LEUVEN COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Vlaams-Brabant
Belgium
GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.86957 Longitude: 4.7137
Location Information
Leuven Communal Cemetery is located in the town of Leuven itself which is 30 km east of Brussels on the N2 Brusselsesteenweg.
From Leuven railway station turn left onto the Tiensevest (R 23). Follow the Tiensevest through the junction 'Tiensepoort' along the Geldennaaksevest to the Parkpoort. At the Parkpoort junction turn left and left again doubling back onto the N 23 and 50 M later take the first turning on the right into Nieuwe Kerkhofdreef. Follow this road 200 M to a small carpark at the entrance to Leuven Communal Cemetery. The Commission plot is located at the far left hand side of the cemetery 400 M from the gate.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair Access to the cemetery is possible via the main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on 01628 507200.
Cemetery opening hours : from Monday to Friday, from 08.00 hrs to 15.45 hrs - Saturdays and Sundays, from 08.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs
Historical Information
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.
Leuven Communal Cemetery contains a group of 21 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, two of them unidentified. Adjoining these graves are five burials of the First World War.
Total Burials: 26.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 5. Total 5.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 15, Canada 2, New Zealand 1, Australia 1. Total 19.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 2.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
Leuven Communal Cemetery is located in the town of Leuven itself which is 30 km east of Brussels on the N2 Brusselsesteenweg.
From Leuven railway station turn left onto the Tiensevest (R 23). Follow the Tiensevest through the junction 'Tiensepoort' along the Geldennaaksevest to the Parkpoort. At the Parkpoort junction turn left and left again doubling back onto the N 23 and 50 M later take the first turning on the right into Nieuwe Kerkhofdreef. Follow this road 200 M to a small carpark at the entrance to Leuven Communal Cemetery. The Commission plot is located at the far left hand side of the cemetery 400 M from the gate.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair Access to the cemetery is possible via the main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on 01628 507200.
Cemetery opening hours : from Monday to Friday, from 08.00 hrs to 15.45 hrs - Saturdays and Sundays, from 08.00 hrs to 17.00 hrs
Historical Information
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.
Leuven Communal Cemetery contains a group of 21 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, two of them unidentified. Adjoining these graves are five burials of the First World War.
Total Burials: 26.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 5. Total 5.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: United Kingdom 15, Canada 2, New Zealand 1, Australia 1. Total 19.
World War Two Unidentified Casualties: 2.
Pictures © Werner Van Caneghem
World War One Burials
Click on Individual Headstone for Details
World War Two Burials
Click on Individual Headstone for Details
R/152808 Warrant Officer
Gavin John Cronk
Air Bomber in 15 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
12th May 1944, aged 29.
Row B. 2.
Son of John and Amy Cronk; husband of Annette H. Cronk, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Sleeps A Peaceful Sleep, His Memory We Will Always Keep. Wife Annette & Family"
Gavin John Cronk
Air Bomber in 15 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
12th May 1944, aged 29.
Row B. 2.
Son of John and Amy Cronk; husband of Annette H. Cronk, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Sleeps A Peaceful Sleep, His Memory We Will Always Keep. Wife Annette & Family"
41729 Pilot Officer
Alan Christie Ollerenshaw
13 Squadron, Royal Air Force
15th May 1940, aged 19.
Row A. 6.
Son of Reginald Allen Ollerenshaw and Sarah Jane Ollerenshaw, of Auckland City, New Zealand.
Alan Christie Ollerenshaw
13 Squadron, Royal Air Force
15th May 1940, aged 19.
Row A. 6.
Son of Reginald Allen Ollerenshaw and Sarah Jane Ollerenshaw, of Auckland City, New Zealand.
426245 Flight Sergeant
Reginald Kenneth Watson
Royal Australian Air Force
12th May 1944, aged 26.
Son of William John and Ada Emily Watson; husband of Constance de Mestre Watson, of Bowen Hills, Queensland, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Live Given For The Finest Cause, The Liberation Of Mankind"
Studio portrait of 426245 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Reginald Kenneth Watson, RAAF, of Tambo, Qld, a navigator who served with 15 Squadron, RAF. Flt Sgt Watson was killed iwhilst on operations on 12 May 1944 in Belgium, aged 26 years.
Reginald Kenneth Watson
Royal Australian Air Force
12th May 1944, aged 26.
Son of William John and Ada Emily Watson; husband of Constance de Mestre Watson, of Bowen Hills, Queensland, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Live Given For The Finest Cause, The Liberation Of Mankind"
Studio portrait of 426245 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Reginald Kenneth Watson, RAAF, of Tambo, Qld, a navigator who served with 15 Squadron, RAF. Flt Sgt Watson was killed iwhilst on operations on 12 May 1944 in Belgium, aged 26 years.
R/250965 Sergeant
John Whittaker
Air Gunner in 15 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
12th May 1944, aged 20.
Row B. 5.
Son of Harry and Hilda Mary Whittaker, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Always Remembered"
John Whittaker
Air Gunner in 15 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
12th May 1944, aged 20.
Row B. 5.
Son of Harry and Hilda Mary Whittaker, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Always Remembered"
