SOFIA WAR CEMETERY
Sofia
Bulgaria
Location Information
Sofia War Cemetery is situated in the Central Sofia Cemetery which is the main city cemetery. It is located approximately 2 kilometres north of the railway station on Parva Bulgarska Armia Street, with the cemetery entrance located opposite Mara Buneva Street. The Commision cemetery is located to the rear right hand side.
Visiting Information
Cemetery opening hours:
Daily from 8am to 8pm during Summer months (1st April to 30th September)
Daily from 8am to 5pm during Winter months (1st October to 31st March)
Historical Information
Sofia War Cemetery contains the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who died as prisoners of war or with the occupying forces following the Bulgarian capitulation in September 1918. The original cemetery contained 62 war burials, most of which were brought in from Dubnitza Cemetery, Radomir Cemetery and Military Cemetery, and Sofia Town Cemetery. Further graves were brought in from Varna Protestant Cemetery in 1955 and from Ruschuk British and Jewish Cemeteries in 1960.
The Second World War burials are mainly those of airmen who died in raids over Bulgaria towards the end of the war. There is also a special memorial to Major W F Thompson, Royal Artillery, a popular war hero in Bulgaria, who died in June 1944 while helping Bulgarian partisans. His grave, at Letakovo, could not be marked or permanently maintained.
Sofia War Cemetery now contains 160 First World War burials and 28 from the Second World War. There are also 12 non war civilian and service graves.
World War One Identified Casualties:
United Kingdom 157
World War Two Identified Casualties:
Australia 11
United Kingdom 8
South Africa 7
Canada 1
New Zealand 1
Sofia War Cemetery is situated in the Central Sofia Cemetery which is the main city cemetery. It is located approximately 2 kilometres north of the railway station on Parva Bulgarska Armia Street, with the cemetery entrance located opposite Mara Buneva Street. The Commision cemetery is located to the rear right hand side.
Visiting Information
Cemetery opening hours:
Daily from 8am to 8pm during Summer months (1st April to 30th September)
Daily from 8am to 5pm during Winter months (1st October to 31st March)
Historical Information
Sofia War Cemetery contains the graves of Commonwealth servicemen who died as prisoners of war or with the occupying forces following the Bulgarian capitulation in September 1918. The original cemetery contained 62 war burials, most of which were brought in from Dubnitza Cemetery, Radomir Cemetery and Military Cemetery, and Sofia Town Cemetery. Further graves were brought in from Varna Protestant Cemetery in 1955 and from Ruschuk British and Jewish Cemeteries in 1960.
The Second World War burials are mainly those of airmen who died in raids over Bulgaria towards the end of the war. There is also a special memorial to Major W F Thompson, Royal Artillery, a popular war hero in Bulgaria, who died in June 1944 while helping Bulgarian partisans. His grave, at Letakovo, could not be marked or permanently maintained.
Sofia War Cemetery now contains 160 First World War burials and 28 from the Second World War. There are also 12 non war civilian and service graves.
World War One Identified Casualties:
United Kingdom 157
World War Two Identified Casualties:
Australia 11
United Kingdom 8
South Africa 7
Canada 1
New Zealand 1
Picture used with the permission of the CWGC
|
Picture used with the permission of the CWGC
|
Roll of Honour World War One
18466 Private
William Robinson Bailey
6th Dublin Fusiliers
Died of Dysentery 20th March 1916 whilst P.O.W.
Plot I.B. 2.
Lived at 6 Scott Lane end, Chorley, formerly 72 Rumley Road, Burnley, Lancashire.
William Robinson Bailey
6th Dublin Fusiliers
Died of Dysentery 20th March 1916 whilst P.O.W.
Plot I.B. 2.
Lived at 6 Scott Lane end, Chorley, formerly 72 Rumley Road, Burnley, Lancashire.
79703 Private
Frederick Horace Kissack
11th Bn. Welsh Regiment
22nd October 1918, aged 29.
Plot I. E. 8.
Son of Charles and Fannie Kissack, of 3, Murrays Rd., Douglas, Isle of Man.
