VENRAY WAR CEMETERY
Limburg
Netherlands
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.52906, Longitude: 5.95541
Location Information
The town of Venray lies in the south of the Netherlands approx 40kms to the east of Eindhoven.
From the A73 Nijmegen to Venlo motorway take exit 9 (Afrit 9) N270 VENRAY / HELMOND and follow the signs for HELMOND.
Continue for approx 3kms to a roundabout and turn right (CWGC sign) onto the LANGSTRAAT.
Continue for approx 800m and turn left (CWGC sign) onto the WESTSINGEL. Continue for approx 1km and turn left (CWGC sign) onto the HOENDERSTRAAT.
The cemetery can be found after approx 700m on the right.
The cemetery address is:-
Hoenderstraat
5801 Venray
Netherlands
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemetery possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
The Netherlands fell to the Germans in May 1940 and was not re-entered by Allied forces until September 1944.
The town of Venray was liberated by Allied troops in the middle of October 1944, and the burials in the cemetery date from October 1944 to March 1945.
Venray War Cemetery contains 692 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 30 of them unidentified, and one Polish burial.
Total Burials: 693
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 631, Canada 22, New Zealand 5, Australia 4, Poland 1. Total 663.
Unidentified Casualties: 30.
Cemetery images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
J/95205 Pilot Officer
William Bruce Allan
408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
24th December 1944, aged 21.
Collective Grave VIII. D. 9-10.
Son of William and Catherine Allan, of Welland, Ontario, Canada.
William Bruce Allan
408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
24th December 1944, aged 21.
Collective Grave VIII. D. 9-10.
Son of William and Catherine Allan, of Welland, Ontario, Canada.
J/95200 Pilot Officer
Andrew George Balfour
426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st November 1944.
Plot VI. F. 12.
Son of Andrew James Balfour and Edna Lyle Balfour.
His headstone bears the inscription "Rest In Peace"
Andrew George Balfour
426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st November 1944.
Plot VI. F. 12.
Son of Andrew James Balfour and Edna Lyle Balfour.
His headstone bears the inscription "Rest In Peace"
J/92724 Pilot Officer
Ernest Edward Courtis
426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st November 1944, aged 23.
Plot VI. F. 13.
Son of Harry and Capitolia Courtis; husband of Jean V. Courtis, of Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Think Of Him Living On, As Dear In The Love Of There As In The Love Of Here"
Ernest Edward Courtis
426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st November 1944, aged 23.
Plot VI. F. 13.
Son of Harry and Capitolia Courtis; husband of Jean V. Courtis, of Wallaceburg, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Think Of Him Living On, As Dear In The Love Of There As In The Love Of Here"
K/280563 Flight Sergeant
Gerald Burton Hamilton
153 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
22nd January 1945, aged 18.
Plot VII. B. 1-2 Collective
Son of Harold Walace Hamilton and Dessa Hamilton, of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Asked For Life Of Him For Thee And He Did Give Eternity. Jerry Darling"
Gerald Burton Hamilton
153 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
22nd January 1945, aged 18.
Plot VII. B. 1-2 Collective
Son of Harold Walace Hamilton and Dessa Hamilton, of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Asked For Life Of Him For Thee And He Did Give Eternity. Jerry Darling"
C/10436 Flying Officer
Geoffrey Winslow Hess
101 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
14th March 1945, aged 29.
Plot VII. F. 6.
Son of Walter Leon Hess and Beatrice Hess; husband of Eleanor Low Hess, of Fort Gary, Manitoba, Canada. B.A. (McGill University, Montreal).
His headstone bears the inscription "They Shall Mount Up With Wings As Eagles; They Shall Run, And Not Be Weary"
Geoffrey Winslow Hess
101 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
14th March 1945, aged 29.
Plot VII. F. 6.
Son of Walter Leon Hess and Beatrice Hess; husband of Eleanor Low Hess, of Fort Gary, Manitoba, Canada. B.A. (McGill University, Montreal).
His headstone bears the inscription "They Shall Mount Up With Wings As Eagles; They Shall Run, And Not Be Weary"
J/21413 Flying Officer
Arthur James Horrell
443 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th October 1944, aged 24.
Plot I. E. 12.
