OMERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Val d'Oise
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.14074, Longitude: 1.71969
Location Information
Omerville is a village some 48 kilometres north-west of Versailles, and 7 kilometres west of Magny-en-Vexin. The Communal Cemetery is situated north of the village, on a small road leading from the square to Ambleville-Magny-en-Vexin road.
Historical Information
There are 14, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site.
Omerville is a village some 48 kilometres north-west of Versailles, and 7 kilometres west of Magny-en-Vexin. The Communal Cemetery is situated north of the village, on a small road leading from the square to Ambleville-Magny-en-Vexin road.
Historical Information
There are 14, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
J/92196 Pilot Officer
William John Barr
630 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
10th June 1944, aged 20.
Son of Joseph William and Edith B. Barr, of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him, O Lord; May His Soul Rest In Peace"
William John Barr
630 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
10th June 1944, aged 20.
Son of Joseph William and Edith B. Barr, of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
His headstone bears the inscription "Eternal Rest Grant Unto Him, O Lord; May His Soul Rest In Peace"
87060 Wing Commander
William Inglis Deas, D. S. O. & D. F. C. & Bar
630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th July 1944, aged 29.
Son of William Inglis Deas and Ursula Grace Deas (nee Van Der Spuy), of Piet Retief, Transvaal, South Africa. He had two older siblings, Estelle and George.
Lancaster took off from East Kirkby at 2244 hrs on 7th July 1944 for a raid on the V-Weapon storage facility at St. Leu d'Esserent (North of Paris). The aircraft crashed around 0130 hrs to the South East of Villers-en-Arthies (Val d'Oise), 11km SSW of Magny-en-Vexin.
Citation for the DSO announced in the London Gazette No. 36718 on the 26th September 1944:
This officer, now on his third tour of operations, has completed a large number of sorties, many of them against dangerous and difficult targets. Throughout he has never failed to bring his missions to a successful conclusion. His leadership and determination have been an inspiration to all.
William Inglis Deas, D. S. O. & D. F. C. & Bar
630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th July 1944, aged 29.
Son of William Inglis Deas and Ursula Grace Deas (nee Van Der Spuy), of Piet Retief, Transvaal, South Africa. He had two older siblings, Estelle and George.
Lancaster took off from East Kirkby at 2244 hrs on 7th July 1944 for a raid on the V-Weapon storage facility at St. Leu d'Esserent (North of Paris). The aircraft crashed around 0130 hrs to the South East of Villers-en-Arthies (Val d'Oise), 11km SSW of Magny-en-Vexin.
Citation for the DSO announced in the London Gazette No. 36718 on the 26th September 1944:
This officer, now on his third tour of operations, has completed a large number of sorties, many of them against dangerous and difficult targets. Throughout he has never failed to bring his missions to a successful conclusion. His leadership and determination have been an inspiration to all.
J/92123 Pilot Officer
Russel Edward Dennis
630 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
10th June 1944, aged 20.
Russel was born on September 1, 1923 in Parkman, SK.
He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942, attaining the rank of Pilot Officer.
His Lancaster Bomber was shot down over Etaples France with all the crew except one being killed in the crash with the lone survivor taken prisoner. Dennis Lake in northern Saskatchewan is named in his honour."
Information above by Sharon Goddard (47191916 Find a Grave)
Russel Edward Dennis
630 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
10th June 1944, aged 20.
Russel was born on September 1, 1923 in Parkman, SK.
He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942, attaining the rank of Pilot Officer.
His Lancaster Bomber was shot down over Etaples France with all the crew except one being killed in the crash with the lone survivor taken prisoner. Dennis Lake in northern Saskatchewan is named in his honour."
Information above by Sharon Goddard (47191916 Find a Grave)
143472 Flight Lieutenant
George Grafron Haig Farara, D. F. C. & D. F. M.
630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th July 1944.
Born on the 2nd May 1918 in Antigua, George was the son of Emanuel Farara and Jessie Farara (nee Pitcairn). He had five siblings, Pearl, Allan, Leslie, Lilian and Maurice. Following the death of their father in 1929, their mother brought the children to England on the 9th May 1930. In 1939 they were living in Hampstead in London. He maried in 1941 to Deborah. M. Barnett.
