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Burton, Charles Ernest

Date of death:
February 14th, 1945 (Helmond, The Netherlands)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Cemetery Mierlo
Plot: III. Row: D. Grave: 12.
Service number:
1473805
Nationality:
British

Biography

Sapper
Royal Engineers
174 Workshop and Park Coy.
Age 18

A number of casualties occurred during a German air raid on Helmond airport, probably at 4:40 PM by an Me 262 jet aircraft. These included A. Hubenaar and A. Melis, both living on the Deurneseweg and M. Peeters, who lived on the Middendijk. In addition, at least two British people were killed at the Bridge Dump near the airport. Wildekamp and others identify the soldiers in their book 'War Airfields of Gemert Bakel Helmond' as Sapper Charles Burton and Corporal Francis Hawes. Research by Hermens shows that in any case Hawes was seriously injured in a bombing in Geldrop and died there in a British hospital. The 'Graves Concentration Report Form' indicates that both Hawes and Burton were first buried in Geldrop before being removed to the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Mierlo.

The graves of Burton and Hawes in Mierlo around 1950. Photo: Willem Klomp Archives, Helmond.

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Sources