He was in two regiments, the Liverpool regiment, no. 35151. and then the Welsh regiment, no. 79703. He fought in the Balkans and was killed in Salonika. He died as a Prisoner of War on the 22nd of October 1918. His two brothers (George Alfred, and Ernest) both survived the war. He was awarded the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
Pictures and information courtesy of Andrew Kissack (Great Grandson)
Roll of Honour World War Two
422130 Flight Sergeant
James Russell Burgess
Royal Australian Air Force
29th June 1944, aged 21.
Plot 2. B. 10.
Inscription "Requiem Ae Ternam Dona Eis, Demine"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Raymond Bede Burgess and Mary Magdalene Burgess, of Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia.
Studio portrait of 422130 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) James Russell 'Swifty' Burgess, RAAF bomb aimer, of Rockdale, NSW. Flt Sgt Burgess, a member of 70 Squadron, RAF, was killed whilst on operations over Bulgaria with three other flight crew members on 29 June 1944. His all-Australian crew consisted of 427508 Flt Sgt Raymond Edwin James, rear gunner, of Perth, WA; O16029 (425316) Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Gordon (Geoff) 'Knyvett the Navigator' Knyvett navigator, of Coorparoo Qld; 418752 Flt Sgt Thomas Ronald (Ron) Lowther, wireless operator, of Colac, Vic, and 417355 Flt Sgt Lloyd 'Pontius the Pilot' Fallon, pilot, of Adelaide, SA, and all were transferred to 70 Squadron, RAF. As each came from different Australian states there was much state rivalry between them. They were flying their 22nd mission together and were returning from a successful bombing raid in Romania when a German fighter shot them down. Only one crew member Flt Lt Knyvett survived. Several other crews from the mission were also shot down that night.
James Russell Burgess
Royal Australian Air Force
29th June 1944, aged 21.
Plot 2. B. 10.
Inscription "Requiem Ae Ternam Dona Eis, Demine"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Raymond Bede Burgess and Mary Magdalene Burgess, of Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia.
Studio portrait of 422130 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) James Russell 'Swifty' Burgess, RAAF bomb aimer, of Rockdale, NSW. Flt Sgt Burgess, a member of 70 Squadron, RAF, was killed whilst on operations over Bulgaria with three other flight crew members on 29 June 1944. His all-Australian crew consisted of 427508 Flt Sgt Raymond Edwin James, rear gunner, of Perth, WA; O16029 (425316) Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Gordon (Geoff) 'Knyvett the Navigator' Knyvett navigator, of Coorparoo Qld; 418752 Flt Sgt Thomas Ronald (Ron) Lowther, wireless operator, of Colac, Vic, and 417355 Flt Sgt Lloyd 'Pontius the Pilot' Fallon, pilot, of Adelaide, SA, and all were transferred to 70 Squadron, RAF. As each came from different Australian states there was much state rivalry between them. They were flying their 22nd mission together and were returning from a successful bombing raid in Romania when a German fighter shot them down. Only one crew member Flt Lt Knyvett survived. Several other crews from the mission were also shot down that night.
Group portrait of an all-Australian crew of 70 Squadron, RAF.
Identified, left to right:
427508 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Raymond Edwin James (rear gunner), of Perth, WA; O16029 (425316) Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Gordon (Geoff) 'Knyvett the Navigator' Knyvett, navigator, of Coorparoo, Qld; 418752 Flt Sgt Thomas Ronald (Ron) Lowther, wireless operator, of Colac, Vic; 417355 Flt Sgt Lloyd 'Pontius the Pilot' Fallon, pilot, of Adelaide, SA, and 422130 Flt Sgt James Russell 'Swifty' Burgess, bomb aimer, of Rockdale, NSW. All members of the RAAF, they were assigned to 70 Squadron, RAF. As each came from different Australian states, there was much state rivalry between them. They were flying their 22nd mission together and were returning from a successful bombing raid on 29 June 1944 in Romania when a German fighter shot them down over Bulgaria. Only one crew member Flt Lt Geoff Knyvett survived. Several other crews from the mission were also shot down that night.
Buried in this cemetery
422130 Flight Sergeant James Russell Burgess (Picture and details above)
417355 Flight Sergeant Lloyd Fallon, Royal Australian Air Force, died 29th June 1944, aged 24. Coll. Grave 2. B. 8-11.
Son of Richard Charles and Elizabeth Maud Fallon, of Adelaide, South Australia. Inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered".
