May 012010
Oct 042020
German Military Cemetery Staffordshire
Many of you will know I am quite interested history, especially military history. While doing a little research I discovered a German Military Cemetery in Staffordshire Britain. Not something I had ever considered but probably should have. All wars result in casualties on both sides and while there were no land battles in Britain, there was the war in the air and at sea, not mention Prisoners Of War.
My interest piqued I took a trip to Staffordshire to shoot some images at the Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof. The cemetery contains the graves of 2143 soldiers of the first world war and 2786 soldiers of the second world war. All the headstones are very similar but unlike British CWGC headstones they don’t seem to say, with any consistency, which branch of the armed forces the personnel served with or their unit, though they do indicate rank.
In 1959 the UK German government came to an agreement for the care of the graves of German nationals who lost their lives in the United Kingdom during the two World Wars. The result was the Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof at Cannock Chase Staffordshire. This resulted in the transfer of all graves in the UK, not already effectively maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, to this central cemetery. This transfer of graves of German servicemen and civilian internees from both world wars was arranged by the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgraberfursorge). The inauguration and dedication took place on the 10th June 1967 and is immaculately maintained by the CWGC.
A few notable graves to look out for amongst the photos for are….
Generalfeldmarschall Ernst Bernhard Wilhelm Busch
holder of the Pour le Merite (Blue Max) and Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. He commanded troops during the invasion of Poland, the Battle of France and the invasion of Russia (Operation Barbarossa). His final command was Army Group Northwest. His task, to stop Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery’s advance into Germany. Busch surrendered to Monty on 3 May 1945 and died of heart failure in a prisoner of war camp in Aldershot, England.
SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS Maximilian Karl Otto von Herff.
Originally in the Wehrmacht Herff was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1939. He served with the German Afrika Korps, was then promoted to Colonel and commanded “Kampfgruppe von Herff”. In June 1941 was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross for his service in North Africa. He transferred to the Waffen-SS and joined the Nazi Party in 1942. From August 1942-1945 Von Herff was ‘Chef fur Personalhauptamt’. The man in charge of the office responsible maintaining the service records for all commissioned Waffen-SS and Allgemeine-SS personnel. Captured in 1945, and held at Grizedale POW camp he died in Conishead Priory Military Hospital as the result of a Stroke.
Four Graves Containing the Remains of Four Zeppelin Crews
Tablet marks the four graves containing the remains of Four Zeppelin crews Shot down during World war one with each Crew being buried together.
A small black and white photo at the bottom of the headstone marking the last resting place of Eugen Geyer and Franz Andele. Both were members of the German Luftwaffe
Cannock Chase War Cemetery Staffordshire
Before reaching the actual German Military Cemetery you will encounter Cannock Chase War Cemetery which is closer to the road. Cannock Chase War Cemetery contains 97 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, most of them New Zealanders, and 286 German burials. There are also three burials from the Second World War.
Images © Paul David Drabble
All Rights Reserved
Moral Rights Asserted
Aug 182020
The image archive updated to include some newly discovered pictures of
Denis Healey, Baron Healey CH, MBE, PC
Born: 30 August 1917 Died: 03 October 2015 . He was a British Labour politician who served as Secretary of State for Defence from 1964 to 1970 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1974 to 1979.
Rodney Bewes
Born: 27 November 1937 Died: 21 November 2017. He was an English television actor and writer who is probably best know for his portrayal Bob Ferris in the BBC television sitcom The Likely Lads and the follow up Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?
Neil and Christine Hamilton
Neil Hamilton Born: 09 March 1949 is a British politician, barrister, and former teacher. After being implicated in the cash-for-questions affair, he became widely associated with ‘sleaze’. Defeated in the 1997 general election, he left politics but didn’t leave the Conservative Party until 2002, when he joined UKIP
Christine Hamilton Born: 10 November 1949 Neil Hamiltons wife. She is an English media personality and author. Both have become prominent supporters of UKIP (the UK Independence Party)
Jun 062020
Black Lives Matter protest and march in the name of George Floyd, whose death has sparked protests through the USA, and across the word, with demonstrators desperately calling for an end to police violence, was held on Devonshire Green in Sheffield on Saturday 6th June 2020 where at times Social distancing became impossible despite the best efforts of Event organisers.
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Moral Rights Asserted –
May 202020
Covid Social Distancing and as the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased in England, the sky around Mam Tor in the Peak National Park fills with Paragliders. Probably the ultimate Social Distancing leisure pursuit
Apr 212020
Signs of the Coronavirus Pandemic is a collection of images showing signs posters and notices which appeared publicly and are directly related to the Coronavirus COVID19 Pandemic in the UK 2020
Apr 202020
Empty Places Covid-19 Pandemic A collection of images showing some places and spaces deserted due to the UK restrictions on going out during the Global Coronavirus Pandemic –
Apr 112020
Easter weekend and the Peak District National Park effectively closed down during the Coronavirus Pandemic as people listen to government advice and Stay home over the Easter Weekend. The A57 one of the the main roads linking Manchester and Sheffield with no traffic, Road Closure leading to Derwent Dams, Popular waking hotspot Mam Tor deserted and Castleton in Lockdown.
Mar 262020
26 March 2020 – Endncliffe Park Sheffield. Third day of the emergency measures which were announced by Prime minister Boris Johnson on Monday evening (24th march).
A group of young men use the parks outdoor gym equipment despite it being clearly marked off as out of bounds
Mar 252020
Meadowhall car parks almost empty after government guidance that all non-essential stores should be closed until further notice. during the global Coronavirus Covid-19 Pandemic
Mar 242020
UPDATE 27 March – Man named in Sheffield murder inquiry.
A 26-year-old man who died following a fight in Sheffield city centre named as Xiangyu Li.
Emergency services were called to the junction of Union Street and Charles Street at around 3.30am on Tuesday (24 March) after Mr Li was found unconscious
A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in Frankfurt, Germany on Wednesday (25 March) under a European arrest warrant.
Police secure the scene in union street Sheffield where the body of a man in his 20s was found in the early hours of Tuesday morning (24th March 2020). Police have identified man and officers are now trying to trace the man’s family. The young mans death is currently being treated as “unexplained” and the area has been cordoned off.
24 March 2020