MESMONT CHURCHYARD
Ardennes
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.61549, Longitude: 4.4002
Location Information
Mesmont is a village and commune just over 18 miles (29 kilometres) south-west of Mezieres and about 8 miles (13 kilometres) north of Rethel. It lies 1.25 miles north-west of the main road (N.385) from Rethel to Signy L'Abbaye. The nearest railway station is Rethel on the Paris-Luxembourg line, where taxis are available to supplement the poor bus service between Rethel and Mesmont. In the churchyard, near the south-eastern corner, are the graves of seven airmen. Five of them belonged to the Royal Air Force and two to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Mesmont is a village and commune just over 18 miles (29 kilometres) south-west of Mezieres and about 8 miles (13 kilometres) north of Rethel. It lies 1.25 miles north-west of the main road (N.385) from Rethel to Signy L'Abbaye. The nearest railway station is Rethel on the Paris-Luxembourg line, where taxis are available to supplement the poor bus service between Rethel and Mesmont. In the churchyard, near the south-eastern corner, are the graves of seven airmen. Five of them belonged to the Royal Air Force and two to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
The Airmen from 15 Squadron were all killed on 28th August 1942

650253 Flight Sergeant
Victor George Lawrence
15 Squadron, Royal Air Force
28th August 1942, aged 20.
Son of Job and Winifred Lawrence, of Gloucester; husband of Mavis Lawrence.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Beloved Memory"
Victor George Lawrence
15 Squadron, Royal Air Force
28th August 1942, aged 20.
Son of Job and Winifred Lawrence, of Gloucester; husband of Mavis Lawrence.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Beloved Memory"
Other Burials
625479 Sergeant Kenneth Hawthorn, Royal Air Force, aged 22. Son of Richard and Ann Hawthorn. His headstone bears the inscription "Always In Our Thoughts.
1267163 Sergeant John Outram Ludgate, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 21. Son of Lionel Osborne Ludgate and Kate Elizabeth Ludgate, of North Harrow, Middlesex.
937889 Sergeant Arthur Graham Oswin, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
1316406 Sergeant Gerald Victor Payne, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 19. Son of George and Blanche Payne, of Cowbridge, Glamorgan. His headstone bears the inscription "He Died For Those He Loved; Those Who Loved Him Remember"
625479 Sergeant Kenneth Hawthorn, Royal Air Force, aged 22. Son of Richard and Ann Hawthorn. His headstone bears the inscription "Always In Our Thoughts.
1267163 Sergeant John Outram Ludgate, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 21. Son of Lionel Osborne Ludgate and Kate Elizabeth Ludgate, of North Harrow, Middlesex.
937889 Sergeant Arthur Graham Oswin, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
1316406 Sergeant Gerald Victor Payne, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 19. Son of George and Blanche Payne, of Cowbridge, Glamorgan. His headstone bears the inscription "He Died For Those He Loved; Those Who Loved Him Remember"