Royal New Zealand Air Force War Graves in Groningen
Groningen (Esserveld) General Cemetery
Of the 16 wargraves here at Esserveld, two are of Royal New Zealand Air Force airmen.
Of the 16 wargraves here at Esserveld, two are of Royal New Zealand Air Force airmen.
Groningen - Algemene Begraafplaats Esserveld
This page updated on 10 August 2021.
Raymond Gordon Eccles
Plot RW. Row Class 2. Joint grave 3.
P/O R.G. Eccles - 40759
Son of Thomas Eccles and of Rebecca Eccles (nee Wilson), of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
Son of Thomas Eccles and of Rebecca Eccles (nee Wilson), of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.
P/O Raymond Gordon Eccles was captain of Wellington B.Ic, R1494, of 103 Squadron. The machine took off from RAF Newton for a bombing mission to Hannover, Germany. At a certain time, a w/t message from the aircraft was received, statig, that the port engine had failed. It is presumed, the Wellington had been hit by flak over Emden.
The Wellington crashend near Oude Pekela. Four crew members succeeded in leaving the stricken bomber in time and were taken prisoner:
P/O H.J. Sellers, RAF
P/O A.W. Sulston, RAF
Sgt E. C. Easton, RAF
Sgt S. E. T. Hamblin, RAF
Two crew members perished and are buried here in Esserveld General Cemetery:
P/O Raymond Gordon Eccles, RNZAF
Sgt Gordon Maclean, RAF
The Wellington crashend near Oude Pekela. Four crew members succeeded in leaving the stricken bomber in time and were taken prisoner:
P/O H.J. Sellers, RAF
P/O A.W. Sulston, RAF
Sgt E. C. Easton, RAF
Sgt S. E. T. Hamblin, RAF
Two crew members perished and are buried here in Esserveld General Cemetery:
P/O Raymond Gordon Eccles, RNZAF
Sgt Gordon Maclean, RAF
Source:
BCL, Vol.III, 1941, p.58
BCL, Vol.III, 1941, p.58
Sol Glazer
photo available shortly. Plot RP. Row Class 2. Joint grave 26.
Sgt S. Glazer - 40621
Son of Samuel Glazer and of Polly Glazer (nee Nissenbaum), of Wellington City, New Zealand.
Son of Samuel Glazer and of Polly Glazer (nee Nissenbaum), of Wellington City, New Zealand.
Sgt Sol Glazer, RNZAF, was the Observer in the crew of Sgt Alexander Graeme Elder, RAF.
On 13th March, 1941, at 20.00 hrs, Wellington B.Ic, N2746/BU-M, of 214 Squadron took-off from RAF Stradishall for a bombing mission to Hamburg, Germany. At some time in the flight, the Wellington was attacked by a German night fighter. N2746 crashed shortly after 23.00 hrs just to the east of the Hoofdweg, the main road from Vlagtwedde to Ter Apel, near Jipsinghuizen.
All but Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters, the front turret gunner, perished in the crash. The were buried in the Esserveld General Cemetery.
Sgt Alexander Graeme Elder, RAF
Sgt Victor Lawrence Bagley, RAF
Sgt George Cedric Daniel, RAF
Sgt Sol Glazer, RNZAF
Sgt John La Bassee Tomkinson, RAF
On 13th March, 1941, at 20.00 hrs, Wellington B.Ic, N2746/BU-M, of 214 Squadron took-off from RAF Stradishall for a bombing mission to Hamburg, Germany. At some time in the flight, the Wellington was attacked by a German night fighter. N2746 crashed shortly after 23.00 hrs just to the east of the Hoofdweg, the main road from Vlagtwedde to Ter Apel, near Jipsinghuizen.
All but Sgt Douglas Wilmott Waters, the front turret gunner, perished in the crash. The were buried in the Esserveld General Cemetery.
Sgt Alexander Graeme Elder, RAF
Sgt Victor Lawrence Bagley, RAF
Sgt George Cedric Daniel, RAF
Sgt Sol Glazer, RNZAF
Sgt John La Bassee Tomkinson, RAF
Note:
It is thought, that when on their the way to the target, and, flying over the Province of Groningen, they were intercepted around 23.00 hrs by a German night fighter, piloted by Oberfeldwebel Paul Gildner. Gildner had been successful only twenty minutes prior when he shot down Blenheim IV, T2278 of 110 squadron (with crew F/L John Dickinson, DFC, Sgt Charles William Fry and Sgt Robert Mower). This Blenheim crashed west of the City of Groningen, near the Auvemalaan, Tolbert.
According to 'Luftwaffe Night Fighter Combat Claims 1939 - 1945' (p.17), both Leutnant Reinhold Knacke (of 2./NJG 1) and Gildner (of 4./NJG 1) claimed a Wellington around this time: Knacke at 22.50 hrs and Gildner at 23.10 hrs.
It is thought, that when on their the way to the target, and, flying over the Province of Groningen, they were intercepted around 23.00 hrs by a German night fighter, piloted by Oberfeldwebel Paul Gildner. Gildner had been successful only twenty minutes prior when he shot down Blenheim IV, T2278 of 110 squadron (with crew F/L John Dickinson, DFC, Sgt Charles William Fry and Sgt Robert Mower). This Blenheim crashed west of the City of Groningen, near the Auvemalaan, Tolbert.
According to 'Luftwaffe Night Fighter Combat Claims 1939 - 1945' (p.17), both Leutnant Reinhold Knacke (of 2./NJG 1) and Gildner (of 4./NJG 1) claimed a Wellington around this time: Knacke at 22.50 hrs and Gildner at 23.10 hrs.
Source:
BCL, Vol.III, 1941, p.31
BCL, Vol.III, 1941, p.31