Kasterlee War Cemetery

• Country Belgium
• Total identified casualties 97 Find these casualties
• Region Antwerpen
• Identified casualties from Second World War
• GPS Coordinates Latitude: 51.23401, Longitude: 4.97136

Location information

Kasterlee War Cemetery is located 54 Kms north of Leuven and 53 Kms east of Antwerpen. From the front entrance of St. Willibrordus Kerk in the centre of Kasterlee, drive 850 metres down Geelsebaan (N 19) - in the direction of Geel and turn off to the right on to the 'Venheide' (opposite the Windmill), following the Commission sign. The cemetery is situated at this right turn.

Visiting information

Wheelchair access is possible via the main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on telephone number 01628 507220.

History information

The British Expeditionary Force was involved in the later stages of the defence of Belgium following the German invasion in May 1940, and suffered many casualties in covering the withdrawal to Dunkirk. Commonwealth forces did not return until September 1944, but in the intervening years, many airmen were shot down or crashed in raids on strategic objectives in Belgium, or while returning from missions over Germany. Kasterlee War Cemetery contains the graves of men killed in the fierce fighting associated with the crossing of the Meuse-Escaut Canal during the first three weeks of September 1944. The regiments represented by the largest numbers are The Royal Scots, The King's Own Scottish Borderers and The Royal Scots Fusiliers. The cemetery contains 100 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 3 of which are unidentified. The cemetery was designed by the Commission's Principal Architect, Philip Hepworth, FRIBA.