Collecting photos of Grave stones - Why?

HI Spidge & cash,

Lovely post spidge and cash I'm in coulsdon too small world lol Caffe Nero ???

Cheers
Tom

 

Spidge, do you need any more Aussie photos from Hainault, Luxembourg, Liege, Vlaams Brabant, or Namur provinces in Belgium? I am currently photographing all these isolated cemeteries, and I periodically see Aussie stones (usually WW2 aviators, interestingly). I know I have sent you some specific ones in the past, but wonder what you still need in my area (if anything). For example, there are two Aussies at Houyet Cemetery. I think you have my email address, or you can PM me with any wants. Doc

 

Spidge, do you need any more Aussie photos from Hainault, Luxembourg, Liege, Vlaams Brabant, or Namur provinces in Belgium? I am currently photographing all these isolated cemeteries, and I periodically see Aussie stones (usually WW2 aviators, interestingly). I know I have sent you some specific ones in the past, but wonder what you still need in my area (if anything). For example, there are two Aussies at Houyet Cemetery. I think you have my email address, or you can PM me with any wants. Doc

Thanks for the offer Doc.

I will update my list and email it to you. You may be able to accommodate some of these that are still outstanding.

Cheers

Geoff

 

Doc, Are any of these cemeteries near you?

BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY
CEMENT HOUSE CEMETERY
DEERLIJK COMMUNAL CEMETERY
HOTTON WAR CEMETERY
KRUISHOUTEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY
LEOPOLDSBURG WAR CEMETERY
LIER BELGIAN MILITARY CEMETERY
TURNHOUT COMMUNAL CEMETERY

I amseeking help in obtaining photos of Recce men buried in these cemeteries.

Cheers
Paul

 

Spidge, do you need any more Aussie photos from Hainault, Luxembourg, Liege, Vlaams Brabant, or Namur provinces in Belgium? I am currently photographing all these isolated cemeteries, and I periodically see Aussie stones (usually WW2 aviators, interestingly). I know I have sent you some specific ones in the past, but wonder what you still need in my area (if anything). For example, there are two Aussies at Houyet Cemetery. I think you have my email address, or you can PM me with any wants. Doc

Doc, I would appreciate any help with any of these cemeteries in Belgium

BELGIUM
BAS-WARNETON (NEERWAASTEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
BEVEREN-IJZER CHURCHYARD
BRUGGE GENERAL CEMETERY
BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY
CHERCQ CHURCHYARD
CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY
COMINES (KOMEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
COXYDE MILITARY CEMETERY
DE PANNE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
GENT CITY CEMETERY
GRIMBERGEN (VERBRANDE BRUG) CHURCHYARD
HOTTON WAR CEMETERY
HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY
LEOPOLDSBURG WAR CEMETERY
LOCRE HOSPICE CEMETERY
MIDDELKERKE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
NIEUWPOORT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
OOSTDUINKERKE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
OOSTENDE NEW COMMUNAL CEMETERY
TOURNAI COMMUNAL CEMETERY ALLIED EXTENSION

 

Hi Doc,

List has been forwarded by PM.

With great help from people like Doc, my Aussie requirements in Begium are down from the initial number of:

233 burials in 53 cemeteries

Now

66 burials in 26 cemeteries

Cheers

Geoff

 

Hello Doc
I am looking for chaps in:

World War 2
Wuustwezel
Adegem
Heverlee
Hotton
Kaggevinne
Schoonselhof

and WW 1 in:

LaClytte Military Cemetery
Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Nine Elms British Cemetery
Passchendaele New British Cemetery
Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery
and Tyne Cot Cemetery
if you are in the neighbourhood.

Thanks.
phil

 

Paul, Brussels is easy. In time, I can get you Hotton, Lier, and Turnhout. Send the lists.

EnglandPhil, again Brussels and Hotton are possible. Some of the others I already have, probably (Heverlee, Grimbergen, Tournai). Send me your lists.

Phil (MC), again-- Heverlee and Hotton can be gotten in time. I may already have Schoonselhof. Kaggevinne is doable. Send me your want lists.

To all-- I am not doing West Flanders at this time.

Glad to help, but this is a very part-time hobby, so send me your want lists, and I will try. No promises, and it might take a while. I already have a big list to do. Doc

 

Doc, List forwarded by PM. Thanking you in advance.

Cheers
Paul

 

Paul, Brussels is easy. In time, I can get you Hotton, Lier, and Turnhout. Send the lists.

