Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Country: Germany

Historical Information: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery was created after the Second World War when burials were brought in from all over western Germany and is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the country. Some of those members of the land forces buried there died in the advance through Reichswald Forest in February 1945. Others died crossing the Rhine, among them members of the airborne forces whose bodies were brought from Hamminkeln, where landings were made by the 6th Airborne Division from bases in England. Some of the airmen buried in the cemetery lost their lives in supporting the advance into Germany, but most died earlier in the war in the intensive air attacks over Germany. Their graves were brought in from cemeteries and isolated sites in the surrounding area. There are now 7,594 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 176 of the burials are unidentified. There are also 79 war graves of other nationalities, most of them Polish.

No. of Identified Casualties: 7495

 

Guardsman JOSEPH PETER BEGLEY 2724789, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 22 on 04 March 1945

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 7.

Guardsman ROBERT JAMES DEVINE 2724791, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 24 on 05 March 1945

Son of Samuel and Martha Devine, of Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 4.

Lieutenant SHANE BRENDAN KEARNEY Mentioned in Despatches 324298, 7th Bn., Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. who died age 26 on 27 March 1945

Son of John A. and Mary K. Kearney, of New Barnet, Hertfordshire. His brother, Brendan Shane Kearney, also died on Service.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 34. B. 4.

“WITHIN THY SACRED HEART

DEAR LORD

MAY HIS PRECIOUS SOUL

FIND REST”

+ His brother

Lance Serjeant BRENDAN SHANE KEARNEY 2721072, 2nd Armd. Bn., Irish Guards who died age 30 on 16 February 1943

Son of John and Mary Kathleen Kearney; husband of Marjorie Mabel Kearney, of Letchworth. His brother, Shane Brendan Kearney, also died on service.

Remembered with honour BELLS HILL BURIAL GROUND

Grave/Memorial Reference: Row C.8. Grave 410.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2932628

“HIS BROTHER SHANE

LIEUTENANT ARMY AIR CORPS

WAS KILLED AT WESEL

27TH MARCH 1945 AGE 26”

 

Lance Serjeant JOSEPH LENNON 2721106, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 28 on 21 February 1945

Son of Cornelious and Ellen Lennon; husband of Josephine Lennon, of Alderley Edge, Cheshire.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 9.

Guardsman HARRY LETCHFORD 2723368, 2nd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 21 on 05 March 1945

Son of Ernest and Ellen Letchford, of Orpington, Kent.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 54. E. 18.

Guardsman COLIN MOLLARD M.M. 2723687, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 21 on 04 March 1945

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 6.

Guardsman ANTHONY MORIARTY 2724801, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 21 on 04 March 1945

Son of Timothy Moriarty, and of Bridget Moriarty, of Tralee, Co. Kerry, Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 5.

Guardsman GEORGE MULCAHY 2724301, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died on 21 February 1945

Son of Mrs. J. Mulcahy, of Clogheen, Co. Tipperary, Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 10.

Lieutenant JOHN CHARLES O'BRIEN 240008, 2nd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 20 on 20 April 1945

Son of Maj. Charles O'Brien and Mrs. O'Brien; grandson of Mrs. J. G. Collins, of Navan, Co. Neath, Irish Republic.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 12.

See Times article May 15, 1945; FALLEN OFFICER, O'BRIEN

See Times article Jul 31, 1945;  O'BRIEN IN MEMORIAM

See Times article Apr 20, 1946; O'BRIEN, DIED OF WOUNDS

Guardsman LEONARD JAMES PLANT 2723067, 2nd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 32 on 05 March 1945

Son of James Edward and Annie Plant, of Leek, Staffordshire.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 8.

Lance Corporal FRANK ALFRED PORTER 2723465, 2nd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 20 on 05 March 1945

Son of Alfred John and Louisa Margaret Porter, of Huyton, Lancashire.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 1.

Lance Serjeant ROY PRIOR 2722012, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 24 on 05 March 1945

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 3.

Lance Corporal THOMAS WILLIAM TAYLOR 2719322, 2nd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 34 on 02 April 1945

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 53. D. 1.

Guardsman REGINALD HAROLD WADE 2724097, 3rd Bn., Irish Guards who died age 19 on 05 March 1945

Son of Harold and Alice Wade, of Upper Norwood, Surrey.

Remembered with honour REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY

Grave/Memorial Reference: 43. E. 2.

Quis Separabit

Source: CWGC; MarkinBelfast

Photos: P. Reinders; Peter ‘Micky’ Campbell - IGA