A man from the Netherlands who has adopted the grave of a Wigan airman killed during the Second World War is appealing for help to trace the veteran's relatives in the Wigan area. The search concerns Sgt John Bimson, a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 105 Squadron, who was killed when his Bristol Blenheim was shot down over the Netherlands on 1 March 1941.
Adoption of graves and commemoration
Frank Loonstra, 36, adopted the grave at Groningen (Esserveld) Cemetery as part of a Netherlands scheme that allows individuals to care for war graves. He looks after two plots, including that of Sgt Bimson, maintaining flowers and visiting on key remembrance dates such as Liberation Day and the anniversary of the aircraft's loss.
“It would mean the world to show his family that John is still honoured and remembered over here in the Netherlands,”
Mr Loonstra has been able to trace the family of Sgt Bimson's fellow crewman, Sgt S Jones, but says efforts to identify John’s next of kin in the UK have so far been unsuccessful. He hopes descendants or other relations still living in or around Wigan will make contact so they might visit the grave and learn more about John’s life.
Key details
Below are the factual details supplied about the airman and his service:
- Name: Sgt John Bimson
- Service number: 970880
- Role: Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
- Unit: 105 Squadron
- Date of death: 1 March 1941
- Burial place: Groningen (Esserveld) Cemetery, Netherlands
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | Bristol Blenheim |
| Location of crash | Over the Netherlands, after a raid on Wilhelmshaven |
| Adopter | Frank Loonstra (Netherlands) |
What relatives should do
Anyone who believes they may be related to Sgt Bimson, or who has family history information that could assist, is asked to contact Mr Loonstra directly by email at frank.loonstra@email.com. The appeal is both to provide closure and to enable possible visits to the grave, which Mr Loonstra maintains with regular care.
This appeal is a reminder of the networks of commemoration that stretch beyond Britain: volunteers overseas continue to preserve the memory of service personnel, and local connections in Wigan may hold the missing links to bringing families together with the places where their relatives rest. If you can help, please make contact so that the family of Sgt Bimson can be informed that his sacrifice has not been forgotten.
