GERMAINE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Marne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.11386, Longitude: 4.0338
Location Information
Germaine is 40 kilometres north-west of Châlons en Champagne. The communal cemetery is located approximately 100 yards to the south, on a local road which branches off to Mutigny opposite to the Marne. The grave of the one British airman of the Second World War is in the centre of the cemetery.
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. Germaine Communal Cemetery contains the grave of one Commonwealth airman of the Second World War.
Flight Details:
R.A.F. Base: Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
Unit: 617 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk I, serial ME557
Target: Rilly-la-Montagne (Marne)
Incident: The aircraft crashed near the village of Germaine (Marne). Only one of the crew is buried here. Flt. Lieut. W. Reid and Flying Officer D. Luker were taken prisoner. The remainder of the crew are buried in Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery and Clichy Northern Cemetery.
Burial Details
909536 Flight Sergeant Donald George William Stewart, Flight Engineer in 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 31st July 1944.
Germaine is 40 kilometres north-west of Châlons en Champagne. The communal cemetery is located approximately 100 yards to the south, on a local road which branches off to Mutigny opposite to the Marne. The grave of the one British airman of the Second World War is in the centre of the cemetery.
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. Germaine Communal Cemetery contains the grave of one Commonwealth airman of the Second World War.
Flight Details:
R.A.F. Base: Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
Unit: 617 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk I, serial ME557
Target: Rilly-la-Montagne (Marne)
Incident: The aircraft crashed near the village of Germaine (Marne). Only one of the crew is buried here. Flt. Lieut. W. Reid and Flying Officer D. Luker were taken prisoner. The remainder of the crew are buried in Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery and Clichy Northern Cemetery.
Burial Details
909536 Flight Sergeant Donald George William Stewart, Flight Engineer in 617 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 31st July 1944.
