BUSSUS-BUSSUEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.10522, Longitude: 1.99328
Location Information
Bussus-Bussuel is a village and commune in the Department of the Somme, 15 kilometers east of Abbeville on the D.153 and 5.5 kilometers south-west of St. Riquier. The communal cemetery is about 1 kilometre south-west of the village. Follow the Rue des Croisettes out of the village, turn left at the junction and the cemetery is on the right. Some 12 metres west of the ruined chapel in the cemetery are the graves of six airmen who died on the 25th June 1944.
Casualty Details: Australia 5, United Kingdom 1. Total 6.
Flight Details
R.A.F. Base: Waddington, Lincolnshire
Unit: 463 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk III, serial LM571
Target: V1 storage and launch sites near Prouville, Somme
Incident: The Lancaster crashed at Bussus-Bussuel, Somme. Of the seven crew, six were killed. Flt. Sgt. T. A. Malcolm, Royal Australian Air Force, was taken prisoner
Bussus-Bussuel is a village and commune in the Department of the Somme, 15 kilometers east of Abbeville on the D.153 and 5.5 kilometers south-west of St. Riquier. The communal cemetery is about 1 kilometre south-west of the village. Follow the Rue des Croisettes out of the village, turn left at the junction and the cemetery is on the right. Some 12 metres west of the ruined chapel in the cemetery are the graves of six airmen who died on the 25th June 1944.
Casualty Details: Australia 5, United Kingdom 1. Total 6.
Flight Details
R.A.F. Base: Waddington, Lincolnshire
Unit: 463 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk III, serial LM571
Target: V1 storage and launch sites near Prouville, Somme
Incident: The Lancaster crashed at Bussus-Bussuel, Somme. Of the seven crew, six were killed. Flt. Sgt. T. A. Malcolm, Royal Australian Air Force, was taken prisoner
Images in this gallery © Johan Pauwels
408433 Flight Sergeant
Bramwell Rockliff Barber
Air Gunner in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
25th June 1944, aged 20.
Son of Fletcher Bramwell and Florence Myrtle Barber of Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
Studio portrait of 408433 Aircraftman, later Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Bramwell Rockliff Barber of Launceston, Tas. Enlisting in the RAAF in May 1942, Flt Sgt Barber trained as an aerial gunner (rear gunner) under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and was posted to 463 Squadron RAAF based at RAF Waddington, England. Flt Sgt Barber was killed on the night of 24/25 June 1944 when his Lancaster bomber, serial number LM571, radio call-sign JO-E (E-Easy) failed to return from an operational sortie over Prouville, France. After the war it was determined that JO-E was hit by flack bursts over the target, and was latter attacked by a German night-fighter, crashing at Busses-Bussuel (Somme). Six of the seven crew were killed, including Flt Sgt Barber, aged 20.
Bramwell Rockliff Barber
Air Gunner in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
25th June 1944, aged 20.
Son of Fletcher Bramwell and Florence Myrtle Barber of Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
Studio portrait of 408433 Aircraftman, later Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Bramwell Rockliff Barber of Launceston, Tas. Enlisting in the RAAF in May 1942, Flt Sgt Barber trained as an aerial gunner (rear gunner) under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and was posted to 463 Squadron RAAF based at RAF Waddington, England. Flt Sgt Barber was killed on the night of 24/25 June 1944 when his Lancaster bomber, serial number LM571, radio call-sign JO-E (E-Easy) failed to return from an operational sortie over Prouville, France. After the war it was determined that JO-E was hit by flack bursts over the target, and was latter attacked by a German night-fighter, crashing at Busses-Bussuel (Somme). Six of the seven crew were killed, including Flt Sgt Barber, aged 20.
417327 Flight Sergeant
George William Bateman
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
25th June 1944, aged 32.
Son of Sidney Davies and Florence Christina Ethel Bateman; husband of Marjorie Jean Bateman of Magill, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Gave His Life For Those He Loved"
George William Bateman
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
25th June 1944, aged 32.
Son of Sidney Davies and Florence Christina Ethel Bateman; husband of Marjorie Jean Bateman of Magill, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Gave His Life For Those He Loved"
Other Burial Details:
424761 Flight Sergeant Lionel Gregory Leslie Hunter, Air Gunner in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, died 25th June 1944, aged 20. Son of Arthur and Agnes Grace Hunter of Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "In Grand Company"
415430 Warrant Officer Bernard Edward Kelly, Navigator in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, died 25th June 1944, aged 23. Son of Edward Joseph and Bridget Kelly of Perth, Western Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Nobly Done"
16203 Pilot Officer John Francis Martin, Pilot in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, died 25th June 1944, aged 23. Son of Francis William and Veronica Rechinda Martin; husband of Doreen Madge Martin of Subiaco, Western Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Affection and Memories Know No Distance"
1324017 Sergeant, Peter Donald Taylor, Flight Engineer, in 463 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 25th June 1944, aged 24. Son of John Ernest and Elizabeth Taylor of Slough, Buckinghamshire. His headstone bears the inscription "I Give Unto Them Eternal Life; And They Shall Never Perish " St. John X.28"
424761 Flight Sergeant Lionel Gregory Leslie Hunter, Air Gunner in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, died 25th June 1944, aged 20. Son of Arthur and Agnes Grace Hunter of Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "In Grand Company"
415430 Warrant Officer Bernard Edward Kelly, Navigator in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, died 25th June 1944, aged 23. Son of Edward Joseph and Bridget Kelly of Perth, Western Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Nobly Done"
16203 Pilot Officer John Francis Martin, Pilot in 463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, died 25th June 1944, aged 23. Son of Francis William and Veronica Rechinda Martin; husband of Doreen Madge Martin of Subiaco, Western Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Affection and Memories Know No Distance"
1324017 Sergeant, Peter Donald Taylor, Flight Engineer, in 463 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 25th June 1944, aged 24. Son of John Ernest and Elizabeth Taylor of Slough, Buckinghamshire. His headstone bears the inscription "I Give Unto Them Eternal Life; And They Shall Never Perish " St. John X.28"
