Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Zoelen

At Zoelen General Cemetery, there are two Commonwealth graves, those of Lieutenant J.P. Sedgwick and an “unknown” British airman. This airman died on 10 May 1940.

During fighting on 10 March 1945 around the River Waal, Lieutenant James Philip Sedgwick from Whixley, Yorkshire, was hit by enemy fire. He was buried in a field grave and later reburied at the cemetery in Zoelen. Sedgwick was awarded a Military Cross in 1944.

The unknown pilot is most likely Sergeant (Obs.) Penry Llewelyn Thomas. His aircraft, a Bristol Blenheim, was shot down near Echtheld on 10 May 1940. Because only a lower body was found, it was buried as an unknown British airman. When an upper body was found in the River Linge in March 1941, it was identified as that of Sergeant Thomas and buried under that name in Buurmalsen.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar & Corin Gelderblom
• Photos: Arjan Vrieze
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Oorlogsslachtoffers Gemeente Buren