Son of Herbert John and Anna Horrell, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada; husband of Shirley Edith Horrell, of Windsor, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Giveth And The Lord Taketh Away"
Arthur James Horrell
443 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th October 1944, aged 24.
Plot I. E. 12.
Son of Herbert John and Anna Horrell, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada; husband of Shirley Edith Horrell, of Windsor, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Giveth And The Lord Taketh Away"
J/38411 Flying Officer
David Garfield Kellar
408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
24th December 1944, aged 28.
Collective Grave VIII. D. 9-10.
Son of George Robison Kellar and Ethel Blanche Kellar, of Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada; husband of Mary Kellar.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Voice From Heaven Said "Write, Blessed Are The Dead Which Die In The Lord"
David Garfield Kellar
408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
24th December 1944, aged 28.
Collective Grave VIII. D. 9-10.
Son of George Robison Kellar and Ethel Blanche Kellar, of Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada; husband of Mary Kellar.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Voice From Heaven Said "Write, Blessed Are The Dead Which Die In The Lord"
J/94158 Pilot Officer
Clarence Reginald Lecky
431 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th March 1945, aged 28.
Plot V. F. 1.
Son of Albert David and Mary Albertine Lecky, of Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada; husband of Norma Elizabeth Lecky, of Port Arthur.
His headstone bears the inscription "May His Soul Rest In Peace"
Clarence Reginald Lecky
431 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th March 1945, aged 28.
Plot V. F. 1.
Son of Albert David and Mary Albertine Lecky, of Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada; husband of Norma Elizabeth Lecky, of Port Arthur.
His headstone bears the inscription "May His Soul Rest In Peace"
J/95367 Pilot Officer
Allister Currie McLeod
426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st November 1944, aged 22.
Plot VI. F. 11.
Son of William and Mary Elizabeth McLeod, of Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada.
Allister Currie McLeod
426 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
1st November 1944, aged 22.
Plot VI. F. 11.
Son of William and Mary Elizabeth McLeod, of Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada.
C/25294 Flying Officer
Louis Paul Emile Piche
443 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th October 1944, aged 33.
Plot I. E. 13.
Son of J. Oscar Piche and Aline Piche; husband of Mary E. Piche, of New London, Connecticut, U.S.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud And Loving Memory Of Our Dad And Husband"
Louis Paul Emile Piche
443 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
11th October 1944, aged 33.
Plot I. E. 13.
Son of J. Oscar Piche and Aline Piche; husband of Mary E. Piche, of New London, Connecticut, U.S.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud And Loving Memory Of Our Dad And Husband"
3385836 Private
Atkinson Wilkinson
6th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
30th December 1944, aged 26.
Plot VI. A. 9.
Son of Atkinson and Ellen Wilkinson, of Queensgate, Burnley, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Memory Is Our Greatest Treasure In Our Hearts He Will Live For Ever"
Atkinson Wilkinson
6th Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
30th December 1944, aged 26.
Plot VI. A. 9.
Son of Atkinson and Ellen Wilkinson, of Queensgate, Burnley, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Memory Is Our Greatest Treasure In Our Hearts He Will Live For Ever"
Nearby War Cemetery
Crash Memorial Site
Mosquito FB Mk.VI NT-176
Between Hoogcruts and Terlinden
Memorial images © Frits Leenders
On the morning of 8th February, 1945 a British bomber crashed at this place. It had to perform a night intruder mission in Bonn Germany. The crew members, two Englishmen of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, pilot John Smith and navigator Kenneth Goldthorpe, lost their lives. Today they are buried side by side at Venray War Cemetery.
165287 Flying Officer
Kenneth Russell Goldthorpe
169 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th February 1945, aged 23.
Plot VII E. 8.
Son of Albert and Fanny Goldthorpe, of Wembley, Middlesex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Willingly Died, As He Had Lived, To Aid The Oppressed"
Kenneth Russell Goldthorpe
169 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th February 1945, aged 23.
Plot VII E. 8.
Son of Albert and Fanny Goldthorpe, of Wembley, Middlesex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Willingly Died, As He Had Lived, To Aid The Oppressed"
124796 Flight Lieutenant
John Benjamin Joseph Smith
169 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th February 1945.
Plot VII. E. 7.
John Benjamin Joseph Smith
169 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th February 1945.
Plot VII. E. 7.
