3 kilometres east of the village. The churchyard is 180 metres south of the main road, in the centre of the hamlet. The graves are at the far end, beyond and left of the church.
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.
Overijse (Tombeek) Churchyard contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 4, Canada 2, Australia 1. Total 7.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
Overijse, a village and commune 17 kilometres south-east of Brussels, lies astride the main Brussels-Namur road. The hamlet of Tombeek is on this main road, 3 kilometres east of the village. The churchyard is 180 metres south of the main road, in the centre of the hamlet. The graves are at the far end, beyond and left of the church.
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.
Overijse (Tombeek) Churchyard contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 4, Canada 2, Australia 1. Total 7.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
400813 Sergeant
John Alexander Brock Marshall
Royal Australian Air Force
28th August 1942, aged 24.
His headstone bears the Inscription "In gods house for evermore my dwelling-place shall be"
Son of James Edward and Grace Hope Marshall, of East Malvern, Victoria, Australia.
Studio portrait of 400813 Sergeant (Sgt) John Alexander Brock Marshall, of Malvern, Vic, No 78 Squadron, RAAF. Sgt Marshall enlisted in Melbourne, Vic, on 8 November 1940, and was killed whilst on operations over Belgium on 28 August 1942.
John Alexander Brock Marshall
Royal Australian Air Force
28th August 1942, aged 24.
His headstone bears the Inscription "In gods house for evermore my dwelling-place shall be"
Son of James Edward and Grace Hope Marshall, of East Malvern, Victoria, Australia.
Studio portrait of 400813 Sergeant (Sgt) John Alexander Brock Marshall, of Malvern, Vic, No 78 Squadron, RAAF. Sgt Marshall enlisted in Melbourne, Vic, on 8 November 1940, and was killed whilst on operations over Belgium on 28 August 1942.
R/71069 Flight Sergeant Air Gunner
Samuel Ross
78 (R.A.F.) Sqdn, Royal Canadian Air Force
28th August 1942, aged 26.
Son of Andrew and Agnes Ross, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sincere And Kind In Heart And Mind What A Beautiful Memory He Left Behind"
Samuel Ross
78 (R.A.F.) Sqdn, Royal Canadian Air Force
28th August 1942, aged 26.
Son of Andrew and Agnes Ross, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sincere And Kind In Heart And Mind What A Beautiful Memory He Left Behind"
Other Burial Details
963723 Sergeant Flight Engineer George Edward Dunn, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th August 1942, aged 37. Son of Ralph and Ada Dunn; husband of Rose Mary Dunn, of Tottenham, Middlesex.
581403 Warrant Officer Terence Michael Manning, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 28th August 1942, aged 22. Son of Joseph Michael and Julia Manning; husband of Mary Jane Manning, of Coton, Leicestershire.
1499066 Sergeant Joseph Potton Martin, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th August 1942, aged 34. Son of Arthur Henry and Mary Jane Martin; husband of Lydia Marion Martin, of Greenfield, Flintshire.
1008176 Sergeant Air Gunner John George Mellor, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th August 1942, aged 20. Son of Benjamin Stanley Mellor and Eileen May Mellor, of Ardrossan, Ayrshire.
R/72545 Flight Sergeant Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Terrie Haggie Miller, 78 (R.A.F.) Sqdn, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th August 1942, aged 23. Son of John C. and Elizabeth Craig Miller, of Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
963723 Sergeant Flight Engineer George Edward Dunn, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th August 1942, aged 37. Son of Ralph and Ada Dunn; husband of Rose Mary Dunn, of Tottenham, Middlesex.
581403 Warrant Officer Terence Michael Manning, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 28th August 1942, aged 22. Son of Joseph Michael and Julia Manning; husband of Mary Jane Manning, of Coton, Leicestershire.
1499066 Sergeant Joseph Potton Martin, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th August 1942, aged 34. Son of Arthur Henry and Mary Jane Martin; husband of Lydia Marion Martin, of Greenfield, Flintshire.
1008176 Sergeant Air Gunner John George Mellor, 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th August 1942, aged 20. Son of Benjamin Stanley Mellor and Eileen May Mellor, of Ardrossan, Ayrshire.
R/72545 Flight Sergeant Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Terrie Haggie Miller, 78 (R.A.F.) Sqdn, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 28th August 1942, aged 23. Son of John C. and Elizabeth Craig Miller, of Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
