I’m not sure if this is the most suitable category for this subject as it’s a little out of the ordinary.

Speaking with a friend today, he advised he’d been visiting Wembdon Cemetery at Bridgewater, Somerset. In speaking with the vicar of the attached church, the vicar pointed out the gave of three German airmen marked by a decaying wooden cross with a virtually illegible plaque. The grave is kept reasonably tidy but the wooden cross is perishing fast together with the plaque.

The vicar and the local Council have no funds or resources to restore the grave, but would meet with enthusiasm the efforts of any suitable interested party.

I ask if any members know of a group or organisation who would be interested in undertaking this?

No.9

Hi nr 9--I would be willing to givew what I can--count me in. [img]graemlins/rk.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rk.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/rk.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Thank you Carl, it's very kind of you. However this is not an appeal for money but for some folk or an organisation who would be willing to go to the cemetery and replace the cross and renovate the plaque.

There is no one saying they are poised to act if they had the money. Perhaps the vicar could arrange things if someone sent him the funds, but they'd need to ask him first if he could do this what it would cost.

If this were a British military gave in say France, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission would look after it. Perhaps Germany has a similar organisation - I don't know? There again, perhaps members of a military society in Britain might like to take a hand?

No.9

# 9 by chance do you have the names and ranks of the deceased and if the crosses are legible enough to make a tracing over the fornt of them ? Odd questions I know but if possible this may help get the information to the proper authorities

Of course there are two veteran deceased firms that can be checked through but this is of no help to have the gravesites taken care of or even moved. Will have to look through my files listings on this. WASt is an important firm for fnding more on those killed in action but other than that........

will search a bit next week before Wednesday

~E

Not odd questions at all Erich, I asked if any names or other details were readable, but apparently not easily. I haven’t seen this grave myself as it’s over two hours drive from me, but I will visit next time I travel to see my friend in Somerset.

I’ll ask him if he can glean some info from the plaque, or perhaps give me the number of the vicar and ask if he can help – perhaps church records?

The picture below is probably the church and cemetery, presuming it’s St George’s which I think likely. For some reason it doesn't like remote posting, but if you click on the link you should see it.

Wembdon Church

As this triple grave is only @ 60 years old, Somerset Council are sure to have records. The local web site below makes interesting reading.

German air losses WWII - Bristol area

The only entry which mentions Wembdon is the very last:

28/29.10.41: Minelaying in Severn Estuary: III/KG 30.

Ju 88A-4, Wnr.1436, 4D+MR, of 7/KG 30

Ltn. Helmuth Haakh (F) POW

Ofw. Walter Lehnhoff (B) POW

Gefr. Bernhard Unruh (Bf) POW

Gefr. Hubert Mayer (Bm) killed

Shot down en-route for the target by F/Lt. Selway in a Beaufighter of 604 Sq. (Middle Wallop). Aircraft exploded in the air and crashed at Clayhill Farm, Wembdon, Bridgwater, Somerset, at 21.12 hrs. 2 UX Parachute Mines had fallen at 21.07 hrs at Clayhill Farm.

However, these men may have died while they were POW’s as there was a German camp at Goathurst from about 1943 which is only 2 or 3 miles from Wembdon/Bridgwater?

No.9

Quite welcome Nr 9, and if anyonw there does want to start passing around a platter for donations--please let me know and count me in. [img]smile.gif[/img]

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Bump

__________________
Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Have they tried contacting the German War Grave Commission?

http://www.volksbund.de/

I am sure they have an interest in this...

__________________
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

(banner by Otto)
www.basher82.nl

Thank you Stev, this is the sort of thing I was asking. The most that is done in the cemetery is for the grass to be kept cut. If people don't tend graves they don't get generally looked after. It's just a small town church cemetery.

I've asked if names and any other details can be made out, then I'll mail the site you suggest.

No.9

Checking Bill Norman's Luftwaffe Over The North and the Volksbund website, it is obvious that the German War Grave Commission is active in Great Britain.

They actually have a German Military Cemetery in Cannock Chase, Staffs where over 1500 Germans are commemorated or buried. These graves are being tended by the CWGC. So there is a chance that the Germans will move the remains to this cemetery. You also might contact the Commenwealth War Grave Commssion on this. www.cwgc.org

On the other hand, in the Northeast there still seem to be local German wargraves.

BTW On the volksbund webiste you can also check if these guys are actually known to the Germans. From the mainpage, go to grabersuche. First you have to fill a page with some details, so in the future you will receive letters in which you are asked to support the work of the Volksbund. Then you can use their on-line database. This way I found out that there is a dutchman with my last name buried in Frankfurt am Main Military cemetery....

[ 24. August 2003, 03:36 AM: Message edited by: Stevin Oudshoorn ]

__________________
"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" - Homer Simpson

(banner by Otto)
www.basher82.nl