Vandalism Mierlo War Cemetery, Netherlands

No words. I visited the cemetery a few years ago and remember it was next to a fairly busy main road, so hopefully someone saw something.

Vandalism at Mierlo War Cemetery

Fury and disbelief in Mierlo as vandals spray war graves with swastika, graffiti - DutchNews.nl

 

I can't imagine how I would feel if one of the graves was a soldier from my family.

 

Nothing will happen to them if caught the woolly laws of most countries do not punish.

We all know what should happen to them

 

A shame! disrespectful! Cheap: these graves cannot defend themselves.

For sure, the damage will be restored. In the meantime this cheap, boorish obscene behaviour above all reflects the character of the perpetrator(s) ... sniffed alcoholic(s), ignorant low live(s), spirits that don't matter

This is so not how we treat our Liberators in Holland.

 

Totally agree with your last sentence, stolpi. Good to see this widely reported in the Netherlands. The locals are probably more disgusted than the rest of us and have already started helping out with the clean-up process. Unfortunately, there are idiots everywhere.

 

Such a shame and the daubing doesn't appear to make a lot of sense (the words, the act itself is senseless)
Is the reference "MH17 Lie" a reference to the airliner shot down over the Ukraine? That flight originated in Amsterdam..
..... but what that has to do with a CWGC cemetery is beyond me.....

 

Sadly, it will certainly get more airtime and publicity than a protest - it has made news here in Australia as well, and yes, the MH17 reference was quoted again, and again, and again.

Disgusting on all levels - these men gave their lives for such idiots to be able to make statements without fear of persecution, but the utter lack of respect deserves a harsh penalty. Sadly, as others have said, it probably won't be at all forthcoming . . .

 

Ladies and Gentlemen … we've got 'em! Or at least a suspect has been arrested by the police, a 36 years old man from Mierlo.

Man aangehouden voor bekladden oorlogsgraven

Man uit Mierlo opgepakt om bekladden oorlogsbegraafplaats

Verdachte van bekladden Britse oorlogsbegraafplaats Mierlo aangehouden | NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl

The maximum punishment for grave crime in Holland is a prison sentence of one year or a fine of € 7,400.00.

If he really is the perpetrator, he hopefully will be heavily fined and then spent the next decade or so paying off the costs of the cleaning operation

 

My Great Uncle was Frank Foster of the 2nd Bn Gordon Highlanders in this site. Died on 25-09-44 at the Cement works (brickyard). Joined up at the start of the war. To say I am quite cross would be an understatement.

 

Holland is aghast. People are hard at work repairing the damage done, so that the rememberance ceremony of next Tuesday, Sept 17th, can go on (celebration of the start of Market-Garden).

Chemicals were tried, but they don't work because of the paint that was used. All headstones and monuments now have to be sandblasted by hand. Some headstones probably will need to be engraved again. Mark my words this culprit will be bled empty ... financially .

Bewoners Mierlo onthutst, lastige klus om bekladde graven schoon te krijgen

In the meantime a flower tribute started at the entrance of the now temporarily closed cemetery:

 

My thoughts are with Pte. Adolphus Appleton of the 10th Bn Highland Light Infantry who was killed on the 31/10/1944 from Cockermouth who is buried in this cemetery and all the rest of the brave lads who gave their lives for the freedom of the Netherlands.

May the mindless moron rot (that's me putting it politely !)

Mike.

 

I've seen many images of vandalism carried out within our War Cemeteries and this latest graffiti-type attack is possibly the worst I've ever seen.

Initial BBC link sent to me via friend in Holland.

Vandals deface British WW2 graves in Netherlands

Vandalism at Mierlo War Cemetery

Fury and disbelief in Mierlo as vandals spray war graves with swastika, graffiti - DutchNews.nl

LEST WE FORGET​

Tony Buckley www.asiawargraves.com

 

CWGC reports it all cleaned up.

Vandalism repair completed at Mierlo War Cemetery

 

I just read this message from years ago as I am searching the net for information about Adolphus Appleton. I recently adopted his grave at the Mierlo War Cemetery, close to our home in the Netherlands and I wondered if you have any information... It would be highly appreciated...

 

Rian, welcome to the forum. I’m sure Mike, member Deacs, will be along soon to reply, but here are a few links for you:

https://ww2talk.com/index.php?search/102817831/&q=Appleton&o=relevance&c[user][0]=16176

As you can see, member gpjeuken would appear to have knowledge about Adolphus, although he has not been on here since June 2024.

CWGC entry:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2080612/adolphus-appleton/

Casualty list:



A not very good copy of his medal card, completed by his next of kin, presumably his parents:


(image from Ancestry)

It may also be a good idea to start a separate new thread on Adolphus, in this section perhaps:

Searching for Someone & Military Genealogy

 

Thank you so much! I know Mr Gerard Jeuken's story about the two boys who died in his father's farm and I have copies of his letters. I have contacts in Cockermouth and know Mr Jeuken has been searching for such a long time already more than 10 years ago. Time flies... I would love to get in touch with him to tell him both graves are adopted now. Thank you for your advise. I'm going to study this forum and I will start a new thread soon.

