ARC-ET-SENANS COMMMUNAL CEMETERY
Doubs
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 47.03985, Longitude: 5.789
Location Information
Arc-et-Senans are villages and communes in the department of the Doubs some 30 kilometres southwest of Besancon, the chief town of the department. The communal cemetery is north of the village of Senans on the west side of the road and not far from the church. The airmen's graves are right of the entrance near the far right corner.
Identified Casualties 8.
Arc-et-Senans are villages and communes in the department of the Doubs some 30 kilometres southwest of Besancon, the chief town of the department. The communal cemetery is north of the village of Senans on the west side of the road and not far from the church. The airmen's graves are right of the entrance near the far right corner.
Identified Casualties 8.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
1672382 Sergeant
John Campbell Alexander
Navigator in 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st September 1944, aged 30.
Son of William and Margaret Alexander, of Glasgow; husband of Isabella McM. Alexander, of Glasgow.
His headstone bears the inscription "It's Only Those Who Have Lost Can Tell The Pain Of Parting Without Farewell"
Picture and following information courtesy of John's daughter Annette in October 2023
My dad was killed at 2am on September 1st, 1944 and I was born on August 30th at 9 pm. My dad received the telegram telling him he had a new daughter, but because he had volunteered to go on this (fateful) mission, he decided to wait until he got home… Although I never met my dad, he has never been forgotten by me or my two older brothers. My mother never really recovered from his tragic death and was reunited and interred with him when she passed in 2004.
John Campbell Alexander
Navigator in 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
1st September 1944, aged 30.
Son of William and Margaret Alexander, of Glasgow; husband of Isabella McM. Alexander, of Glasgow.
His headstone bears the inscription "It's Only Those Who Have Lost Can Tell The Pain Of Parting Without Farewell"
Picture and following information courtesy of John's daughter Annette in October 2023
My dad was killed at 2am on September 1st, 1944 and I was born on August 30th at 9 pm. My dad received the telegram telling him he had a new daughter, but because he had volunteered to go on this (fateful) mission, he decided to wait until he got home… Although I never met my dad, he has never been forgotten by me or my two older brothers. My mother never really recovered from his tragic death and was reunited and interred with him when she passed in 2004.
436598 Flight Sergeant
Robert Alexander Ashton
Royal Australian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 22.
Son of William Arthur and Laura Rosena Ashton, of Brighton, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Loved Son Of William And Laura Ashton Of Brighton, Australia"
Studio portrait of 436598 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Robert Alexander Ashton RAAF, 138 Squadron, RAF. Flt Sgt Ashton was killed on operation over North West Europe on 1 September 1944. He was 22 years old.
Robert Alexander Ashton
Royal Australian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 22.
Son of William Arthur and Laura Rosena Ashton, of Brighton, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Loved Son Of William And Laura Ashton Of Brighton, Australia"
Studio portrait of 436598 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Robert Alexander Ashton RAAF, 138 Squadron, RAF. Flt Sgt Ashton was killed on operation over North West Europe on 1 September 1944. He was 22 years old.
424554 Flight Sergeant
Norman Edward Barnes
Royal Australian Air Force,
1st September 1944, aged 20.
Son of Albert Leslie and Winifred Graham Barnes, of Belmont, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Is My Shepherd; I Shall Not Want" Ever Remembered. Mum And Dad
Norman Edward Barnes
Royal Australian Air Force,
1st September 1944, aged 20.
Son of Albert Leslie and Winifred Graham Barnes, of Belmont, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Lord Is My Shepherd; I Shall Not Want" Ever Remembered. Mum And Dad
422658 Flight Sergeant
Gordon Wesley McLeod
Royal Australian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 26.
Son of William Gordon and Violet May McLeod, of Macksville, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Is Nearest God Who Served Him Best. Ever Remembered"
Studio portrait of 422658 Airman, later Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Gordon Wesley McLeod, of Sydney, NSW. Enlisting in the RAAF in May 1942, Aircraftman McLeod trained as an aircrew member as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme and flew Short Stirling bombers with 138 Squadron, RAF based at Tempsford, in Bedfordshire, England. Flt Sgt McLeod has taken part in Operation Draughts, an operational sortie to drop supplies to the Maquis in German occupied France, on the night of 31 August/1 September 1944, when his Stirling, serial number LJ503 (radio call-sign NF-P) crashed into a mountain at Lombard. Flt Sgt McLeod was killed instantly, aged 27, alongside six of his crew members, five of whom where Australians.
