EQUENNES CHURCHYARD
Somme
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.73437, Longitude: 1.95925
Location Information
Equennes is a village and commune 30 kilometres south-west of Amiens and just over 5 kilometres south of Poix, a small town at the intersection of the N.29 (Amiens-Le Havre) and N.1 (Paris Boulogne) roads.
In the churchyard, about 23 metres south of its south-eastern corner, is the collective grave of seven airmen. Six of them belonged to the Royal Air Force and one to the Royal Australian Air Force.
Equennes is a village and commune 30 kilometres south-west of Amiens and just over 5 kilometres south of Poix, a small town at the intersection of the N.29 (Amiens-Le Havre) and N.1 (Paris Boulogne) roads.
In the churchyard, about 23 metres south of its south-eastern corner, is the collective grave of seven airmen. Six of them belonged to the Royal Air Force and one to the Royal Australian Air Force.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
Group portrait of No 4 Initial Training School RAAF, Course No 22, A Squadron Flight 11.
Identified in the front row 5th from the right and buried in this churchyard is 409992 Pilot Officer Robert Bruce Groves, 44 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force who died on operations over France on 7th July 1944, aged 23. Son of David Govan Groves and Elsie Isabell Groves, of Seymour, Victoria, Australia. his headstone bears the inscription "He Gave His Life That We Might Live, Ever Remembered"
158090 Flying Officer
Victor Davenant Purvis, D. F. C.
44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
7th July 1944, aged 22.
Son of Joseph Cecil Purvis, and of Ellen Louisa Purvis, of Darlington, Co Durham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Till We Meet Again"
Victor Davenant Purvis, D. F. C.
44 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
7th July 1944, aged 22.
Son of Joseph Cecil Purvis, and of Ellen Louisa Purvis, of Darlington, Co Durham.
His headstone bears the inscription "Till We Meet Again"
The following were also in 44 Squadron and killed on 7th July 1944.
1822207 Sergeant Lawrence Archibald Critchley, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 20. Son of Lawrence and Helen Critchley, of Glasgow. His headstone bears the inscription "How Bright His Glorious Spirit Shines"
851417 Flight Sergeant Frank Hubert Gibberson, Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force), aged 33. Son of Frank and Kathleen Gibberson, of Birmingham; husband of Vera Olive Gibberson, of Edgbaston, Birmingham. His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Frank. Never Forgotten By His Wife Vera, Mother, Father And All"
160154 Flying Officer Dewhurst Graaff, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 21. Son of Hendrik Christian and Lucy Jane Graaff, of Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. His brother Stafford also died on service and is buried in Exeter Higher Cemetery, Devon, England"
157045 Flying Officer John Sydney Hodge, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 22. Son of Hermon and Ellen Hodge, of Urmston, Lancashire.
1028124 Warrant Officer Arthur Holland, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 29. Husband of Joan Holland, of Werneth, Oldham, Lancashire.
851417 Flight Sergeant Frank Hubert Gibberson, Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force), aged 33. Son of Frank and Kathleen Gibberson, of Birmingham; husband of Vera Olive Gibberson, of Edgbaston, Birmingham. His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of Frank. Never Forgotten By His Wife Vera, Mother, Father And All"
160154 Flying Officer Dewhurst Graaff, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 21. Son of Hendrik Christian and Lucy Jane Graaff, of Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. His brother Stafford also died on service and is buried in Exeter Higher Cemetery, Devon, England"
157045 Flying Officer John Sydney Hodge, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 22. Son of Hermon and Ellen Hodge, of Urmston, Lancashire.
1028124 Warrant Officer Arthur Holland, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 29. Husband of Joan Holland, of Werneth, Oldham, Lancashire.
