East Cemetery

[leslie]

This last week Men from The Commonwealth War Graves Commision Have been reinstating the headstone on thr grave of Military Police Crackett in East Cemetery,
this was moved to west cemetery several years ago, But The remains were left interred in east cemetery

[leslie]

I remember as a lad looking at the German War Graves in East Cemetery, my memory recalls thre but only two on record, One was exhumed in 1962, whether repatriated to Germany or reintered at Chevington , This one was identified and named on the Grave cross, Next to him was body of another german washed up on beach as first mentioned was , but never identified, no record if he was exhumed so possibly still there with no Marker , anyone else remember these and any info as to where are now, i understand they were both Luftwaffa.

[Coquet]

Hi Leslie, in the East Cemetery transcription there is

"FELDWEBEL Grobka, aged 45, buried 1941-10-15", I remember marking that one in blue, to remind me to see if I could find anything else about this burial. (not yet done!)

"Feldwebel" is the German Rank of Sergeant so this entry needs more investigation.

[Coquet]

there's also a German burial discussed here:

http://www.coquetandcoast.co.uk/ambl...read.php?t=132

A Captain Matsen 1903, Janwhin found some info on his demise in the newspaper archive which is also in that thread.

he does have a headstone, or what's left of it, again photo in that thread above.

[Coquet]

There's another burial :

WEEN, Ingvard 32 1940-04-19


but that looks Scandinavian to me. Anyway, I bet that burial will have a wartime story too.

[Coquet]

And the wartime 'unknown' you mention looks like it will be this one:

"UNKNOWN aged 30/40 1941-11-01"


our list doesn't even state sex for that one.

[Alan J.]

I remember this one, just over the wall next to where the swings were when we were kids.
It was a simple white wooden cross which has since disappeared, probably through age. I wonder why these graves have not been looked after, officially, as the ones in Chevington cemetery have been.

[leslie]

Originally Posted by Alan J.

I remember this one, just over the wall next to where the swings were when we were kids.
It was a simple white wooden cross which has since disappeared, probably through age. I wonder why these graves have not been looked after, officially, as the ones in Chevington cemetery have been.

I remember three there . I know one was exhumed in 1960 s , one was unknown , I wonder if the third was the Scandanavian person , First over wall from swings in corner

[janwhin]

Originally Posted by Coquet

There's another burial :

WEEN, Ingvard 32 1940-04-19


but that looks Scandinavian to me. Anyway, I bet that burial will have a wartime story too.

The further information on the burial register, Coquet, says he is a Norwegian sailor from Warkworth Harbour.

[janwhin]

Originally Posted by leslie

One was exhumed in 1962, whether repatriated to Germany or reintered at Chevington , This one was identified and named on the Grave cross, Next to him was body of another german washed up on beach as first mentioned was , but never identified, no record if he was exhumed so possibly still there with no Marker , anyone else remember these and any info as to where are now, i understand they were both Luftwaffa.

Leslie, as you say, both bodies were found on the beach within a couple of weeks of each other. Grobka was exhumed on 29 June 1962, as you say. The unknown was never exhumed, the only reference is that they were aged 30/40. It's sad that his grave never warranted an unknown German airman stone. Strange that CWG has never got involved. His grave was the next plot to Grobka.

[brownknees]

I have in my possesion a luftwaffe lapel badge that had three Eagles(Feldwebel?),my mother said it came from a washed up body,wonder if it was one?

[Coquet]

Originally Posted by brownknees

I have in my possesion a luftwaffe lapel badge that had three Eagles(Feldwebel?),my mother said it came from a washed up body,wonder if it was one?

Interesting, yes they did wear cloth badges of stylised three eagle shapes stacked vertically as a rank mark. So a lapel badge of similar design would be logical.

Can you scan it and post a picture brownknees?

[Coquet]

I've added a couple of pics to Leslie's opening post (hope you don't mind). The Crackett grave is in that corner next to the old swings as well.

[janwhin]

It looks very lonely. Still the council won't be able to flatten that one.

[brownknees]

I think the Luftwaffe badge may be in the UK at my daughters ,I can ask her to look for it!!

[janwhin]

Originally Posted by leslie

I remember three there . I know one was exhumed in 1960 s , one was unknown , I wonder if the third was the Scandanavian person , First over wall from swings in corner

I've just had a look on the cemetery register to see whether the plot numbers indicate a foreign group. Certainly Grobka and the unknown were in B39 and B40. Our Norwegian, Ween, was in B20. Interestingly, the new CWG headstone for Sydney Crackett is B22.

Wasn't this side of the cemetery for non conformists? I know my Methodist ancestors were over there.

[dcrackett]

Originally Posted by leslie

This last week Men from The Commonwealth War Graves Commision Have been reinstating the headstone on thr grave of Military Police Crackett in East Cemetery,
this was moved to west cemetery several years ago, But The remains were left interred in east cemetery

Originally Posted by janwhin

I've just had a look on the cemetery register to see whether the plot numbers indicate a foreign group. Certainly Grobka and the unknown were in B39 and B40. Our Norwegian, Ween, was in B20. Interestingly, the new CWG headstone for Sydney Crackett is B22.

Wasn't this side of the cemetery for non conformists? I know my Methodist ancestors were over there.

You're probably correct.My Uncle Sydney Crackett was a Methodist, as were all of my other ancestors buried in the plot shown in the photograph. His headstone has now been returned to the same location as his remains, since the CWGC now considers the East Cemetery a suitable place for a soldier to be interred. Thanks to the efforts of Amble Town Council there will be a dedication ceremony on 2nd November 2013 with the Methodist Minister present.

[brownknees]

This badge was given to my mother from a washed up Luftwaffe airman.There were originaly three birds but one was lost!

[Coquet]

Originally Posted by brownknees

This badge was given to my mother from a washed up Luftwaffe airman.There were originaly three birds but one was lost!

I've not seen one of those before. Are the eagles made of aluminium?

[leslie]

WWII German Feldwebel Collar Tabs