This memorial page is dedicated to John Finlay, one of more than 725 war victims connected to the municipality of Deurne documented by Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers. The municipality of Deurne and the surrounding villages of Liessel, Vlierden, Helenaveen, Neerkant and Zeilberg were liberated in the autumn of 1944 during heavy fighting. Victims fell on all sides: Allied soldiers from countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and New Zealand, and German soldiers.

But the archive covers more than just the combat victims on Deurne soil. Residents of Deurne who lost their lives elsewhere are also commemorated: civilians who were murdered in concentration camps, forced labourers who died in Germany, people who were executed or succumbed to the effects of persecution and oppression. In addition, residents of Deurne who entered German military service and were killed elsewhere are also included.

Stichting Oorlogsslachtoffers has been documenting the story of all these people since 1995, without distinction of nationality, side or background. The goal is to give every person a name and a face, and to keep their memory alive.

 

John Finlay

Name: Finlay
First names: John
Nickname: –
Date of birth: 25 July 1912
Place of birth: Keady, Armagh (Northern Ireland)
Residence: –
Rank / Occupation: Sapper
Identity tag: 2161226
Unit: Royal Engineers, 278 Field Coy.
Date of death: 19 November 1944
Place of death: Liessel
Cause of death: Killed by a landmine
Cemetery: Nederweert War Cemetery
Memorial site: –

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Additional information

Grave location: II. F. 10.

Aged 32. Widow: Rose Finlay, of Forest Gate, Essex.

Johan Finlay died as a result of a mine explosion near the Hoge Bridge in Liessel. These minefields (see diagram), containing a total of 58 Teller mines, were laid on 1 November 1944 by the German 1st Motorised Engineer Battalion (33rd). On 30 November 1945, German prisoners of war from the 1st Engineer Battalion 346, under the supervision of the Dutch 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, searched the field. Only one landmine was found at that time.

On 24 May 1946 and on 17 July 1946, an attempt was made to plough the suspect areas, but in one field a tractor sank into the ground, whilst the other had already been ploughed by the farmer. A countermine was subsequently found in each of the suspected fields; who cleared the other mines remains a mystery. In any case, one mine had detonated in a mining accident on 1 March 1945, in which Jacobus Verstappen lost his life.

Site plan showing the registered minefields in red and the suspected areas shaded.
Situatietekening met in rood de geregistreerde mijnenvelden en gearceerd de verdachte gebieden.

John Finlay’s field grave was located near the Hoge Brug in Liessel.

View all persons in the category: Allied soldiers killed in action