Guards - Norway Cemeteries list

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• HARSTAD CEMETERY
• MO I RANA CHURCHYARD
• NARVIK NEW CEMETERY
• OSLO WESTERN CIVIL CEMETERY
• SALTDAL MAIN CHURCHYARD

 

HARSTAD CEMETERY

• Country: Norway
• Locality: unspecified
• Location Information: Harstad is on the north-east coast of Hinnoy Island on the Vaagsfjord, 55 kilometres north-west of Narvik. From the south follow route 83 through the town and up the hill past the Esso garage. A short way along this road on the left hand side is a large building with the sign "TINE" on the front. Turn left here and then turn first right into Langslette, then first right again into Movegen. Follow this road to the end and the cemetery is in front of you. Follow the path from the cemetery entrance for 100 metres to the second intersection and turn left. The Commonwealth war graves are 40 metres along on the right side.
• Historical Information: During the Second World War, Norway was of strategic importance to the Germans. Their invasion on 9 April 1940 was sudden and widespread and despite Allied intervention, the entire country was under German occupation by early June. Thereafter, Allied activity in Norway was confined to raids and special operations, with the Commonwealth air forces providing support to Norwegian resistance groups until the German capitulation in May 1945. There are no Commonwealth war cemeteries in Norway, those who died there being buried in civil cemeteries and churchyards. Harstad was used as the military headquarters and main port of disembarkation for the expeditionary force sent to northern Norway in April 1940 and was repeatedly attacked by German aircraft throughout the entire operation. 701 Walrus Squadron of the Fleet Air Arm and 263 Gladiator (Fighter) Squadron operated from Harstad, the latter moving to Bardufoss Aerodrome in May. The graves of those who died in Bardufoss were later transferred to the Commonwealth plot at Harstad. Harstad Cemetery contains 33 Commonwealth burials, one of them unidentified. The cemetery also contains plots of other Allied war graves.
• No. of Identified Casualties: 33

1. 2717086 Guardsman James CORBETT, 1 Irish Guards: 16/05/1940 Grave Reference D. 4.
2. 2718736 John Alfred ELLIOT, 1 Irish Guards Grave Reference
3. 33666 Vivian Vandeleur GILBART-DENHAM, 1 Irish Guards Grave Reference
4. JOHNSTONE, GEORGE SAMSON G S GUARDSMAN 1ST BN. Scots Guards 2696478 15.04.1940 Grave Reference
5. 2718831 Allan McCLELLAND, 1 Irish Guards Grave Reference
6. 2695829 Walter RIGBY, 1 Irish Guards Guards Grave Reference
7. 2716210 Edmond SLINEY, 1 Irish Guards Grave Reference
8. 2717070 Guardsman Hugh SMITH, 1 Irish Guards: 10/05/1940 Grave Reference Allied Plot F. 8

 

MO I RANA CHURCHYARD

• Country: Norway
• Locality: unspecified
• Location Information: Mo I Rana is a coastal town on the E6 route to the north approximately mid-way between Trondheim and Narvik. On entering the town from the south follow the signs to the town centre. At the roundabout with the station on your left turn right up the hill. The white wooden church can be seen at the top of the rise. Approach the churchyard via the entrance closest to the door of the church. From the entrance closest to the church follow the path adjacent to the church for 40 metres and turn right at the junction. Follow this path for a further 40 metres and turn left. From this point the Russian Memorial comprising a three metre high stone obelisk surmounted by a red star can be seen 50 metres ahead within a small hedged compound.
• Historical Information: During the Second World War, Norway was of strategic importance to the Germans. Their invasion on 9 April 1940 was sudden and widespread and despite Allied intervention, the entire country was under German occupation by early June. Thereafter, Allied activity in Norway was confined to raids and special operations, with the Commonwealth air forces providing support to Norwegian resistance groups until the German capitulation in May 1945. There are no Commonwealth war cemeteries in Norway, those who died there being buried in civil cemeteries and churchyards. Mo I Rana was occupied by Commonwealth troops from 4 May 1940 and held until the Germans entered it on 18 May, after repeated air attacks. The position at Mo I Rana was held by the 1st Battation, Scots Guards, who were eventually outflanked and forced to withdraw. Mo I Rana Churchyard contains eight Commonwealth burials.
• No. of Identified Casualties: 8

1. ADAMS, TREVOR T GUARDSMAN 1ST BN. Scots Guards 2696360 17.05.1940 Grave Reference
2. CAMPBELL, ROBERT FRASER R F GUARDSMAN 1ST BN. Scots Guards 2696247 22.05.1940 Grave Reference
3. DAVIES, FREDERICK F LANCE CORPORAL 1ST BN. Scots Guards 2694120 17.05.1940 Grave Reference
4. HIGHAM, FREDERICK F WARRANT OFFICER CLASS II (C.S.M.) 1ST BN. Scots Guards 2691415 17.05.1940 Grave Reference
5. MCLEAN, HOUSTON H GUARDSMAN 1ST BN. Scots Guards 2694040 17.05.1940 Grave Reference
6. SMITH, JAMES KIDD J K SERJEANT 1ST BN. Scots Guards 2693202 BETWEEN 17.05.1940 AND 18.05.1940 Grave Reference
7. WINDSOR, FRANCIS F GUARDSMAN 1ST BN. Scots Guards 2694493 18.05.1940 Grave Reference

 

