THE HAGUE (WESTDUIN) GENERAL CEMETERY
Zuid-Holland
Netherlands
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 52.05774, Longitude: 4.22622
Image © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
Westduin is a suburb in the south-western district of The Hague (Den Haag). From the A4 motorway take exit (afrit) 12 RIJSWIJK / DEN HAAG ZUID / HOEK VAN HOLLAND. Follow the signs for N211 direction DEN HAAG ZUID. Continue along this road (LOZERLAAN) for approx 7kms, the road name then becomes OCKENBURGHSTRAAT, after 400m turn left at the signpost for BEGRAAFPLAATS.
The Commonwealth War Graves plot is to the left of the entrance.
Cemetery Address: OCKENBURGHSTRAAT 27
2553AA 's-Gravenhage
Visiting Information
Cemetery opening hours are:
Monday to Friday 0800 to 1600
Saturday 0900 to 1600
Sunday and Holiday's 1000 to 1600
Historical Information
The Hague (Westduin) General Cemetery contains a plot of 87 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, the majority airmen.
Total Commonwealth Burials: 87.
Commonwealth World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 58, Canada 6, Australia 5, New Zealand 1. Total 70.
Commonwealth World War Two Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 13, Australia 2, Canada 2. Total 17.
J/14403 Pilot Officer
Richard Herman Dose
402 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
8th June 1943.
Allied Plot. Row 2. Grave 44.
Richard Herman Dose
402 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
8th June 1943.
Allied Plot. Row 2. Grave 44.
J/20482 Flying Officer
Alfred Austin Fischer
434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
20th December 1943, aged 25.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 76.
Son of Albert E. and Eliza J. Fischer, of North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Alfred Austin Fischer
434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
20th December 1943, aged 25.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 76.
Son of Albert E. and Eliza J. Fischer, of North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Original Grave Marker
957745 Flight Sergeant
Hedley Albert Goldsmith
217 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th February 1942, aged 25.
Allied Plot. Row 1. Grave 13.
Son of Albert E. and Laura M. Goldsmith; husband of Adeline Bessie Goldsmith, of Swaffham, Norfolk.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Peace And Rest In God's Safe Keeping"
Hedley Albert Goldsmith
217 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th February 1942, aged 25.
Allied Plot. Row 1. Grave 13.
Son of Albert E. and Laura M. Goldsmith; husband of Adeline Bessie Goldsmith, of Swaffham, Norfolk.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Peace And Rest In God's Safe Keeping"
1365410 Warrant Officer
John Fraser Kelman
124 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
14th February 1945, aged 23.
Allied Plot. Row 5. Grave 93.
Son of John and Bessie Fraser Kelman, of Aberdeen.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember"
John Fraser Kelman
124 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
14th February 1945, aged 23.
Allied Plot. Row 5. Grave 93.
Son of John and Bessie Fraser Kelman, of Aberdeen.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember"
R/77507 Flight Sergeant
Andrew Lennox
142 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 23.
Allied Plot. Row 1. Grave 18.
Son of Andrew and Esther Lennox, of Innisfail, Alberta, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Life Is Ever Lord Of Death And Love Can Never Lose Its Own"
Andrew Lennox
142 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 23.
Allied Plot. Row 1. Grave 18.
Son of Andrew and Esther Lennox, of Innisfail, Alberta, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Life Is Ever Lord Of Death And Love Can Never Lose Its Own"
R/138078 Warrant Officer Class II
Walter Farquhar Marshall
434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
20th December 1943, aged 28.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 77.
Son of Walter and Katherine Marshall; husband of Florence Hope Marshall, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away"
Walter Farquhar Marshall
434 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
20th December 1943, aged 28.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 77.
Son of Walter and Katherine Marshall; husband of Florence Hope Marshall, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Until The Day Break And The Shadows Flee Away"
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
1377603 Sergeant
Albert Mills
12 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1942, aged 30.
Allied Plot. Row 2. Grave 31.
Son of Mark and Lucy Mills; husband of Marjorie May Mills, of Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. Schoolmaster.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them"
Albert Mills
12 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
28th August 1942, aged 30.
Allied Plot. Row 2. Grave 31.
Son of Mark and Lucy Mills; husband of Marjorie May Mills, of Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire. Schoolmaster.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Them"
R/78467 Flight Sergeant
William Melville Pipher
142 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 24.
Allied Plot. Row 1. Grave 19.
Son of Earl Melville Pipher and Mary Ester Pipher, of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For Others"
William Melville Pipher
142 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
26th March 1942, aged 24.
Allied Plot. Row 1. Grave 19.
Son of Earl Melville Pipher and Mary Ester Pipher, of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For Others"
411032 Pilot Officer
Thomas Sampson
466 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
14th May 1943, aged 22.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 72.
Son of William John and Lilian Annie Sampson, of Ashburton, Canterbury New Zealand.
Thomas Sampson
466 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
14th May 1943, aged 22.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 72.
Son of William John and Lilian Annie Sampson, of Ashburton, Canterbury New Zealand.
406682 Sergeant
Bartlett Parker Shaddick, D. F. M.
Royal Australian Air Force
25th October 1942, aged 21.
Allied Plot. Row 2. Grave 38.
Son of Stephen Parker Shaddick and Mary Catherine Shaddick, of East Pingelly, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered R. I. P."
Bartlett Parker Shaddick, D. F. M.
Royal Australian Air Force
25th October 1942, aged 21.
Allied Plot. Row 2. Grave 38.
Son of Stephen Parker Shaddick and Mary Catherine Shaddick, of East Pingelly, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered R. I. P."
410177 Flight Sergeant
David Poole Speechley
Royal Australian Air Force
26th July 1943, aged 20.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 71.
Son of George David and Gwen Kate Speechley, of Brighton, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Supreme Sacrifice"
David Poole Speechley
Royal Australian Air Force
26th July 1943, aged 20.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 71.
Son of George David and Gwen Kate Speechley, of Brighton, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Supreme Sacrifice"
119876 Squadron Leader
Kenneth Albert Wigglesworth, D. F. C.
3 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
13th September 1944.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 90.
Kenneth Albert Wigglesworth, D. F. C.
3 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
13th September 1944.
Allied Plot. Row 4. Grave 90.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
The Stijkel Group (Dutch: Stijkelgroep) was a Dutch resistance group that fought the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during the Second World War. They operated between 1940 and 1942.
In April 1941, forty-three men and four women of the Stijkel Group were betrayed and captured. Thirty-two were executed in Berlin following a secret trial before a German military court. The others were sentenced to prison camps. Following the war, those who had been executed were re-interred in Westduin Cemetery in The Hague, and the present monument was erected.
Han Stijkel was the leader of the Stijkel Group. He commanded the group until their betrayal in 1942. He was the first of the group to be executed in Berlin.
44 burials in total.
In April 1941, forty-three men and four women of the Stijkel Group were betrayed and captured. Thirty-two were executed in Berlin following a secret trial before a German military court. The others were sentenced to prison camps. Following the war, those who had been executed were re-interred in Westduin Cemetery in The Hague, and the present monument was erected.
Han Stijkel was the leader of the Stijkel Group. He commanded the group until their betrayal in 1942. He was the first of the group to be executed in Berlin.
44 burials in total.
