Does anyone know where the men who are listed on the memorial at dunkirk town cemetery are buried?

Question

Recently went there and found my grandad listed but no information on where the bodies are laid. I looked at all the graves but couldn't find him. Literature kept there didn't give me any help either. If anyone knows where I can find this out I would be most grateful. thx mandy

Answer 1

Have you tried searching the website of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission? This has details of every Commonwealth soldier who during WW1 and WW2. The general site is here http://www.cwgc.org where you can search for individual soldiers. Details on Dunkirk the memorials and cemeteries is here http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_Resu...

If you are stuck give me the details and I can help, or you can try contacting the CWGC as they are normally very helpful.

The other possibility could be that your grandad has no known grave, and is therefore only listed on the memorial.

Answer 2

Redorchestra is basically right. Remember that after the fighting much of Dunkirk was in ruins, some of it blazing. Many of the soldiers who fought in the rearguard action never had formal burial; they stayed where they fell, and were buried under the rubble. How many recognisable remains were retrieved and given funerals afterwards I do not know - but I do know that most of the fallen were listed as missing in action rather than known to be dead, for this reason.

My thanks to your grandad for his sacrifice. We are all in his debt.

Answer 3

Try the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

http://www.cwgc.org/