BOURGUIGNON-SOUS-COUCY CHURCHYARD
Aisne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.54264, Longitude: 3.15945
Location Information
Bourguignon-Sous-Coucy is a village and commune 23 kilometres north-west of Soissons and 12 kilometres south-west of Chauny, a town on the Soissons-Arras road (N. 37). The churchyard is south-east of the village in a local road leading to the village of Besme. Near the southern wall of the churchyard, about 10 yards south of the stone crucifix in the centre, are the graves of seven airmen.
Flight Details: (By Barry Cuttell)
Base: R.A.F. East Kirkby, Lincolnshire
Unit: 630 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk III, serial ND583
Target: Stuttgart, Germany
Incident: The aircraft crashed and exploded at Bourguignon-sous-Couchy. There were no survivors.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 5, Australia 1, Canada 1. Total 7.
Bourguignon-Sous-Coucy is a village and commune 23 kilometres north-west of Soissons and 12 kilometres south-west of Chauny, a town on the Soissons-Arras road (N. 37). The churchyard is south-east of the village in a local road leading to the village of Besme. Near the southern wall of the churchyard, about 10 yards south of the stone crucifix in the centre, are the graves of seven airmen.
Flight Details: (By Barry Cuttell)
Base: R.A.F. East Kirkby, Lincolnshire
Unit: 630 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk III, serial ND583
Target: Stuttgart, Germany
Incident: The aircraft crashed and exploded at Bourguignon-sous-Couchy. There were no survivors.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 5, Australia 1, Canada 1. Total 7.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
R/160030 Warrant Officer Class II
Alexander McCowan Freeman
Air Bomber in 630 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
6th March 1944, aged 24.
Son of Peter Alexander and Annie Mary McCowan of Miliken, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription Dearly Beloved Son Of Peter & Annie Freeman, Ont., Canada. "He Gave His All"
Alexander McCowan Freeman
Air Bomber in 630 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
6th March 1944, aged 24.
Son of Peter Alexander and Annie Mary McCowan of Miliken, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription Dearly Beloved Son Of Peter & Annie Freeman, Ont., Canada. "He Gave His All"
Other Burial Details:
1636431 Sergeant Richard John Harry Easter, Flight Engineer in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 21. Son of Arthur George and Louisa Mary Easter of Fyfield, Essex. His headstone bears the inscription "One In A Million, Thoughtful And Kind, A Beautiful Memory Left Behind" "Home"
1495938 Flight Sergeant Leslie Hall, Air Gunner in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 23. Son of James and Bertha E. Hall of Widdrington, Northumberland. His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
1262633 Flight Sergeant Frank James Hobbs, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 35. Husband of Kathleen Mabel Hobbs of Tooting, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "Until We Meet Again For Ever, Darling"
418299 Flight Sergeant Ernest John Philipson, 630 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, died 16th March 1944, aged 25. Son of Ernest George and Catherine White Philipson; husband of Mavis Elsie Philipson of Coburg, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "God's Greatest Gift. Remembrance"
169004 Pilot Officer Kenneth Rodbourn, Pilot in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 22. Son of James and Sarah Elizabeth Rodbourn; husband of Monica Sheila Rodbourn of Shirley, Croydon, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Husband Of Monica Sheila And Only Son Of James And Sarah Rodbourn"
1622716 Sergeant Albert Henry Wilkinson, Navigator in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 20. Son of Charles Henry and Violet Annie Wilkinson of Coniston, Yorkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
1636431 Sergeant Richard John Harry Easter, Flight Engineer in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 21. Son of Arthur George and Louisa Mary Easter of Fyfield, Essex. His headstone bears the inscription "One In A Million, Thoughtful And Kind, A Beautiful Memory Left Behind" "Home"
1495938 Flight Sergeant Leslie Hall, Air Gunner in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 23. Son of James and Bertha E. Hall of Widdrington, Northumberland. His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
1262633 Flight Sergeant Frank James Hobbs, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 35. Husband of Kathleen Mabel Hobbs of Tooting, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "Until We Meet Again For Ever, Darling"
418299 Flight Sergeant Ernest John Philipson, 630 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, died 16th March 1944, aged 25. Son of Ernest George and Catherine White Philipson; husband of Mavis Elsie Philipson of Coburg, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "God's Greatest Gift. Remembrance"
169004 Pilot Officer Kenneth Rodbourn, Pilot in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 22. Son of James and Sarah Elizabeth Rodbourn; husband of Monica Sheila Rodbourn of Shirley, Croydon, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Husband Of Monica Sheila And Only Son Of James And Sarah Rodbourn"
1622716 Sergeant Albert Henry Wilkinson, Navigator in 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th March 1944, aged 20. Son of Charles Henry and Violet Annie Wilkinson of Coniston, Yorkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love Hath No Man Than This, That A Man Lay Down His Life For His Friends"
