NANTES (PONT-DU-CENS) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Loire-Atlantique
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 47.24259, Longitude: -1.58247
Image above © Thierry Grier
Location Information
Nantes is a town on the River Loire about 48 kilometres east of St Nazaire. The Pont-du-Cens Communal Cemetery is on the north-western outskirts of the town on the western side of the road to Rennes. The Commonwealth War Graves are in a special plot about 100 metres east (right) of the main entrance.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access to this cemetery is possible with some difficulty.
Historical Information
During the 1939-1945 War Nantes was the disembarkation port for stores and vehicles of the first British Expeditionary Force, and in June, 1940, a port of re-embarkation for Line of Communication troops and material.
The Pont-du-Cens Communal Cemetery was started in 1939 to supplement the ten other burial grounds within the boundaries of the commune.
There are 106, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Some were moved into the cemetery from isolated graves at Vivonne, Les Rochelles and near Vertou, and others from Tours (La Salle) Communal Cemetery, St. Brevin-les Pins Communal Cemetery, St. Père-en-Retz Communal Cemetery, Bouguenais Communal Cemetery and a temporary burial ground at Coeson, where permanent maintenance for all time could not be assured.
Total Burials: 106.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 92, Canada 6, Australia 4, New Zealand 4. Total 106.
Images in gallery below © Thierry Grier
J/20349 Flying Officer
Frederick Sinclair Buck
101 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
28th June 1943, aged 25.
Plot L. C. 10.
Son of Frederick William and Beatrice Ann Buck, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Rest Here In Peace, Far From Thine Own Native Land"
Frederick Sinclair Buck
101 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
28th June 1943, aged 25.
Plot L. C. 10.
Son of Frederick William and Beatrice Ann Buck, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Rest Here In Peace, Far From Thine Own Native Land"
R/102105 Flight Sergeant
Calvin Warren Dahl
57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
2nd April 1943, aged 20.
Plot L. B. Collective Grave 16-18.
Son of Charles Frederick and Clara Petra Landvold Dahl, of The Pas, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Thought Of Sweet Remembrance, The Love And Devotion Of Those That Think Of You"
Calvin Warren Dahl
57 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
2nd April 1943, aged 20.
Plot L. B. Collective Grave 16-18.
Son of Charles Frederick and Clara Petra Landvold Dahl, of The Pas, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "A Thought Of Sweet Remembrance, The Love And Devotion Of Those That Think Of You"
424759 Flight Sergeant
Stuart Lacey Edwards
Royal Australian Air Force
12th June 1944, aged 28.
Plot L. C. Collective Grave 24-26
Son of Frederick William and Janet Wright Edwards, of Cammeray, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Memory Of Those Happy Days When We Were All Together"
London, England. 14th February 1944. Portrait of 424759 Sergeant (later Flight Sergeant) Stuart Lacey Edwards (lost on operations over France on 12 June 1944)
Stuart Lacey Edwards
Royal Australian Air Force
12th June 1944, aged 28.
Plot L. C. Collective Grave 24-26
Son of Frederick William and Janet Wright Edwards, of Cammeray, New South Wales, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "The Memory Of Those Happy Days When We Were All Together"
London, England. 14th February 1944. Portrait of 424759 Sergeant (later Flight Sergeant) Stuart Lacey Edwards (lost on operations over France on 12 June 1944)
177029 Pilot Officer
Paul Constant Marie Hellegers
640 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
11th August 1944, aged 21.
Plot L. D. 8.
Son of Clement and Jane Hellegers, of Lanaken, Belgium.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sans Peur et Sans Reproche. R. I. P."
Paul Constant Marie Hellegers
640 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
11th August 1944, aged 21.
Plot L. D. 8.
Son of Clement and Jane Hellegers, of Lanaken, Belgium.
His headstone bears the inscription "Sans Peur et Sans Reproche. R. I. P."
R/52038 Sergeant
Wray William Heywood
150 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
8th May 1941, aged 28.
Plot L. A. 17.
Son of William Henry and Rose Olive Wray, husband of Olive Gwyther of Windemere, Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada. Wray was served with the RCAF in WWII and lost his life when his plane, Wellington R1374 150 squadron crashed Pont Saint Martin, Nantes France
Wray William Heywood
150 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
8th May 1941, aged 28.
Plot L. A. 17.
Son of William Henry and Rose Olive Wray, husband of Olive Gwyther of Windemere, Windsor, Essex, Ontario, Canada. Wray was served with the RCAF in WWII and lost his life when his plane, Wellington R1374 150 squadron crashed Pont Saint Martin, Nantes France
43036 Pilot Officer
George Harold Frederick Inniss
106 Squadron, Royal Air Force
4th February 1941, aged 24.
Plot L. A. 15.
Son of Charles H. Inniss and Caroline Inniss, of Barbados. Arts Graduate of Durham University.
His headstone bears the inscription "Unknown, Unheralded, "He Went With Just One Thought, The Duty To Be Done"
George Harold Frederick Inniss
106 Squadron, Royal Air Force
4th February 1941, aged 24.
Plot L. A. 15.
Son of Charles H. Inniss and Caroline Inniss, of Barbados. Arts Graduate of Durham University.
His headstone bears the inscription "Unknown, Unheralded, "He Went With Just One Thought, The Duty To Be Done"
63801 Pilot Officer
Errington Douglas Rawes
206 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
21st December 1941, aged 25.
Plot L. B. 5.
Son of Stanley and Amy Jane Rawes, of Lisbon, Portugal.
His headstone bears the inscription "Let Light Perpetual Shine Upon Him"
Errington Douglas Rawes
206 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
21st December 1941, aged 25.
Plot L. B. 5.
Son of Stanley and Amy Jane Rawes, of Lisbon, Portugal.
His headstone bears the inscription "Let Light Perpetual Shine Upon Him"
R/140842 Sergeant
William Tom Seaman
Royal Canadian Air Force
10th June 1943, aged 21.
Plot L. B. 28.
Son of William James Seaman and Ellen Loretta Seaman, of Edrans, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "God Be With You Till We Meet Again"
William Tom Seaman
Royal Canadian Air Force
10th June 1943, aged 21.
Plot L. B. 28.
Son of William James Seaman and Ellen Loretta Seaman, of Edrans, Manitoba, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "God Be With You Till We Meet Again"