EnglandPhil, again Brussels and Hotton are possible. Some of the others I already have, probably (Heverlee, Grimbergen, Tournai). Send me your lists.

Phil (MC), again-- Heverlee and Hotton can be gotten in time. I may already have Schoonselhof. Kaggevinne is doable. Send me your want lists.

To all-- I am not doing West Flanders at this time.

Glad to help, but this is a very part-time hobby, so send me your want lists, and I will try. No promises, and it might take a while. I already have a big list to do. Doc

Cheers Doc, I will send it later tonight when I get home from Work

Phil

 

BELGIUM
BAS-WARNETON (NEERWAASTEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
BELLIS. HAROLD, Grave 44.
BEVEREN-IJZER CHURCHYARD - COMPLETE
HOUGH. ROBERT, Grave 2.
BRUGGE GENERAL CEMETERY
CARTWRIGHT. ALBERT, Plot 63. Row 4. Grave 13.
BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY - COMPLETE
HARTLES, ALFRED ERNEST, X. 18. 55.
SMITH. VICTOR, X. 26. 44.
CHERCQ CHURCHYARD
LAWRENCE. ANDREW GEORGE, Grave 3.
POYNTON. BENJAMIN Grave 24.
COMINES (KOMEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
CORBY, EDWARD FRANCIS, British Plot. Grave 25.
GENT CITY CEMETERY
DOLPHIN. RONALD 18. D. 15.
GRIMBERGEN (VERBRANDE BRUG) CHURCHYAR - COMPLETE
MARTIN. THOMAS, Southern part of churchyard.
HOTTON WAR CEMETERY
CASSON. ALAN NORMAN CHURCH, I. B.11.
KING. VINCENT PAUL, VIII. D. 1.
STOPFORTH. ROBERT, III. C. 4.
HEVERLEE WAR CEMETERY
O'CONNOR, GERALD, 7. B. 2.
PRIESTLEY, JOHN, 8. B. 1.
BADGER. HENRY, 7. A. 3.
CARROLL. JOSEPH, 7. C. 2.
O'CONNOR. GERALD, 7. B. 2.
PRIESTLEY. JOHN, 8. B. 1.
SILCOCK. CHARLES, 7. C. 1.
LEOPOLDSBURG WAR CEMETERY
TOPHAM, JONATHAN HENRY, VI. A. 10.
COOPER. WILLIAM JOSEPH, V. A. 3.
CRITCHLEY. CHARLES RICHARD, VI. C. 19.
MCANDREW. JOHN, VI. E. 1.
MIDDLEMIST. GEORGE, VII. D. 7.
MOSS. PERCIVAL JOHN, VI. E. 4.
LOCRE HOSPICE CEMETERY
TOPPING. JOHN HENRY BELLIS. 3. C. 4.
MIDDELKERKE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
BALL. JAMES, Row A. Grave 21.
OOSTENDE NEW COMMUNAL CEMETERY
GIBSON, JOHN, Plot 9. Row 8. Grave 20.
TOURNAI COMMUNAL CEMETERY ALLIED EXTENSION
RIMMER, WILLIAM JAMES, VI. C. 3.

THANKS DOC

 

This might sound very silly but I don't understand the collecting photographs of grave stones?
I'm not trying to wind anybody up but why? Is it certain people, areas people are from, VC recipients or other reasons?
I can understand why some people might find collecting gravestone photos a little weird. Personally I find graveyards fascinating and whenever I travel to a different country I try to visit one (ok, I know that's really weird and something you will not find on a Thomas Cook package tour!). From a historical point of view I can see the value of having a database and photo record of those who died in conflicts around the world. I have recently returned to live in England after spending 27 years in Canada. While there I was a member of a team who produced a book about RCAF veterans with connections with the province of New Brunswick (Title: "We that are left Remember"). It included a list of personnel who died, and where they were buried. One caught my eye as he was buried in Ipswich, my home town, and thought it would be a fitting gesture of respect to put a flower on his grave (This I did about 3 weeks ago, and is something I doubt any of his family had the opportunity to do). If I can trace any of his surviving family I will send a photo of his grave. I have also been researching my genealogy and discovered that my great grandfather died in the fall of Kut, and is buried in the CWGC cemetery in Baghdad. I would dearly love to have a photo of his grave as I doubt I will ever have the opportunity to visit in person (especially with the current conflict). I did however receive some general photos of the cemetery via a contact in the Australian embassy, and it's in a real mess. I doubt that many of the graves survived the destruction. I apologize for being a bit long winded with my answer, but I think it's useful and important to have records of graves, and photos provide a quick and accurate way.

