VLIELAND GENERAL CEMETERY
Wadden Islands
Friesland
The Netherlands
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 53.29568, Longitude: 5.06504
Picture © Rutger Leenders
Location Information
Vlieland is one of the Wadden Islands, which form an archipelago off the north coast of the Netherlands, it is some 5 kilometres from the mainland and is located in the municipality of Vlieland, which is in the province of Friesland. The island can be reached from Harlingen on the mainland by ferry. Harlingen is approx 12 kilometres south west of Franeker and approx 30 kilometres west of Leeuwarden. The Commonwealth War Graves plot is located centrally within the civilian cemetery. The cemetery address is:- Middenweg, Oost-Vlieland,Vlieland.
Visiting Information
Please note that it is not possible to take vehicles to the island.
History Information
Vlieland is one of the Frisian Islands lying off the north coast of Holland, and is given over very largely to a bird sanctuary. Most of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth graves are in one prominently sited plot. The total number of burials is 48, and comprises 3 sailors, 2 soldiers, 31 airmen and 3 Merchant Navy seamen from the United Kingdom, 6 Canadian airmen and 3 Australian airmen. Of these one sailor, eight airmen and one member of the Merchant Navy from the United Kingdom, and one airman from Canada are not identified. The total includes one special memorial, bearing the inscription "Believed to be."
Total Burials: 48.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 29, Canada 5, Australia 3. Total 37.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 11.
Cemetery images © Rutger Leenders
1378839 Sergeant
Richard Armstrong
7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd June 1942, aged 27.
Grave 52.
Husband of Elsie Armstrong, of Burradon, Northumberland.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live. Peace, Perfect Peace"
Richard Armstrong
7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd June 1942, aged 27.
Grave 52.
Husband of Elsie Armstrong, of Burradon, Northumberland.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live. Peace, Perfect Peace"
The following from the above are from 161 Squadron were killed on the 23rd March 1945 and buried in this cemetery
Back row 1st from the left is 2210899 Sergeant William (Bill) Horrocks, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 23rd March 1945. Grave 78.
Back row 2nd from the left is 1573936 Flight Sergeant Alexander Robert Paton, Mid Upper Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 24. Grave 76. Son of John and Mabel Paton, of Drumoyne, Glasgow. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep In Our Hearts A Memory Is Kept Of One We Loved And Will Never Forget"
Back row 3rd from the left is 187018 Pilot Officer Ronald Arthur Caston, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 23. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Caston, of Ilford, Essex. His headstone bears the inscription "In The Garden Of Memory We Meet Every Day. Mum Dad And Bill"
Back row 4th from the left is 196054 William (Bill) Lawson Shaw, Bomb Aimer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 22.
Grave 74. Son of James and Mary Shaw, of Greenhill, Lanarkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Lover Hath No Man Than This"
Front row 1st from the left is 196053 Pilot Officer Reginald (Reg) Arthur Swift, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force , aged 22.Volunteer Reserve. Grave 75. Son of John Ernest and Nellie Swift, of Battersea, London. His headstone bears the inscription "To The Memory Of Our Dear Reggie, Mum, Dad, Sisters And Brothers"
Front row 2nd and 3rd from the left Pilot Alan Aitken and Rear Gunner White survived.
Back row 2nd from the left is 1573936 Flight Sergeant Alexander Robert Paton, Mid Upper Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 24. Grave 76. Son of John and Mabel Paton, of Drumoyne, Glasgow. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep In Our Hearts A Memory Is Kept Of One We Loved And Will Never Forget"
Back row 3rd from the left is 187018 Pilot Officer Ronald Arthur Caston, Navigator, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 23. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Caston, of Ilford, Essex. His headstone bears the inscription "In The Garden Of Memory We Meet Every Day. Mum Dad And Bill"
Back row 4th from the left is 196054 William (Bill) Lawson Shaw, Bomb Aimer, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 22.
Grave 74. Son of James and Mary Shaw, of Greenhill, Lanarkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Lover Hath No Man Than This"
Front row 1st from the left is 196053 Pilot Officer Reginald (Reg) Arthur Swift, Wireless Operator, Royal Air Force , aged 22.Volunteer Reserve. Grave 75. Son of John Ernest and Nellie Swift, of Battersea, London. His headstone bears the inscription "To The Memory Of Our Dear Reggie, Mum, Dad, Sisters And Brothers"
Front row 2nd and 3rd from the left Pilot Alan Aitken and Rear Gunner White survived.
J/3712 Wing Commander
Leslie Sidney Ford, D. F. C. & Bar
402 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th June 1943, aged 23.
Grave 63.
Son of Dr. Theodore Rupert Ford and Margaret Irene Ford, of Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada. B.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Being Made Perfect In A Short Time, Fulfilled A Life Time"
Leslie Sidney Ford, D. F. C. & Bar
402 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th June 1943, aged 23.
Grave 63.
Son of Dr. Theodore Rupert Ford and Margaret Irene Ford, of Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada. B.A.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Being Made Perfect In A Short Time, Fulfilled A Life Time"
J/6849 Pilot Officer
Percy George Ford
407 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th December 1941, aged 26.
Grave 38.
Son of William Walter and Mary Ford, of Castor, Alberta, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Life Freely Given"
Percy George Ford
407 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
15th December 1941, aged 26.
