A distinct tradition

An analysis of interments on the Oosterbeek War cemetery 

From the dates of the burials of the ashes of veterans and the overview compiled from this, it appears there is a system followed, since the late 1980s for the burial of the ashes of these veterans behind the tombstones of the fallen soldiers buried at the Airborne cemetery in Oosterbeek. After the lawns to the left and right of the entrance to the cemetery could no longer be used, a start was made in 1988 or 1989 to continue the burials behind the headstone of plot 27.C.01. Behind the grave of Private Robert Boott, 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, who died on September 18, 1944, the ashes of a veteran named Holt are buried. After this the entire row C, first 27.C (1 to 10), then 21.C (1 to 20), 23.C (1 to 20) and 25.C was used. Plot 25.C.1 to 25.C.15 is a special part of the cemetery, about which more will follow later.

When row C, the leftmost row of tombs, seen from the entrance of the cemetery, was used in its entirety, a new start was made. This time row B, starting at 27.B.01. Then the entire row B was used to inter the ashes of veterans. In 2019 they have now arrived at row 27.C.
The system that is followed for the interment of the ashes of veterans can be deduced from the dates and plots collected, whereby the dates on which the interment took place are chronologically listed. If it is assumed that subsequent graves are consistently used, the following overview can be compiled:

# - Plot Name - Unit (Date of Death) -  (Date of Interment)
  1. 27.C.01 Holt
  2. 27.C.02 Batten
  3. 27.C.03 Dellar, N.F. - 2nd Parachute Battalion (06-12-1988) - (15-09-1989)
  4. 27.C.04 Maguire, J. - 1st (Airborne) Battalion, The Border Regiment (23-01-1989) - (14-09-1989)
  5. 27.C.05 Jesset
  6. 27.C.06 Fisher, S.E.  - 2nd Parachute Battalion (29-01-1990) - (00-09-1990)
  7. 27.C.07 Hellodone
  8. 27.C.08 Attenburg
  9. 27.C.09 Birg, van den
10. 27.C.10 Warnes, W. - 156 Parachute Battalion (20-10-1992) - (00-00-1993)
11. 21.C.01 Young
12. 21.C.02 Phillips
13. 21.C.03 Hancock
14. 21.C.04 Butler
15. 21 C.05 Hodgson, G.
16. 21.C.06 Spivey
17. 21.C.07 MacDonald (28-09-1994) - (00-00-0000)
18. 21.C.08 Lance
19. 21.C.09 Eacott
20. 21.C.10 Dunn-Butler
21. 21.C.11 Walker
22. 21.C.12 Horsefield
23. 21.C.13 Chalkley, B. - 2nd Parachute Battalion
24. 21.C.14 Gatland, G. - 11th Parachute Battalion (04-04-1998) - (18-09-1998)
25. 21.C.15 Back, H. E. - 2nd Parachute Battalion (22-09-1997) - (18-09-1998)
26. 21.C.16 Edwards
27. 21.C.17 Scully
28. 21.C.18 Banwell, K.D.  - 10th Parachute Battalion (25-07-1999) - (17-09-1999)
29. 21.C.19 Freeman (prev. Ward), A.E. - 10th Parachute Battalion (05-09-1999) - (17-09-1999)
30. 21.C.20 Ennis, H.C.  - 1st (Airborne) Battalion, The Border Regiment (29-06-1999) - (17-09-1999)

The lines indicated with a ‘#’ in this overview are then the missing names. Based on the system it is assumed that this plot was used for the interment of the ashes of a veteran, but the name of the veteran interred is not known (yet). A total of about 36 names appear to be missing from the overview compiled so far and published on the website.

 Plot Name Unit Date of death Date of Interment
31. 23.C.01 Underwood, K.L. (17-09-1999)
32. 23.C.02 Stewart
33. 23.C.03 Beveridge
34. 23.C.04 Hobbs, D.W. - 21st Independent Parachute Company (13-06-2000) - (15-09-2000)
35. 23.C.05 Owen, T.H. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (01-07-2000) - (18-09-2000)
36. 23.C.06 Tapp
37. 23.C.07 Jackson
38. 23.C.08 Poole
39. 23.C.09 Mardsen
40. 23.C.10 Owen
41. 23.C.11 Sykes, H. - 10th Parachute Battalion (00-00-2001) -  (21-09-2001)
42. 23.C.12 Avery, W.F.C. - 2nd Parachute Battalion (22-06-2001) - (21-09-2001)
43. 23.C.13 Lewis, W. - 1st (Airborne) Battalion, The Border Regiment (00-00-2000) - (00-00-2001)
44. 23.C.14 McCready, J. - 1st Parachute Battalion (07-02-2002) - (00-00-0000)
45. 23.C.15 #
46. 23.C.16 #
47. 23.C.17 #
48. 23.C.18 #
49. 23.C.19 Curtis, George V.
50. 23.C.20 #
51. 25.C.01 Barrett, F.W. - Royal Army Service Corps, 250 Company (13-04-2002) -  (20-09-2002)
52. 25.C.02 Morris, D.B. - 11th Parachute Battalion (00-00-0000) - (20-09-2002)**
53. 25.C.03 #
54. 25.C.04 #
55. 25.C.05 #
56. 25.C.06 #
57. 25.C.07 #
58. 25.C.08 #
59. 25.C.09 #
60. 25.C.10 #
61. 25.C.11 #
62. 25.C.12 #
63. 25.C.13 #
64. 25.C.14 #
65. 25.C.15 #

It has already been noted that plot 25.C.1 to 25.C.15 is a complex part of the cemetery. Not all of these graves were already present between September 2002 (the day on which the Morris was interred behind grave 25.C.2) and September 2003 (the interment of Bourne behind 27.B.2). Using the data made public by the CWGC on their website, an analysis was made as to whether it was possible or would have made sense to use these plots for the interment of the ashes of veterans. If a grave was "vacant" or empty, it does not seem logical that ashes were interred behind these plots. These locations are marked in the overview with a question-mark (?) and are therefore not included in the count of 36. For the other six graves from this part of the cemetery, it may be possible that an interment took place. However, no indications have been found (yet) for this. It can be established with certainty that burials of the ashes of veterans took place behind the tombstones of plots 25.C.1 (Barrett) and 25.C.2 (planned plot for Morris).

** On September 20, 2002, the burial ceremony of D.B. Morris and Driver F.W. Barrett was planned. Until three days prior to the interment, there was still contact with Dave Morris's family and the ceremony was discussed with Mr. Gerrit Pijpers. At the start of the ceremony, only Driver Barrett's family was present. The people present waited a while, but after 10 minutes the ceremony started. David Benjamin Morris was eventually not interred that day. Upon inquiry, it appears that there has been major disagreement within Dave Morris's family. Part of the family felt that Dave's wish (interment in the Airborne cemetery) should be fulfilled and another part felt that he should be buried in England. The latter family members had the urn and buried it somewhere in England. In short, the ashes of Dave Morris are NOT buried in the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.

# Plot Name - Unit (Date of death) - (Date of Interment)
66. 27.B.01 Henretty, J.
67. 27.B.02 Bourne, D.A. - 2nd Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment (19-09-2003)
68. 27.B.03 Jones, E.
69. 27.B.04 Penfold, K.
70. 27.B.05 Dodd, G.R. (00-09-2004)
71. 27.B.06 Smith, A.A. - 1st Airborne Division (00-12-2003) - (18-09-2004)
72. 27.B.07 Parkingson, J.E. - 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Artillery (00-09-2004)
73. 27.B.08 O'Callaghan, E.C. - 9th (Airborne) Field Company RE (00-09-2004)
74. 27.B.09 Smart, John
75. 27.B.10 Laing, Robert ‘Bob’ -  16th Para Field Ambulance, RAMC, att. to 1st Parachute Battalion 
76. 21.B.01 Goodwin, A. - 1st Parachute Battalion (11-10-2001) - (16-08-2005)
77. 21.B.02 Shaw, E.E. - 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery (21-07-2005) - (16-09-2005)
78. 21.B.03 Black, R.J. - 1st (Airborne) Battalion, The Border Regiment (07-11-2005) - (25-04-2006)
79. 21.B.04 Ashington, G. - 2nd Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment (00-00-0000) - (00-00-2011(?))
80. 21.B.05 Hardman, D.A. - 3rd Parachute Battalion (15-09-2006)
81. 21.B.06 Deacon, R.W. - 10th Parachute Battalion (27-09-2005) - (15-09-2006)
82. 21.B.07 Cox, G.A.A. - 799 Air Dispatch Company, RASC (21-09-2007)
83. 21.B.08 Ranner, C.
84. 21.B.09 Brindley, E.F. - 7th Light Infantry Parachute Battalion (04-09-1924) - (01-07-2007) - (00-00-0000)
85. 21.B.10 #
86. 21.B.11 Collopy, F.J. - 133 Parachute Field Ambulance (01-11-2007) - (18-09-2008)
87. 21.B.12 Bruce, H.C.E. - 21st Independent Parachute Company (12-09-2007) - (19-09-2008)
88. 21.B.13 Askew, D.G. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (18-05-2008) - (19-09-2008)
89. 21.B.14 Affolter, L.M. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (28-04-2008) - (19-09-2008)
90. 21.B.15 Fulton, W.F. - 2nd Parachute Battalion (15-01-2008) - (19-09-2008)
91. 21.B.16 #
92. 21.B.17 Bailey, C.C. - 156 Parachute Battalion (20-08-1999) - (18-09-2009)
93. 21.B.18 Barclay, W. - 21st Independent Parachute Company (11-12-2009) - (17-09-2010)
94. 21.B.19 White, R.S. - ?
95. 21.B.20 White, K.G. - 1st Airlanding Light Regiment Royal Artillery (10-10-2009) - (17-09-2010)
96. 23.B.01 Banks, V. - 1st (Airborne) Battalion, The Border Regiment (07-11-2010) - (17-03-2011)
97. 23.B.02 Blain, A. - 1st Parachute Battalion (08-01-2011) - (00-00-2016(?))
98. 23.B.03 #
99. 23.B.04 #
100. 23.B.05 McClory, O.D. - 11th Parachute Battalion (00-00-2013) - (19-09-2013)

