On this day in WW2 - V2 hits Rex Cinema, Antwerp killing many, including RAF men

On 16 December 1944, a V2 rocket hit the Rex Cinema in Antwerp, killing hundreds, many of them Allied servicemen:

"The destruction was total. Afterwards, many people were found still sitting in their seats, stone dead. For more than a week the Allied authorities worked to clear the rubble. Later, many of the bodies were laid out at the city zoo for identification. The death toll was 567 casualties to soldiers and civilians, 291 injured and 11 buildings were destroyed. 296 of the dead & 194 of the injured were U.S., British, & Canadian soldiers. This was the single highest death total from one rocket attack during the war in Europe."

from http://www.v2rocket.com/start/chapters/antwerp.html

My interest is because a number of the dead were RAF Regiment men. Some were from 2757 squadron (whose squadron leader later became my grandfather's CO).

More info on that here - http://www.rafregt.com/3hist.htm

I've identified four 2757 squadron men, all died on 16 December and all buried in Antwerp. They are:


AKASS, CHARLES RICHARD
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 930476
Date of Death: 16/12/1944
Age: 25
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
2757 Sqdn. R.A.F. Regt.
Grave Reference V. D. 73.
Cemetery SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY


CLOTWORTHY, HAROLD
Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Service No: 1049735
Date of Death: 16/12/1944
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
2757 Sqdn. R.A.F. Regt.
Grave Reference V. A. 45.
Cemetery SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY


REAH, WILLIAM THOMAS HEDLEY
Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Service No: 1047387
Date of Death: 16/12/1944
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
2757 Sqdn. R.A.F. Regt.
Grave Reference V. D. 27.
Cemetery SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY


WILKINS, LEONARD
Rank: Leading Aircraftman
Service No: 1047377
Date of Death: 16/12/1944
Age: 23
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
2757 Sqdn. R.A.F. Regt.
Grave Reference V. A. 64.
Cemetery SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY

But there are three pages of RAF casualties for 16 December and at least two other RAF Regiment squadrons are mentioned. Some more research needed!

[Had this diarised for posting for months but too busy until now to do so.]

 

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/34838-antwerp-rex-cinema-v-2-attack-16-december-1944/

 

Headstone photos of Royal Artillery who died that day and are buried at the SCHOONSELHOF WAR CEMETERY.

William Henry BALL



Frederick Henry BARBER



Kenneth Wilfred BASTON



Thomas Greenway BATE



H.W. BIRD



Keith Fletcher CLIFTON



Cyril COBB



James Walter COOK



Douglas Laurence COOKE



Ernest CORS



Gomer DANIEL



Albert HALLAM



Thomas Henry HATCHETT



Jack HIGGINS



Reginald Leslie McCabe



Matthew McKIM



Alfred William NEATE



Albert PATTERSON



Edward Noel PICKERING



James Henry PRIESTMAN



Thomas Garfield RAIL



Donald Alfred ROBSON



John SEMPLE



Claude SMITH



William Herbert TAYLOR



Peter WARDMAN

 

I've found 21 names of RAF personnel who are buried at Schoonself War Cemetery. Majority are ground crew ranks and RAF Regt. Presumably any RAF personnel not identified from the cinema would be listed on the Runnymede Memorial. (In fact there are 3 possible non flying personnel ranks listed on the Runnymede Memorial for 16/12/44 - 2 LAC and a Aircraftsman 1st Class)


001 AKASS CR 930476 2757 SQDN RAF REGT 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

002 ALLEN AF 1435005 2717 SQDN RAF REGT 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

003 ASHBY GA 1638805 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

004 CHRISTOPHERS DH 127570 2880 SQDN RAF REGT 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

005 CLOTWORTHY H 1049735 2757 SQDN RAF REGT 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

006 COCKAYNE JB 1823594 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

007 COTON FV 1189275 6340 SQDN 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

008 DAY HT 864056 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE (AUXILIARY AIR FORCE)

009 FRANCIS J 1452021 2717 SQDN RAF REGT 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

010 GHEY IEC 1189302 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

011 GOLDMAN RG 142999 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

012 MULLAUGH D 1687890 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

013 NOBLE WJ 1346355 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

014 PARKER AR 1651199 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

015 POILE ST 1431737 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

016 PRICE GS 1836130 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

017 REAH WTH 1047387 2757 SQDN RAF REGT 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

018 SAMWAYS FA 1315447 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

019 TAYLOR TE 1584989 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

020 TOWNSEND D 61432 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE

021 WILKINS L 1047377 2757 SQDN RAF REGT 16/12/1944 ROYAL AIR FORCE VOLUNTEER RESERVE

 

Thanks for sharing such a terribly sad story of ww2 makes you wonder how those that survive manage to have a normal life after the war. It's amazing how you find all the info then research more and find more . Elsie

 

Hi chick42-46,

Can I have your permission to post up the RAF Regiment casualties onto RockNet into the Roll of Honour please ?


Regards, Mick D.

 

Mick D,

You don't need permission to post the casualty details, as this information is freely available from the CWGC website.

If you want the other RAF Regiment casualties shown in my post, click the number against the name and it will go to the CWGC site for the full details.

Cheers - Rob

 

Hi Rob,

OK many thanks for the info.


Regards, Mick D.