Lancaster took off from East Kirkby at 2244 hrs on 7th July 1944 for a raid on the V-Weapon storage facility at St. Leu d'Esserent (North of Paris). The aircraft crashed around 0130 hrs to the South East of Villers-en-Arthies (Val d'Oise), 11km SSW of Magny-en-Vexin. He was awarded the DFM on the 15th July 1943 and the DFC posthumously in July 1945.
George Grafron Haig Farara, D. F. C. & D. F. M.
630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th July 1944.
Born on the 2nd May 1918 in Antigua, George was the son of Emanuel Farara and Jessie Farara (nee Pitcairn). He had five siblings, Pearl, Allan, Leslie, Lilian and Maurice. Following the death of their father in 1929, their mother brought the children to England on the 9th May 1930. In 1939 they were living in Hampstead in London. He maried in 1941 to Deborah. M. Barnett.
Lancaster took off from East Kirkby at 2244 hrs on 7th July 1944 for a raid on the V-Weapon storage facility at St. Leu d'Esserent (North of Paris). The aircraft crashed around 0130 hrs to the South East of Villers-en-Arthies (Val d'Oise), 11km SSW of Magny-en-Vexin. He was awarded the DFM on the 15th July 1943 and the DFC posthumously in July 1945.
First image above
Informal portrait of the crew of a Vickers Wellington, 463 Squadron RAAF, standing in front of their aircraft. Identified from left to right: 426527 Warrant Officer (WO) Edward Burke (gunner); 426565 WO Edward John Fallon (air bomber); 417833 Flying Officer Donald Charles Gundry (pilot); 417899 WO John Barnes Sincock (navigator); 426691 Flight Sergeant Vernon John Scheldt. Gundry and Scheldt were later killed whilst on operations over St Syr, France, on 25 July 1944.
Second image above
Aerial view of a Lancaster bomber of No 463 Squadron RAAF flying low over the town of St Cyr, France, just prior to crashing on 25 July 1944. The aircraft's starboard (right) inner engine is on fire and the remaining engines are losing fuel. Of the crew of seven, five parachuted out shortly after this photograph was taken: 426527 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Edward Burke (tail gunner); 426565 Flt Sgt Edward John Fallon (bomb aimer-air gunner); 426794 Flt Sgt Nevin Michael Davidson (mid-upper gunner); 417899 Flt Sgt John Barnes Sincock (navigator) and an RAF crew replacement for this operation 1891750 Flt Sgt Frank Wadsworth (flight engineer). The men were taken prisoner of war (POW). The remaining two crew members, 417833 Flying Officer Donald Charles Gundry (pilot, aged 27) and 426691 Flight Sergeant Vernon John Scheldt (wireless operator, aged 22) stayed aboard the aircraft to assist or give others time to get out, and were killed soon after in the crash. They are buried in a joint grave at the Omerville Communal Cemetery, not far from the crash site.
Informal portrait of the crew of a Vickers Wellington, 463 Squadron RAAF, standing in front of their aircraft. Identified from left to right: 426527 Warrant Officer (WO) Edward Burke (gunner); 426565 WO Edward John Fallon (air bomber); 417833 Flying Officer Donald Charles Gundry (pilot); 417899 WO John Barnes Sincock (navigator); 426691 Flight Sergeant Vernon John Scheldt. Gundry and Scheldt were later killed whilst on operations over St Syr, France, on 25 July 1944.
Second image above
Aerial view of a Lancaster bomber of No 463 Squadron RAAF flying low over the town of St Cyr, France, just prior to crashing on 25 July 1944. The aircraft's starboard (right) inner engine is on fire and the remaining engines are losing fuel. Of the crew of seven, five parachuted out shortly after this photograph was taken: 426527 Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt) Edward Burke (tail gunner); 426565 Flt Sgt Edward John Fallon (bomb aimer-air gunner); 426794 Flt Sgt Nevin Michael Davidson (mid-upper gunner); 417899 Flt Sgt John Barnes Sincock (navigator) and an RAF crew replacement for this operation 1891750 Flt Sgt Frank Wadsworth (flight engineer). The men were taken prisoner of war (POW). The remaining two crew members, 417833 Flying Officer Donald Charles Gundry (pilot, aged 27) and 426691 Flight Sergeant Vernon John Scheldt (wireless operator, aged 22) stayed aboard the aircraft to assist or give others time to get out, and were killed soon after in the crash. They are buried in a joint grave at the Omerville Communal Cemetery, not far from the crash site.
