Silloth War Graves (website)
 |
| 1. Silloth (Causeway Head) Cemetery, Cumbria It has a Commonwealth War Graves 'Cross of Sacrifice' [One of the former airfield hangars can also be seen] |
 |
| 2. Headstones of some of the WW2 airmen in the cemetery The CWGC maintains 63 WW2 graves in the cemetery: This includes 2 unidentified airmen, 3 Poles and 1 Czech |
____________________________________________________
In July 2009 a new website honouring the WW2 casualties interred at the cemetery at Causewayhead, Silloth, Cumbria has been created by local historian and WW2 researcher, Mr Jeff Wilson.
Click on the link below to access the website:
For additional information click on 'Comments' below.
================================
posted by ritsonvaljos at 1:03 pm
1 Comments:
Additional information (updated October 2015):
Silloth is a seaport and resort town on the Solway Firth in the former county of Cumberland (now Cumbria) about 22 miles from Carlisle. It is also about 10 miles or so by sea from Galloway and Dumfriesshire on the southern coast of Scotland.
During WW2 there was an Allied airfield at Silloth. Many of the aircrew personnel who trained out of Silloth airfield were from outside the UK, and included many Canadian and American pilots. Due to the number of Canadian pilots lost in aircraft flying over the Solway Firth from Silloth aerodrome the Solway became known as ‘Hudson Bay’. Many local people still refer to it by this name.
There are 63 war graves in Causewayhead cemetery, of which 61 have been identified. The majority of the WW2 casualties buried here were airmen and in addition to those from Britain and the Commonwealth there is 1 Czech who was serving with the RAFVR and 5 Poles who were serving with the Polish Air Force.
___________________________
From the CWGC website about the war graves at Causewayhead cemetery:
During the early months of the 1939-1945 War a section in the south-eastern corner of the cemetery was set aside by the local authorities for the burial of service personnel, which was gradually extended to cover Sections S and R and half of Section P. This is now the War Graves Plot. Most of the airmen buried here were serving at the Royal Air Force Station at Silloth, where there is a large aerodrome. Many of the bodies were recovered from the sea, and two could not be identified.
During the war a site was selected for the Cross of Sacrifice and reserved by the local authorities. It stands in an imposing position at the entrance to the cemetery, and is approached by a short flight of stone steps up the sloping bank. The raised mound is surrounded by a circular terrace. The Cross, in its central position on the mound, dominates the whole of this beautiful cemetery, including the War Graves Plot in the far left-hand corner. The cemetery covers about 4 acres.
______________________
While many of these airmen lie far from their origins, they are worthy of remembrance. Jeff Wilson's website helps keep the memory of their sacrifice alive. It is certainly worth a look.
++++++++++++++++++++=
Post a Comment
<< Home