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