WILSELE CHURCHYARD
Vlaams-Brabant
Belgium
GPS coordinates: Latitude: 50.89682, Longitude: 4.70259
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Wilsele Churchyard is located 1 Km north of Leuven.
From Leuven railway station turn right onto the dual carriageway (R23) and into the Diestsevest, and continue for 800 m before turning left onto the Vaart. After 400 m you turn right and right again (around the Water Vaartkom) and again onto the Vaart leading to the Kolonel Begaultlaan after the railway tracks. Continue along this street which runs alongside the canal and after 1000 m turn left on to the Pastoor Legrandstraat. 250 m further on the right hand side you will see St Martinus kerk.
The Commission plot is situated behind the church at the bottom end of the cemetery against the boundary wall.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
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.
Wilsele Churchyard contains a group of 45 burials of the Second World War, three of them unidentified.
Total Burials: 45.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 41, Canada 1. Total 42.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 3.
171856 Pilot Officer
Maurice Bunnagar
9 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 20.
Row B. 4.
Son of Fred and Joyce Bunnagar, of Irby, Cheshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Waiting For The Coming Of Our Lord Jesus Christ I Cor. I. 7."
Maurice Bunnagar
9 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 20.
Row B. 4.
Son of Fred and Joyce Bunnagar, of Irby, Cheshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Waiting For The Coming Of Our Lord Jesus Christ I Cor. I. 7."
1451459 Sergeant
John Albert Chambers
9 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944.
Row B. 2.
John Albert Chambers
9 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944.
Row B. 2.
40220 Squadron Leader
John Ritchie Grant
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 29.
Row B. 5.
Son of Colonel C. R. Grant and Beatrice L. Grant; husband of Ellena Vivienne Grant, of Oxford.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Grateful And Everloving Memory Of A Very Dear Father, Husband And Son"
John Ritchie Grant
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 29.
Row B. 5.
Son of Colonel C. R. Grant and Beatrice L. Grant; husband of Ellena Vivienne Grant, of Oxford.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Grateful And Everloving Memory Of A Very Dear Father, Husband And Son"
The Memorial below is located just outside the churchyard
Inscription reads
"Wilsele honours the noble British soldiers who lost their lives for peace and freedom."
J/24796 Flying Officer
John Tudor Isfan
9 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
12th May 1944, aged 27.
Row B. 3.
Son of Tudor and Ana Isfan, of Dysart, Saskatchewan, Canada.
John Tudor Isfan
9 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
12th May 1944, aged 27.
Row B. 3.
Son of Tudor and Ana Isfan, of Dysart, Saskatchewan, Canada.
2655779 Guardsman
Harry Maycock
1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
16th May 1940, aged 26.
Row A. 14.
Harry Maycock
1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
16th May 1940, aged 26.
Row A. 14.
2658621 Guardsman
Clifford Henry George Mitchell
1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
25th May 1940, aged 20.
Row A. 16.
Son of Henry and Beatrice Mitchell, of Torrington, Devon.
His headstone bears the inscription "Still Living Still Loving Still Ours"
Clifford Henry George Mitchell
1st Bn. Coldstream Guards
25th May 1940, aged 20.
Row A. 16.
Son of Henry and Beatrice Mitchell, of Torrington, Devon.
His headstone bears the inscription "Still Living Still Loving Still Ours"
Images in this gallery © Werner Van Caneghem
1086157 Sergeant
William Grainger Parry
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944.
Row B. 8.
William Grainger Parry
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944.
Row B. 8.
173506 Pilot Officer
Jack Rodgerson
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 21.
Row B. 6.
Son of Reginald and Edith Rodgerson, of Bramley, Leeds, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Had You Known This Boy Of Ours You Would Have Loved Him Too. Happy Memories Left"
Jack Rodgerson
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 21.
Row B. 6.
Son of Reginald and Edith Rodgerson, of Bramley, Leeds, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Had You Known This Boy Of Ours You Would Have Loved Him Too. Happy Memories Left"
173892 Pilot Officer
Stanley Waller
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 21.
Row B. 12.
Son of Jack and Minnie Waller; husband of Margaret Mary Waller, of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of A Beloved Son And Husband Who Died For Freedom. His Duty Nobly Done"
Stanley Waller
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 21.
Row B. 12.
Son of Jack and Minnie Waller; husband of Margaret Mary Waller, of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Memory Of A Beloved Son And Husband Who Died For Freedom. His Duty Nobly Done"
1892230 Sergeant
Ronald Thomas Watson
9 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 20.
Row B. 14.
Son of George Parker Watson and Marion Louisa Watson, of Dagenham, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Death Doth Hide But Not Divide Thou Art But On Christ's Other Side" Mum
Ronald Thomas Watson
9 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
12th May 1944, aged 20.
Row B. 14.
Son of George Parker Watson and Marion Louisa Watson, of Dagenham, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Death Doth Hide But Not Divide Thou Art But On Christ's Other Side" Mum
