Post by adrian54 on Apr 27, 2017 8:22:29 GMT 12
I live on Askøy which is an island just outside Bergen on the west coast of Norway, Although we have a small but relatively active expat community who get together every ANZAC day I found out this year that there are 2 Airmen buried in the Commonwealth Wargraves section in Mollendal Cemetery in Bergen, All war graves in Norway are "Fredet" which means that they will never be moved and are maintained.
I Have lived here some years now and after finding out this year about these graves we decided to pay our respects to these and the 2 Australian aircrew also buried here, we spent some time,placed long burning candles at the ANZAC grave sites. I am not sure if there are relations of these Airmen that are in contact in any way, but I just thought that I would make it known that we will continue this tradition as well as travel to any others that are in reach. I believe there were 11 NZ servicemen who lost their lives in Norway during WW2, Its is a long way to travel now...I cannot imagine how it must have been then, my wifes family have lived through the war here and the stories and remnants of that time are all too clear,this is just to let those that are interested know that they are being remembered here as well..
W/O Raymond William Gibson Leslie NZ 415702 489 Squadron RNZAF
F/O Neville Alexander Heffernan NZ 423669 489 Squadron RNZAF
I Have lived here some years now and after finding out this year about these graves we decided to pay our respects to these and the 2 Australian aircrew also buried here, we spent some time,placed long burning candles at the ANZAC grave sites. I am not sure if there are relations of these Airmen that are in contact in any way, but I just thought that I would make it known that we will continue this tradition as well as travel to any others that are in reach. I believe there were 11 NZ servicemen who lost their lives in Norway during WW2, Its is a long way to travel now...I cannot imagine how it must have been then, my wifes family have lived through the war here and the stories and remnants of that time are all too clear,this is just to let those that are interested know that they are being remembered here as well..
W/O Raymond William Gibson Leslie NZ 415702 489 Squadron RNZAF
F/O Neville Alexander Heffernan NZ 423669 489 Squadron RNZAF
