Memorial

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Merchant Seaman James Goetchius was in the Rex Cinema in Antwerp, Belgium when a V-2 bomb struck the theatre on 16 December 1944, causing extensive loss of life.

His body however, was not recovered until 17 December and the Reports of Death and Burial both state that Mr. Goetchius died at the time his body was recovered. He died of extensive head injuries.

Considerable confusion as regards identification of the bodies resulted by the fact that hundreds of casualties from the Rex Cinema and other bombed areas were being brought into all available hospitals all during the week. The body of Mr. Frank S. Panico, second Cook, ex S.S. William Paca, was buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery and that Mr. Goetchius was interred at Fosses No. 1 Military Cemetery, Grace 25, Row 2, Flot K, but their identities were confused and the names on the graves were switched. It was some time after the burial that the mistake was discovered and the names on the graves were corrected.