417833 Flying Officer
Donald Charles Gundry
Royal Australian Air Force
25th July 1944, aged 27.
Son of Harris Musgrove Gundry and Ethel Purland Gundry; husband of Quetta Joyce Gundry, of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love No Man Than This. Ever Remembered"
Donald Charles Gundry
Royal Australian Air Force
25th July 1944, aged 27.
Son of Harris Musgrove Gundry and Ethel Purland Gundry; husband of Quetta Joyce Gundry, of Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Greater Love No Man Than This. Ever Remembered"
176435 Pilot Officer
Claud Morley Houghton, A. F. M.
630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
10th June 1944, aged 29.
Son of Morley P. Houghton and Louisa Houghton, of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
His headstone bears the inscription "Dear Are The Memories Silently Kept Of One We Loved And Can Never Forget"
On 8th June 1944 the London Gazette announced the award of the Air Force Medal to former flying instructor Flight Sergeant Claud Morley Houghton who had eventually been granted his wish to fly on ops. The AFM had been awarded in recognition of his guts and determination during a long tour of instruction at No. 10 Advanced Flying Unit (Dumfries) training pilots who were progressing towards operational flying.
The counterpart of the DFM for gallantry in the face of the enemy, it was awarded for courage away from the front line.
His Lancaster took off at 2148 hrs on the 9th June 1944 from East Kirkby to bomb the rail junction at Etampes. It was intercepted by a night-fighter whose second pass left the Lancaster enveloped in flames. Only one member of the crew survived and was taken prisoner.
Claud Morley Houghton, A. F. M.
630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
10th June 1944, aged 29.
Son of Morley P. Houghton and Louisa Houghton, of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
His headstone bears the inscription "Dear Are The Memories Silently Kept Of One We Loved And Can Never Forget"
On 8th June 1944 the London Gazette announced the award of the Air Force Medal to former flying instructor Flight Sergeant Claud Morley Houghton who had eventually been granted his wish to fly on ops. The AFM had been awarded in recognition of his guts and determination during a long tour of instruction at No. 10 Advanced Flying Unit (Dumfries) training pilots who were progressing towards operational flying.
The counterpart of the DFM for gallantry in the face of the enemy, it was awarded for courage away from the front line.
His Lancaster took off at 2148 hrs on the 9th June 1944 from East Kirkby to bomb the rail junction at Etampes. It was intercepted by a night-fighter whose second pass left the Lancaster enveloped in flames. Only one member of the crew survived and was taken prisoner.
426691 Flight Sergeant
Vernon John Scheldt
Royal Australian Air Force
25th July 1944, aged 22.
Son of John Peter and Eleanor Edith Scheldt, of Kedron, Queensland, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
Born to Peter and Eleanor Edith Scheldt on 10th May 1922 in Brisbane. Vernon grew up on a banana and bean farm at Camp Mountain with his siblings Judith and Ronald. He attended school at Samford and later at the new school at Camp Mountain.
The family moved to Kanyan in 1930, house and all, in what is now called Strawbridge’s Road. His secondary Education was at Commercial State High School in Brisbane. He returned to work on the farm at Kanyan where they ran dairy cattle and grew bananas, beans and tomatoes. Vernon was a great organiser and was virtually the foreman for his father.
He enlisted in Gympie in 1942 at the age of 18, doing training at Maryborough, Kingaroy and Evans Head. He qualified as a wireless operator and Navigator and was transferred to England in 1943. In 1944 he was transferred again to 463 RAAF Squadron out of Waddington, flying Lancasters. On the 25th July 1944, it was learned that he had been shot down over St. Cyr in France. It was about 14 months later that the family heard that he had been laid to rest at the Imperial War Graves at Omerville in France.
