WILNIS GENERAL CEMETERY
Utrecht
The Netherlands
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 52.19633, Longitude: 4.90469
Location Information
Wilnis is a village and commune 21 kilometres south of Amsterdam, and 27 kilometres north-west of Utrecht. This small cemetery is on the eastern side of the village about 50 metres north-east of the Protestant church. In a prominent position in the north-eastern part of the cemetery are buried three Canadian Airmen.
The five crew members were shot down while returning from a night raid on May 5th 1943. Two of the five parachuted to safety and were later taken prisoner by German forces. Warrant Officer Class 1 Robert Moulton was buried by the German forces the following day. According to eyewitnesses, it is believed that Robert stayed on board to steer the burning plane away from Wilnis. Paul van Leeuwen aged 16, witnessed the crash into the bog. He gathered some body parts, and Robert's identification tags.
The other two crew members Flight Sergeant Joseph Evariste Adrien Thibaudeau and Flight Sergeant Joseph White were not discovered until September 2002 by searchers who found their bodies were well preserved in the peat bog. There were also more remains of Robert Moulton discovered so all three were buried with full military honours on 27th November 2002. Many people from the town of 10,000 attended the service and schools were closed to honour the men.
They were hailed as heroes for staying in their plane to the end, rather than risking crashing into the town.
Wilnis is a village and commune 21 kilometres south of Amsterdam, and 27 kilometres north-west of Utrecht. This small cemetery is on the eastern side of the village about 50 metres north-east of the Protestant church. In a prominent position in the north-eastern part of the cemetery are buried three Canadian Airmen.
The five crew members were shot down while returning from a night raid on May 5th 1943. Two of the five parachuted to safety and were later taken prisoner by German forces. Warrant Officer Class 1 Robert Moulton was buried by the German forces the following day. According to eyewitnesses, it is believed that Robert stayed on board to steer the burning plane away from Wilnis. Paul van Leeuwen aged 16, witnessed the crash into the bog. He gathered some body parts, and Robert's identification tags.
The other two crew members Flight Sergeant Joseph Evariste Adrien Thibaudeau and Flight Sergeant Joseph White were not discovered until September 2002 by searchers who found their bodies were well preserved in the peat bog. There were also more remains of Robert Moulton discovered so all three were buried with full military honours on 27th November 2002. Many people from the town of 10,000 attended the service and schools were closed to honour the men.
They were hailed as heroes for staying in their plane to the end, rather than risking crashing into the town.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
R/74234 Warrant Officer Class I
Robert Benjamin Moulton
428 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
5th May 1943, aged 30.
His headstone bears the inscription "There Is A Greater Love Than This: To Lay Down Ones' Life For One's Friends John 15:15"
Son of Benjamin Moulton and Sophrona Moulton, (nee McNamara). He had one sibling, a younger brother named Thomas Adrian Moulton, who served four months in The Netherlands with the Cameron Highlanders. WO Moulton was a member of St. Peter's Anglican Church in Brockville where he served as an Altar Boy and sang in the Church Choir. He attended the Douglas Haig and Victoria Public School, for grades one to eight, the Brockville Collegiate Institute for grades 9 to 13, and then attended the Brockville Business College. WO Moulton formerly held the rank of Rifleman with Company C of the Brockville Rifles.
After graduating, Robert worked at Brockville Phillip's Cable. In 1941,he began pilot's training in Toronto. He was stationed in Manitoba, Moncton, N.B., and Dalton, in Yorkshire, England. Despite a broken leg, and the opportunity to return home, he remained in England and was assigned teaching duties. While convalescing, he requested active duty. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, swimming, ice-skating, rowing, tennis, fencing, gymnastics, dancing and playing the violin.
WOI Moulton was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands.
Robert Benjamin Moulton
428 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
5th May 1943, aged 30.
His headstone bears the inscription "There Is A Greater Love Than This: To Lay Down Ones' Life For One's Friends John 15:15"
Son of Benjamin Moulton and Sophrona Moulton, (nee McNamara). He had one sibling, a younger brother named Thomas Adrian Moulton, who served four months in The Netherlands with the Cameron Highlanders. WO Moulton was a member of St. Peter's Anglican Church in Brockville where he served as an Altar Boy and sang in the Church Choir. He attended the Douglas Haig and Victoria Public School, for grades one to eight, the Brockville Collegiate Institute for grades 9 to 13, and then attended the Brockville Business College. WO Moulton formerly held the rank of Rifleman with Company C of the Brockville Rifles.
