LA BOISSIÈRE-ÉCOLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Yvelines
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 48.68414, Longitude: 1.63915
Location Information
La Boissière-École is a village and commune 38 kilometres south-west of Versailles, and 14 kilometres west-north-west of Rambouillet. The communal cemetery, which lies on the western side of the village on the road to Faverolles, contains the graves of 2 Canadian airmen situated near the large family vault in the centre of the cemetery.
La Boissière-École is a village and commune 38 kilometres south-west of Versailles, and 14 kilometres west-north-west of Rambouillet. The communal cemetery, which lies on the western side of the village on the road to Faverolles, contains the graves of 2 Canadian airmen situated near the large family vault in the centre of the cemetery.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
J/4820 Squadron Leader
George Edwin Coldrey
Pilot in 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd June 1944, aged 26.
Son of Henry E. and Mary C. (née White) Coldrey, of Carlington, Ontario. Brother of Eleanor, Margaret and Clifford. Squadron Leader Coldrey made 23 missions in his career.
His headstone bears the inscription "Loved In Life. In Death, Remembered"
George Edwin Coldrey
Pilot in 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd June 1944, aged 26.
Son of Henry E. and Mary C. (née White) Coldrey, of Carlington, Ontario. Brother of Eleanor, Margaret and Clifford. Squadron Leader Coldrey made 23 missions in his career.
His headstone bears the inscription "Loved In Life. In Death, Remembered"
C/88471 Pilot Officer
David Austin Kelley
Flight Engineer in 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd June 1944, aged 22.
Son of James B. Kelley and Edith Kelley, of Victoria, British Columbia. David's hometown was Killam, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription "Though Lost To Sight, To Memory Ever Dear. Mom And Dad"
David Austin Kelley
Flight Engineer in 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
3rd June 1944, aged 22.
Son of James B. Kelley and Edith Kelley, of Victoria, British Columbia. David's hometown was Killam, Alberta.
His headstone bears the inscription "Though Lost To Sight, To Memory Ever Dear. Mom And Dad"
On the 62nd anniversary, June 3, 1944 - June 3, 2006, of the crash of the Lancaster LQ-C ND-507 which took the lives of Squadron Leader George E. Coldrey, Pilot Officer David A. Kelley, Pilot Officer Norman Johnston, Pilot Officer J.G. Maurice Renaud and Pilot Officer Leslie A. McCrea were honoured at the unveiling of a monument at la Bossière-Ecole, France.
Guests included former German Pilot Frithjof Fensch, who downed the plane; family members Edith Bannerman, sister of David A. Kelley; Pierre Monfette, nephew of J.G. Maurice Renaud;, Lucinda Brouwer, niece of Leslie A. McCrea. Tori Olson, daughter of American Lieutenant Leroy Q. Olson, Christopher O'Neill, son of British Flight Lieutenant John H. O'Neill, and George Court, son of Canadian Flight Lieutenant George L. Court, children of the three survivors of the crash attended in honour of their fathers whom all died since 1995.
Representing La Boisseère-Ecole were Francois Heiliger, Mayor, Fabien Drouin, First Deputy Mayor and Fréderic Vincent, Historical Adviser whose research led to the unveiling and commemoration of the deceased.
The three other airmen not buried in this cemetery were interred in St. Désir War Cemetery in France.
Guests included former German Pilot Frithjof Fensch, who downed the plane; family members Edith Bannerman, sister of David A. Kelley; Pierre Monfette, nephew of J.G. Maurice Renaud;, Lucinda Brouwer, niece of Leslie A. McCrea. Tori Olson, daughter of American Lieutenant Leroy Q. Olson, Christopher O'Neill, son of British Flight Lieutenant John H. O'Neill, and George Court, son of Canadian Flight Lieutenant George L. Court, children of the three survivors of the crash attended in honour of their fathers whom all died since 1995.
Representing La Boisseère-Ecole were Francois Heiliger, Mayor, Fabien Drouin, First Deputy Mayor and Fréderic Vincent, Historical Adviser whose research led to the unveiling and commemoration of the deceased.
The three other airmen not buried in this cemetery were interred in St. Désir War Cemetery in France.
Wreckage of Lancaster LQ-C. – On June 3, 1944, five men were killed and two survived this plane crash.
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Dave Kelley (left) posing with 3 other members of the 405 Squadron.
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