I am seeking information re my Grandfather; George Edward Fitzsimons , a private in the New Zealand army 21st Battalion (service number 62826) who died of wounds in the Western Desert on 24/11/1941. Although there is a marker for him at the Alamaine Memorial, the New Zealand War Deaths Register records indicate his place of burial being map reference 211 497 384. This is supported by a letter from Major N.E. Bicknell (Padre of a Mobile Surgical Unit) dated 20/12/41 that states that “I laid him to rest alongside some N.Z. comrades in the Military cemetery near Gambut”. The search facilities on the Commonwealth War Graves web site do not give any information on such a cemetery. I do understand that there were many casualties around Gambut on that date… Looking into the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site there are descriptions of Alamain as being a memorial for soldiers who have "no known grave" and Knightsbridge cemetery where they put the remains recovered from "battlefield burial grounds and from scattered desert sites" Can anyone help out with converting the map reference into something useful in today’s world (i.e. to use on Google Earth) or identifying just where the cemetery near Gambut is or was. All help is greatly appreciated. The more I look the less I know… Cheers Tony Clarkson
Hi Tony, Welcome to the site I think you will find that later in the war or even after small burial sites were concentrated at larger cemeteries such as El Alamien. This made it easier to look after and make sure things were up to scratch. Someone may have specific information on Gambut Cemetery and will be able to give you exact details.
Hi Tony; The map reference does not fit as per my knowledge. The British maps of that time were referring to the Egyptian Grid (Purple) and you should have two "blocks" of digits anyway. Either 1234 / 5678 or 123 456 / 789 123 (for East and North each).
There were NZ graves near the old tomb (Marabut) of Sidi Rezegh - this is south of Gambut. If we are searching for a cemetery directly at Gambut, I would go for the area of the Italian "Road House". I presume that it was this building whic was used as a hospital. This since it is one of the very vew stone buildings of Gambut at that time an since a similar building, the famous "White House", some 30 kms West of Tobruk was used for similar purpose by the Germans and the Allies.
German map 1:100'000 of 1942 does not indicate a cemetery (what is not surprising - I am not aware of any such cemeteries indicated in contemporary maps).
thanks heaps Kuno - you have obviously spent some time on your replies. The point about the map ref fits what I thought (something is missing or corrupted). Will look into the other things you mention deeper.
further to Kuno's mention of New Zealand graves at Sidi Rezegh- there is a photo in the battalian history showing the cemetery at Sidi Rezegh which I have taken from the excellant resources to the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre (see CHAPTER 5 — Libya 1941 | NZETC for context and and The New Zealand cemetery at Sidi Rezegh | NZETC for image) Have wondered for some time if the mention of Gambut by the padre who buried my grandfather was just a reference to the nearest town or the actual location of a field hospital. From what I can figure from various maps, Sidi Rezegh is about 20 miles away. I cant find a Google Earth reference for it however... http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH2-21Ba-fig-WH2-21BaP012b.html http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH2-21Ba-fig-WH2-21BaP012b.html
Tony, I have to go for work now. But in regard of Sidi Rezegh I can help out with a modern photograph tomorrow. Maybe I find even something of Gambut. Btw. - your pics posted above do not show...
hi tony i live in tobruk libya 60 km to the west of cambut i am willing to help contact me on (tobsanadruk@yahoo.com)
Hi my uncle died in world war 2 he was is in common wealth army and i have heard his grave is in Tabruk can any one from tabruk confirm this his name was Mahboob Shah Son of Ghani Shah .If possible can any body show his grave picture.I will really appreciate this person Thanx
I have looked at the CWGC website, but can't find a Mahboob Shah, sorry. Do you have any more details? BTW it may help if you post in 'war cemeteries and memorial; research.
