WESTENDE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 51.15756, Longitude: 2.77243
Location Information
Westende Communal Cemetery is located 4 km north of Nieuwpoort and 14 km south west of the port of Oostende, on the N318 which connects Oostende to Nieuwpoort via Westende.
On leaving Oostende the N318 leads for 4 km onto Raversijde and then for 9 km to Westende.
On reaching the village of Westende the cemetery is located after turning left at the village church onto Hofstraat.
The cemetery is located 500 metres along the Hofstraat on the left hand side of the road. This cemetery is not an open site and access is limited by normal cemetery opening hours.
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.
Westende Communal Cemetery contains three Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, one of which is unidentified.
Burial Details
516375 Sergeant Maurice Robert Aslin, Pilot in 151 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 18th June 1940, aged 27. Son of Robert John and Minnie Aslin; husband of Louisa Aslin, of Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey.
932304 Gunner Ernest Murray, 72 Field Regt. Royal Artillery, died 31st May 1940, aged 21. Son of Susan J. Murray, of Shotton, Co. Durham.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
Westende Communal Cemetery is located 4 km north of Nieuwpoort and 14 km south west of the port of Oostende, on the N318 which connects Oostende to Nieuwpoort via Westende.
On leaving Oostende the N318 leads for 4 km onto Raversijde and then for 9 km to Westende.
On reaching the village of Westende the cemetery is located after turning left at the village church onto Hofstraat.
The cemetery is located 500 metres along the Hofstraat on the left hand side of the road. This cemetery is not an open site and access is limited by normal cemetery opening hours.
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.
Westende Communal Cemetery contains three Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, one of which is unidentified.
Burial Details
516375 Sergeant Maurice Robert Aslin, Pilot in 151 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 18th June 1940, aged 27. Son of Robert John and Minnie Aslin; husband of Louisa Aslin, of Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey.
932304 Gunner Ernest Murray, 72 Field Regt. Royal Artillery, died 31st May 1940, aged 21. Son of Susan J. Murray, of Shotton, Co. Durham.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