After graduating, Robert worked at Brockville Phillip's Cable. In 1941,he began pilot's training in Toronto. He was stationed in Manitoba, Moncton, N.B., and Dalton, in Yorkshire, England. Despite a broken leg, and the opportunity to return home, he remained in England and was assigned teaching duties. While convalescing, he requested active duty. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, swimming, ice-skating, rowing, tennis, fencing, gymnastics, dancing and playing the violin.
WOI Moulton was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands.
Group Photo – Robert Benjamin Moulton, in front, extreme left. Celebrating with other pupils of his course, earning his Pilot Wings in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada July 1941 photo obtained from Graham Sheppard.
A Funeral was held for Robert on May 6, 1943. Pictures were taken secretly, and only recently surfaced.
W.O. Robert Moulton flew the RCAF Vickers Wellington Bomber HE 727. Returning from a 600-plane bombing on Dortmund, Germany, his plane was shot down, May 5, 1943 at 0200 hours, by a Messerschmitt 110 Night Fighter.
The family has been told that one of the young German soldiers recited the Lord's Prayer at the gravesite. Yearly, on the 4th of May, Robert is honoured and included in Holland's National Remembrance Day celebrations in Wilnis.
The family has been told that one of the young German soldiers recited the Lord's Prayer at the gravesite. Yearly, on the 4th of May, Robert is honoured and included in Holland's National Remembrance Day celebrations in Wilnis.
R/94389 Flight Sergeant
Joseph Evariste Adrien Thibaudeau
428 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
5th May 1943, aged 21.
Son of Adrien and Gabrielle Thibaudeau, of St. Eustache, Province of Quebec, Canada. B.A., B.S.
His headstone bears the inscription "Nul N'A Plus Grand Amour Que Celui-Ci. Donner Sa Vie Pour Ses Amis"
Adrien, as he was known, enjoyed playing the piano and organ, learning languages, horseback riding, skiing, photography, music and literature. He was also the editor of the University of Montréal newspaper. He spoke French, English and Spanish, wrote Greek and Latin, and read Italian and German. He held a Bachelor of Arts (classical studies) and was a first-year law and sociology student.
F/S Thibaudeau was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands.
Joseph Evariste Adrien Thibaudeau
428 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
5th May 1943, aged 21.
Son of Adrien and Gabrielle Thibaudeau, of St. Eustache, Province of Quebec, Canada. B.A., B.S.
His headstone bears the inscription "Nul N'A Plus Grand Amour Que Celui-Ci. Donner Sa Vie Pour Ses Amis"
Adrien, as he was known, enjoyed playing the piano and organ, learning languages, horseback riding, skiing, photography, music and literature. He was also the editor of the University of Montréal newspaper. He spoke French, English and Spanish, wrote Greek and Latin, and read Italian and German. He held a Bachelor of Arts (classical studies) and was a first-year law and sociology student.
F/S Thibaudeau was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands.
R/114141 Flight Sergeant
Joseph White
428 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
5th May 1943, aged 21.
Son of Marie and Anthony White, Thorold, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Put Out My Hand And Touched The Face Of God"
Flight Sergeant Joseph White, son of Antonio and Mary White (née Elia), was born 28 September 1921 in Thorold, Ontario. Brother of Samuel, Roger and Lucy Ann, F/S White attended Holy Rosary School from 1928 to 1934, and Thorold High School from 1934 to 1940 where he held honour matriculation standings. He enlisted on 30 June 1941 in Hamilton, Ontario, stating that he was single and identifying his civilian occupation as a mill worker. He enjoyed swimming in particular and also rugby, tennis, gymnastics, hockey and basketball.
F/S White was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands.
Joseph White
428 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
5th May 1943, aged 21.
Son of Marie and Anthony White, Thorold, Ontario.
His headstone bears the inscription "I Put Out My Hand And Touched The Face Of God"
Flight Sergeant Joseph White, son of Antonio and Mary White (née Elia), was born 28 September 1921 in Thorold, Ontario. Brother of Samuel, Roger and Lucy Ann, F/S White attended Holy Rosary School from 1928 to 1934, and Thorold High School from 1934 to 1940 where he held honour matriculation standings. He enlisted on 30 June 1941 in Hamilton, Ontario, stating that he was single and identifying his civilian occupation as a mill worker. He enjoyed swimming in particular and also rugby, tennis, gymnastics, hockey and basketball.
F/S White was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands.
