CHENIERS CHURCHYARD
Marne
France
Location Information
Cheniers is a village and commune 12 kilometres south-west of Châlons en Champagne. The church is located in the centre of the village. The churchyard contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen and one soldier of the Second World War, which are located near the rear boundary wall of the churchyard.
History Information
When Germany invaded France early in May 1940, the British Expeditionary Force had already been established there for some time. Between their dramatic evacuation a few weeks later and the Normandy landings of June 1944, Commonwealth forces activity in France was limited to coastal raids and special operations. Most of the Second World War Commonwealth cemeteries are situated in the coastal areas of northern France, but graves will also be found in communal cemeteries and churchyards all over the country, many being those of Commonwealth airmen who failed to return from missions over northern Europe.
Flight Details:
R.A.F. Base: R.A.F. North Killingholme, Lincolnshire
Unit: 550 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk I, serial LL826
Target: Mailly-le-Camp (Aube)
Incident: The aircraft crashed at Cheniers (Marne). There were no survivors.
Burial Details:
146951 Flying Officer Harold Weston Batt, Wireless Operator in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944, aged 32. Son of Arthur Harold and Helen Gertrude Batt; husband of Madge Batt of Edgware, Middlesex.
INSCRIPTION. AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
1892315 Sergeant Kenneth Reginald Dye, Air Gunner in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944, aged 19. Son of Sydney Reginald and Edith Annie Dye of Lower Edmonton, Middlesex. INSCRIPTION. OF EDMONTON, LONDON. LOVED AND LONGED FOR ALWAYS. MUM, DAD AND SISTER VIOLET.
1052736 Sergeant James Ellis, Air Gunner in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944, aged 36. Son of Thomas and Eliza Ellis; husband of Noreen Bessie Ellis of Buckley, Chester. INSCRIPTION. OF BUCKLEY, CHESTER. TO THE WORLD, JUST ONE; TO ME, ALL THE WORLD. HIS WIFE.
155255 Flight Lieutenant Arthur James Grain, D. F. M. Pilot in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944.
J/25515 Flying Officer Edward Crowther Jones. Air Bomber in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 3rd May 1944, aged 23. Son of Mr. & Mrs. Jay R. Jones of Riverside, Ontario, Canada. INSCRIPTION. BELOVED SON AND BROTHER.
J/22436 Flying Officer Melvin Robert Oliver, Navigator in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 3rd May 1944, aged 24. Son of Alexander and Etna Oliver; husband of Pamela Oliver of Scarborough, Yorkshire. INSCRIPTION. IN HEAVENLY LOVE ABIDING".
1582138 Sergeant John Stanley, Flight Engineer in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944, aged 21. Son of Thomas and Edith Stanley of Stockingford, Warwickshire. INSCRIPTION. AND I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH".
34023 Major Sidney Whipp T.D. 7th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, died 3rd May 1944.
Pictures © Barry Cuttell
Cheniers is a village and commune 12 kilometres south-west of Châlons en Champagne. The church is located in the centre of the village. The churchyard contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen and one soldier of the Second World War, which are located near the rear boundary wall of the churchyard.
History Information
When Germany invaded France early in May 1940, the British Expeditionary Force had already been established there for some time. Between their dramatic evacuation a few weeks later and the Normandy landings of June 1944, Commonwealth forces activity in France was limited to coastal raids and special operations. Most of the Second World War Commonwealth cemeteries are situated in the coastal areas of northern France, but graves will also be found in communal cemeteries and churchyards all over the country, many being those of Commonwealth airmen who failed to return from missions over northern Europe.
Flight Details:
R.A.F. Base: R.A.F. North Killingholme, Lincolnshire
Unit: 550 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk I, serial LL826
Target: Mailly-le-Camp (Aube)
Incident: The aircraft crashed at Cheniers (Marne). There were no survivors.
Burial Details:
146951 Flying Officer Harold Weston Batt, Wireless Operator in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944, aged 32. Son of Arthur Harold and Helen Gertrude Batt; husband of Madge Batt of Edgware, Middlesex.
INSCRIPTION. AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
1892315 Sergeant Kenneth Reginald Dye, Air Gunner in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944, aged 19. Son of Sydney Reginald and Edith Annie Dye of Lower Edmonton, Middlesex. INSCRIPTION. OF EDMONTON, LONDON. LOVED AND LONGED FOR ALWAYS. MUM, DAD AND SISTER VIOLET.
1052736 Sergeant James Ellis, Air Gunner in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944, aged 36. Son of Thomas and Eliza Ellis; husband of Noreen Bessie Ellis of Buckley, Chester. INSCRIPTION. OF BUCKLEY, CHESTER. TO THE WORLD, JUST ONE; TO ME, ALL THE WORLD. HIS WIFE.
155255 Flight Lieutenant Arthur James Grain, D. F. M. Pilot in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944.
J/25515 Flying Officer Edward Crowther Jones. Air Bomber in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 3rd May 1944, aged 23. Son of Mr. & Mrs. Jay R. Jones of Riverside, Ontario, Canada. INSCRIPTION. BELOVED SON AND BROTHER.
J/22436 Flying Officer Melvin Robert Oliver, Navigator in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 3rd May 1944, aged 24. Son of Alexander and Etna Oliver; husband of Pamela Oliver of Scarborough, Yorkshire. INSCRIPTION. IN HEAVENLY LOVE ABIDING".
1582138 Sergeant John Stanley, Flight Engineer in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944, aged 21. Son of Thomas and Edith Stanley of Stockingford, Warwickshire. INSCRIPTION. AND I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; AND THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH".
34023 Major Sidney Whipp T.D. 7th Bn. Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment, died 3rd May 1944.
Pictures © Barry Cuttell