STAPHORST (ROUVEEN) NEW GENERAL CEMETERY
Overijssel
The Netherlands
GPS CoordinatesLatitude: 52.61592, Longitude: 6.18421
Location Information
Rouveen is a village in the commune of Staphorst, lying 4 kilometres south of Staphorst village about 1 kilometre west of the main road between Meppel and Zwolle. The New General Cemetery is on the northern outskirts of the village. Close to the entrance are the graves of 7 airmen; five from the United Kingdom and one each from Canada and New Zealand.
Rouveen is a village in the commune of Staphorst, lying 4 kilometres south of Staphorst village about 1 kilometre west of the main road between Meppel and Zwolle. The New General Cemetery is on the northern outskirts of the village. Close to the entrance are the graves of 7 airmen; five from the United Kingdom and one each from Canada and New Zealand.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
J/26914 Flying Officer
Francis Joseph Crowley
Pilot in 440 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th November 1944, aged 23.
Son of Joseph J. and Lillian M. Crowley, of Brockville, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Prayer For This Gallant Son. He Died That Peace And Freedom Might Be Won"
Frank's younger brother Paul Anthony Crowley was also killed in the war on 13th August 1944 and he is buried in Hanover War Cemetery in Germany, aged 20.
Frank died when his plane, Typhoon MP129, crashed near Punthorst-Staphorst, Overijssel, Holland. He was carrying out an operational attack against the enemy, dive bombing a railway approximately two miles east of Rouveen, Holland, when an accompanying pilot saw his aircraft hit by enemy flak, burst into flames and explode in mid-air. Frank was not seen to bale out. A telegram from the IRCC quoting German information states that Frank was killed on Nov 11, 1944.
Francis Joseph Crowley
Pilot in 440 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th November 1944, aged 23.
Son of Joseph J. and Lillian M. Crowley, of Brockville, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Prayer For This Gallant Son. He Died That Peace And Freedom Might Be Won"
Frank's younger brother Paul Anthony Crowley was also killed in the war on 13th August 1944 and he is buried in Hanover War Cemetery in Germany, aged 20.
Frank died when his plane, Typhoon MP129, crashed near Punthorst-Staphorst, Overijssel, Holland. He was carrying out an operational attack against the enemy, dive bombing a railway approximately two miles east of Rouveen, Holland, when an accompanying pilot saw his aircraft hit by enemy flak, burst into flames and explode in mid-air. Frank was not seen to bale out. A telegram from the IRCC quoting German information states that Frank was killed on Nov 11, 1944.
411222 Pilot Officer
Arthur McCarthy
Air Gunner in 214 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
5th September 1942, aged 23.
Son of Fred Heap McCarthy and Kate Elizabeth McCarthy, of Portsmouth, England; husband of Margaret Robertson McCarthy, of New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand.
Arthur McCarthy
Air Gunner in 214 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
5th September 1942, aged 23.
Son of Fred Heap McCarthy and Kate Elizabeth McCarthy, of Portsmouth, England; husband of Margaret Robertson McCarthy, of New Lynn, Auckland, New Zealand.
141457 Pilot Officer
John Rawson Thompson
Pilot in 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
5th March 1943, aged 21.
Son of Horace and Edna Annie Thompson, of Shipley, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud And Loving Memory Of A Very Dearly Loved Son And Brother"
John lost his life when his plane, Halifax HR687 78 Squadron crashed at the Leidijk Dekkersweg Staphorst, Overijssel Holland.
John Rawson Thompson
Pilot in 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
5th March 1943, aged 21.
Son of Horace and Edna Annie Thompson, of Shipley, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud And Loving Memory Of A Very Dearly Loved Son And Brother"
John lost his life when his plane, Halifax HR687 78 Squadron crashed at the Leidijk Dekkersweg Staphorst, Overijssel Holland.
1337753 Sergeant
Edward Charles Bert Williams
Air Gunner in 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
5th March 1943, aged 23.
Son of Frederick George and Maud Mary Williams, of Newport, Monmouthshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace, With Loved Ones Far Away ? We Will Meet Again Some Day"
Edward was killed when his plane, Halifax HR687 78 Squadron crashed at Leidijk Dekkersweg Staphorst, Overijssel Holland.
Edward Charles Bert Williams
Air Gunner in 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
5th March 1943, aged 23.
Son of Frederick George and Maud Mary Williams, of Newport, Monmouthshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace, With Loved Ones Far Away ? We Will Meet Again Some Day"
Edward was killed when his plane, Halifax HR687 78 Squadron crashed at Leidijk Dekkersweg Staphorst, Overijssel Holland.
Other Airmen's Details
1377328 Flight Sergeant Arthur Edward Blackwell, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 5th March 1943. Son of James and Hannah Blackwell. Pre war he was a Cashier and Shipping Clerk for a company based in Belgium. Enlisted 5th September 1940. Completed operational training 31st October 1942 and posted to No. 78 Squadron, RAF Linton on Ouse, Yorkshire. Shot down on his 20th operation.
568070 Sergeant Elwyn Meredith, Flight Engineer in 214 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 5th September 1942, aged 22.
Son of Jacob Elwyn Meredith and Eleanor Evelyn Meredith, of Newport, Monmouthshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man That This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
949942 Sergeant Iain Menzies Robertson Stewart, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 214 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 5th September 1942, aged 20. Son of Thomas Menzies Stewart and Petrine M. Stewart, of Aberfeldy, Perthshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Our Darling; At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Remember You"
1377328 Flight Sergeant Arthur Edward Blackwell, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 78 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 5th March 1943. Son of James and Hannah Blackwell. Pre war he was a Cashier and Shipping Clerk for a company based in Belgium. Enlisted 5th September 1940. Completed operational training 31st October 1942 and posted to No. 78 Squadron, RAF Linton on Ouse, Yorkshire. Shot down on his 20th operation.
568070 Sergeant Elwyn Meredith, Flight Engineer in 214 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 5th September 1942, aged 22.
Son of Jacob Elwyn Meredith and Eleanor Evelyn Meredith, of Newport, Monmouthshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man That This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
949942 Sergeant Iain Menzies Robertson Stewart, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 214 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 5th September 1942, aged 20. Son of Thomas Menzies Stewart and Petrine M. Stewart, of Aberfeldy, Perthshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Our Darling; At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Remember You"
