ST. NIKLAAS COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Oost-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.15589, Longitude: 4.1455
Location Information
The town of Sint-Niklaas is located on the motorway E17/A14. From the motorway E17/A14, which runs between Kortrijk and Antwerp, turn off at junction 15 onto the N16, direction Sint-Niklaas. Follow this road to the junction with the N70 and turn left along Koning Astridlaan, direction Gent. At the first crossroads turn right into Tereken then first left past the church, the cemetery is along here on the left.
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. Niklaas Communal Cemetery contains eight Commonwealth burials of the Second World War and one from the First World War.
Total Burials: 9.
World War One Casualty: United Kingdom 1.
World War Two Casualties: United Kingdom 6, Canada 2. Total 8.
Pictures © Werner Can Caneghem
The town of Sint-Niklaas is located on the motorway E17/A14. From the motorway E17/A14, which runs between Kortrijk and Antwerp, turn off at junction 15 onto the N16, direction Sint-Niklaas. Follow this road to the junction with the N70 and turn left along Koning Astridlaan, direction Gent. At the first crossroads turn right into Tereken then first left past the church, the cemetery is along here on the left.
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. Niklaas Communal Cemetery contains eight Commonwealth burials of the Second World War and one from the First World War.
Total Burials: 9.
World War One Casualty: United Kingdom 1.
World War Two Casualties: United Kingdom 6, Canada 2. Total 8.
Pictures © Werner Can Caneghem
World War Two Burials
J/19534 Pilot Officer
Herman Earl MacDuff
Air Gunner in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force
22nd May 1944.
Herman Earl MacDuff
Air Gunner in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force
22nd May 1944.
J/93539 Pilot Officer
Leslie Robert Towsley
Air Bomber in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
22nd May 1944, aged 21.
Son of Frederick George and Maude Lilian Towsley, of Fort William, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription To Higher Service In The Hands Of God. "Whosoever Believeth In Him Shall Never Die"
Leslie Robert Towsley
Air Bomber in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
22nd May 1944, aged 21.
Son of Frederick George and Maude Lilian Towsley, of Fort William, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription To Higher Service In The Hands Of God. "Whosoever Believeth In Him Shall Never Die"
Other Burials
1153961 Sergeant Donald Sidney Bruty, Flight Engineer in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd May 1944, aged 24. Son of Sidney Dannell Bruty and Winifred Bessie Bruty, of West Dulwich, London; husband of Muriel Bruty, of Dumfries.
6922970 Rifleman Henry William Chipperfield, 2nd Bn. King's Royal Rifle Corps, died 9th September 1944, aged 28. Son of William Thomas Chipperfield and Jane Emma Chipperfield, of Plaistow, Essex.
170280 Pilot Officer Peter James Dukelow, Pilot in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd May 1944, aged 21. Son of James and May Christina Dukelow, of Charlton, London; nephew of Mr. J. Dukelow, of Charlton.
154276 Flying Officer Leslie Ronald Dunham, Navigator in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd May 1944, aged 21.
1808378 Sergeant Sidney Alfred Jarvis, Air Gunner In 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd May 1944, aged 19. Son of Richard and Nellie Margaret Jarvis of Walthamstow, Essex.
1576545 Sergeant David Alfred William Mayo, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 22nd May 1944.
World War One Burial
S/42066 Robert Thomson, 8th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders, died 7th October 1918, aged 19. Son of John and Isabella Thomson, of 17 Dunn St., Paisley. Born at Barrhead.
