Brookwood

The Commonweath War Graves cemetry at Brookwood, Surrey is the largest Military cemetery in the United Kingdom covering 37 acres with 5,077 graves of those who died in the 2 World Wars. In addition to British and Commonwealth graves, the cemetery also holds the graves of 786 other nationalities – France, Belgium, Poland, Czechoslovakia, USA, Dutch, Serb, Italy and also Germany. The Czechoslovak Section has 48 of its nationals who served in the RAF interred in this military cemetry. Today it is a tranquil woodland setting and a somber reminder of the realities of war.

A harsh reminder are the scenes below when 13 Czechoslovak airmen were interred there in October 1942. They were the crew and passengers of Wellington KX-T, T2564. On 18 October 1942 they were flying from Talbeny to Uxbridge for some leave in London. The pilot, P/O František Buliš, was already in the circuit to land at RAF Uxbridge when something went tragically wrong. The Wellington suddenly dived into the ground were all aboard were killed. F/Lt. Václav Haňka was also on board this aircraft and was interred at St Phillips Churchyard, Penn Fields, Staffs.

When the wreckage was being examined for possible causes of the crash, the remains of a large pig were found on board. It is believed that it was being taken to the Czechoslovak Club in London to be used in the festivities to commemorate the Czechoslovak National Day of 28 October:

The Czechoslovak Section is located at Long Avenue. Here, surrounding the Czechoslovak Memorial, 45 of Czechoslovak RAF airmen are interred. A grave plan and details are below:

1	row 28. A. 1.
RUBÍN	Jiří	Sgt.	311	WO/AG

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* 29/11/19, Prague

† 29/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Crashed in BZ775 Liberator on take-off at start of patrol to Bay of Biscay

2	row 28. A. 2
JELÍNEK	Stanislav	Sgt.	311	Pilot

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* 22/04/20, Zdětín

† 29/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Crashed in BZ775 Liberator on take-off at start of patrol to Bay of Biscay

3	row 28. A. 3.
VELLA	Jan DFC	F/O	311	Pilot

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* 10/05/06, Kladno

† 10/01/45, Bheinn A’Bhuird, Cairngorm, Scotland

Crashed on flight from Tain to Hornchurch, Essex, in Oxford PH404

4	row 28. A. 4
BITTNER	Josef	F/Sgt.	311	Pilot

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* 07/02/17, Kolín

† 30/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Accident at start of training flight, in Liberator BZ785

5	row 28. A. 7
SCHWARZ	Theodor	Sgt.	311	WO/AG

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* 24/12/21, Sokolov

† 30/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Accident at start of training flight, in Liberator BZ785

6	row 28. A. 8
LANŽ	Rudolf	LAC	311	Flight Mechanic E

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* 03/04/15, Konice

† 29/10/43, Netley, Hants.

Died in hospital.

7	row 28. A. 9
LOUDA	Jaroslav	F/Sgt.	312	Fitter II

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* 16/03/19, Nymburk

† 25/03/44, Boscombe, Wilts.

Died of Pneumonia in hospital.

8	row 28. A. 10
PRVONIČ	Antonin	W/O	312	pilot

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* 05/05/15, Záhorská, Bystrica

† 15/05/44, Brookwood

Crash landing after a operational flight.

9	row 28. B. 1
ČÍŽEK	Evžen	G/Cpt	HQ London	pilot

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* 10/12/04, Ostrava

† 26/11/42, Cardiff

Was passenger in aircraft ES947 which struck a barrage ballon over Cardiff bay in bad weather and crashed near Cardiff docks.

10	row 28. B. 2
BABŠ	Bruno	F/Lt	311	Navigator

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* 16/09/05 Lipník nad Bečvou

† 29/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Crashed in BZ775 Liberator on take-off at start of patrol to Bay of Biscay.

11	row 28. B. 3
ČTVRTLÍK	Miroslav	F/O	311	Air Gunner

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* 12/10/14, Olomouc

† 29/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Crashed in BZ775 Liberator on take-off at start of patrol to Bay of Biscay.

12	row 28. B. 4
MUSÁLEK	Adolf	F/O	311	Pilot

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* 03/10/16, Svinov

† 29/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Crashed in BZ775 Liberator on take-off at start of patrol to Bay of Biscay.

13	row 28. B. 7
POLÁK	Hanuš	Sgt	311	Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

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* 21/10/22, Prague

† 29/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Crashed in BZ775 Liberator on take-off at start of patrol to Bay of Biscay.

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14	row 28. B. 8
BLAHÁČEK	Eduard	Sgt	311	Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

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* 20/10/19, Postřelmov

† 29/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Crashed in BZ775 Liberator on take-off at start of patrol to Bay of Biscay.

15	row 28. B. 9
BLAHNA	Václav	Sgt	311	Air Gunner

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* 13/09/15, Blovice

† 29/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Crashed in BZ775 Liberator on take-off at start of patrol to Bay of Biscay.

