As Communal Cemetery
History Information (Source: CWGC)
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.
As Communal Cemetery contains the graves of six airmen of the Second World War. The graves are located through the main entrance and directly left along by the front wall.
Served with
- Australian (1)
- United Kingdom (5)
Served in
- Air Force (6)
Wellington IC T2992 – 214 Sqdn – 7 July 1941
Took off 2204 7 July 1941 from Stradishall. Crashed at Genk-Bodem (Limburg) Belgium.
Crew
Pilot Officer Donald Noel Robert ARMSTRONG (400009) RAAF
Sergeant Arthur EVANS (1106238) Wireless Operator RAF
Flying Officer Reginald Maurice Peter JENKYNS (76584) Pilot RAF
Sergeant Edward Henry KING (918289) Wireless Operator RAF
Pilot Officer John McANALLY (62291) Pilot RAF
Prisoners of War for Wellington IC T2992
Sergeant George Frederick ROUGHTON (1014802) Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria
Lancaster III LM580 – 57 Sqdn – 22 June 1944
Took off 2307 21 June 1944 from East Kirkby. Outbound shot down by a night-fighter from below and astern.
Crew
Pilot Officer Guilyn Penry GUY (172461) Pilot RAF
Prisoners of War for Lancaster LM580
Flight Sergeant Thomas Alan APPLEGATH (R/192919) Stalag Luft L7 Bankau near Kreuzburg, Upper Silesia
Flying Officer Victor George SPALDING (50787) Stalag Luft L3 Sagan and Belaria
Other Occupants in Lancaster LM580
Flying Officer Douglas Alan JENNINGS (142451) Evader
Sergeant C C HATTER Evader
Sergeant G G HYDES Evader
On April 11, 2024, it will be 80 years ago that 24 Limburg partisans were executed at the execution site of Fort Breendonk.
They are buried in: As / Beverlo / Bilzen / Diepenbeek / Eisden / Genk / Glain / Koersel / Korspel / Maaseik / Piringen / Sint-Truiden / Vucht / Zutendaal
MARTING Mathieu, Breendonk 11 April 1944,
one of the 24 Partizans that were killed in Fort Breendonk on 11 April 1944.
Marting Mathieu - Born in As 7 January 1915
Husband of Maria Elisa Irma Schreurs
Arrested 12 January 1944
Executed in Breendonk on 11 April 1944, member of the resistance (the 24 Limburg Partisans)
Battalion Commander PA 035
Marting Joseph - Born in As 10 December 1920
Arrested 29 April 1944
Put on transport 23 May 1944 from Brussels to Buchenwald
prisoner no. 54497
Died in Ellrich on 21 January 1945
Schreurs Maria Elisa Irma - Born in As 20 April 1912
Arrested together with Marting Joseph on 29 April 1944
Via Hasselt, St. Gilles she arrived in Ravensbrück on 19 June 1944.
Until 12 October 1944 data was found about her, after that no more.
Officially deceased 09 April 1945 in the camp of Belsen.
Veteran graves