Brunssum (NL)was liberated in September 1944 by American troops (2nd AD Division); they were shortly followed by the British 43 (Wessex) Division, who had their headquarters in the town, and were in turn succeeded by the 52 (Lowland) Division. Men of the British 43rd Infantry Division were at that time engaged in fierce fighting around the area between the Roer and Meuse rivers north of Sittard (NL).

On Thursday September 19, 2019, during the celebration of 75 years of liberation of the municipality Brunssum, the ceremony took place, which the Honorary Citizenship was posthumously awarded to the 328 British soldiers buried at Brunssum War Cemetery. With this award, Brunssum expresses its deep gratitude for the sacrifice these men made for our freedom more than 75 years ago.

The first graves at the later to be named Brunssum War Cemetery were made by a forward field hospital (military medical post usually located behind the front line and just out of reach of enemy artillery) located at Merkelbeek in November 1944.

Other casualties were brought later to the Brunssums War Cemetery. Many of them had fallen shortly before during the battle for Geilenkirchen (D). In addition, there lie about fifty soldiers who died in January 1945 while clearing mines along the German border.