Search tips


First search generally, then specifically. Example: don’t look for “François Van Damme”, but try “Van Damme” first and filter the search.
The person you are looking for does not appear? Try another spelling. Example: don’t only try “Vanwymelbeke”, but also “Van Wymelbeke” or “Vanwijmelbeke”.
Attention: the War Dead Register only lists Belgian fallen soldiers.  
The War Dead Register provides basic personal information (name, first name, date and place of birth, etc.) and does not contain military files (giving a complete overview of the military career). According to date of birth the files are kept either by the Royal Military Museum or by the Defence archives service. The files safeguarded at the Military Museum can be consulted on site (Parc du Cinquantenaire in Brussels). The files kept up till now by Defence are currently transferred to the General State Archives.
The date on which they will be once again available has not yet been determined.   

 

Archives of the Royal Military Museum 

Documentation Centre 
Parc du Cinquantenaire 3
1000 Brussels
E-mail : cdoc.klm-mra@warheritage.be   
Website: www.warheritage.be

Cemetery details

Where?
Brugse Steenweg, 8620 Nieuwpoort
 
View on map

History and description

Jean-Louis Gheysens takes part in the Eighteen-Day Campaign in May 1940 and eventually arrives in Great Britain after long wanderings. He is trained on Spitfire by the Royal Air Force and assigned to 349 Squadron on 8 June 1943. Exactly one year later to the day, on 8 June 1944, he is shot down in a dogfight and buried in Dives-sur-Mer (FR). His body is transferred to Nieuwpoort in 1950. This makes Jean-Louis’ grave a unique case. Unlike many of his fellow pilots who have a grave in a British cemetery or on the aviators’ honours court in Brussels, he is laid to rest in the Nieuwpoort municipal cemetery.

 

Casualties

1 Second World War