DOMMARTIN-LETTRÉE CHURCHYARD
Marne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 48.76669, Longitude: 4.29861
Image above © Johan Pauwels
Location Information
Dommartin-Lettrée is a village and commune some 22 kilometres south of Châlons en Champagne and some 22 kilometres west of Vitry-le-François.
The church is to be found in a central position in the village, and the Commonwealth war graves of five airmen of the Royal Air Force and two of the Royal Canadian Air Force lie in the churchyard immediately behind the church.
Historical 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.
Dommartin-Lettree Churchyard contains the graves of seven Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War.
Flight Details:
R.A.F. Base: R.A.F. Binbrook, Lincolnshire
Unit: 460 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk III, serial JB741
Target: Enemy installations, Mailly-le-Camp, France
Incident: The aircraft crashed at Dommartin-Lettrée. There were no survivors.
54076 Pilot Officer
Francis William Baker
Pilot in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force
4th May 1944.
"Photograph supplied by Aircrew Remembered"
Francis William Baker
Pilot in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force
4th May 1944.
"Photograph supplied by Aircrew Remembered"
1823613 Sergeant
Harry Penrice Black
Air Gunner in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
4th May 1944, aged 19.
Son of Harry Leadbetter and Mary Alexander Penrice Black of Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription "Years Shall Not Darken Nor Shadows Dim Beautiful Memories We Have On Him"
"Photograph supplied by Aircrew Remembered"
Harry Penrice Black
Air Gunner in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
4th May 1944, aged 19.
Son of Harry Leadbetter and Mary Alexander Penrice Black of Edinburgh.
His headstone bears the inscription "Years Shall Not Darken Nor Shadows Dim Beautiful Memories We Have On Him"
"Photograph supplied by Aircrew Remembered"
R/176165 Flight Sergeant
Wilfred Bernard Martin
Air Bomber in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 23.
Son of Thomas and Marie-Thérèse Martin of Daylesford, Saskatchewan, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Brave Et Courageux Fils. Dear son And Brother You Are Greatly Missed"
Wilfred Bernard Martin
Air Bomber in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 23.
Son of Thomas and Marie-Thérèse Martin of Daylesford, Saskatchewan, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Brave Et Courageux Fils. Dear son And Brother You Are Greatly Missed"
1713620 Sergeant
George Edward O'Neill
Wireless Operator in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
4th May 1944.
"Photograph supplied by Aircrew Remembered"
George Edward O'Neill
Wireless Operator in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
4th May 1944.
"Photograph supplied by Aircrew Remembered"
J/88089 Pilot Officer
Willis Henry Thompson
Navigator in 460 (R. A. A. F. ) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 27.
Son of John Henry and Marie J. Thompson of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember"
Willis Henry Thompson
Navigator in 460 (R. A. A. F. ) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 27.
Son of John Henry and Marie J. Thompson of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember"
Other Burial Details:
1345994Sergeant William Cochrane Maxwell, Air Gunner in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 4th May 1944, aged 21. Son of William Cochrane and Mary Andrew Maxwell of Glasgow. His headstone bears the inscription "Requiescant In Pace"
1832973 Sergeant James William Ranger, Flight Engineer in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 4th May 1944, aged 19. Son of George Palmer and Ellen Edith Ranger of Bethnal Green, London. His headstone bears the inscription "A Silent Wish That He Were Here, He Was Ours, We Loved Him So. Mum And Dad"
1345994Sergeant William Cochrane Maxwell, Air Gunner in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 4th May 1944, aged 21. Son of William Cochrane and Mary Andrew Maxwell of Glasgow. His headstone bears the inscription "Requiescant In Pace"
1832973 Sergeant James William Ranger, Flight Engineer in 460 (R. A. A. F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 4th May 1944, aged 19. Son of George Palmer and Ellen Edith Ranger of Bethnal Green, London. His headstone bears the inscription "A Silent Wish That He Were Here, He Was Ours, We Loved Him So. Mum And Dad"
