The Dunkirk Memorial commemorates 4,505 casualties of the British Expeditionary Force who have no known grave, most of whom were lost during the Battle of Dunkirk.
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| Dunkirk Memorial |
The centre piece of the memorial is a window depicting scenes from the Dunkirk Evacuation in 1940.
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| Dunkirk Memorial Window of scenes from Dunkirk Evacuation |
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| Dunkirk Memorial Window of scenes from Dunkirk Evacuation |
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| Dunkirk Memorial Window of scenes from Dunkirk Evacuation |
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| Dunkirk Memorial Window Wreaths |
The memorial is inscribed:
Here beside the graves of their comrades are commemorated the soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force who fell in the campaign of 1939–1940 and have no known grave.
The memorial records the names of 542 men of the Royal Artillery.
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| Dunkirk Memorial Remembering the men of the Royal Artillery |
On the side of the memorial are panels recording the names of some of those who were lost.
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| Dunkirk Memorial 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish Black Watch |
A series of pylons record more names.
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| Dunkirk Memorial |
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| Dunkirk Memorial Royal Artillery panel |
One of those lost whose name is on the memorial is John Travers Gray of 74 (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA) from South Shields.
The memorial lists 9 Gunners from 72 (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA)
Rank
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Initials
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Surname
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Date
of Death
|
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Gnr
|
J
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HORNER
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23/05/1940
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Sjt
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J
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INGLIS
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23/05/1940
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L/Bdr
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F
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JAMES
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31/05/1940
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Gnr
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RR
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SHEPHERD
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26/05/1940
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Gnr
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J
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BIRTLEY
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23/05/1940
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Gnr
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GT
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COXON
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31/05/1940
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L/Bdr
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M
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KIRVEN
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31/05/1940
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Gnr
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WH
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LEWIS
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31/05/1940
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Gnr
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F
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McCRINDLE
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31/05/1940
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CWGC Serjeant John Inglis
CWGC L/Bdr Frederick James
CWGC Gunner Richard Raymond Shepherd
CWGC Gunner James Birtley
CWGC Gunner George Thomas Coxon
CWGC L/Bdr Michael Kirven
CWGC Gnr William Henry Lewis
CWGC Gnr Frederick McCrindle
Adjacent to the Dunkirk Memorial is the Dunkirk Town Cemetery.
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery |
The cemetery contains 1,042 graves from both World Wars. There are 460 casualties from the First World War. The town was shelled through out WW1 and was a hospital centre.
The 792 graves from the Second World War include 213 unidentified casualties. As well as those killed during the Battle of Dunkirk, the cemetery contains graves of bodies washed up on the beaches in the aftermath of the evacuation.
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery Cross of Sacrifice |
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery Rifleman E Ricketts Cameronians 25th May 1940 Gunner JL Boyd Royal Artillery 27th May 1940 |
2nd Cameronians
11 Bty. 3 Searchlight Regiment RA
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery Lt Col PA Kirsop MC & Bar TD RA Died 27th May 1940 |
In the Dunkirk Town Cemetery are the graves of two Northumbrian Gunners, Gunner Robert Lawrence Massam [72 (N) Field Regiment RA (TA)] and Gunner Joseph Ridley [74 (N) Field Regiment RA (TA)].
Lt Col Purves Alexander Kitson was killed whilst serving with 58 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery. During WW1 he was commissioned in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders winning his first MCin 1916 whist seconded to the Suffolk Regiment. He was awarded bar to the MC in July 1918 with the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. After the war he served with 9th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, retiring in 1933 after commanding the Battalion. He was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1928. In August 1939 he was recalled to the Colours to command 58 LAA Regiment RA.
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery Lt Colonel ENW Birch OBE RASC 27th May 1940 Private CN Rigby West Yorks 31st May 1940 |
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery Serjeant CW Burton Royal Artillery 2/Lt WH Grant Royal Artillery Both died 1st June 1939 |
21st Anti-Tank Regiment RA
21st Anti-Tank Regiment RA
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery L/r MGH May Royal Artillery 1st June 1940 Unknown Soldier of 1939-45 War |
21st Anti-Tank Regiment RA
During the evacuation the losses included 9 destroyers and 200 merchant vessels. This resulted in many losses at sea and in the weeks after the operation bodies were washing up on the beaches around Dunkirk. The dates on headstones after 3rd June are indications that some of the graves belong to those whose bodies were found in the aftermath of the evacuation.
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery Unknown Lance Bombardier Royal Artillery Soldier Rank and Regiment unknown 16th June 1940 |
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery Unknown Soldiers of the Second World War Two Soldiers 14th August 1940 Five Soldiers 12th August 1940 Three Soldiers 12th August 1940 |
In the Dunkirk Town Cemetery are the graves of two Northumbrian Gunners, Gunner Robert Lawrence Massam [72 (N) Field Regiment RA (TA)] and Gunner Joseph Ridley [74 (N) Field Regiment RA (TA)].
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery Gunner RL Massam 31 May 1940 |
72 (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA)
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| Dunkirk Town Cemetery Gunner J Ridley 27 May 1940 |
74 (Northumbrian) Field Regiment RA (TA)
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| Dunkirk Beach |