The Scottish War Graves Project

Paul · Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 8:37 am Post subject: Scottish War Grave in Barcelona

Hi Guys,

Got another interesting grave this time.

This is what I can find about the grave but there are a lot of rumors.

The grave of Charles is very special because his brother John is also buried in Spain, namely in the cemetery at Cervera. He died only two weeks earlier. The most plausible story is that the brothers escaped from France, at that time not occupied by the Germans. fled south in order to escape the advancing Germans. The cause of death of two brothers is not known to me, it is known that Charles was deceased at the hospital in Barcelona and that explained why he was buried in this graveyard.

Somebody know more about this grave??

_________________
Always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts

gourdongirl · Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 4:08 am Post subject:

CWGC entry for Charles
HILL, CHARLES
Initials: C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 24/05/1941
Service No: 2929331
Additional information: Son of Charles Ormond Hill and Jemima Hill, of Nairn. His brother, John, also died on service.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Agrupacion 13. Dept. 4. Grave 62.
Cemetery: BARCELONA (MONTJUICH) CEMETERY

Charles if the only CWGC grave in this cemetery.
This cemetery is open daily between 8am and 6pm.
Location Information: The cemetery is south-west of the city on the southern slope of the hill of Montjuïc (in the Sants Montjuïc district of Barcelona). The one war grave is in the Protestant section of this very large cemetery, grave n.62 group 13. Help will be required in finding the grave from the municipal cemetery authority. Cemetery address: Calle Mare de Déu del Port 55-58 - 08038 Barcelona. GPS Co-ordinates: 41.354923, 2.147613

CWGC entry for John
HILL, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
Unit Text: 4th Bn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 10/05/1941
Service No: 2931521
Additional information: Son of Charles Ormond Hill and Jemima Hill, of Nairn. His brother, Charles, also died on service.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Niche No. 894.
Cemetery: CERVERA CEMETERY

John is the only CWC within this cemetery.
The cemetery is open every day between 11am and 2pm. On the 1st November each year the opening hours are normally extended. If you wish to visit outside of these times, it is necessary to make an appointment with the Municipality of Cervera, via the Commission's Western Mediterranean Area Office; Tel: +39 0 6 5099911.
Location Information: Cervera is a town in the north-east of Spain, some 115 kilometres by road west of Barcelona on the road to Lerida and Zaragoza. The Cemetery is under 1.5 kilometres from the centre of Guisoua and Ponts, in the north part of Cervera in the direction of Agramunt (L-303). The one war grave is in a niche on the right-hand wall - Niche No.894. GPS Co-ordinates: 41.67889, 1.260295.

David McNay · Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 7:16 am Post subject:

The 4th Cameron Highlanders was part of the 51st Highland Division which was captured at St Valery. Many of them men escaped capture and tried to get back to Britain via Spain. I think when they reached Spain a lot of the men were interred before being repatriated. It is possible this man died while there.

Adam Brown · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 714 Location: Edinburgh

There is a book called "The Long Way Round" which tells the story of a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant who led a party of seven Seaforth Highlanders to Spain after the surrender at St Valery. If you want to know some of the background to why these men were in Spain in 1941 you should read this book.

On 12th June 1940 when the 51st Highland Division surrendered many of the men who were manning the perimeter, which included the Seaforths and Camerons of 152 Brigade, tried to break through the German lines.

Remember at the time that there were still about 100,000 British troops in France and the 52nd Lowland Division was at Cherbourg so their aim was to get along the coast.

When than failed they headed south, first to Vichy France and then on to neutral Spain.

In Spain they were interned and treated little better than prisoners and it took many months before they returned to the UK.

The first man back via Spain was Lt Chandos Blair of the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders. He was awarded an MC for his efforts and later became Colonel of the Queen's Own Highlanders.

Regards

Adam

adb41 · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 1546

With apologies for sounding pernickety, but where reference is being made to troops being inteRRed, it appears to me that they were being inteRNed.

Paul · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 5:47 pm Post subject:

I've got pictures of his brothers grave in Cervera too at this moment.

Paul
_________________
Always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts