Langdorp, Communal Cemetery,  Belgium - Remembrance Ceremony.

Saturday 15th June 2019 the ambassador of Australia visited the graves of the R.A.F. airmen in the cemetery at the Sint-Pieterskerk in Langdorp. On that day a ceremony took place, organized by the Royal Veterinary Union of Z.M. King Leopold III division Hageland. Also delegates from the embassies of England, New Zealand and Denmark. The airmen fell over Langdorp on June 22, 1943.  At 10 o'clock a mass was dedicated in memory of the victims of both world wars in the Sint-Pieterskerk. A tribute to the graves followed.

 

There was also a wreath laying at the monument of August Snoecx, civilian, murdered by the Gestapo on 30 August 1944.

 

On June 22, 1943 at 0.14 the Stirling BK712 took off from Downham Market airbase, with a bombing mission to the city of Krefeld in Germany. The aircraft was shot down over Belgium by night fighter Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer 111NJG1. The aircraft then crashed at 01.33 in Langdorp. All crew members were killed in the crash, they are buried in this cemetery.

 

Flight Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) ASHBY-PECKHAM, DOUGLAS JOSEPH - 404092
Died 22/06/1943 Aged 20
218 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal New Zealand Air Force
Son of William George Ashby-Peckham and of Ivy Aileen Davies, of Dargaville, Auckland, New Zealand.

 

Sergeant (Flight Engineer) GOWARD, RAYMOND PERCY - 1258721
Died 22/06/1943 Aged 20
218 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of Percy Laskey Goward and Elsie Mildred Goward, of Sheringham, Norfolk.

 

Sergeant (Air Gunner) GURNEY, ARTHUR EDWIN - 1581644
Died 22/06/1943
218 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

 

Sergeant (Air Gunner) HART, EDGAR DESMOND - 1314586
Died 22/06/1943 Aged 20
218 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of Jesse William Hart, and of Bessie Hart, of Plumstead, London.

 

Flying Officer (Pilot) HELVARD, ARNE RHOAR  - 128521
Died 22/06/1943 Aged 28
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Of Denmark

 

Sergeant (Bomb Aimer) LUNN, THOMAS REGINALD - 1167033
Died 22/06/1943 Aged 27
218 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of John and Dorothy Annie Lunn, of Midway, Derbyshire.

 

Sergeant (Navigator) MCARDLE, PATRICK DESMOND - 1241848
Died 22/06/1943 Aged 23
218 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Son of John and Bridget McArdle, of Netherton, Wishaw, Lanarkshire.

 

Pilot Officer SHILLINGLAW, WILLIAM GOLDER - 412846
Died 22/06/1943 Aged 26
Royal Australian Air Force
Son of Thomas Anderson Shillinglaw and Helen Hay Shillinglaw, of Concord, NSW, Australia.

 



National Anthems

Australia Fair

God Defend New Zealand

God Save the Queen

Brabançonne