Register of Burials in War Graves in the Parish of Swindon (Book 1 1944-1946)

There are two burial registers of war graves in the Swindon and Whitworth Road Cemeteries in the Parish of Swindon. They contain the names of British servicemen, Italian and German Prisoners of War.

The deaths of sixty six German soldiers, airmen and navel personnel are registered. Nearly all died whilst at the USA 302nd Station Hospital Camp at Lydiard Park or its successors, the re-designated 4136 USA Hospital Plant, and the 160 POW Camp which was under British military control.

The German POW's were buried in Section L of Whitworth Cemetery, Swindon, their graves originally marked with simple wooden crosses. The registers include full details of their age, rank, service number, date of burial, the name of the officiating minister and plot number.

Names, ages (where known) and date of death are listed below.

BOOK1

302nd USA Hospital, Lydiard Tregoze

No.35 Rolf Jacobs, age 19yrs, died 25th August 1944 No.36 Peter Gobert, died 26th August 1944 No.38 Frederick Klager, died ? September 1944 No.39 Hubert Laufenber, age 30 yrs, died 30th September 1944 No.40 Franz Lazek, age 23yrs, died 2nd October 1944 No.41 Wolfgang Reinmuth, age 21yrs, died 5th November 1944 No.42 Mokhtar Ben. Belkheir, died 7th November 1944 No.44 Wilhelm Haielbucker, age 34yrs, died 15th November 1944 No.45 Fritz Koehler, age 18yrs, died 16th November 1944 No.46 Michael Sfarrdrescher, age 35yrs, died 29th November 1944 No.47 Seiggried, age 18yrs, died 6th December 1944 No.48 Johann Reuter, died 11th December 1944 No.49 Karl Hirt, age 30 years, died 13th December 1944 No.50 Wilhelm, age 19 years, died 28th December 1944 No.51 Hans Hopp, age 34yrs, died 6th January 1945 No.52 Helmut Huttner, age 31yrs, died 30th January 1945 No.53 Erich Griesz, age 23yrs, died 5th February 1945 No.54 Leopold Haas, age 39yrs, died 3rd February 1945 No.56 Helmut Knoop, age 37yrs, died 23rd February 1945 No.57 Bernhard Mock, died 10th March 1945 No.59 Efraem Nadiradse, age 35yrs, died 14th March 1945 (from Russia) No.60 Wilhelm Deuker, age 32yrs, died 20th March 1945 No.61 Werner Karweik, age 25yrs, died 24th March 1945

4136 USA Hospital Plant, Lydiard Tregoze

No.62 Engelbert Altmuchlin, age 18yrs, died 27th March 1945 No.63 Emil Mueller, age 17yrs, died 29th March 1945 No.65 UKNOWN, age 20 yrs, died 31st March 1945 No.66 Hans Saldsieder, age 26yrs, died 31st March 1945 No.67 Karl Heinz Bettlach, age 18yrs, died 31st March 1945 No.68 Hugo Bamberger, age 29yrs, died 1st April 1945 No.69 Erich Goth, age 18yrs, died 1st April 1945 No.70 Ernst Ziemann, age 18yrs,died 4th April 1945 No.71 Paul Ihling, age 35yrs, died 5th April 1945 No.72 Kilian Janal, age 19yrs, died 5th April 1945 No.73 Friedrich Fergin, age 36yrs, died 10th April 1945 No.74 Josef Propstmeier, age 18yrs, died 21st April 1945 No.75. Adolf Mundhenke, age 21yrs, died 21st April 1945 No.76 Erich Latza, died 28th April 1945 No.77 Paul Rupprecht, died 2nd May 1945 No.78 Helmut Ripperger, died 5th May 1945 No.79 Georg Wagner, died 5th May 1945 No.80 Martin Heinicke, age 47yrs, died 7th June 1945 No.81 Ernst Richter, age 44yrs, died 13th June 1945

46160 POW Hospital

No.96 Theodor Kreutzer, age 48yrs, died 18th April 1945 No.98 Karl Funke, age 56urs, died 25th May 1946 No.99 Jacob Zitzen, age 50yrs, died 16th June 1946 No.100 Willie Domke, age 45yrs, died 18th June 1946 No.101 Walter Oslislo, age 33yrs, died 24th June 1946 No.102 Erich Gruenack, age 37yrs, died 28th July 1946 No.104 Lothar Dziadek, age 37yrs, died 28th July 1946 No.105 Lothar Keller, age 40, died 30th July 1946

In 1959 the British Government and the Federal Republic of Germany concluded an agreement on the future maintenance of German war graves which were not looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. This applied to Whitworth Cemetery and many similar sites across the country. The agreement saw the creation of a central memorial, Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery in Staffordshire, which was officially opened in 1967 following re-interments. The site, which contains the graves of 5.000 German and Austrians, is said to have been selected on account of its rolling landscape and pine trees which are reminiscent of parts of Germany.