WESTKERKE PLOT OF HONOUR
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS coordinates: Latitude: 51.16507, Longitude: 3.01485
Location Information
The village of Westkerke is located about 17 kilometres south-west of the town of Brugge (Bruges), on the N367 road which runs between Brugge and Gistel. It is also close to the E40 motorway. From the motorway take junction 6 Jabbeke which is the road N377. When you come into Jabbeke at the junction with the N367, turn right direction Gistel. You go through the village of Roksem and Westkerke is the next village. In the centre of the village is a cross roads where the N367 intersects with the N368. At the junction turn right into Westkerksestraat. Almost immediately turn left into the car park at the rear of the church and the war graves are located on the North boundary furthest away from the church. (Please note that the churchyard was moved several years ago and only the war graves remain here).
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.
Westkerke Plot of Honour contains the grave of four Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
1167721 Sergeant Douglas Victor Markall, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 9th November 1941, aged 21. Son of George Frederick and Amy Markall, of Birmingham; husband of Elfreda Hannah Markall, of Birmingham.
1280431 Sergeant Douglas Frederick William Norton, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 9th November 1941, aged 19. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Norton, of Ipswich, Suffolk.
404556 Sergeant Evan Bertram Te Makahi Robertson, Obs. in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal New Zealand Air Force, died 9th November 1941, aged 29. Son of William Alexander Robertson and Sarah Jane Robertson, of Fairlie, Canterbury, New Zealand.
J/5224 Pilot Officer John Cayley Wilson, Pilot in 408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 9th November 1941, aged 27. Son of John William and Florence Wilson, of Aylmer West, Ontario, Canada. His brother Bruce also died on service.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
The village of Westkerke is located about 17 kilometres south-west of the town of Brugge (Bruges), on the N367 road which runs between Brugge and Gistel. It is also close to the E40 motorway. From the motorway take junction 6 Jabbeke which is the road N377. When you come into Jabbeke at the junction with the N367, turn right direction Gistel. You go through the village of Roksem and Westkerke is the next village. In the centre of the village is a cross roads where the N367 intersects with the N368. At the junction turn right into Westkerksestraat. Almost immediately turn left into the car park at the rear of the church and the war graves are located on the North boundary furthest away from the church. (Please note that the churchyard was moved several years ago and only the war graves remain here).
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.
Westkerke Plot of Honour contains the grave of four Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Burial Details
1167721 Sergeant Douglas Victor Markall, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 9th November 1941, aged 21. Son of George Frederick and Amy Markall, of Birmingham; husband of Elfreda Hannah Markall, of Birmingham.
1280431 Sergeant Douglas Frederick William Norton, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 9th November 1941, aged 19. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Norton, of Ipswich, Suffolk.
404556 Sergeant Evan Bertram Te Makahi Robertson, Obs. in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn., Royal New Zealand Air Force, died 9th November 1941, aged 29. Son of William Alexander Robertson and Sarah Jane Robertson, of Fairlie, Canterbury, New Zealand.
J/5224 Pilot Officer John Cayley Wilson, Pilot in 408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 9th November 1941, aged 27. Son of John William and Florence Wilson, of Aylmer West, Ontario, Canada. His brother Bruce also died on service.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
1167721 Sergeant
Douglas Victor Markall
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
9th November 1941, aged 21.
Son of George Frederick and Amy Markall, of Birmingham; husband of Elfreda Hannah Markall, of Birmingham.
His headstone bears the inscription "For Ever, Beloved"
Douglas Victor Markall
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
9th November 1941, aged 21.
Son of George Frederick and Amy Markall, of Birmingham; husband of Elfreda Hannah Markall, of Birmingham.
His headstone bears the inscription "For Ever, Beloved"
1280431 Sergeant
Douglas Frederick William Norton
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
9th November 1941, aged 19.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Norton, of Ipswich, Suffolk.
His headstone bears the inscription "Hearts That Loved You Think Of You Yet, We Loved You Too Dearly To Ever Forget"
Douglas Frederick William Norton
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
9th November 1941, aged 19.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Norton, of Ipswich, Suffolk.
His headstone bears the inscription "Hearts That Loved You Think Of You Yet, We Loved You Too Dearly To Ever Forget"
404556 Sergeant
Evan Bertram Te Makahi Robertson
Observer in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
9th November 1941, aged 29.
Son of William Alexander Robertson and Sarah Jane Robertson, of Fairlie, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Evan Bertram Te Makahi Robertson
Observer in 408 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
9th November 1941, aged 29.
Son of William Alexander Robertson and Sarah Jane Robertson, of Fairlie, Canterbury, New Zealand.
J/5224 Pilot Officer
John Cayley Wilson
Pilot in 408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
9th November 1941, aged 27.
Son of John William and Florence Wilson, of Aylmer West, Ontario, Canada. His brother Bruce also died on service and is buried in Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery
His headstone bears the inscription "To The Glory Of God and In Memory Of Our Beloved Son Cayley" "Thy Will Be Done"
John Cayley Wilson
Pilot in 408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
9th November 1941, aged 27.
Son of John William and Florence Wilson, of Aylmer West, Ontario, Canada. His brother Bruce also died on service and is buried in Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery
His headstone bears the inscription "To The Glory Of God and In Memory Of Our Beloved Son Cayley" "Thy Will Be Done"
