Cwgc 'unknown' Allied 'air' Graves

[Biggles]

Hi,

Following a recent post by Paul Reed, the question of CWGC Headstones maerhed 'Unknown Airman' cropped up.
Following contact with the Commonweallth War Graves Commission I have established that there is currently no detailed listing of these recorded.

The CWGC in their old printed Cemetery Registers recorded only the number of 'Unknown' graves in the Cemetery Description - there is no formal recordeng of Rank or date, ebven approximate date of death.

I have now gone through the numerical data supplied by the CWGC.


Below is a summary of all the 2,536 Unknown Allied 'Air' Graves listed by country which are cared for by the CWGC


Algeria 6
Australia 1
Austria 6
Azores 1
Bangladesh 1
Belgium 88
Canada 3
Cyprus 1
Czech Republic 1
Denmark 94
Egypt 74
France 323
Germany 888
Greece 45
Hungary 1
India 6
Indonesia 74
Ireland, Republic of 3
Italy 103
Lebonese Republic 5
Libya 98
Madagascar 1
Malaysia 1
Morocco 1
Myanmar 57
Netherlands 480
New Caledonia 4
Norway 19
Papua New Guinea 1
Poland 8
Singapore 6
Spain 4
Sweden 5
Syria 1
Thailand 3
Tunisia 30
Turkey 1
United Kingdom 83
Yugoslavia 9

2536

I would be interested in logging full details of these, so if anyone has any notes on Unknown 'Air' Graves - or would like a listing by Cemetery, if you are visiting cemeteries, please let me know

It should be remembered that all these 'Unknown Airmen; should be commemoraled on the various CWGC Memorial, but it would be nice to try and suggest identities for some of them, based on dates of death, location etc

Cheers

David J Barnes
RAF Roll of Honour Project

[Paul Reed]

Good idea David - I have some details which when I have more time, I will send you.

[colinhotham]

Hello David,

In May this year as part of my research on Sicily in WW2, I will be visiting the military cemetery at Syracuse. If I can assist you with your research in any way please let me know.

I also have a number of aircrew headstone photos from the Agira Canadian Military cemetery (RCAF) and from the Catania and Syracuse military cemeteries.

Colin. (Ex Royal Air Force).

[salientpoints]

If you contact Steve at the BWMP he can help you with the UK ones no doubt.

http://www.britishwargraves.org.uk/

Steve Rogers email: steve@wargraves.org.uk

Cheers

Ryan

[Biggles]

Italian Section, incl Sicily - has the following Unknown Air Graves

United Fingdom indicates RAF / RAFVR etc

Italy Ancona War Cemetery South African 1
Italy Ancona War Cemetery United Kingdom 4
Italy Arezzo War Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Italy Assisi War Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Italy Bari War Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Italy Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio United Kingdom 2
Italy Bolsena War Cemetery Canadian 1
Italy Bolsena War Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Italy Cagliari (St Michele) Communal Cemetery Canadian 1
Italy Cagliari (St Michele) Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 9
Italy Cassino War Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Italy Catania War Cemetery, Sicily Australian 1
Italy Catania War Cemetery, Sicily South African 1
Italy Catania War Cemetery, Sicily United Kingdom 25
Italy Coriano Ridge War Cemetery Australian 1
Italy Coriano Ridge War Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Italy Florence War Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Italy Forli War Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Italy Milan War Cemetery United Kingdom 3
Italy Moro River Canadian War Cemetery United Kingdom 7
Italy Naples War Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Italy Padua War Cemetery Canadian 1
Italy Padua War Cemetery United Kingdom 6
Italy Ravenna War Cemetery United Kingdom 5
Italy Rome War Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Italy Salerno War Cemetery United Kingdom 4
Italy Sangro River War Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Italy Staglieno Cemetery, Genoa United Kingdom 5
Italy Syracuse War Cemetery, Sicily United Kingdom 3
Italy Udine War Cemetery South African 1
Italy Udine War Cemetery United Kingdom 5

[Biggles]

Thanks for suggestion - Will email Steve re British 'Unknowns'

Cheers

David

[Paul Johnson]

Hi,

Over the Easter holiday I will be in Belgium in the Ypres sector. Can I assit in the recording of any details in that area as I will be visiting many of the WW1/WW2 Cemeteries.