Information above by Lang Mackie (49419019 Find a Grave)
Vernon John Scheldt
Royal Australian Air Force
25th July 1944, aged 22.
Son of John Peter and Eleanor Edith Scheldt, of Kedron, Queensland, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered"
Born to Peter and Eleanor Edith Scheldt on 10th May 1922 in Brisbane. Vernon grew up on a banana and bean farm at Camp Mountain with his siblings Judith and Ronald. He attended school at Samford and later at the new school at Camp Mountain.
The family moved to Kanyan in 1930, house and all, in what is now called Strawbridge’s Road. His secondary Education was at Commercial State High School in Brisbane. He returned to work on the farm at Kanyan where they ran dairy cattle and grew bananas, beans and tomatoes. Vernon was a great organiser and was virtually the foreman for his father.
He enlisted in Gympie in 1942 at the age of 18, doing training at Maryborough, Kingaroy and Evans Head. He qualified as a wireless operator and Navigator and was transferred to England in 1943. In 1944 he was transferred again to 463 RAAF Squadron out of Waddington, flying Lancasters. On the 25th July 1944, it was learned that he had been shot down over St. Cyr in France. It was about 14 months later that the family heard that he had been laid to rest at the Imperial War Graves at Omerville in France.
Information above by Lang Mackie (49419019 Find a Grave)
174338 Pilot Officer
Charles Norman Wright
630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th July 1944, aged 29.
Son of Joseph and Maud Eliza Wright, husband of Phyllis Collins Wright, of Dobshill, Flintshire
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
Charles Norman Wright
630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
8th July 1944, aged 29.
Son of Joseph and Maud Eliza Wright, husband of Phyllis Collins Wright, of Dobshill, Flintshire
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
Other Burial Details
1580780 Sergeant William James Bott, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1944, aged 28.
Son of James Edward and Frances Sarah Bott, of Barwell, Leicestershire. His headstone bears the inscription "The Beloved Son Of Mr. And Mrs. J. E. Bott. Up There Sometime We'll Understand"
1323158 Sergeant John Charles Cameron, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1944.
1667376 Sergeant Horace Ison, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1944, aged 23. Son of Arthur and Annie Ison; husband of Rosella May Ison, of Hawkesbury, Warwickshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Into The Mosaic Of Victory Was Laid This Precious Piece"
182693 Pilot Officer Roland James Locke, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 8th July 1944, aged 24.
Son of Francis Albert and Louisa Locke, of Aston, Birmingham. His headstone bears the inscription "A Duty Well Done"
1814068 Sergeant Leonard Augustus Alfred Page, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 8th July 1944, aged 19. Son of Arthur Walter and Jane Frances Page, of Surbiton, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep Is The Memory That Never Fades Of Him We Loved But Could Not Save"
143798 Flying Officer Joseph Thomas Taylor, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 8th July 1944.
1580780 Sergeant William James Bott, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1944, aged 28.
Son of James Edward and Frances Sarah Bott, of Barwell, Leicestershire. His headstone bears the inscription "The Beloved Son Of Mr. And Mrs. J. E. Bott. Up There Sometime We'll Understand"
1323158 Sergeant John Charles Cameron, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1944.
1667376 Sergeant Horace Ison, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 10th June 1944, aged 23. Son of Arthur and Annie Ison; husband of Rosella May Ison, of Hawkesbury, Warwickshire. His headstone bears the inscription "Into The Mosaic Of Victory Was Laid This Precious Piece"
182693 Pilot Officer Roland James Locke, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 8th July 1944, aged 24.
Son of Francis Albert and Louisa Locke, of Aston, Birmingham. His headstone bears the inscription "A Duty Well Done"
1814068 Sergeant Leonard Augustus Alfred Page, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 8th July 1944, aged 19. Son of Arthur Walter and Jane Frances Page, of Surbiton, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep Is The Memory That Never Fades Of Him We Loved But Could Not Save"
143798 Flying Officer Joseph Thomas Taylor, 630 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 8th July 1944.
