CWGC Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine.

I wonder how empty the visitors' book would be ?

I notice there is another man buried in another cemetery in Gaza

ABDEL SALIM ABOU RAMADAN
Rank: Private
Service No: PAL/14151
Date of Death: 03/07/1941
Regiment/Service: Pioneer Corps
Cemetery GHALAYINI MUSLIM CEMETERY, GAZA

 

Hi Andy,

Some info on those who lie in Gaza War Cemetery.

My project is the collection of every headstone and memorial photo of the 11,400 Airmen and Airwomen who were buried or memorialized in 70 countries during WW2 and the 350+ Australian Airmen who died in 14 countries during WW1. From the total of 11,750, I now have over 10,900. These photos are made available, free of charge to all Family, Friends and others with an interest who may never get the chance to visit these cemeteries overseas.

Clarence Linzee Gent was born near Shepparton, a country town in Victoria, Australia and the second oldest of seven children. He was an Air Mechanic 1 with No 1 Squadron AFC (Australian Flying Corps) and died of wounds (Burns) received from an accident on 13th December 1917 at Jules, Palestine. He was the son of Samuel and Eleanor GENT, 19 Knowles Street, Northcote, (a suburb of Melbourne), Victoria. He was 26 years old.
His Cousin, Capt L. Gent OC 3rd MG Coy 5th Bn, was killed at Villers-Bretoneux, Somme, France in 1917.

Harry Mackay Matheson, Flight Lieutenant, Observer, Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force attached 1 Squadron AFC (Australian Flying Corps) and previously AIF (Australian Imperial Force) was born on 16th August 1887.
Harry was a Chemist and joined the AIF at Benalla in Victoria, Australia on 19th August 1914 and embarked from Melbourne on 22nd October 1914 on the ship HMAT Orvieto (A3). Harry died from exposure on Christmas Day, 25th December 1917 following a crash in bad weather.

Sergeant Keith Warren Mansfield RAAF, (attached208sq RAF - Royal Air Force Army Co-Op Unit) was born on 26th July 1915 in Perth Western Australia and was a shipping Clerk with Millar’s Timber and Trading until he enlisted in the RAAF. He was the son of Sydney George and Laurel Annie Mansfield.
He was killed in an accident on 14th November 1941.

Thanks to you and your friend for taking the time to provide these photos.

Cheers

Geoff

 

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/18/war-graves-gaza-city

Ibrahim Jeradeh took care of the cemetery outside Gaza City for 45 years: it's both a picnic spot and testament to generations of conflict

Now aged 76, Jeradeh still lives in a tied house on the site thanks to his son succeeding him as head gardener. Jeradeh was awarded an MBE for his long service to the Commonwealth. He proudly shows off the medal, along with a framed certificate signed by the Duke of Kent in "grateful recognition of outstanding contribution to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission".

"They invited me to London, but I didn't go," says Jeradeh, while his grandson serves glasses of sweet tea on a silver tray as the call to prayer carries across the cemetery from a nearby mosque. "Why would I need to go there? Everyone comes to me."
The MBE was delivered with a printed card instructing that it should be worn with morning dress (on the left side of the coat, at the top pocket position), or evening dress. Jeradeh offers to pin it to the sleeveless woollie over his jalabiya, a traditional long Arab robe.
He started work in the cemetery more than half a century ago, under the watchful eye of his father, who was the first head gardener. Both his father and he were required to comply with the British retirement age of 65, although Jeradeh insists he hasn't stopped working. He dismisses any suggestion that the family has ownership of the post, saying he and his son applied and were selected for the post of head gardener...

...The Earth does not belong to us, but to God," he says. Now he counts his blessings: a home in a green and mostly quiet corner of Gaza; nine daughters, four sons and "maybe 50" grandchildren. His wife, whom he married aged 18, has been bedridden for the past nine years following a stroke, "but we are still in love".

His "simple life" has been a good one, he says; the dead have been comfortable companions. "I'm happy and at peace. What more do I want?"

 

HI Andy,
Feel free to post them, I should have linked with my original request - it may have given the opportunity for matched then and now shots. In terms of the photos there was nothing to add extra detail to them.

Cheers

Alistair

 

This has been reported on:

http://electronicintifada.net/content/british-war-cemetery-not-immune-gaza-siege/13325

 

Superb photos.

 

good day smudger jnr,m.26th march,2014,01:59pm.#6re:cwgc gaza war cemetery,palestine.just to let you know i agree with you.and thank you to the kind lady.and may our fallen rest in peace.regards bernard85

 

My grandfathers brother is buried there

John Moffat Johnston
63425
02/11/1917
Machine Gun
XXIV.E.1

Left Workington UK and moved to Argentina and worked for Central Argentine Railway. Back to the UK and I suspect joined Border regiment and somehow transferred to 54th Essex. I have pictures from 1908 in football uniform in Buenos Aires and another about 15 years later.