NARVIK NEW CEMETERY

• Country: Norway
• Locality: unspecified
• Location Information: Narvik is a major port on the north west coast of Norway. Approaching from the south on the main E6 route follow this road through the town and over the railway bridge just past the tourist information centre on Rongensgate. The road bends sharply to the right then curves gently left. The cemetery is on the right side approximately 1 km past the bridge and the entrance is reached via a sliproad off the main road rising to a parking area outside the gates. From the entrance to the cemetery follow the main path for 70 metres to the second intersection and turn right. The Second World War plot is 30 metres straight ahead.
• Historical Information: During the Second World War, Norway was of strategic importance to the Germans. Their invasion on 9 April 1940 was sudden and widespread and despite Allied intervention, the entire country was under German occupation by early June. Thereafter, Allied activity in Norway was confined to raids and special operations, with the Commonwealth air forces providing support to Norwegian resistance groups until the German capitulation in May 1945. There are no Commonwealth war cemeteries in Norway, those who died there being buried in civil cemeteries and churchyards. Narvik New Cemetery contains 34 Commonwealth burials, 24 of them seamen, the majority from HMS Hunter, who lost their lives in the First Battle of Narvik on 10 April 1940. Their graves were brought into this cemetery from scattered sites in the area. Seven burials are unidentified.
• No. of Identified Casualties: 27

1. 10398 Major Cecil Leander John BOWEN, 1 Irish Guards: 15/05/1940 Grave Reference XI. K. 3
2. 15271 Walter Douglas FAULKNER, MC, 1 Irish Guards Grave Reference

 

OSLO WESTERN CIVIL CEMETERY

• Country: Norway
• Locality: unspecified
• Visiting Information: December 2010 NOTE: Complete structural renovation of this cemetery was undertaken in October and November 2010. This work is now 90% complete, with just the paving around the Cross of Sacrifice to complete. This is expected to be completed by August 2011.
• Location Information: From the city centre head for the intersection between Ring 2 and the 168. Follow the 168 (Sorkedalsveien) for approximately 1 km until the cemetery is seen on the right side. At the junction with Skoyenven turn left at the traffic lights after the tram station and left again into the car park. From the car park take the path past the crematorium to the cross road 50 metres beyond the entrance and turn right following the sign to the chapel and offices. The path curves around to the left and beyond the bend the graves can be seen on the right side in plot 60. There is a cemetery plan at the start of the path from the car park.
• Historical Information: During the Second World War, Norway was of strategic importance to the Germans. Their invasion on 9 April 1940 was sudden and widespread and despite Allied intervention, the entire country was under German occupation by early June. Thereafter, Allied activity in Norway was confined to raids and special operations, with the Commonwealth air forces providing support to Norwegian resistance groups until the German capitulation in May 1945. There are no Commonwealth war cemeteries in Norway, those who died there being buried in civil cemeteries and churchyards. Many of the graves in the Commonwealth plot at Oslo Western Civil Cemetery are of airmen shot down whilst attacking Oslo airport at Fornebu. The majority of the remaining soldiers and airmen were killed in air crashes during the airborne landings at Oslo, 43 having lost their lives on 10 May 1945, the day of liberation. In all, the war graves plot contains 101 Commonwealth burials. The Cross of Sacrifice was unveiled in November 1949 by General Otto Ruge, who commanded the Norwegian Army at the time of the German invasion in April 1940. Facing the Cross of Sacrifice on the opposite side of the front path, outside the plot, stands a memorial erected by the City of Oslo in honour of the men of the Commonwealth forces who died in Norway during the Second World War. It represents the figure of a mourning woman and was unveiled by His Majesty King Olav of Norway in June 1960.
• No. of Identified Casualties: 103

1. JUKES, FRANK F GUARDSMAN - Coldstream Guards 2663351 25.12.1945 Grave Reference

 

SALTDAL MAIN CHURCHYARD

• Country: Norway
• Locality: unspecified
• Location Information: Saltdal is a village close to the west coast of Norway approximately mid-way between Trondheim and Narvik. Saltdal churchyard is actually located in the neighbouring village of Rognan. Approaching from the south on the E6 main route to the north turn off at junction signposted for Rognan. Follow this unclassified road through the village of Rognan to the white wooden church on the right hand side of the road at the outskirts of the village. Follow the path from the entrance and turn left at the first junction. Follow this path past the church for approximately 100 metres and the war graves plot can be seen approximately 20 metres to the left of the path within a small hedged enclosure.
• Historical Information: During the Second World War, Norway was of strategic importance to the Germans. Their invasion on 9 April 1940 was sudden and widespread and despite Allied intervention, the entire country was under German occupation by early June. Thereafter, Allied activity in Norway was confined to raids and special operations, with the Commonwealth air forces providing support to Norwegian resistance groups until the German capitulation in May 1945. There are no Commonwealth war cemeteries in Norway, those who died there being buried in civil cemeteries and churchyards. Saltdal Main Cemetery contains 27 Commonwealth burials, five of them unidentified. The Germans brought the graves into the cemetery from the surrounding district after the brief fighting at the end of May 1940, between Mo I Rana and Bodo.
• No. of Identified Casualties: 22

1. 2694773 John Young CLARK, 1 Scots Guards British Plot. C. 7.
2. 2718507 Guardsman Michael Arthur DONNELLY, 1 Irish Guards: 25/05/1940 British Plot. B. 2.
3. 2717964 Guardsman Norman JORDAN, 1 Irish Guards: 29/05/1940 British Plot. A. 2.
4. 2718899 Guardsman William Henry RANKIN, 1 Irish Guards: 28/05/1940 British Plot.
5. 2717983 Sydney Conor TAYLOR, 1 Irish Guards British Plot.
6. 2694375 Guardsman William THOMSON, 1 Scots Guards: 23/05/1940 British Plot.
7. 2717801 John TIERNEY, 1 Irish Guards British Plot.

 

Irish Guards Journal 1961




Re caption under photo, please note that there are no Welsh Guards graves at Narvik; the Regiment did not serve in Norway.