Bygland Churchyard

• Country Norway
• Total identified casualties 7 Find these casualties
• Identified casualties from Second World War
• GPS Coordinates Latitude: 58.83054, Longitude: 7.79531

Location information

Bygland is in south-west Norway, in the Otra Valley, just over 96 kilometres north of Kristiansand. From the E18/39 in Kristiansand follow the 9 in the direction of Evja. Go through Evja and follow the 9 to Bygland. The churchyard lies beside the lake opposite a garage and the small Commonwealth War Graves Plot is on the south-eastern side of the church.

History information

During the Second World War, Norway was of strategic importance to the Germans. Their invasion on 9 April 1940 was sudden and widespread and despite Allied intervention, the entire country was under German occupation by early June. Thereafter, Allied activity in Norway was confined to raids and special operations, with the Commonwealth air forces providing support to Norwegian resistance groups until the German capitulation in May 1945. There are no Commonwealth war cemeteries in Norway, those who died there being buried in civil cemeteries and churchyards. Bygland Churchyard contains the collective grave of seven Commonwealth airmen.