427508 Flight Sergeant Raymond Edwin James, Royal Australian Air Force, died 29th June 1944, aged 20. Coll. Grave 2. B. 8-11. Son of Albert Victor and Trypena May James, of Claremont, Western Australia. Inscription " He Gave His Life, His All, For Us".
418752 Flight Sergeant Thomas Ronald Lowther, Royal Australian Air Force, died 29th June 1944, aged 21. Coll. grave 2. B. 8-11. Son of Sydney Fredrick and Catherine Lowther, of Colac West, Victoria, Australia. Inscription "His Duty Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
Identified, left to right:
427508 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Raymond Edwin James (rear gunner), of Perth, WA; O16029 (425316) Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Gordon (Geoff) 'Knyvett the Navigator' Knyvett, navigator, of Coorparoo, Qld; 418752 Flt Sgt Thomas Ronald (Ron) Lowther, wireless operator, of Colac, Vic; 417355 Flt Sgt Lloyd 'Pontius the Pilot' Fallon, pilot, of Adelaide, SA, and 422130 Flt Sgt James Russell 'Swifty' Burgess, bomb aimer, of Rockdale, NSW. All members of the RAAF, they were assigned to 70 Squadron, RAF. As each came from different Australian states, there was much state rivalry between them. They were flying their 22nd mission together and were returning from a successful bombing raid on 29 June 1944 in Romania when a German fighter shot them down over Bulgaria. Only one crew member Flt Lt Geoff Knyvett survived. Several other crews from the mission were also shot down that night.
Buried in this cemetery
422130 Flight Sergeant James Russell Burgess (Picture and details above)
417355 Flight Sergeant Lloyd Fallon, Royal Australian Air Force, died 29th June 1944, aged 24. Coll. Grave 2. B. 8-11.
Son of Richard Charles and Elizabeth Maud Fallon, of Adelaide, South Australia. Inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered".
427508 Flight Sergeant Raymond Edwin James, Royal Australian Air Force, died 29th June 1944, aged 20. Coll. Grave 2. B. 8-11. Son of Albert Victor and Trypena May James, of Claremont, Western Australia. Inscription " He Gave His Life, His All, For Us".
418752 Flight Sergeant Thomas Ronald Lowther, Royal Australian Air Force, died 29th June 1944, aged 21. Coll. grave 2. B. 8-11. Son of Sydney Fredrick and Catherine Lowther, of Colac West, Victoria, Australia. Inscription "His Duty Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
414498 Warrant Officer
Brian Edward Marstin
Royal Australian Air Force
12th June 1944, aged 22.
Coll. Grave 2. C. 8-11.
Inscription "Dearly Loved And Sadly Missed By Loving Mother And Sister Edna. R. I. P."
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Walter Edward and Mary Marstin, of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
Studio portrait of 414498 Aircraftman (later Warrant Officer (WO)) Brian Edward Marstin, RAAF, (later 70 Squadron RAF), of Rockhampton, Qld. WO Marstin was an industrial chemist's assistant prior to enlisting on 11 October 1941. He was the pilot of Wellington bomber LN870, which took off from Tortorella, Italy, on the night of 11-12 June 1944, to attack a target at Karlova, Bulgaria. The bomber crashed in the Bulgarian district of Lom on 12 June 1944 and its crew were killed. WO Marstin was 22 years old at the time of his death.
Brian Edward Marstin
Royal Australian Air Force
12th June 1944, aged 22.
Coll. Grave 2. C. 8-11.
Inscription "Dearly Loved And Sadly Missed By Loving Mother And Sister Edna. R. I. P."
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Walter Edward and Mary Marstin, of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
Studio portrait of 414498 Aircraftman (later Warrant Officer (WO)) Brian Edward Marstin, RAAF, (later 70 Squadron RAF), of Rockhampton, Qld. WO Marstin was an industrial chemist's assistant prior to enlisting on 11 October 1941. He was the pilot of Wellington bomber LN870, which took off from Tortorella, Italy, on the night of 11-12 June 1944, to attack a target at Karlova, Bulgaria. The bomber crashed in the Bulgarian district of Lom on 12 June 1944 and its crew were killed. WO Marstin was 22 years old at the time of his death.
Both pictures used with the permission of the CWGC
|
|
