Grimsby Military Cemetery ~ Scartho Road ~ Images & Words
Grimsby Military Cemetery CWGC
Some photographs and information on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission part of the cemetery on Scartho Road, Grimsby Lincolnshire.
There are some very poignant and interesting images here . . .
I visited the town’s graveyard about a month ago and it was something of a strange day, one thing I did decide to do was to return and record some of the military graves.
Tragically there are a great deal of them, which sadly means I cannot feature all those laid to rest here, though I do intend to revisit and add even more over time.
The initial ones I have here are some of the more unusual headstones and some of those from abroad who lost their lives in this country during the war, my thought there being any relatives would find it very difficult to see those graves.
Grimsby Military Cemetery
There are CWGC headstones all over the graveyard but above you’ll see a specific section, marked by the monument stone and the upkeep, as always, is absolutely immaculate - truly beautiful and clearly both well cared for and respected by all.
Jonas Hoy - Royal Navy Photographer
J Hoy was Royal Navy Photographer serving aboard HMS Southampton. The only war grave I’ve seen marked ‘Photographer’
Captain Jozef Weldycz - Carpathian Lancers
The Carpathian Lancers of Poland have a hugely heroic background and also a very special connection to the town. After WW2 was over and armies were being demobbed these Polish fighters found their homeland to be under Russian Occupation so almost 1,000 settled here in Grimsby - as was only right and proper !
There should be more people aware just what a debt we owe to the people of Poland who not only fought with great bravery in their country but also fought under our flag as well.
Private Samuel Tilmouth
Private Samuel Tilmouth, 14655188, was only 19 years of age when he lost his life serving with 6th Battalion Green Howards - Yorkshire Regiment
Eryk Zarzyna ~ Carpathian Lancers
Eryk Zarzyna who served with the legendary Carpathian Lancers.
John Eid ~ Norway
Above you’ll see the headstone of John Eid a Norwegian sailor ( Merchant Navy ? )
Georg Werder ~ German Military Grave
Georg Werder, German Luftwaffe, is one of 3 German Airmen buried on the same date, their fate was discussed in comments on the Wartime Bombing Page but no consensus was reached.
A Sailor of the Second World War
Finally, you see the very poignant grave marker of an unknown sailor from the Royal Navy, his name not known !
As I mentioned I shall be adding more in due course, I would also welcome comments in general and also further information on anybody here.
Respectfully yours,
Rod
See also the article Placing Poppies on Military Graves
History Hunter said,
October 7, 2011 @ 11:38 am
Right in amongst the CWGC headstones there is one with the name of W Skinner who was a crew member on the SS Atheltemplar. Now, for some reason, even though he has a CWGC stone, he is not ‘recognised’ by the CWGC at all.
I have been in touch with them and they said that initially the were led to believe that he was severely injured on board whilst sailing in a military convoy which would have entitled him to the honour of being remembered, but this was later rescinded as he was found to have been injured on board when the SS Atheltemplar was attacked by a group of Heinkel 111’s while on their way to join a military convoy. The date was 1st March 1941. In total 12 members of crew died as a result of the original attack, 5 instantly. W Skinner later died on 18th April 1943 from wounds received in the attack.
Rod said,
October 8, 2011 @ 8:08 am
HH,
that’s both very strange and very interesting, I’m not sure I understand their reasoning ?
Best
Rod
History Hunter said,
October 8, 2011 @ 12:12 pm
I agree completely. I would even go so far as to say it was petty, especially if it was known that the ship was heading for a rendezvous point to join a convoy.
Pål Martin eid said,
June 25, 2012 @ 10:43 pm
Hi, i have just seen your picture of my grandfathers grave, the stone of John Eid. I can confirm that he was in the Norwegian Merchant navy, and came from Nøtterøy in Norway. He died when his ship was struck by a torpedo from a german E-boat hiding along the English coast (I have been told). He worked as chief mate on board the steamer D/S Lysland. A few months later his brother Hans, also a sailor in the merchant navy, died in the south Atlantic.
Rod said,
June 26, 2012 @ 7:21 am
Pål,
thanks for the coment and welcome to the site.
Also for the extra information which I regard as very important indeed.
I hope this was of use to you and that you approve of us remembering your grandfather in this way
Thanks and regards,
Rod
History Hunter said,
June 26, 2012 @ 1:43 pm
Pål, I read somewhere that 2 other crew members also died when the D/S Lysland was torpedoed. Their names were Hans Tonnesen (2nd Engineer) and Johan Edvin Johansen (Chief Engineer).
Records show that Hans Tonnesen was also buried in Grimsby, but it looks like he was re-interred later, as there are no present day records for Grimsby Cemetery that include his name.
I cannot find Johan Edvin Johansen’s final resting place anywhere.
Rod said,
June 26, 2012 @ 4:45 pm
HH,
many thanks indeed.
In appreciation,
Rod
Dom said,
December 12, 2012 @ 5:14 pm
is there any more information on this John Eid? i visited the grimsby cemetary with my school once and when i saw this grave i felt a very strange connection with his grave, it could make sense that we may be related as i am Danish.
History Hunter said,
December 13, 2012 @ 11:57 am
Dom, the only information that can be found on the interweb widenet is what is mentioned on June 25/26 above. Maybe his relative might be able to help you more if you can track him down.
History Hunter said,
December 21, 2012 @ 4:32 pm
Today, my faith in the teenage generation was somewhat boosted today while walking round the Cemetery today.
As most people do, when you see the archetypical jeans-round-bum bmx-riding chav, slowly cycling alongside his freezing cold, wearing-next-to-nothing, inappropriate shoe for the weather wearing chav girlfriend tottering alongside, you think the usual thoughts.
Half expecting to hear language so blue that the sky would lose its colour, I was pleasantly surprised when they both passed me, smiled at me, and then I heard the most surprising thing.
She asked him which way out of the Cemetery he was going, and he said he wasnt leaving yet as he was going over to the War graves to say hello to his Grandad. Instantly I thought his Grandad was visiting the war graves and he was meeting him, but as I walked round, I could see that there was nobody else in the area. As I walked past the War Graves, he and the g/f had stopped at the front, he passed his BMX to the g/f and he walked up to one of the war graves and stood there, stock still for at least 2 minutes than he bent over, dead headed a few flowers off the grave and walked off with a I’m-really-casual-in-front-of my-girlfriend backward glance to the grave.
The whole thing made me think, and smile, and I thought it would be a very cheery thing to put on here.
Merry Christmas, and a very merry Christmas to the lad’s grandad.
Rod said,
December 21, 2012 @ 8:11 pm
HH,
this is wonderful and thank you for taking the time to share it.
So often we hear only the negative things, what wonderful thing, especially at this time of the year
Best
Rod