ST. JORIS COMMUNAL CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.12886, Longitude: 2.7908
Location Information
Sint-Joris Communal Cemetery is located 3 km east of the town of Nieuwpoort on the N367, Brugsesteenweg. The N367 begins at the Achterhaven and is a continuous road to the village of St. Joris. On reaching the village the cemetery is located 1 km further on the right hand side of the road.
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.
St. Joris Communal Cemetery contains the graves of nine Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
World War Two Casualties: United Kingdom 5, Australia 2, Canada 1, New Zealand 1. Total 9.
Cemetery Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
Sint-Joris Communal Cemetery is located 3 km east of the town of Nieuwpoort on the N367, Brugsesteenweg. The N367 begins at the Achterhaven and is a continuous road to the village of St. Joris. On reaching the village the cemetery is located 1 km further on the right hand side of the road.
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.
St. Joris Communal Cemetery contains the graves of nine Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
World War Two Casualties: United Kingdom 5, Australia 2, Canada 1, New Zealand 1. Total 9.
Cemetery Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
Click on Individual Headstone for Details
J/26779 Flight Lieutenant
William Gladstone Hoffman
78 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
28th July 1944, aged 21.
Son of Eagar and Hazel Hoffman; husband of Nan Hoffman, of Forres, Morayshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of William Beloved Husband Of Nan Quarrell"
William Gladstone Hoffman
78 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
28th July 1944, aged 21.
Son of Eagar and Hazel Hoffman; husband of Nan Hoffman, of Forres, Morayshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of William Beloved Husband Of Nan Quarrell"
404688 Sergeant
John Sivyer Turnock
Royal Australian Air Force
13th March 1942, aged 28.
Son of John Howard Turnock and Blanche Turnock, of Tweed River, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Is My Shepherd"
Click on image to enlarge
Informal portrait of 404688 Sergeant (Sgt) John Sivyer "Siv" Turnock with his parents Blanche and John Turnock, in their garden at Tweed, NSW. Sgt Turnock enlisted on 8 November 1940 and following pilot training, initially in Australia, then in Canada, he was posted to 460 Squadron RAAF. On 13 March 1942, he flew on his first mission as co-pilot with UV-X Wellington Z1251, one of five aircraft destined for a raid on Ostende. The crew was 403951 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Patrick John Denis Cooney, pilot, RNZAF, Sgt Turnock, 2nd Pilot, RAAF, 400413 Sgt Ian Eric Hart, observer, RAAF, 1359686 Sgt Jack Woodward, wireless operator, RAFVR, 989226 Sgt George Norman Winter, air gunner, RAFVR and 1380051 Sgt William Allan Pascoe, air gunner, RAFVR. The aircraft crashed near St Joris and all the crew were killed. Local people retrieved the bodies and buried them the same day.
John Sivyer Turnock
Royal Australian Air Force
13th March 1942, aged 28.
Son of John Howard Turnock and Blanche Turnock, of Tweed River, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Is My Shepherd"
Click on image to enlarge
Informal portrait of 404688 Sergeant (Sgt) John Sivyer "Siv" Turnock with his parents Blanche and John Turnock, in their garden at Tweed, NSW. Sgt Turnock enlisted on 8 November 1940 and following pilot training, initially in Australia, then in Canada, he was posted to 460 Squadron RAAF. On 13 March 1942, he flew on his first mission as co-pilot with UV-X Wellington Z1251, one of five aircraft destined for a raid on Ostende. The crew was 403951 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Patrick John Denis Cooney, pilot, RNZAF, Sgt Turnock, 2nd Pilot, RAAF, 400413 Sgt Ian Eric Hart, observer, RAAF, 1359686 Sgt Jack Woodward, wireless operator, RAFVR, 989226 Sgt George Norman Winter, air gunner, RAFVR and 1380051 Sgt William Allan Pascoe, air gunner, RAFVR. The aircraft crashed near St Joris and all the crew were killed. Local people retrieved the bodies and buried them the same day.
