VEVEY (ST. MARTIN'S) CEMETERY
Lake Geneva
Switzerland
Location Information
Vevey is a town on the northern shore of Lake Geneva (also known as Lake Leman), close to the eastern end of the lake. The cemetery is located above the main railway station. From the station follow the Chemin de l'Esperance. The main entrance to the cemetery is in the Chemin du Point du Jour. The Commonwealth war graves plot forms part of Plot 53, which is roughly in the centre of the cemetery.
Historical Information
In the year 1916, agreements were made between the Swiss Government and the French, British and German Governments under which a certain number of wounded prisoners of war were interned in Switzerland. The first British prisoners arrived on Swiss soil at the end of May, 1916; and the average number under treatment during the remainder of the war was 2,000. Of these, 61 died before repatriation; and, including other casualties, 88 British and Dominion sailors, soldiers and airmen, fallen in the Great War, are buried in Swiss soil.
The 1914-18 War graves were concentrated in from the following sites; at Arosa, at Berne, at Chateaud'oex, at Chur, at Clarens, at Constance, at Couvet, at Fribourg, at Interlaken, at Laufenburg, at Lausanne, at Lauterbrunnen, at Leysin and at Sierre.
During the 1939-45 War, Switzerland was again neutral and accorded asylum to refugees of various types; soldiers who had crossed the frontiers during operations; prisoners of war escaping German and Italian prison camps,; civilians escaping from concentration camps or fleeing from feared imprisonment; and frontier fugitives of the last stages of the war. Despite repatriation measures the number of refugees increased steadily, and from 16,000 in 1942 they rose to 110,000 by May 1945. The commonwealth graves of this period are therefore of either escaped prisoners of war or airmen who crashed in or near Switzerland.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 67, Canada 10, India 5, New Zealand 3, Australia 2, South Africa 1. Total 88.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 32, Australia 8, India 3, Canada 2, New Zealand 1. Total 48.
Vevey is a town on the northern shore of Lake Geneva (also known as Lake Leman), close to the eastern end of the lake. The cemetery is located above the main railway station. From the station follow the Chemin de l'Esperance. The main entrance to the cemetery is in the Chemin du Point du Jour. The Commonwealth war graves plot forms part of Plot 53, which is roughly in the centre of the cemetery.
Historical Information
In the year 1916, agreements were made between the Swiss Government and the French, British and German Governments under which a certain number of wounded prisoners of war were interned in Switzerland. The first British prisoners arrived on Swiss soil at the end of May, 1916; and the average number under treatment during the remainder of the war was 2,000. Of these, 61 died before repatriation; and, including other casualties, 88 British and Dominion sailors, soldiers and airmen, fallen in the Great War, are buried in Swiss soil.
The 1914-18 War graves were concentrated in from the following sites; at Arosa, at Berne, at Chateaud'oex, at Chur, at Clarens, at Constance, at Couvet, at Fribourg, at Interlaken, at Laufenburg, at Lausanne, at Lauterbrunnen, at Leysin and at Sierre.
During the 1939-45 War, Switzerland was again neutral and accorded asylum to refugees of various types; soldiers who had crossed the frontiers during operations; prisoners of war escaping German and Italian prison camps,; civilians escaping from concentration camps or fleeing from feared imprisonment; and frontier fugitives of the last stages of the war. Despite repatriation measures the number of refugees increased steadily, and from 16,000 in 1942 they rose to 110,000 by May 1945. The commonwealth graves of this period are therefore of either escaped prisoners of war or airmen who crashed in or near Switzerland.
World War One Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 67, Canada 10, India 5, New Zealand 3, Australia 2, South Africa 1. Total 88.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 32, Australia 8, India 3, Canada 2, New Zealand 1. Total 48.
World War One Roll of Honour
106065 Lance Corporal
William Atkinson 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion 24th October 1918. Grave 33. Click on press clippings on the right for more information. |
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1339 Lance Corporal
Charles Frederick Bromfield
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
7th November 1918, aged 24.
Grave 38.
Inscription "Unexpected! Be Thou Ready Thy Earthly House May Soon Be Dissolved"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Charles Morrison Bromfield and Pauline Bromfield, of 17, Eagle Alley, Little Lonsdale St., Melbourne, Australia.
