From The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Benghazi War Cemetery to be fully restored
28 February 2012
It's now reported from Benghazi that two Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries have been damaged in attacks over the weekend - both the Benghazi War Cemetery and now the Benghazi British Military Cemetery. We are awaiting a detailed report but in both cemeteries, headstones were broken and disfigured. Both cemeteries will be restored to a standard befitting the sacrifice of those commemorated at Benghazi, but this could take some time because we will need to source replacement stones. We will also need to be sure that it's safe for the detailed work to be carried out, but in the meantime we will ensure that temporary markers are erected over the graves. We have no reports of any maintenance staff being injured in the attack.
There are 1214 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World war buried or commemorated in the Benghazi War Cemetery. 163 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate two casualties buried in Barce War Cemetery, whose graves could not be located. There are also 25 non-Commonwealth burials at Benghazi, one being an unidentified Greek soldier.
The Benghazi British Military Cemetery has 284 burials, eleven of them unidentified. The graves are of servicemen and women who died in the region in the years following the Second War.
Location Information
Benghazi is a seaport on the Mediterranean. The cemetery is about 7 kilometres south-east of Benghazi in the Fuihat area, about 300 metres from the childrens' hospital on the opposite side of the road.
From the city centre take the road following the coast past the sports stadium. Approximately 2 kilometres beyond the stadium is a large roundabout with a flyover on to the Tripoli road. Turn left at this roundabout, and the War Cemetery is found 3 kilometres along this road on the left hand side.
NB: Benghazi War Cemetery should not be confused with Benghazi British Military Cemetery passed after about 1 kilometre on the right side of the road.
Visiting Information
FEBRUARY 2012 NOTE: Benghazi War Cemetery has recently suffered a major attack resulting in significant damage to many headstones and the Cross of Sacrifice within the site. The earlier planned renovations of headstones, notified to visitors in February 2011, has now been superseded by these events and once it is safe for our staff to access the site, the work to commence clearance will begin. Over time, the headstones will be replaced, but in the meantime, the graves will be marked with metal temporary markers, bearing the name of the casualty buried therein. Given the current sensitive political situation in Libya, the CWGC strongly recommends that before considering a visit to Libya, you check the advice given by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on the travel section of their website:
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abr ... y-country/Wheelchair access to the cemetery possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Benghazi was an important goal for both Allies and Axis forces during the Western Desert campaigns of 1942 and 1943.
There are now 1,214 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in Benghazi War Cemetery. 163 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate two casualties buried in Barce War Cemetery, whose graves could not be located. There are also 25 non Commonwealth burials here, 1 being an unidentified Greek soldier.
There are 9 Canadians in that Cemetery, all RCAF.
Not surprising, the RCAF went everywhere.
DIBB, THOMAS HARTLEY Flying Officer J/17561 02/06/1944 29 Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian 3. A. 13. BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
DUNLEA, ALLEN RICHARD Flight Lieutenant J/9394 16/02/1944 27 Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian 2. C. 34. BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
JONES, PHILIP CONSTERDINE Flying Officer J/3761 24/06/1942 26 Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian 7. C. 27. BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
NELSON, EVAN ELLIS Flight Sergeant R/52648 20/12/1941 23 Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian Coll. grave 8. A. 4-5. BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
NORTHMORE, MARTIN PALMER Flying Officer J/10984 24/10/1943 Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian 7. D. 1. BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
PETERSON, JAMES SHERMAN Flight Sergeant R/100329 23/07/1942 23 Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian 7. C. 30. BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
REBSTOCK, JOHN RICHARD Warrant Officer Class II R/66328 19/11/1942 Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian 4. C. 13. BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
RUBINSTEIN, JOHN DANIEL Warrant Officer Class II R/117674 30/08/1943 20 Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian 3. D. 22. BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
WAITE, GORDON PERCIVAL Flying Officer J/15181 18/11/1942 Royal Canadian Air Force Canadian 4. C. 12. BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
Casualty details
NORTHMORE, MARTIN PALMER
Rank:
Flying Officer
Service No:
J/10984
Date of Death:
24/10/1943
Regiment/Service:
Royal Canadian Air Force
94 (R.A.F.) Sqdn
Grave Reference
7. D. 1.
Cemetery
BENGHAZI WAR CEMETERY
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