During a visit in July 2022 to The Netherlands our Archivist, Clare Wilson, paid a visit to Bergen-op-Zoom Cemetery where she laid memorial crosses on the Graves of the 102 Squadron Men on behalf of the Squadron Association.  

You can read more about Clare's visit and these Cemeteries via this link  https://www.alliedairforceresearch.com/post/bergen-op-zoom

In actual fact there are two cemeteries at this location, one dedicated to Canadian forces and the other mostly British

British Cemetery                                                 Canadian Cemetery

Pilot Officer Charles Rae Barr & Sergeant John William Brown who died 17/6/1942

On the evening of the 16-17 June 1942, 9 Aircraft of 102 Squadron at Topcliffe were detailed to attack Essen.

Charles Barr was the pilot of R9530 ‘J’ a Vickers Wellington that took off at 2302hrs & John William Brown was his Flight Engineer

On board with them were:- F/S D Conter, Sgt RC Perriam, Sgt JGS Rocks & Sgt DM Smith

There seems to be a bit of controversy about who shot down this crew with Hauptmann Bensch of NGJ2 being mentioned in one publication which resulted in the aircraft crashing at 0025hrs in the sea 60km west of Walcheren, Zeeland, Holland.  However, a more updated publication claims that Obersleutnant Heinrich Prinz zu Sayn-Wittsgenstein of NGJ2 shot this aircraft down 15km NNW of Leiden at 0323hrs.   On checking a couple of other sources, it looks more likely that Sayn-Wittsgenstein was responsible.

Sgt Conter RCAF, Sgt Rocks, Sgt Perriam & Sgt Smith RCAF have no known grave & are named on Runnymede Memorial

   Pilot Officer Barr lies in the Canadian Cemetery at Bergen-op-Zoom.

Sgt Brown was initially buried in Den Helder Cemetery before being moved to Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery in 1947.

Flight Sergeant George Frederick Fargher who died 10/9/1942

On the evening of the 10-11 September 1942, 10 Aircraft of 102 Squadron at Pocklington were detailed to attack Dusseldorf

George Fargher RCAF was the Air Gunner of W7752 ‘R’ a Handley Page Halifax that took off at 2011hrs

On board with George were P/O BGH Smith, P/O PAV England, Sgt K Marshall, Sgt R Moore, F/S SH Jackson, Sgt DRW Schofield & P/O JB McCormack.

They are detailed as having crashed in the North Sea.  By the end of October 6 bodies were recovered from the water and were buried in various Dutch cemeteries.

Sgt Schofield & P/O McCormack have no known graves & are named on the Runnymede Memorial.

George Fargher was originally buried in Middelburg, Zeeland & his body was later reinterred in Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery in 1946.

Pilot Officer Garfield Davies who died 13/5/1943

On the evening of the 12-13 May 1943, 12 Aircraft of 102 Squadron at Pocklington were detailed to attack Duisburg.

Garfield Davies was the Air Gunner of JB799 ‘E’ a Handley Page Halifax that took off at 2351hrs

On board with Garfield were F/S MQ Moffatt, F/O JD Erzinger, Sgt CH Hurle, Sgt WJ Holman, Sgt GC Gowan & Sgt DF Moon.

Their aircraft is detailed as having crashed in the North Sea.

F/O Erzinger, Sgt Moon & Sgt Holman have no known graves & are named on Runnymede Memorial

P/O Moffatt, Sgt Gowen & Sgt Hurle are buried in various Cemeteries in Holland & Germany.

P/O Davies was originally buried in Den Helder Cemetery, he was reinterred in Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery in 1947.

Sergeant David Albert Harris Gough & Sergeant Thomas Eric Judd who both died 26/6/1943

On the evening of the 25-26 June 1943, 18 Aircraft of 102 Squadron at Pocklington were detailed to attack Gelsenkirchen.

David Gough was the Air Gunner & Thomas Judd was the Air Bomber of JB843 ‘F’ a Handley Page Halifax that took off at 2334hrs

On board with them were Sgt K Gore, Sgt JH Wright, Sgt FH Mitchell, Sgt NB Foskett & Sgt JM Sugden.

The crew are detailed as being shot down by a night fighter, crashing at Breezand (Noord Holland), 8 km SSE of Den Helder at 0240hrs.   Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Jabs 0f NGJ1 claimed this aircraft it was one of three he claimed to have shot down during that evening.

All the other crew members lie in Bergen General Cemetery near Alkmaar.

David Gough & Thomas Judd were both originally buried at Petten General Cemetery before being reinterred in Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery in 1947

Sergeant David Wilfred Jennings who died 17/6/1944

On the evening of the 16-17 June 1944, 23 Aircraft of 102 Squadron at Pocklington were detailed to attack Sterkrade.

David Jennings was the Air Gunner of MZ292 ‘C’ a Handley Page Halifax that took off at 2252hrs

On board with him were F/S JG Kelso, Sgt JC Gibson, Sgt TE Hill, Sgt R Bartram, Sgt N Howarth & Sgt A Smith.

The crew are detailed as having crashed into the sea off the Dutch Frisian Islands.  

Sgt Gibson, Sgt Hill, Sgt Howarth & Sgt Smith have no known grave & are named on Runnymede Memorial.

F/S Kelso lies in Vlieland General Cemetery & Sgt Bartram at Westerchelling General Cemetery.

Sgt David Jennings was originally buried at Petten General Cemetery & was reinterred at Bergen-op-zoom war cemetery in 1947.