Other remarkable things are:

• On 17 September 2020 the ashes of Lt Kenneth Grayston White were interred behind plot 21.B.20. At this day possibibly another veteran was interred. On pictures by Judith Minkman a place behind 21.B.18 is prepared by gardeners of the CWGC to inter ashes of another veteran. It is not clear yet who this veteran was.
• Dellar (September 15, 1989) is interred behind plot 27.C.2 and Maguire (September 14, 1989, one day earlier) behind plot 27.C.3?
•  In the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, some 7-10 veterans per year appear to have been interred, while in the early 1990s "only" 2 to 3 a year. In recent years there were 3 to 4 interments a year. If 7-10 veterans are interred per year, shouldn't there be a little more proof to be found in social media or news sources?
• Zygadłowski does not seem to have been placed in a logical place in 2013. Based on the date, 23.B.4 or 23.B.5 could be expected, not 23.B.20. The grave 23.B.20 belongs to an unidentified soldier. There seems to be no question of a premeditated plan to put Zygadłowski behind the grave of a fellow countryman.

Plot Name - Unit (Date of death) -  (Date of Interment)
101. 23.B.06 Booth, P. - 1st (Airborne) Battalion, The Border Regiment (13-02-2013) - (20-09-2013)
102. 23.B.07 Hann, S. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (09-09-2012) - (19-09-2014)
103. 23.B.08 Blackmore, S.G.S. - 2nd Parachute Battalion  (06-11-2014) - (18-09-2015)
104. 23.B.09 Bruce, J. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (01-09-2014) - (18-09-2015)
105. 23.B.10 Shaw, D. - 1st Airlanding Light Regiment Royal Artillery (20-10-2016)
106. 23.B.11 #
107. 23.B.12 #
108. 23.B.13 #
109. 23.B.14 #
110. 23.B.15 #
111. 23.B.16 #
112. 23.B.17 #
113. 23.B.18 #
114. 23.B.19 #
115. 23.B.20 Zygadłowski, Z. - 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade (08-02-2013) -  (19-09-2013)
116. 27.A.02 Faithorn, P.J. - 21st Independent Parachute Company (19-11-2018) - (21-09-2019)
117. 27.A.03 Morgan, S.G. - 2nd Parachute Battalion (20-03-2019) - (20-09-2019)
118. 27.A.04 Collier, D. - 156 Parachute Battalion (12-12-2018) - (20-09-2019)
119. 04.B.09 Clarke, W. 6th Airborne Glider (?) likely Monmouthshire Regiment (00-00-1978)
120. 09.B.16 Chandler, W. (00-00-1983)
121. 33.A.26 Zimnowłodzki, F. - 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade (00-00-2001) 
122. 06.C.03 Walsh, W.L. - 1st Parachute Battalion (00-02-2004) - (17-09-2004)
123. 05.D.08 Read, L.A. - 10th Parachute Battalion (17-01-2010) - (19-03-2010)
124. 05.A.04 ? Eastwood, H.D. - 21st Independent Parachute Company (29-10-2010) - (16-09-2011)
125. 05.A.04 ? Scott (Salomon), L.G.M - 21st Independent Parachute Company (31-08-2010) - (16-09-2011)
126. 06.A.13 Durant, G.E. - 1st Airlanding Light Regiment, Signals Party (11-09-2010) - (16-09-2011) 
127. 15.A.08 Roberts, J.R. - 1st Airborne Division Workshops, REME (20-06-2014) - (28-11-2014)
128. 18.C.09 Padfield, H. - 1st Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers (13-12-2014) - (18-09-2015)
129. 05.A.04 Morgan, L. - 21st Independent Parachute Company (20-04-2015) - (12-09-2016)
130. 03.D.15 Hall, J.M. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (15-12-2017) - (21-09-2018)
131. Ginkelse Heide: Bloys, W.J. - 2nd Parachute Battalion (28-02-2014) - (00-09-2014)
132. Grass N-E cemetery: Holt, D. - 7th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers (00-00-1987) - (18-09-1987)
133. Oranjeweg: Baker, E.D. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (27-06-2001) - (00-09-2001)
134. Ginkelse Heide: Houghton, H.R. - 10th Parachute Battalion (03-03-2011) - (18-09-2011)
135. LZ: Venus, E. (00-00-2011)