 

I can see the lad who died with Adolphus, George Robinson, on that same casualty list. I can also see that the two are resting together, side by side.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2081103/george-robinson/



(images by MvdS at findagrave.com)

 

Hello Rian,

Welcome to the forum, and can I say a big thank you for adopting Adolphus's grave that is very commendable of you excellent.
I will have a look at my file and i will share with what I have.

Kind regards Mike.

 

Hi Rian,

This is what I have so far on Adolphus I really do need to do more research but here goes.

Adolphus was born 11th December 1911 to parents Robert and Margaret May, he was born at 2 South Street, Cockermouth.
His parents were living at 37 Sullart Street, Cockermouth.

1921 Census.
He is living at 4 Christ Church Terrace, Cockermouth. With his parents and younger siblings aged 9. Doris Irvine 8. Mary Jane 6 and younger brother Robert William 3.

1939 sadly I have not been able to locate Adolphus with which I can say it his him for definite ?
His parents and younger brother are still at 4 Christ Church Terrace.

At the out brake of war I am guessing as he as a regiment number of 3597122 he was a Border Regiment territorial, as like a lot of Cockermouth lads including my great Uncle were in the 5th Battalion.
(These are only guesses as I have not got his service record.)
At some time he must have been posted to the 10th Bn Highland Light Infantry.



Extract from the War diary of the 10th Bn Highland Infantry for the end of October.



Field 29th Stand to. Situation normal. 0800 CO attended Bde 'O' Group. Bn def posns south of ASTEN coordinated. 0845 CO carried out recce of ground with Coy Comdrs. 1100 hrs Bn ordered to take up def posn around ASTEN in event of enemy counter attack. Bn HQ est at 619132. 1500 hrs Bn ordered to move fwd and take up posn in area of wood 6409 to relieve recce unit of 7 Armd Div. Bn moved and took up posns by 2359 hrs. Bn HQ est at 640103.
Casualties: 2 Wounded

Field 30th Stand to. 2 GORDONS on left were attacked twice at 0430 and 0730. Both attacks beaten off. Own patrols active on Bn front while Recce Regt on right patrolled canal. Some PWs were taken. 2300 enemy infiltrated through our lines, believed to be Coy Strength, and took up posn in wood 6409. Div Arty and Medium Arty brought to bear on wood during night and concs were put down on tracks 6509 to prevent enemy escaping. MGs & Bn mortars fired on track also. 2400 Tanks moved up to protect flanks. Noise of enemy movt in area 6508 engaged by arty fire.
18 P.O.W. Taken Casualties: 1 Killed 7 Wounded

Field 31st 0015 Sig Sgt and Cpl on line repair party captured by enemy in wood. Sgt escaped but was wounded in doing so. Arty brought down on wood at different intervals from 0100 to 0700. 6 PWs were taken. 0700 hrs A Coy with spt of tanks swept wood thoroughly but owing to misty nature of morning and poor visibility enemy escaped. A Coy reported wood cleared of enemy. Enemy shelling of fwd posns during day. Reinforcements for month of October 140 H.P. Mackley Lt Col Officer Comdg 10th Bn H.L.I.
21 P.O.W. Taken Casualties: 2 Killed 2 Wounded.

I hope Rian this gives you a bit of information on the life of Adolphus.

Kind regards Mike.

 

Good evening Mike,

Thank you for sending all the information. To be honest the facts you gave me I already knew. I'm so sorry to have kept you so busy...
I also know that he was not on the census of 1939 which is strange. Could he have been abroad? No idea. I only know the 10th bn. of the Highland Light Infantry landed in Normandy on june 18, 1944.

The matter is also rather complicated because there are 3 Adolphus's Appleton and mistakes are made, also in some family trees.
The other two men called Adolphus were his grandfather and his uncle, the younger brother of his father. (both were in the army...)

I am in touch with the Cockermouth Heritage Group, The All Saints Church and a lady of the Swan Inn in who was involved with Remembrance Sunday preparations in Cockermouth and I found two ladies, very far relatives of Appleton who have a huge family tree and lots of information. They are still digging for more information and stay in touch.

I set up a Facebook page for our soldier where I keep all the information I found. Feel free to have a look: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583151714694 (A forgotten Soldier of WWII)

I hope to find a photo some day so I can give his grave a face. The heritage group sent me some photos of an Adolphus Appleton in uniform but I found out later the man was wearing a uniform of World War 1. Was it his uncle? Maybe.
Recently I requested his service records from the National Archives. I'm told it takes time.

The Mierlo War Cemetery is not far from our home so we visit it on a regular basis. I'll be his birthday soon so we'll bring some flowers.
This is our way to pay respect to our liberators and now Appleton in particular. After attending the Remembrance Sunday Parade in London for more than 15 years we now remember a little closer to home.

Lest we forget

Thanks again for willing to help me!
Kind regards,
Rian