In Memory of
Sergeant WILFRED THOMAS BELTON
1058416, 61 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
who died
on 10 September 1942
Remembered with honour
REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
Commemorated in perpetuity by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Please remember that the information on this website is only accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. If any of the information is relevant to your own research, please double-check the sources.
Additional Information
Dad’s cousin, Wilf, was lost on duty in Europe.
The report in the local newspaper read:
“On Friday Mr. and Mrs William Belton, 8, Wesley Road, Bwlchgwyn, received information that their son, R.A.F. Sergeant Wilfred T. Belton, was missing after an operational flight. Later they have received a letter of sympathy from the Wing Commander of his Squadron who testified to his capabilities and courage. It was only two days previously that Sergeant Belton had returned to his Squadron after a short leave at home. His many friends are anxiously awaiting news of him, as he was a most popular young man in the district”.
Wilf was an airgunner with 61 Squadron, a bomber squadron.
Bwlchgwyn War Memorial showing the 1939-1945 commemorations:
Wynne Williams, R.E.
Wilfred T. Belton, R.A.F.
Additional Information from www.cwgc.org
Cemetery: REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
Country: Germany
Locality: Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen
Visiting Information: Wheelchair access to the cemetery is possible via the main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on 01628 507200.
Location Information: The cemetery is 5 kilometres south west of Kleve. From Kleve take the Hoffmannallee from the town centre, which becomes the Materbornerallee. This road enters Reichswald Forest and becomes the Grunewaldstrasse. Follow the directions for Gennep, and on entering Reichswald Forest the cemetery is situated 500 metres on the left.
Historical Information: Reichswald Forest War Cemetery was created after the Second World War when burials were brought in from all over western Germany and is the largest Commonwealth cemetery in the country. Some of those members of the land forces buried there died in the advance through Reichswald Forest in February 1945. Others died crossing the Rhine, among them members of the airborne forces whose bodies were brought from Hamminkeln, where landings were made by the 6th Airborne Division from bases in England. Some of the airmen buried in the cemetery lost their lives in supporting the advance into Germany, but most died earlier in the war in the intensive air attacks over Germany. Their graves were brought in from cemeteries and isolated sites in the surrounding area. There are now 7,594 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 176 of the burials are unidentified. There are also 79 war graves of other nationalities, most of them Polish.
No. of Identified Casualties: 7495
Please remember that the information on this website is only accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. If any of the information is relevant to your own research, please double-check the sources.
Hilary's History Pages 
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