136. White house: Bonner, I.K. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (28-11-2018) - (08-09-2019)
137. White house: Page, D. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (15-05-2018) - (01-09-2018)
138. ? Gillivray (00-00-1977) 
139. ? Veteran 1 (00-00-1977) 
140. ? Veteran 3 (00-00-1981) 
141. ? Corrie, M.T. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (01-03-1982) - (00-00-1982)
142. ? Roberts, J. (00-00-1982) 
143. ? Robinson, H. (00-00-1982) 
144. ? Warr, P.E. - 10th Parachute Battalion (19-01-1982) - (00-00-1982) 
145. ? Curry, R.C. (00-00-1983)
146. ? Steel (00-00-1984) 
147. ? Swift, L.W. (00-00-1984) 
148. ? Bolden, E.C. (23-03-1986) -  (00-00-1986) 
149. ? Hannaway, J.M.P. (01-09-1986) - (00-00-1986) 
150. ? Richards, A. (00-00-1987)
151. ? Veteran 2 (Garfield) (18-09-1977)
152. ? Stewart, James (Jim) - 21st Independent Parachute Company (04-10-1978) (18-10-1978) 
153. ? Price, G. (19-09-1986) 
154. ? Midgeley, A.H. - The Glider Pilot Regiment (28-11-2008) - (18-09-2009)
155. ? Kendall, Albert Edward - 1st Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery (00-00-1997) - (00-00-0000)
156. ? Allan, David McDonald - The Glider Pilot Regiment (17-02-1994) - (17-09-1994)
157. 27.A.08 Richards, Eric - 4th Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers (0000) - (21-07-2020) - (16-09-2022)
158. 27.A.09 Jeffries, John (Jeff) Patrick -  Royal Corps of Signals (22-03-1922) - (30-08-2020) - (16-09-2022)
159. 27.A.10 Fuller, Les - 3rd Battalion, (00-00-0000) - (08-04-2021) - (16-09-2022)
160. Kay, George Edward - 3rd Parachute Battalion (08-05-1920) - (23-08-2011) - (00-00-0000)
161. Ginkelse Heide: Jones, James (Jimmy) H.L. - 10th Parachute Batt. (0000) - (00-05-1994) - (18-09-1994)
162. Read, Ernest (Ernie) - 156 Parachute Battalion (00-00-0000) - (00-03-1985) - (21-09-1985)
163. Moore, Frederick Victor - 1st Parachute Battalion (00-00-0000) - (00-00-0000) - (00-00-0000)
164. 21.A.01 Bosley, John Jarvis - 11th Parachute Battalion (06-02-1925) - (03-10-2022) - (15-09-2023) 
165. Kelly, Donald - 1st Airborne Division Signals (00-00-1922) - (06-09-1974) - (20-09-1974)
166. Veteran 4 (00-00-0000) - (00-00-1974) - (00-09-1975)
167. ? Bentley, Thomas C. - 10th Parachute Battalion (17-05-1920) - (00-00-1982) - (00-09-1982)
168. 23.A.7 Larder, William Ronald - 11th Parachute Battalion (0000)- (05-04-2025) - (19-09-2025)
169. 27.A.01 Beekhuizen - Dutch restistance 


Based on the 2009 interment date, Glider Pilot A.H. Midgeley must have been interred somewhere in the vicinity of plot 21.B.16, 18 or 19.

The burials in the years 1974 to 1986, for which no plot number is known, will most likely have taken place on the lawns to the left and right at the entrance to the cemetery. The completeness or exact location of this can no longer be determined.

In total it appears to be a total of about 162 interments of veterans {= 167 - 8 (in this overview 8 are not interred behind at headstone at the cemetery) + approx. 3 (the years 1987-1988, as a transition year from field to plot and the end of the registrations at the Renkum Archives)}. This is based on the assumption that no burials took place before 1974 and that all or almost all burials in the years 1974 - 1987 were documented in the Renkum Archives. This also excludes the additions / scattering of the ashes of family members and of course the ashes strewn under "own management".
Despite CWGC's reluctance and attempts not to publicize these types of ceremonies, it can be concluded that with some 130 burials of veterans' ashes behind the gravestones of fallen comrades, a tradition has been born and continues to this day.

Interments by plot

Interments by plot

Interments by plot

Interments by plot

Interments by plot

Interments by plot

Interments by plot