CHENIERS CHURCHYARD
Marne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 48.88514, Longitude: 4.24539
Image above © Johan Pauwels
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.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
1052736 Sergeant
James Ellis
Air Gunner in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd May 1944, aged 36.
Son of Thomas and Eliza Ellis; husband of Noreen Bessie Ellis of Buckley, Chester.
His headstone bears the inscription "Of Buckley, Chester. To The Word, Just One; To Me, All The World. His Wife"
Click on image to slightly enlarge
James Ellis
Air Gunner in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd May 1944, aged 36.
Son of Thomas and Eliza Ellis; husband of Noreen Bessie Ellis of Buckley, Chester.
His headstone bears the inscription "Of Buckley, Chester. To The Word, Just One; To Me, All The World. His Wife"
Click on image to slightly enlarge
J/25515 Flying Officer
Edward Crowther Jones
Air Bomber in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd May 1944, aged 23.
Son of Mr. & Mrs. Jay R. Jones of Riverside, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Son And Brother"
Edward Crowther Jones
Air Bomber in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd May 1944, aged 23.
Son of Mr. & Mrs. Jay R. Jones of Riverside, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beloved Son And Brother"
J/22436 Flying Officer
Melvin Robert Oliver
Navigator in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd May 1944, aged 24.
Son of Alexander and Etna Oliver; husband of Pamela Oliver of Scarborough, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Heavenly Love Abiding"
Melvin Robert Oliver
Navigator in 550 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd May 1944, aged 24.
Son of Alexander and Etna Oliver; husband of Pamela Oliver of Scarborough, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Heavenly Love Abiding"
Other 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. His headstone bears the 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. His headstone bears the inscription "Of Edmonton, London. Loved And Longed For Always. Mum, Dad And Sister Violet"
155255 Flight Lieutenant Arthur James Grain, D. F. M. Pilot in 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 3rd May 1944.
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. His headstone bears the 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.
