Rededication Ceremony for German Airman Wilhelm Reuhl held

A special rededication ceremony was held today to mark the installation of a German War Graves headstone for Wilhelm Reuhl, a 20-year-old German airman who died during the Second World War, when his aircraft was shot down over Porlock.

Held jointly by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (German War Graves Commission), the rededication honoured Reuhl's life, 86 years after his death, while celebrating an extraordinary story of reconciliation, compassion and enduring friendship between communities in Britain and Germany.

The new headstone secures the permanent military commemoration of a lone grave that the local community had already been caring for.

About Wilhelm Reuhl

In September 1940, Wilhelm Reuhl was one of four crew members aboard a German aircraft shot down over Porlock Bay, Somerset.

While three members of the crew survived and were taken prisoner, Reuhl was killed in the incident. His body was recovered and buried at nearby Hawkcombe Cemetery in Porlock.

For decades, his grave was marked by a simple wooden cross and cared for by local people.

Over the years, this act of respect and remembrance led to friendships developing between Reuhl's family in Germany and the residents of Porlock who tended his grave, creating a remarkable story of post-war reconciliation and understanding.

A new headstone

A new German War Graves headstone has now been commissioned and installed for Wilhelm Reuhl through the joint efforts of the Volksbund and the CWGC, ensuring that he is commemorated with the dignity afforded to all war dead, regardless of nationality.

Our thanks also go to the Parish Council of Porlock for their permission to install the new headstone.

Following the ceremony, the CWGC will continue to maintain the grave on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The partnership between the CWGC and the Volksbund is one of Europe's longest-standing examples of post-war cooperation. 

The event highlights the shared commitment of both organisations to preserving the memory of those who died in conflict and promoting understanding of the human cost of war and the value of peace.

Sabine Reuhl, the niece of Wilhelm Reuhl, said:
“Although Wilhelm’s young life was cut short by war almost 86 years ago, our family has never forgotten him. This end marked the beginning of a new, different story, one full of hope and comfort. For the people of Porlock tended his grave, laid flowers, read out his name on Remembrance Day, contacted his parents and cared for him as if he had been their own deceased son or brother, even though he had come to their country as an adversary. This empathy and outpouring of sympathy brought great comfort to our family. 

“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the residents, the parish council of Porlock, to the parish of St. Dubricius, to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and to the Volksbund for this ‘cross-border’ project and ensuring Wilhelm’s grave is marked with a headstone.”

German Ambassador Susanne Baumann said:
"Porlock tells a particularly remarkable story of British-German reconciliation. It is deeply moving that the grave of a German airman who fell in Porlock Bay as an enemy has been so faithfully tended by the local community for over 86 years. The people of Porlock have demonstrated, through this extraordinary act of reconciliation, the values that unite us today, including the belief in a dignified burial for every human being. I am profoundly grateful for this farsighted act of friendship."

Photos by Adrian Moore.