Studio portrait of 1339 Acting Corporal (A/Cpl) Charles Frederick Bromfield, 14th Battalion. A farm labourer from Chiltern, Victoria prior to enlistment, A/Cpl Bromfield had originally embarked for overseas service with the rank of Private with the 1st Reinforcements but had become ill in Egypt and returned to Australia. Following his recovery, he re-embarked with the 15th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Anchises on 14 March 1916. Later reverting to the rank of Lance Corporal, he was wounded and reported as missing in action. It was later established that he had been captured and was being held as a prisoner of war in Germany. Later suffering from double pneumonia, he was transferred to Interlaken, Switzerland where, on 7 November 1918, aged 24, he succumbed to his illness and was buried in St Martins Cemetery, Interlaken. His brother 763 Pte Percy Morrison Bromfield also served in the AIF.
Charles Frederick Bromfield
14th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
7th November 1918, aged 24.
Grave 38.
Inscription "Unexpected! Be Thou Ready Thy Earthly House May Soon Be Dissolved"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Charles Morrison Bromfield and Pauline Bromfield, of 17, Eagle Alley, Little Lonsdale St., Melbourne, Australia.
Studio portrait of 1339 Acting Corporal (A/Cpl) Charles Frederick Bromfield, 14th Battalion. A farm labourer from Chiltern, Victoria prior to enlistment, A/Cpl Bromfield had originally embarked for overseas service with the rank of Private with the 1st Reinforcements but had become ill in Egypt and returned to Australia. Following his recovery, he re-embarked with the 15th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Anchises on 14 March 1916. Later reverting to the rank of Lance Corporal, he was wounded and reported as missing in action. It was later established that he had been captured and was being held as a prisoner of war in Germany. Later suffering from double pneumonia, he was transferred to Interlaken, Switzerland where, on 7 November 1918, aged 24, he succumbed to his illness and was buried in St Martins Cemetery, Interlaken. His brother 763 Pte Percy Morrison Bromfield also served in the AIF.
2242 Corporal
George Goudie
1st Bn. Royal Newfoundland Regiment
6th November 1918, aged 19.
Grave 36.
Inscription "The Battle's Fought The Race Is Won And Thou Art Crowned At Last"
Son of Elias and Mary Jane Goudie, of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. Born at Northern Arm, Botwood, Newfoundland.
George Goudie
1st Bn. Royal Newfoundland Regiment
6th November 1918, aged 19.
Grave 36.
Inscription "The Battle's Fought The Race Is Won And Thou Art Crowned At Last"
Son of Elias and Mary Jane Goudie, of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. Born at Northern Arm, Botwood, Newfoundland.
5102 Private
Albert Greenwood
46th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th November 1918.
Grave 35.
Click on image to enlarge
Studio portrait of 5102 Private (Pte) Albert Greenwood, 14th Battalion. An axeman from Lyonville, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Greenwood embarked with the 16th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Anchises on 14 March 1916. Later transferring to the 46th Battalion he was reported as missing in action. It was subsequently confirmed that he had been wounded in action at Bullecourt and had been captured and was being held as a prisoner of war at Dulmen, Germany. During captivity he developed grippe and double pneumonia and on 4 November 1918, aged 28, he succumbed to his illnesses and was buried in the St Martins Cemetery, Switzerland.
Albert Greenwood
46th Bn. Australian Infantry, A. I. F.
4th November 1918.
Grave 35.
Click on image to enlarge
Studio portrait of 5102 Private (Pte) Albert Greenwood, 14th Battalion. An axeman from Lyonville, Victoria prior to enlistment, Pte Greenwood embarked with the 16th Reinforcements from Melbourne on HMAT Anchises on 14 March 1916. Later transferring to the 46th Battalion he was reported as missing in action. It was subsequently confirmed that he had been wounded in action at Bullecourt and had been captured and was being held as a prisoner of war at Dulmen, Germany. During captivity he developed grippe and double pneumonia and on 4 November 1918, aged 28, he succumbed to his illnesses and was buried in the St Martins Cemetery, Switzerland.
27543 Private
Frederick Smith
15th Bn. Canadian Infantry
22nd July 1918, aged 30.
