WARNANT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Namur
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.32164, Longitude: 4.83305
Location Information
The village of Warnant is located north of the town of Dinant off the N971. From the motorway E411/A4 which runs between Namur and Luxembourg turn off at junction 15 onto the N90 direction Namur, follow the N90 to the junction with the N92, take the N92 direction Dinant. Follow the N92 along by the river to the town of Anhee and the junction with the N971. Turn onto the N971 direction Warnant, turn right at the sign into Warnant along Rue De La Gare and over the railway. Take the first turning left after the railway called Route De Bioul and the the first turning right called Rue De Quincay, the cemetery is along here on the right. The graves are located along the left hand wall.
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.
Warnant Communal Cemetery contains the graves of five airmen of the Second World War.
Cemetery pictures in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
The village of Warnant is located north of the town of Dinant off the N971. From the motorway E411/A4 which runs between Namur and Luxembourg turn off at junction 15 onto the N90 direction Namur, follow the N90 to the junction with the N92, take the N92 direction Dinant. Follow the N92 along by the river to the town of Anhee and the junction with the N971. Turn onto the N971 direction Warnant, turn right at the sign into Warnant along Rue De La Gare and over the railway. Take the first turning left after the railway called Route De Bioul and the the first turning right called Rue De Quincay, the cemetery is along here on the right. The graves are located along the left hand wall.
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.
Warnant Communal Cemetery contains the graves of five airmen of the Second World War.
Cemetery pictures in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Cemetery pictures in gallery below © André De Smet
R/74701 Flight Sergeant
Frederick William Cassidy
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd September 1942, aged 25.
Son of Caswell William Cassidy, and of Dorothy Cassidy, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Gave His Life That We Might Live. Gone But Not Forgotten"
Frederick William Cassidy
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd September 1942, aged 25.
Son of Caswell William Cassidy, and of Dorothy Cassidy, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Gave His Life That We Might Live. Gone But Not Forgotten"
J/15424 Pilot Officer
John Handel Freestone
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd September 1942, aged 31.
Son of Francis Joseph and Annie Elizabeth Freestone, of Waldron, Saskatchewan, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
John Handel Freestone
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd September 1942, aged 31.
Son of Francis Joseph and Annie Elizabeth Freestone, of Waldron, Saskatchewan, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Peace Perfect Peace"
J/15720 Pilot Officer
Gerald Charles Hart
Air Gunner in 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd September 1942, aged 25.
Son of Emily Jane Hart, of Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Not Just Today But Every Day In Silence We Remember"
Gerald Charles Hart
Air Gunner in 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd September 1942, aged 25.
Son of Emily Jane Hart, of Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Not Just Today But Every Day In Silence We Remember"
J/7223 Flying Officer
Harry William Thompson
Observer in 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd September 1942, aged 22.
Son of William D. and Jennie A. Thompson of Oxford, Nova Scotia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son Harry, Who Gave His Life For His Country"
Harry William Thompson
Observer in 419 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd September 1942, aged 22.
Son of William D. and Jennie A. Thompson of Oxford, Nova Scotia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Our Dear Son Harry, Who Gave His Life For His Country"
43421 Wing Commander
Archibald Philip Walsh, D. F. C. & A. F. C.
Pilot in 419 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd September 1942, aged 30.
Son of Francis Philip and Edith Anne Walsh, of London, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Everlasting Memory Of Dear Archie. Mother, Dad, Muriel, Reg, Eric, Olive"
Archibald Philip Walsh, D. F. C. & A. F. C.
Pilot in 419 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd September 1942, aged 30.
Son of Francis Philip and Edith Anne Walsh, of London, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Everlasting Memory Of Dear Archie. Mother, Dad, Muriel, Reg, Eric, Olive"