Grave 38.
Son of William Walter and Mary Ford, of Castor, Alberta, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Life Freely Given"
R/78456 Warrant Officer
James George Grainger
102 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
27th April 1943, aged 26.
Grave 60.
Son of Joseph and Nelda Grainger, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Still Joined In Heart, And One Day We Will Meet Again. Ever Remembered. Mother & Dad"
James George Grainger
102 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
27th April 1943, aged 26.
Grave 60.
Son of Joseph and Nelda Grainger, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Still Joined In Heart, And One Day We Will Meet Again. Ever Remembered. Mother & Dad"
746845 Sergeant
Charles Hodkinson
49 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
29th August 1941, aged 29.
Grave 34.
Son of Charles H. and Mary Hodkinson, of Birstall, Leicestershire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Sacred Memory Of A Dearly Loved And Loving Son, Brother And Friend"
Charles Hodkinson
49 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
29th August 1941, aged 29.
Grave 34.
Son of Charles H. and Mary Hodkinson, of Birstall, Leicestershire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Sacred Memory Of A Dearly Loved And Loving Son, Brother And Friend"
J/25779 Flying Officer
James Caulfield Holder
137 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th August 1944, aged 22.
Grave 73.
Son of John Richard and Gladys Holder, of Drumbo, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"
James Caulfield Holder
137 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th August 1944, aged 22.
Grave 73.
Son of John Richard and Gladys Holder, of Drumbo, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This"
1795060 Flight Sergeant
James Guthrie Wallace Kelso
102 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
17th June 1944, aged 23.
Grave 71.
Son of Dr. James Bolton Kelso and Minnie Kelso, of Portrush, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Thanks Be To God, Which Giveth Us The Victory Through Our Lord Jesus Christ"
James Guthrie Wallace Kelso
102 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
17th June 1944, aged 23.
Grave 71.
Son of Dr. James Bolton Kelso and Minnie Kelso, of Portrush, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.
His headstone bears the inscription "Thanks Be To God, Which Giveth Us The Victory Through Our Lord Jesus Christ"
-
Group portrait of graduates from No 18 Pilots Course who have completed their initial training at No 1 Initial Training School RAAF (Squadron 3, Flight 17). These airmen who enlisted in the RAAF under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) will now commence elementary flying training.
Identified in the third row, 4th from the left and buried in this cemetery is 412972 Pilot Officer Herbert William Kirkland, Royal Australian Air Force who was lost on operations over the Netherlands on 30th January 1944, aged 26. Grave 69.
Son of Herbert William and Muriel Ethel Kirkland, of Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Bravely And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
Son of Herbert William and Muriel Ethel Kirkland, of Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Bravely And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
Outdoor group portrait of No 4 Initial Training School, RAAF, Course No 27, B squadron, Flight 14.
Identified in the front row 2nd from the right and buried in this cemetery is 417416 Flight Sergeant Robert Garth Reu, Royal Australian Air Force who died on flying operations over the Netherlands on 28th July 1943, aged 20. Grave 67. Son of Gustav Alfred and Antonie Bertha Reu, of St. Peters, South Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "We Will Remember Him"
142055 Pilot Officer
John Sarginson
51 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
26th July 1943, aged 23.
Grave 66.
Son of Horace William and Helena Lucy Sarginson, of Marske, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud And Loving Memory Of A Blithe Spirit And A Happy Nature. Mother And Dad"
John Sarginson
51 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
26th July 1943, aged 23.
Grave 66.
Son of Horace William and Helena Lucy Sarginson, of Marske, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud And Loving Memory Of A Blithe Spirit And A Happy Nature. Mother And Dad"
R/105711 Flight Sergeant
Herbert William Stewart
466 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
14th January 1943, aged 19.
Grave 56.
Son of Samuel and Anna M. Stewart, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Is My Shepherd"
Herbert William Stewart
466 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
14th January 1943, aged 19.
Grave 56.
Son of Samuel and Anna M. Stewart, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Is My Shepherd"
89606 Pilot Officer
Harry Clifford Tonge
49 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
29th August 1941, aged 29.
Grave 35.
Son of Ernest Charles and Ellen Ethel Tonge; husband of Dorothy Catherine Tonge, of Gillingham, Dorsetshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Walk Beside You In Our Garden Of Remembrance"
Harry Clifford Tonge
49 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
29th August 1941, aged 29.
Grave 35.
Son of Ernest Charles and Ellen Ethel Tonge; husband of Dorothy Catherine Tonge, of Gillingham, Dorsetshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "We Walk Beside You In Our Garden Of Remembrance"
142491 Pilot Officer
Robert Graham Wright
76 Squadron, Royal Air Force
30th March 1943, aged 19.
Grave 58.
Son of Robert and Harriet Wright, of Pontlliw, Glamorgan.
His headstone bears the inscription "To Me You Are Always Near. Safe In God's Keeping. Mum Norman And Jean"
Robert Graham Wright
76 Squadron, Royal Air Force
30th March 1943, aged 19.
Grave 58.
Son of Robert and Harriet Wright, of Pontlliw, Glamorgan.
His headstone bears the inscription "To Me You Are Always Near. Safe In God's Keeping. Mum Norman And Jean"
