Cycling route Death Valley De Peel - Commonwealth War Cemetery Mierlo (#15)

Commonwealth War Cemetery Mierlo

Many Allied and German soldiers were killed in the Geldrop / Mierlo area. Their remains were buried in central military cemeteries via initial emergency graves. Between Geldrop and Mierlo, the Allies and the Germans had their own cemeteries next to each other. The German cemetery was to the west of the Commonwealth cemetery. In 1954 the 309 killed Germans were taken to the large German war cemetery in Ysselsteyn.
Since then, 665 young men lie in Mierlo who lost their lives for our freedom. Seven of these are unknown soldiers and one Dutch soldier of the Princess Irene Brigade. His name is Gerard Marinus Stönner. He fell in Oirschot on October 22, 1944, 20 years young.

Lewis Tombs, one of the surviving soldiers, dutifully maintained the graves of his comrades-in-arms for decades. After his death in 1982 he was also buried here. His wife, Stien Tombs-Louwers, was the only woman to find her final resting place here.

Originally the graves were provided with a white wooden unit cross. Around 1948 they were replaced by iron crosses. The unitary stones that are now standing date from 1954. At that time the Portland natural stone Cross of Honor with bronze sword (Cross of Sacrifice) was placed, characteristic of Commonwealth Honor cemeteries. Design: Sir Reginald Blomfield. At the cemetery is a listening column where you can listen to the whole story of this special place.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Jeroen Koppes (1, 2), Martin Damen (3, 4)