Francis Stafford Golland gravesite

Francis Golland's grave in Hotton, Belgium. He is buried near to his CSM, Bob Shiells. They died together outside Watou in Belgium on 30 May 1940. They were killed by a machine-gun while attempting to cross an open field. See other photo.

I took this photo when visiting the grave, along way from where Golland and Shiells died. Strangely enough, an oak bough taps Golland's gravestone in the breeze. The acorn and oakleaves are, of course, on the Cheshire Regiment's cap badge. There were no flowers on his grave, although Bob Shiells's had a plant on it, so I went into Hotton, bought a plant and planted it on Golland's grave. I hope it is still there. I asked the CWGC why these two are so far away from their comrades, who also fell in 1940, and it could give me no explanation. Just one of those things! Most of the cemetery occupants at Hotton are those who fell in the Rhine Crossing in 1945.