Are photos required?

Regards

PAUL JOHNSON

[Biggles]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your posting.

Photos are not necessary - it is really just the data I wish to record - with a view to eventually cross referencing those 'unknowns with dates' against dates and names listed on the 'Missing Memorials' and considering Theatre of operation, aircraft - possibly fellow aircrew etc

Just need log of ;
Cemetery,
Any Headstone Badge (RAF, RAAF, RCAF etc)
Caption on stone - Officer / Airman
Any date of death
Location in graveyard / cemetery
Any other comment

I have listed below all the Allied Air 'Unknown's in Belgium

Belgium Adegen Canadian War Cemetery Australian 1
Belgium Adegen Canadian War Cemetery Canadian 1
Belgium Adegen Canadian War Cemetery United Kingdom 7
Belgium Adinkerke Military Cemetery Czechoslovakian 1
Belgium Blankenberge Town Cemetery United Kingdom 7
Belgium Braine-L'Alleud Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Belgium Bredenee Churchyard United Kingdom 2
Belgium Brussels Town Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Belgium Cement House Cemetery Australian 1
Belgium Cement House Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Belgium Coxyde Military Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Belgium De Panne Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Belgium Estaimbourg Churchyard United Kingdom 1
Belgium Froyennes Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Belgium Gembloux Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Belgium Heverlee War Cemetery United Kingdom 15
Belgium Hotton War Cemetery United Kingdom 13
Belgium Leopoldsburg War Cemetery United Kingdom 3
Belgium Leuven Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Belgium Lombardsijde Churchyard United Kingdom 1
Belgium Middelkerke Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Belgium Nieuwmunster Churchyard United Kingdom 1
Belgium Oostduinkerke Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Belgium Oostende New Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 8
Belgium Oostende New Communal Cemetery Polish 1
Belgium Ramegnies-Chin Churchyard United Kingdom 1
Belgium Rekem Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Belgium Schoonselhof Cemetery United Kingdom 3
Belgium Slijpe Churchyard United Kingdom 1
Belgium Wenduine Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 2
Belgium Westende Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 1
Belgium Wevelgem Communal Cemetery Canadian 1
Belgium Wevelgem Communal Cemetery United Kingdom 1


Hope you will find this useful

Cheers


David

[Paul Johnson]

Thanks David,

I will take this data with me at Easter and let you know what I find.

Regards

PAUL JOHNSON

[Paul Johnson]

Hi David,

Just returned from Belgium. Because of the work I was doing in the Ypres Salient I only had time to record the data in 1 of the cemeteries you listed.

This is Cement House Cemetery at Langemark.

There are 3 graves there, 2 RAF and 1 RAAF.

The RAF Headstones state; An Airman of the 1939-45 War. Royal Air Force. There are no other details.

The RAAF Headstone states; An Airman of the 1939-45 War. Royal Australian Air Force and gives the date 24th November 1942. I can find no Australians listed on the Runnymeade Memorial for this date.

The data I have suggests that this may be the grave of A/408500 Sgt Ronald Leslie Dunlop PHAIR whose name is recorded on the Runnymeade Memorial and whose aircraft was lost on the 20th November 1942, apparentley over the North Sea whilst on operations with 11OTU. Of course, there is no real evidence to prove this but he is the closest I could find who was in the right area. As you can appreciate there could be numerous reasons as to why he should be buried so far inland, if it is him. Could be worth further investigation.

Hope this helps. I will try and visit other cemeteries in Belgium as and when I can and let you know what I find.

Regards

PAUL JOHNSON