16	row 28. B. 10
ŠIMEK	Andrej	Sgt	311	WO/AG

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* 01/01/20, Žarnovica

† 30/08/43, Bay of Biscay

Patrol over the Bay of Biscay in Liberator EV948. Killed in battle with enemy fighters

17	row 28. C. 1
PALICHLEB	Emil	F/Lt	311	Pilot

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* 13/08/19, Kopřivnice

† 30/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Accident at start of training flight in Liberator BZ785.

18	row 28. C. 2
FIŠERA	Josef	Sgt	311	pilot

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* 12/03/17, Horní Branná

† 30/08/43, Beaulieu, Hants.

Accident at start of training flight in Liberator BZ785.

19	row 28. C. 9
KOTIBA	František	W/O	51 OTU	pilot

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* 19/04/12, Valpovo

† 20/06/44, Brookwood

Flying accident in Beaufighter X7705.

20	row 28. C. 10
ZÁLESKÝ	Alois	P/O	312	pilot

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* 24/11/16, Plzeň

† 09/02/45, North Sea NE of Bradwell Bay, Essex

Accident during a training flight in Spitfire Mk.IX DU-G

21	row 28. C. 11
JELEN	Rudolf	W/O	311	pilot

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* 30/03/02, Bystřice

† 10/01/45, Bheinn A’Bhuird, Cairngorm, Scotland

Crashed on flight from Tain to Hornchurch, Essex, in Oxford PH404

22	row 28. C. 12
LINHART	Leo	F/O	311	pilot

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* 16/11/12, Zell am See, Austria

† 10/01/45, Bheinn A’Bhuird, Cairngorm, Scotland

Crashed on flight from Tain to Hornchurch, Essex, in Oxford PH404

23	row 28. C. 13
RYBNÍČEK	Karel	F/Sgt	311	Navigator

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* 05/02/19, Kozlov, Žďár nad Sázavou

† 05/10/45, Blackbushe

Accident after takeoff from Blackbushe on flight to Prague.

24	row 28. D. 1
KVAPIL	Karel	S/Ldr	311	pilot

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* 28/03/18, Litovel, Olomouc

† 10/01/45, Bheinn A’Bhuird, Cairngorm, Scotland

Crashed on flight from Tain to Hornchurch, Essex, in Oxford PH404

25	row 28. D. 2
KAUDERS	Valter MC	F/O	311	Wireless Operator

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* 18/04/18, Prague

† 10/01/45, Bheinn A’Bhuird, Cairngorm, Scotland

Crashed on flight from Tain to Hornchurch, Essex, in Oxford PH404

26	row 28. D. 9
KUDLÁČEK	Jaroslav	P/O	311	Pilot

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* 09/12/19, Chrudim

† 05/10/45, Blackbushe

Accident after takeoff from Blackbushe on flight to Prague.

27	row 28. D. 10
CHALUPA	Jan	Sgt	310	Pilot

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* 05/05/19, Brno

† 16/10/40, Ely Railway Station

Died of injuries after a crash during a training flight.

28	row 28. D. 11
VAVERKA	Bohumil	F/O	311	WO, Instructor

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* 23/10/14, Milokošť, Hodonín

† 05/10/45, Blackbushe

Accident after takeoff from Blackbushe on flight to Prague.

29	row 28. D. 12
BROŽ	Antonín	F/Sgt	311	Pilot

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* 29/10/13, Hradec Králové

† 05/10/45, Blackbushe

Accident after takeoff from Blackbushe on flight to Prague.

30	row 28. D. 12
SEDLÁK	Zdeněk	F/Sgt	311	Fitter I

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* 29/07/12, Prague

† 05/10/45, Blackbushe

Accident after takeoff from Blackbushe on flight to Prague.

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31	row 28. D. 12
FECHTNER	Emil, DFC	P/O	310	Pilot

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* 16/10/16, Prague

† 29/10/40, Whittles Ford, Cambs.

Mid air collision during operational flight in Hurricane NN-S, P3889.

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32	row 28. E. 2
KOMÍNEK	Josef	Sgt	310	Pilot

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* 31/10/13, Prague

† 08/06/41, Coes Farm, Firtob

Accident during training flight.