 

I can understand why some people might find collecting gravestone photos a little weird. Personally I find graveyards fascinating and whenever I travel to a different country I try to visit one (ok, I know that's really weird and something you will not find on a Thomas Cook package tour!). From a historical point of view I can see the value of having a database and photo record of those who died in conflicts around the world. I have recently returned to live in England after spending 27 years in Canada. While there I was a member of a team who produced a book about RCAF veterans with connections with the province of New Brunswick (Title: "We that are left Remember"). It included a list of personnel who died, and where they were buried. One caught my eye as he was buried in Ipswich, my home town, and thought it would be a fitting gesture of respect to put a flower on his grave (This I did about 3 weeks ago, and is something I doubt any of his family had the opportunity to do). If I can trace any of his surviving family I will send a photo of his grave. I have also been researching my genealogy and discovered that my great grandfather died in the fall of Kut, and is buried in the CWGC cemetery in Baghdad. I would dearly love to have a photo of his grave as I doubt I will ever have the opportunity to visit in person (especially with the current conflict). I did however receive some general photos of the cemetery via a contact in the Australian embassy, and it's in a real mess. I doubt that many of the graves survived the destruction. I apologize for being a bit long winded with my answer, but I think it's useful and important to have records of graves, and photos provide a quick and accurate way.

Hi Iceni,

This is what the Iraqi's did to the Aussie and British graves at the CWGC cemetery at Habbaniyah.

 

I can understand why some people might find collecting gravestone photos a little weird. Personally I find graveyards fascinating and whenever I travel to a different country I try to visit one (ok, I know that's really weird and something you will not find on a Thomas Cook package tour!). From a historical point of view I can see the value of having a database and photo record of those who died in conflicts around the world. I have recently returned to live in England after spending 27 years in Canada. While there I was a member of a team who produced a book about RCAF veterans with connections with the province of New Brunswick (Title: "We that are left Remember"). It included a list of personnel who died, and where they were buried. One caught my eye as he was buried in Ipswich, my home town, and thought it would be a fitting gesture of respect to put a flower on his grave (This I did about 3 weeks ago, and is something I doubt any of his family had the opportunity to do). If I can trace any of his surviving family I will send a photo of his grave. I have also been researching my genealogy and discovered that my great grandfather died in the fall of Kut, and is buried in the CWGC cemetery in Baghdad. I would dearly love to have a photo of his grave as I doubt I will ever have the opportunity to visit in person (especially with the current conflict). I did however receive some general photos of the cemetery via a contact in the Australian embassy, and it's in a real mess. I doubt that many of the graves survived the destruction. I apologize for being a bit long winded with my answer, but I think it's useful and important to have records of graves, and photos provide a quick and accurate way.

Nowt wrong with being long-winded.

 

Hi Iceni,

This is what the Iraqi's did to the Aussie and British graves at the CWGC cemetery at Habbaniyah.




Geoff,

I had not read or heard of the CWGC being vandalised. Thanks for posting.

I find it rather unpleasant to see, especially as so many of our service personnel have died there in recent times.

Regards
Tom

 

Whilst the current climate of political instability persists it is not possible for the Commission to manage or maintain its cemeteries and memorials located within Iraq. Alternative arrangements for commemoration have therefore been implemented and a two volume Roll of Honour listing all casualties buried and commemorated in Iraq has been produced. These volumes are on display at the Commission's Head Office in Maidenhead and are available for the public to view. The Commission continues to monitor the situation in Iraq and once the political climate has improved to an acceptable level the Commission will commence a major rehabilitation project for its cemeteries and commemorations.

CWGC :: Cemetery Details

 

Phil

Same instructions are on the Baghdad [North Gate] War Cemetery page.

Really sad if your news reports are correct, Owen.

cheers,
phil

 

In one of the photos I received, the officer is confirming the GPS locations of the grave. They also spoke to the gardener who was employed to tend the cemetery.

There will be no attempt (at this time 2003) to do anything in the cemetery as any interest shown brings further vandalism.

 

I have a CWGC WW2 grave in my family. This is not the "Standard pattern" but that the Funds have been applied to the entry of the inscription on a family headstone.Whereas, the standard pattern headstone for a single name is very appropriate for the deceased it inevitably "detaches" the deceased from his family, in death. Thus the recording by photography of inclusive headstones helps to establish the familial background and the situation of the family and the deceased at the time of death. It also assists the general research of a family to find all the inscribed names on a headstone, or if omitted in script ,remains nevertheless in the grave.