I am away quite a bit in February and will be in both Budapest and Gibraltar. Hopefully I will have a bit of spare time to get to the cemeteries in both places, so if anyone has any requests let me know during the week by PM P
Spidge, I have got your list, but can't reply to your PM, as your inbox is full. Hopefully, I will get some free time to visit both Cemeteries P
Oh well its starting to snow in Budapest this morning, but I am hopeful that i will still have time to get out to the cemetery on the outskirts of budapest later today. In preperation, I did a bit of digging and have found that a french supermarket chain want to build an out of town store next to the site..... FRENCH shopping giant Auchan is considering a plan to build a hypermarket close to the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Solym??r, on the outskirts of Budapest. FRENCH shopping giant Auchan is considering a plan to build a hypermarket close to the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Solym??r, on the outskirts of Budapest. The cemetery, in an exposed site off Route 10, situated about 14km north-west of Budapest, on the road to Dorog and Esztergom, was donated by the Hungarian Government in 1947, as "A gift of the people of Hungary for the perpetual resting place of the airmen who are honored here." Auchan has emphasized that at present there are no set plans. Spokeswoman Katalin Gillemot told The Budapest Sun, "Nothing specific has been reached. The probability of constructing the store [at Solym??r] is no higher than at any other of our prospective sites." She added that Auchan was aware of the sensitivity and said the local mayor would act as a guarantor of suitability, should the project go ahead. Solym??r Mayor L??szl?? Enczmann promised no decision would be taken without the agreement of the embassies involved. He said the total site in question is 26 hectares (and owned by 10 individuals), of which the cemetery occupies one 80m x 80m corner. However, he admitted the proposals had drawn a mixed reaction from residents of the large village (population 9,200). Some welcomed the local taxes and jobs it would bring, along with the convenience (the nearest hypermarkets are at T??r??kb??lint and Budakal??sz, about 20km away, although the Europark mall on B??csi ??t is about 10km away). "There are also some counter arguments that there will be an increase in traffic and it might drive away local businesses," he added. However, one Brit, Richard Gueterbock, who has a home in the village, was more concerned about the impact on the setting of the cemetery. "I am shocked that a French-run supermarket wants to build a superstore anywhere near a war graves' site - they would not do the same near French battlefield sites like Arras, Dunkirk or in Normandy. "There are other sites on the Route 10 and the management of Auchan should take their concrete monstrosity elsewhere. These brave men died to defend democracy and things like this should not be allowed in democratic Hungary." Zolt??n Wysmyk, a Hungarian resident of Solym??r for the past three years, described the cemetery as "a sacred place in a beautiful setting, destined to be undisturbed either in its close of further vicinity". He continued, "The story of the cemetery at Solym??r is not of negligible significance, but rather an eternal symbol of humanity across any business or imperial interest. The rural people of Solym??r, mostly descendants of German Swabs who were settled in Hungary in the middle ages, walked out to the remains of crashed allied airplanes and buried some of the victims there in early 1945." He also saw no need for a hypermarket in the village. "The supply of all necessary goods and the service of the shop-keepers is excellent in Solym??r's small shops. It provides a friendly, face-to-face local experience between supplier and customer with personalized care for each other. Simply, there is no reason for Auchan to come to or around Solym??r." Ildik?? R??ll, press spokeswoman for the British Embassy in Hungary, said it was being kept fully informed of developments. The latest proposals indicated the cemetery would be separated from the hypermarket by a car park, and that the store would be "virtually invisible" from the graves, she said. There was also likely to be a significant gain for the site, in that part of the scheme would involve screening (probably by trees or a "natural" fence) and the re-routing of Road 10 away from the cemetery, she added. Agata Zajega, press officer for the Polish Embassy (after Britain, Poland has the highest number of graves at the site with 37) said diplomats were working together. "In conjunction with other embassies we sent a letter to the local authorities to present our position," she said. "We are not against their right to make such investments, but we did emphasize the special nature and character of this place." Zajega added that the embassy had said special measures must be taken to separate the cemetery from the hypermarket and ensure it remained a place of quiet contemplation. Peter Francis, spokesperson for the Commonwealth Graves Commission in the UK, confirmed the organization was aware of the proposal, had sought to minimize the impact of the development and requested a screening fence of trees at least 20m long. "We are maintaining a watching brief, as are the Commonwealth embassies in Budapest," he said. Asked if there had been an attempt to block the development, Francis said he was not aware of any such move. In all, 210 airmen are buried at the cemetery, their bodies and original graves having been tracked down so they could be laid to rest together in a cemetery maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, supported by the governments of the UK, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa. There are 128 Royal Air Force personnel buried at Solym??r, 37 from the Polish Air Force, 20 South African Air Force crew, 13 Royal Australian Air Force, six Royal Canadian Air Force and six from the Royal New Zealand Air Force. There is also one Free French airman and a British sailor dating back to the First World War. The airmen were shot down over Hungary during the later stages of the Second World War. Most were on missions to support the Warsaw uprising between April and November of 1944. Twice a year Solym??r plays host to ceremonies honoring the war dead: ANZAC Day on April 25, dedicated to the memory of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, and Remembrance Sunday, the Sunday closest to November 11, Armistice Day.
FAO Spidge, got all of the images of RAAF headstones, will email them next week, when I finally get home. ps. think there is one or two that you hadnt included on your list too
FAO Spidge, got all of the images of RAAF headstones, will email them next week, when I finally get home. ps. think there is one or two that you hadnt included on your list too Great work Phil. Safe trip back. Cheers Geoff
Great work Phil. Safe trip back. Cheers Geoff Spidge, as promised. Early flight to Gibraltar tomorrow so hopefully get the Fitzpatrick one from North Front on Thursday.
Spidge, as promised. Early flight to Gibraltar tomorrow so hopefully get the Fitzpatrick one from North Front on Thursday. Fantastic result Phil. Those were the thirteen that I required, did I leave some out on the list I sent you? I wouldn't be surprised the way I have been going lately. Safe flight. Cheers Geoff
Is there anyone going to Budapest soon? If someone could get me 15 photographs from Budapest War Cemetery, that would be a great help.