Gordon Wesley McLeod
Royal Australian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 26.
Son of William Gordon and Violet May McLeod, of Macksville, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Is Nearest God Who Served Him Best. Ever Remembered"
Studio portrait of 422658 Airman, later Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Gordon Wesley McLeod, of Sydney, NSW. Enlisting in the RAAF in May 1942, Aircraftman McLeod trained as an aircrew member as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme and flew Short Stirling bombers with 138 Squadron, RAF based at Tempsford, in Bedfordshire, England. Flt Sgt McLeod has taken part in Operation Draughts, an operational sortie to drop supplies to the Maquis in German occupied France, on the night of 31 August/1 September 1944, when his Stirling, serial number LJ503 (radio call-sign NF-P) crashed into a mountain at Lombard. Flt Sgt McLeod was killed instantly, aged 27, alongside six of his crew members, five of whom where Australians.
427160 Flight Sergeant
Morris Stanley
Royal Australian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 22.
Son of Edgar Hugh and Nessie Venetta Stanley, of Claremont, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Ever Remembered"
Portrait of 427160 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Morris Stanley, RAAF attached to No. 138 Squadron RAF. A native of Fremantle, WA, Stanley worked as a farmer prior to enlisting on 24 May 1942. While posted to No. 138 Special Duties (SD) Squadron RAF in the United Kingdom, Flt Sgt Stanley was involved in the supply of goods to French Resistance fighters in the South of France. On 1 September 1944 Flt Sgt Stanley was killed, aged 22, when his aircraft crashed during an operation over France. He and all the crew were buried at a local cemetery at Arc-et-Senans, and an annual service of remembrance is held at the cemetery on the day of the crew's burial. A memorial was built by members of the French Resistance at the site where the aircraft crashed.
Morris Stanley
Royal Australian Air Force
1st September 1944, aged 22.
Son of Edgar Hugh and Nessie Venetta Stanley, of Claremont, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Ever Remembered"
Portrait of 427160 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Morris Stanley, RAAF attached to No. 138 Squadron RAF. A native of Fremantle, WA, Stanley worked as a farmer prior to enlisting on 24 May 1942. While posted to No. 138 Special Duties (SD) Squadron RAF in the United Kingdom, Flt Sgt Stanley was involved in the supply of goods to French Resistance fighters in the South of France. On 1 September 1944 Flt Sgt Stanley was killed, aged 22, when his aircraft crashed during an operation over France. He and all the crew were buried at a local cemetery at Arc-et-Senans, and an annual service of remembrance is held at the cemetery on the day of the crew's burial. A memorial was built by members of the French Resistance at the site where the aircraft crashed.
Other Burial Details
415649 Flying Officer Robert Blackburn Hardie, Royal Australian Air Force, died 1st September 1944, aged 34. Son of John and Sarah Hardie, of Albany, Western Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Loved Son Of Mr. And Mrs. J. Hardie Of Albany, Western Australia"
432172 Flight Sergeant Stuart James Hayes, Royal Australian Air Force, died 1st September 1944, aged 19. Son of Matthew and Isabel Hayes, of Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Dearly Loved Son Of Mr. And Mrs. M. Hayes Of Sydney, Australia"
1822606 Sergeant George McPherson Jack, Flight Engineer in 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 19. Son of George and Isobella Hay Jack, of Liberton, Edinburgh. His headstone bears the inscription "Proud, We Salute Our Dead Where They Lie Gathered, Each To His Sleeping"
415649 Flying Officer Robert Blackburn Hardie, Royal Australian Air Force, died 1st September 1944, aged 34. Son of John and Sarah Hardie, of Albany, Western Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Loved Son Of Mr. And Mrs. J. Hardie Of Albany, Western Australia"
432172 Flight Sergeant Stuart James Hayes, Royal Australian Air Force, died 1st September 1944, aged 19. Son of Matthew and Isabel Hayes, of Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Dearly Loved Son Of Mr. And Mrs. M. Hayes Of Sydney, Australia"
1822606 Sergeant George McPherson Jack, Flight Engineer in 138 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 1st September 1944, aged 19. Son of George and Isobella Hay Jack, of Liberton, Edinburgh. His headstone bears the inscription "Proud, We Salute Our Dead Where They Lie Gathered, Each To His Sleeping"
