The Scottish War Graves Project

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Vlieland is an island off the northwestern coast of Holland, part of the chain referred to as the Dutch Frisian islands. It can be reached by ferry (no cars allowed) from Harlingen, 16 miles west of Leeuwarden, 70 miles north of Amsterdam. There are up to 3 sailings daily, and on some days a fast ferry operates on the same route.

The cemetery is located in the village of Oost Vlieland, where the ferry docks. Walk down the main street (Dorpsstraat), and turn right at the Noordwester centre and the library. The 1641-built church stands on the far side of the Kerkplein square, with the gate to the cemetery to its right. The Commonwealth War Graves are located in the centre of the graveyard.

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Sergeant (Air Gnr.) JOHN ADAM LAUDER
Son of Richard A. and Elizabeth Lauder, of Musselburgh, Midlothian.
Service unit: 77 Sqdn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number: 1570546
Date of death: 17 June 1944 at the age of 21
Interred: Vlieland General Cemetery, grave 72

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Flight Sergeant (Air Gnr.) ALEXANDER ROBERT PATON
Son of John and Mabel Paton, of Drumoyne, Glasgow.
Service unit: 161 Sqdn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number: 1573936
Date of death: 23 March 1945 at the age of 24
Grave reference: Grave 76.

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

Pilot Officer (Air Bomber) WILLIAM LAWSON SHAW
Son of James and Mary Shaw, of Greenhill, Lanarkshire.
Service Unit: 161 Sqdn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Service number: 196054
Date of death: 23 March 1945 at the age of 22
Interred: Vlieland General Cemetery, grave 74

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

161 (Special) Squadron was a highly secretive unit of the Royal Air Force tasked with missions of the Special Operations Executive. One of their roles was to drop equipment into Nazi-occupied Europe.
The Stirling aircraft LK209 - MA-T crashed in the sea near Vlieland Island.

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

I'd like to refer to the memorial plaque on Vlieland, 4 miles southwest of the island's village, which is displayed on the Scottish War Memorials Project. A minor point, but according to the plaque, the aircraft crashed on the island, just outside the Bomenland plantation.

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

Sorry about that, I took my info. about the crash from
http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Bedfordshire/TempsfordAircrewLost1945.html

and I'd missed your post on the plaque on SWMP.

Ken