AVESNES-LES-AUBERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Nord
France
Location Information
Avesnes-les-Aubert is a village and commune about 11 kilometres east of the town of Cambrai. This lies some 60 kilometres south of Lille. The village is on the N.342 Cambrai-Solesmes road.
The cemetery is on the western side of the village, on the D.276 road to the neighbouring village of Rieux.
Historical Information
Near its northern wall and the north-western entrance gate are the graves of five airmen, two of whom belonged to the Royal Air Force, and three to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Cemetery pictures © Johan Pauwels
Avesnes-les-Aubert is a village and commune about 11 kilometres east of the town of Cambrai. This lies some 60 kilometres south of Lille. The village is on the N.342 Cambrai-Solesmes road.
The cemetery is on the western side of the village, on the D.276 road to the neighbouring village of Rieux.
Historical Information
Near its northern wall and the north-western entrance gate are the graves of five airmen, two of whom belonged to the Royal Air Force, and three to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Cemetery pictures © Johan Pauwels
J/86923 Pilot Officer
William Harvey Goodwin
Air Bomber in 408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Airforce
13th June 1944/
William was born in Coburg, NB, Canada. He enlisted in R.C.A.F. April 16th, 1942 in Moncton, NB, Canada. He arrived in the U.K. April 17th, 1943. William (Bill) was shot down June 13th, 1944, 5 1/2 miles east of Cambari France at Avesnes Les Aubert. His plane was a Lancaster # DS772. He was reported missing in action and then in October 1944 he was reported killed in action. Bill's last squadron was # 408 For Freedom.
William's parents were Woodford W. Goodwin & Lottie Belle Goodwin. The above picture of Bill's brother and sister-in-law, Lorne and Peggy Goodwin was taken in 1956.
The above pictures and text was provided by William's Nephew, Lorne Alan Goodwin and his wife Mary.
Other Burial Details
J/8169 Flight Lieutenant Henry Carbee McIver, Pilot in 408 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 13th June 1944, aged 31. Son of Malcolm and Charlotte McIver of Rapid View, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Flight Lieutenant Thomas Oswald Pledger, D. F. C. Air Gunner in Royal Canadian Air Force, died 13th June 1944, aged 27. Son of Oswald and Mary Somers Pledger of Hillsdale, Ontario, Canada.
614239 Sergeant Donald MacRussell, Flight Engineer in 408 Squadron, Royal Air Force. Son of Frank Jeffrey and Lucy Russell; husband of Doris M. Russell of Radford, Nottingham.
151094 Flying Officer John Harker Wyatt, Navigator in 408 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 28. Son of Herbert John and Mary Bella Wyatt of Bristol.
Flight Details:
Base: R.A.F. Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire
Unit: 408 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk II, serial DS772
Target: Cambrai (Nord)
Incident: Aircraft crashed at Avesnes-les-Aubert. The remaining two airmen on board were also killed (date of death uncertain). Flying Officer A. J. G. Dulait, buried in Marchiennes Communal Cemetery and Flying Officer C. A. G. Hanchar, who is commemorated on the Pelouse d'Honneur, Brussels Town Cemetery (Clicking on this link will take you to our WW1 site)
