ADINKERKE MILITARY CEMETERY
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.0706 Longitude: 2.6016
Picture © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Adinkerke Military Cemetery is located 6 km west of Veurne, 3 km inland from the costal town of Koksijde and 20 km east of Dunkirk.
From Veurne the N39 Duinkerkestraat leads for 6 km to the village of Adinkerke. On reaching the village of Adinkerke the cemetery is located on the first left hand turning onto the Kromfortstraat, on the left hand side of the road.
Visiting Information
Visitors should note a 50 metre grassed access path to this site which is not suitable for vehicles.
The location or design of this site, makes wheelchair access impossible.
Historical Information
From June to November 1917 the Commonwealth XV Corps held the front from the Belgian coast to St. Georges. The 24th and 39th Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Oosthoek (between Adinkerke and Furnes) from July to November, and the 1st Canadian Casualty Clearing Station was at Adinkerke for a short time in June.
During the Second World War, the British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944, but in the intervening years, many airmen were shot down or crashed in raids on strategic objectives in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany.
Adinkerke Military Cemetery contains 168 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, and 55 from the Second World War. There are also 142 Czech and German war graves and 4 Russian.
Total Burials: 365.
World War One Commonwealth Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 161, Australia 5, Canada 2. Total 168.
World War Two Commonwealth Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 49, Australia 1, Total 1. Total 50.
World War Two Commonwealth Unidentified Casualties: 5.
The cemetery was designed by Noel Ackroyd Rew
Cemetery images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
Post war image of graves in Adinkerke Military Cemetery, the grave in the centre is that of 16/1297 Private, H. Longstaff, 16th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, 15th August 1917 and buried in Row B. 1.
Images in this gallery © Geerhard Joos
British soldier minding the baby outside his billet in Adinkerke, near Dunkerque, 6th August 1917. © IWM (Q 2688)
British soldier holding a baby outside a cottage in Adinkerke, 6th August 1917. © IWM (Q 2689)
Second World War Roll of Honour
53781 Serjeant
William Calvert Danby
5th Bn. Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)
31st May 1940, aged 36.
Sp. Mem. FF. 5.
William Calvert Danby
5th Bn. Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment)
31st May 1940, aged 36.
Sp. Mem. FF. 5.
5337442 Private
Frederick Gardiner
8th Bn. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
28th May 1940, aged 27.
Row F. 6.
Son of Joseph and Caroline Susan Gardiner, of Dalston, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sleep On Beloved Take Thy Rest. We Loved Thee Well But Jesus Loved Thee Best"
Frederick Gardiner
8th Bn. King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
28th May 1940, aged 27.
Row F. 6.
Son of Joseph and Caroline Susan Gardiner, of Dalston, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sleep On Beloved Take Thy Rest. We Loved Thee Well But Jesus Loved Thee Best"
42006 Squadron Leader
Desmond Hayward Sidley Kay, D. F. C. & Bar
109 Squadron, Royal Air Force
19th October 1944, aged 25.
Row E. 22.
Son of Albert Sidley Kay and Rosamond Emily Hayward Kay, of Thurlestone, Devon.
His headstone bears the inscription "One Of The Few"
Desmond Hayward Sidley Kay, D. F. C. & Bar
109 Squadron, Royal Air Force
19th October 1944, aged 25.
Row E. 22.
Son of Albert Sidley Kay and Rosamond Emily Hayward Kay, of Thurlestone, Devon.
His headstone bears the inscription "One Of The Few"
40008 Squadron Leader
John Colin Mungo Park, DFC and Bar.
74 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
27th June 1941, aged 23.
Row E. 17.
Son of Colin A. Mungo Park, and of Marion A. Mungo Park, of Bolton, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Dearly Loved Son Of Marion And The Late Colin A. Mungo Park, Bolton, Lancashire."
John Colin Mungo Park, DFC and Bar.
74 Sqdn. Royal Air Force
27th June 1941, aged 23.
Row E. 17.
Son of Colin A. Mungo Park, and of Marion A. Mungo Park, of Bolton, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription; "Dearly Loved Son Of Marion And The Late Colin A. Mungo Park, Bolton, Lancashire."
Image above © Werner Van Caneghem
