Approximately 08:15: The 17 May Committee lays wreaths at Allied airmen’s graves at Møllendal cemetery.
17 May 2027, approximately 08:15 · Møllendal cemetery
The Bergen 17 May Committee lays a wreath at the graves of Allied airmen at Møllendal. On Constitution Day, we honour those who lost their lives during the Second World War and remember that people far from home also fought for Norway’s freedom.
The Allied war graves
Møllendal contains the graves of 46 Commonwealth casualties from the Second World War, grouped in a dedicated war graves section. Most were pilots and other aircrew who lost their lives in and around Bergen; one of those buried remains unidentified.
These graves connect Bergen with the Allied air forces’ wartime efforts. Among those resting here is Canadian Flying Officer Darl Neilson Turner of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who died on 8 December 1943, aged just 22. His grave is D.11. Australian Flying Officer David Campbell Church, who served with the Royal Australian Air Force in RAF No. 207 Squadron, died on an operation in Norway on 29 October 1944 and is also buried here.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The organisation’s correct name is the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Established in 1917 as the Imperial War Graves Commission, it records and cares for war graves and memorials. Its work is based on commemorating each casualty individually with a permanent memorial, without distinction by rank or background.
CWGC maintains records of Commonwealth casualties, including those buried at Møllendal. Bergen’s cemetery authority provides local care for the foreign war graves. The pale headstones and shared burial ground offer a quiet, dignified setting for remembrance and reflection.
Finding the ceremony
The wreath laying takes place at the Commonwealth war graves in section N of Møllendal cemetery. The map marker identifies the cemetery, rather than a confirmed location at an individual grave. Use the cemetery map to find the section. Respect other visitors and keep paths clear.