Grave 41.
Inscription "He Is Not Dead Just Gone Before"
Son of Mrs. Kate J. Smith, of Eugenia, Ontario, Canada.
Frederick Smith
15th Bn. Canadian Infantry
22nd July 1918, aged 30.
Grave 41.
Inscription "He Is Not Dead Just Gone Before"
Son of Mrs. Kate J. Smith, of Eugenia, Ontario, Canada.
The Vevey (St Martin's) Cemetery in Switzerland where a number of Commonwealth soldiers, who died in captivity, lie buried. Under an agreement made in 1916 between the Swiss Government and the French, British and German Governments, a number of wounded prisoners of war (POWs) were interned in Switzerland, some of whom died before repatriation. The graves in the front row, identified left to right: 106065 Corporal (Cpl) William Atkinson, 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, born 28 February 1888 and died 24 October 1918; 28816 Private (Pte) Alfred Stanaway, Auckland Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF), born 8 March 1883 and died 3 November 1918; 5102 Pte Albert Greenwood, 46th Battalion, wounded and taken prisoner at Bullecourt on 11 April 1917, transferred to Switzerland and died of sickness, aged 28, on 4 November 1918; 2242 Cpl George Goudie, 1st Battalion, Royal Newfoundland Regiment, born 21 July 1897 in Botwood, Newfoundland, and died 6 November 1918; 8587 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) William G Scott, 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, born 6 October 1887 and died 2 November 1918; 1339 L Cpl Charles Frederick Bromfield, 14th Battalion, wounded and taken prisoner at Bullecourt, transferred to Switzerland and died, aged 21, on 7 November 1918. Note that a number of these men died just a few days before the signing of the armistice on 11 November 1918.
141568 Private
John Terrio
4th Bn. Canadian Infantry, formerly 76th Bn.
5th July 1918, aged 30.
Grave 53.
Son of Simon and Julia Terrio, of 41, Burlington St. West, Hamilton, Ontario.
John Terrio
4th Bn. Canadian Infantry, formerly 76th Bn.
5th July 1918, aged 30.
Grave 53.
Son of Simon and Julia Terrio, of 41, Burlington St. West, Hamilton, Ontario.
27414 Private
James Wishart 15th Bn. Canadian Infantry 18th February 1917. Grave 3. |
Click on image to enlarge
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Outdoor ceremony for repatriated Prisoners of War (POW) at Montreux, Vevey, Switzerland. Standing at the table, Lieutenant General Sir John Hanbury-Williams KCB KCVO CVO CMG, Officer in Charge of the British Prisoner of War Department, addresses the POWs as a large crowd of civilians looks on. Identified (by arrow) immediately to the left of the General (in the crowd) is Mr Cohen.
World War Two Roll of Honour
155766 Pilot Officer Horace Badge Pilot in 207 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 12th July 1943, aged 20. Grave 89. Inscription "We Have Loved Him In Life Let Us Not Forget Him In Death" Son of Ernest and Florence Annie Badge, of Camelford, Cornwall. |
Picture © Robert Savary
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414737 Flying Officer
Harold Raymond St. George
Royal Australian Air Force
12th July 1943, aged 22.
Grave 99.
Inscription "Greather Love Hath No Man Than This"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Roy and Clara Catherine St. George, of Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia.
Informal portrait of 414737 Flying Officer (FO) Harold Raymond (Sam) St George, of Brisbane, Qld. FO St George, 467 Squadron, RAAF, enlisted in Brisbane, Qld, on 8 November 1941 and was killed whilst on operations over Switzerland on 12 July 1943.
Harold Raymond St. George
Royal Australian Air Force
12th July 1943, aged 22.
Grave 99.
Inscription "Greather Love Hath No Man Than This"
Click on image to enlarge
Son of Roy and Clara Catherine St. George, of Indooroopilly, Queensland, Australia.
Informal portrait of 414737 Flying Officer (FO) Harold Raymond (Sam) St George, of Brisbane, Qld. FO St George, 467 Squadron, RAAF, enlisted in Brisbane, Qld, on 8 November 1941 and was killed whilst on operations over Switzerland on 12 July 1943.
