ÉPERNON COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Eure-et-Loir
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 48.6123, Longitude: 1.68542
Location Information
Épernon is a town 28 kilometres north-east of Chartres, on the D.906 road from Versailles to Rambouillet and Maintenon. The communal cemetery is on the eastern side of the town, on the D.906 road.
Near the north-western corner of the cemetery is the collective grave of seven airmen whose aircraft crashed near the town. Six of these airmen belonged to the Royal Air Force and one to the Royal Australian Air Force. The local people have erected a memorial on the actual site of the crash. This is south of the town, about 100 yards beyond the railway bridge, on the eastern side of the D.28 road to Gallardon.
Épernon is a town 28 kilometres north-east of Chartres, on the D.906 road from Versailles to Rambouillet and Maintenon. The communal cemetery is on the eastern side of the town, on the D.906 road.
Near the north-western corner of the cemetery is the collective grave of seven airmen whose aircraft crashed near the town. Six of these airmen belonged to the Royal Air Force and one to the Royal Australian Air Force. The local people have erected a memorial on the actual site of the crash. This is south of the town, about 100 yards beyond the railway bridge, on the eastern side of the D.28 road to Gallardon.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
All Seven Airmen were in 640 Squadron and were killed on 3rd June 1944.
1601205 Sergeant
Vickers Lavender Bennett
640 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd June 1944, aged 20.
Son of George Douglas and Daisy Eileen Bennett, of Deeping St. James, Lincolnshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live"
Vickers Lavender Bennett
640 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd June 1944, aged 20.
Son of George Douglas and Daisy Eileen Bennett, of Deeping St. James, Lincolnshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live"
1631398 Sergeant
Francis Ronald Smith
640 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd June 1944, aged 20.
Son of Frederick Horace and Mabel Elsie Smith, of Hockley, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Loving Memories, Fond And True, From Those Who Thought The World Of You"
Francis Ronald Smith
640 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
3rd June 1944, aged 20.
Son of Frederick Horace and Mabel Elsie Smith, of Hockley, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Loving Memories, Fond And True, From Those Who Thought The World Of You"
172072 Pilot Officer Geoffrey Hubert Stephen Burwood, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 20. Son of Leonard Francis and Nellie Philippa Burwood. His headstone bears the inscription "Generous To A Fault-He Gave His Life"
1535785 Flight Sergeant John Watson Eastman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 22. Son of John James Eastman and Winifred Aline Eastman, of St. Marychurch, Torquay, Devon. His headstone bears the inscription "Remembrance"
2215315 Sergeant Alec Friesner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 24. Son of Joseph and Ellen Friesner; husband of Doreen Friesner, of Blackpool, Lancashire. His headstone bears the inscription "Age Shall Not Weary... Nor The Years Condemn." Always Remembered By His Wife And Family"
424271 Flight Sergeant John William Arthur Montgomery, Royal Australian Air Force, aged 21. Son of John Norris Montgomery and Violet Moore Montgomery, of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "His Fearless Soul Moves On"
1892968 Sergeant Robert Morris, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 19. Son of Thomas and Alice Morris, of Ashington, Northumberland. His headstone bears the inscription "They Gave Their To-Morrow For Our To-Day. For Ever In Our Hearts"
1535785 Flight Sergeant John Watson Eastman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 22. Son of John James Eastman and Winifred Aline Eastman, of St. Marychurch, Torquay, Devon. His headstone bears the inscription "Remembrance"
2215315 Sergeant Alec Friesner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 24. Son of Joseph and Ellen Friesner; husband of Doreen Friesner, of Blackpool, Lancashire. His headstone bears the inscription "Age Shall Not Weary... Nor The Years Condemn." Always Remembered By His Wife And Family"
424271 Flight Sergeant John William Arthur Montgomery, Royal Australian Air Force, aged 21. Son of John Norris Montgomery and Violet Moore Montgomery, of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "His Fearless Soul Moves On"
1892968 Sergeant Robert Morris, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 19. Son of Thomas and Alice Morris, of Ashington, Northumberland. His headstone bears the inscription "They Gave Their To-Morrow For Our To-Day. For Ever In Our Hearts"
