Sgt. David L. Silverman, crew 57 (3 missions)

The above photo shows David at age 15, four years later at age nineteen he was the mid-upper airgunner for the Stanley crew. David and the rest of crew "FTR" from their third mission; a raid to Berlin on the 28/29 Jan. 1944, all were killed.

A Visit to Berlin War Cemetery

Sgt. David Silverman's younger brother Paul made a journey to the Berlin War Cemetery in the spring of 2008, here is a short narration with photos submitted by Jack Creeber (son-in-law).

Original grave markers prior to Imperial War Graves Commission permanent  headstones and consolidation of aircrew, two remaining airmen would be moved to this location.

It was 64 years since Paul lost his brother and the fact he had never seen his David’s resting place caused him a great deal of pain. A large gap existed in Paul’s heart because he never really knew what had happened to his brother on that fateful night or who he was with when the plane went down.

David was killed in action during a raid over Berlin on the 29 January 1944 and his brother Paul had never seen his grave and now into his mid 80’s a visit to Berlin’s war cemetery was uppermost in his mind before it was too late.

Paul had always thought that David should be brought home to rest and that in someway this would repay a debt to his brother, well that was until he visited Berlin. The cemetery was so serene and beautiful, with the grounds kept in an immaculate condition and free of any vandalism.

Seeing the grave and knowing he is lying side by side with the other members of Crew 57, Paul is now adamant that David is in the right place and should never be moved.

This visit was extremely emotional for Paul and at times very difficult but one he so pleased to have made. The void in Paul’s heart no longer exists because of the visit to the Berlin together with finding out so much from the web site dedicated to 434 Squadron, Paul is just eager to learn even more about his brother and the crew he flew with.

Berlin War Cemetery

You enter the cemetery by walking up a grass path on a slight incline bounded on either side with rhododendron bushes.

The path then turns at right angles bringing a large stone porch / entrance way into view for the first time.

The monument contains small rooms at either end with one holding a wall safe within which two books sit, one is a directory listing the names of person buried there and the location of the grave and the other is a book where you are able to record your own comments.

From entrance porch your eyes are drawn up along the middle of the cemetery towards a large monolith upon which is engraved the words...

‘THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE’

and beyond that stands a large stone cross with another monument of stone arch and pillars to compliment the one in which you are standing.

Once into the cemetery and you are immediately hit by the number of white headstones and a feeling of the pointless death of so many young men which is really reinforced when you start to note the ages of the vast majority, like David Silverman who was just 19.

The peace of the cemetery also hits you and you find yourself talking in whispered tones as not to wake the sleeping, only to be woken at times by the sound of numerous wonderful bird songs filling the air.

Each headstone of the seven airmen lies back to back with another in the middle of a meticulous dug and maintained flowerbed and each headstone has its own flower or shrub which is never neglected and more powerful still not one weed was present.

Pilot. F/Sgt. Russell Stanley RCAF

F/E. Sgt. Stanley Groucott RAFVR

Nav. F/O Richard Crompton RCAF

B/A. Sgt. Donald Rose RCAF

W/Op. AG. Sgt. Jack Olliffe RAFVR 

AG. Sgt. David Silverman RAFVR

AG. Sgt. Joseph Leduc RCAF

Paul standing to the right of his brother, Sgt. David Silverman's headstone

I would like to thank Jack Creeber and Paul Silverman for sharing these photos and personal memories of the journey to The Berlin War Cemetery.