Aarsele Communal Cemetery

About

The Cemetery of Aarsele is a municipal cemetery in the Belgian village of Aarsele, part of Tielt. The cemetery is located on the School Street at 370 m northwestwest of the St Martin's Church. The cemetery has a square ground plan and is bordered on the street side by a low wall and a hedge. The separation from the surrounding buildings consists of a hedge. Two robust natural stone columns with a metal double gate form the entrance.

At the end of the row of graves, immediately to the left of the entrance, lies the tomb of British pilot George Sholto Manning Pearson. He was shot down on 11 August 1943 with his Hawker Typhoon by the German anti-aircraft gun (FLAK) above Aarsele. His gravestone does not consist of the usual white Portland stone but is a private stone tombstone with a photo of him. This grave is maintained by the municipality and is registered with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission under Aarsele Communal Cemetery.