33	row 28. E. 3A.
ŠTUDENT	Václav	F/Lt	311	Pilot

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* 25/11/17, Prague

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

34	row 28. E. 4
BULIŠ	František	P/O	311	Pilot

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* 22/09/16, Hrochův Týnec, Chrudim

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

35	28. E. 4A
DOLEŽAL	František	F/Sgt	311	WO/AG

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* 25/01/14, Litomyšl, Svitavy

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

36	row 28. E. 5
STOKLÁSEK	František	F/Sgt	311	Fitter I

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* 30/10/13, Jihlava

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

37	row 28. E. 5A.
ŠVEC	Josef	F/Sgt	311	Pilot

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* 28/06/06, Chrast, Chrudim

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

38	row 28. E. 6
BLÁHA	Jan	F/Sgt	311	Pilot

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* 22/02/09, Karlovy Vary

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

39	row 28. E. 6A
PACLÍK	František	Cpl	311	Flight Mechanic E

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* 11/04/16, Vienna, Austria

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

40	row 28. E. 7
BUNZL	Antonín	P/O	311	WO/AG

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* 16/09/19, Úpice, Náchod

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

41	row 28. E. 7A
GÖTZLINGER	Vilém	Sgt	311	Instrument Mechanic

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* 02/09/11, Ivanovice na Hané, Vyškov

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

42	row 28. E. 8
GISSÜBEL	Bedřich	P/O	311	Pilot

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* 12/02/10, Rasochy, Kolín

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

43	row 28. E. 8A
JEBÁČEK	Jaroslav	P/O	311	AG

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* 06/11/20, Jinačovice, Brno

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

44	row 28. E. 9
ČECH	Josef	Sgt	311	Electrician

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* 07/01/11, Prague

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

45	row 28. E. 9
RÁJECKI [Rájecký]	Vladimír	Sgt	311	AG

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* 05/07/20, Pančevo, Yugoslavia

† 18/10/42, Uxbridge

Accident during transit flight Talbenny to Northolt in Wellington KX-T, T2564.

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In the Royal Air Force area opposite the RAF Shelter building three more Czechoslovak airmen are interred. F/Lt Jaroslav Malý and Sgt Anton Vanko are located on the left hand side near the road. W/Cmdr Josef Ocelka is on the right hand side at the memorial end of that group of headstones.

	row 28. E. 9
MALÝ	Jaroslav	F/Lt	310	Pilot

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* 17/07/05, Prague

† 06/06/41, London

Previous injuries

	row 20. D. 12
VANKO	Anton	Sgt	312 Sqn	Pilot

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* 10/01/18, Lednické Rovné, Považská Bystrica

† 08/12/44, Brookwood

Crash on start of operational flight at Bradwell Bay.

row 24. B. 8
	OCELKA	Josef	W/Cdr	6 MU	Pilot

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* 12/03/09, Lipník nad Bečvou, Přerov

† 21/07/42, Brize Norton

Killed in flying accident at Brize Norton.

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Next to the RAF Shelter building, is the civilian area of Brookwood Cemetery. Immediately as you enter this part of the cemetery is the location of the Czechoslovak ex-Servicemen’s plot where currently 94 Czechoslovak ex-Servicemen are interred. These are Czechoslovaks who had served in either the RAF or the British Army during World War 2. Following the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in February 1948 they had been forced to go into exile in the West to avoid persecution.

Interred in this plot are numerous distinguished and highly decorated airmen, including several who had fought in the Battle of Britain.

The symbolic grave of P/O Jaroslav Štěrbáček, the first Czechoslovak airmen to be killed in the RAF is here. He joined 310 Sqn on 31 August 1940 at Hornchurch. Later that day the squadron pariicipated in its first action of the Battle of Britain. At 13:30, whilst engaging a formation of Dorniers escorted by Bf 110′s and Bf 109′s. His Hurricane I (P3159) was shot down by a Bf 109 over the Thames Estuary. His body was never found and is commemorated on the Runnymeade Memorial.

Some had lived their post war lives in various parts of the world but had chosen to be interred here with their former comrades.

The existence of this plot originates from 1984 when the ground was leased from Brookwood Cemetry by the four Trustees appointed to administer this plot. They consisted of an ex RAF, a ex Army, both of whom had served in Czechoslovak military units in WW2, a Czechoslovak padre and a descendant of a Czechoslovak ex-Servicemen. In 2010, following the passing of three of the original Trustees, the surviving Trustee, in accordance with terms of the Trust Deed, appointed three new Trustees all of whom are descendants of Czechoslovaks who served in the RAF in WW2. They can be contacted here.

Also within the civilian area of Brookwood Cemetery is the grave of the 49th Czechoslovak who was killed whilst serving in 311 Czechoslovak Sqn. of the RAF.

LACW Edita Sedláková was the wife of F/Sgt Zdeněk Sedlak, crew member of Liberator VI KG 867 which crashed shortly after taking-off from Blackbushe airfield on 5 October 1945 carrying passengers to Prague. She had stowed away on the aircraft amongst the luggage in the bomb bay and was killed with 17 other passengers, mainly women and children, in the crash.

All the aircraft’s passengers are interred in a communal grave.

SEDLÁKOVÁ [Herrmanová]

Edita

LACW

311

Ground staff

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* 03/03/26, Plzeň

† 05/10/45, Blackbushe

Accident in Liberator VI KG 867 after takeoff from Blackbushe on flight to Prague.

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GPS Location:- N 51 18 3, W 00 38 17

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Article last updated 27 October 2011

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